Generally I agree that slams are awful - and give kids the wrong idea about poetry ( though what doesn't?). I have been to some slams in Europe that were more diverse with (extremely) 'serious' 'literary' poets as some of it's contestants. Slams (perhaps) arose because of an anti-elitist sentiment that of wanting some theatricality to be brought to the thing - which isn't altogether a bad, many poetry readings are a little over-reverential and dry and a little of the tools slammers use applied to the right content and with integrity is what is needed from performances sometimes I think. Those who tread the middle ground and have both content, and more 'showy' performance - maybe Anthony Joseph, (who else? LKJ?) someone who can 'do both.' Performance 'skillsets' and thoughtful poetry not should not be mutually exclusive I don't think. Wither the Troubadours and Oral Tradition??
|