Slam Poetry Doesn't Always Have Such A Severe Disposition
Why so serious? If Heath Ledger's Joker isn't the perfect analogy for slam poetry, then heaven's a myth. Actually, I can't really say that. I have no idea whether or not heaven is a myth. Know why? That topic is way too fucking serious for me. I'll leave it to Elvis. Slam poetry, or the art of bringing words to life in an animated, performance-oriented fashion, can run the gamut when it comes to subject matter. Since the movement has really caught fire over the past decade, I just wanted to set something straight. That's really why I have this website and this blog - first, to keep a record of my work. But second, to help others who are interested in slam poetry, but not quite sure what to make of it, get started. Or run scared - depending on the person. If you've heard slam poetry before, its most likely been a captivating portrayal of a person spitting their lessons and their experiences with and through life. You've probably heard spoken word poems about death, about disease, about lack of education, about family, about love and a zillion other emotions and 'things' that make up life. If you're lucky, you've also heard some funny ones. Those are the ones I want to talk about today. Slam poetry does not have to be so serious. Every poem does not have to contain ground-breaking, earth-moving and heaven-shattering lines that cut guts like machetes. Not every poem has to drive home the sheer pain or pure anguish you feel burning your insides. Not that those things are bad! But they're used a lot. And I'm really all about being an individual. Your poem should be written about something you want to write about. Otherwise its just fake. Its plastic. It sure ain't timeless.
0 Comments
|