My Problem With People Who Have a Problem With Poetry Slams

[scottwoods]

In the most recent issue of Columbus Monthly (October 2010), columnist Jory Farr penned an article entitled “My Problem With Poetry Slams”. Being not only a poet but someone who runs a poetry slam in the magazine’s target area and demographic, I was certainly curious to see what he had to say. Beyond that, I am the president of the only national-

Comments

[ext_279018]

Although I run an open mic, I think it maintains priorities that are very similar to what you were mentioning about slam.

I take pride in allowing anyone who dares to share something with us, the opportunity to do so. If they dare to run the risk of embarrassing themselves in between accomplished poets who have been published around the world or winning slam titles (we get all kinds), then I am anxious to hear what they bring to the table.

As it turns out, most of them don't suck and they add a lot to our readings. As for the occasional "bad poet" I just hope they pay attention to the impressive writing that they're getting exposed to. And maybe it will push them to get better and better.

[scottwoods]

Excellent points! I think part of what you said is the rub for me here: it's not Slam's fault he heard poetry he didn't like. I hear poetry I don't like all the time at regular ol' open mics. Where's the news in that?

[johnnylexicon]

If there’s anything worse than dubious celebrity, it‘s reciting a poem, about it.

If there's anything worse than someone publicly picking on slam, it's someone publicly picking on slam after it's already become a cliche. Come on, Columbus Monthly! Considering that Slam is still a fringe artistic movement, do we really need to taken to task by a jealous page poet again? Did poetry suddenly become such a hugely popular form of entertainment in America that a little petty infighting will strengthen it?

[scottwoods]

Grr!

Seriously, I don't begrudge anyone their opinion so long as I feel it comes from a place of fairness. I'll even let you not have the best intentions of the subject at heart if I think you'll at least try to be fair.

[louiserobertson]

You can't tell from the quotes here, but there is one thing the article didn't do that speaks to slam growing up: he didn't outline the rules, or sketch the procedure. The columnist assumed those who read the article would what a poetry slam is.

[givemelaughter]

nice observation.

[monkeypudding]

"Where else can anyone from any walk of life go - from the crackhead to the college professor to the lesbian pregnant mother, and I have seen them all - and truly be heard on their own merits like they can at a poetry open mic?"

This is my favourite thing about poetry slams. Literally anyone can walk in off the street, sign up and read. And I think this is the thing that irks so many folks. Poetry no longer becomes precious, it no longer stays on the bookshelf. It's now let out in the world for ANYONE to do it.

Half the time whether the poetry is good or bad is irrelevant. Especially for that person coming in off the street and doing it for the first time. To me it's the very fact they found the courage to get up on stage in front of strangers and share some part of themselves for everyone to see and then to be judged. To me it's the most exciting part of a poetry slam.

Then of course if they come back you encourage them to get better.

[scottwoods]

Agreed across the board (and border!).

[nerak_g]

Thank you for going off on this.For every one of these becomes a default reference for our ammo. ;-)

[scottwoods]

Looking at it, it's not 100% the way I should have said everything (there is a little too much latitude in my crunching of his local slam math that looks like a beatdown of Will's night that I should have explained better), but it's close enough.

Of course, if anything I say in here surprises anyone then they didn't know me very well before they started reading. ;-)

[campana]

when i read things like this it makes me wish that the mighty mesa slam was still alive.

[scottwoods]

Don't you worry: we keep Mesa's light alive here!