Self-censored poems hurt everyone
Something else I hate to see poets do, rant #115:
Self-censored curse words.
What I mean:
I'm listening to the new Les Nubians album*, Echos: Chapter One: "Nubian Voyager", which is a divergence from previous records in that it's not them singing so much as them featuring poets over music. Naturally, once I was made aware of this, I was drawn to the product.
The record overall is a mixed bag, but to get to the point, track 6 is a moody ditty called "Freedom (Live Version)" performed by the poet Queen GodIs.** At 1:13 the poem states:
I mean, I am so fly and free and funky fresh
my flatulations sound like
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep
'Cause this SHHH is just a test.
'Cause this SHHH is just a test.
In case you were wondering, the "SHHH"s in lines 4 and 5 are quotes and yes, they are stand-in vocalizations for the word "shit".
My beef: either say the curse word or do not say the curse word.
These flaccid attempts at good taste don't serve the poem or protect the audience, and they make the poet look unprofessional at best.
The audience knows what you mean. It's not like you switched out the word for one they might not understand or immediately connect to your meaning, like “piles” or “stool”. They know when they listen to the radio and the mix has the profane words spun backwards that they stand for profane words.
Besides: using the word “shit” after the word “flatulence” would give the poem resonance it otherwise lacks. I applaud that the author didn’t use the equally lame “crap”, but SHHH isn’t even a word. It’s half a word. If this were a sound poem I’d give it more latitude. But this isn’t a sound poem…it’s just good old-fashioned censorship.
If you’re at a show and you’ve got a poem you’re very committed to do, or you need to cut a poem for a record but they don’t want The Sticker, then do another poem, cut that part out, or edit it. But don’t make rap video censor noises where words should be.
Either say that shit or do not say that shit.
NOTES
* - Yet another spoken word CD that no one in the spoken word community has said a word about. I mean, come on: Nazelah Jameson makes an appearance on it.
Sigh... See previous rant.
** - You already know what I'm going to insert here, so I won't.
Self-censored curse words.
What I mean:
I'm listening to the new Les Nubians album*, Echos: Chapter One: "Nubian Voyager", which is a divergence from previous records in that it's not them singing so much as them featuring poets over music. Naturally, once I was made aware of this, I was drawn to the product.
The record overall is a mixed bag, but to get to the point, track 6 is a moody ditty called "Freedom (Live Version)" performed by the poet Queen GodIs.** At 1:13 the poem states:
I mean, I am so fly and free and funky fresh
my flatulations sound like
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep
'Cause this SHHH is just a test.
'Cause this SHHH is just a test.
In case you were wondering, the "SHHH"s in lines 4 and 5 are quotes and yes, they are stand-in vocalizations for the word "shit".
My beef: either say the curse word or do not say the curse word.
These flaccid attempts at good taste don't serve the poem or protect the audience, and they make the poet look unprofessional at best.
The audience knows what you mean. It's not like you switched out the word for one they might not understand or immediately connect to your meaning, like “piles” or “stool”. They know when they listen to the radio and the mix has the profane words spun backwards that they stand for profane words.
Besides: using the word “shit” after the word “flatulence” would give the poem resonance it otherwise lacks. I applaud that the author didn’t use the equally lame “crap”, but SHHH isn’t even a word. It’s half a word. If this were a sound poem I’d give it more latitude. But this isn’t a sound poem…it’s just good old-fashioned censorship.
If you’re at a show and you’ve got a poem you’re very committed to do, or you need to cut a poem for a record but they don’t want The Sticker, then do another poem, cut that part out, or edit it. But don’t make rap video censor noises where words should be.
Either say that shit or do not say that shit.
NOTES
* - Yet another spoken word CD that no one in the spoken word community has said a word about. I mean, come on: Nazelah Jameson makes an appearance on it.
Sigh... See previous rant.
** - You already know what I'm going to insert here, so I won't.