nucking futz. Grrrr…
Anyway: recent furor over on the slam list leaves me so bored that I think I’ve finally realized how distant I am from any care about “the future of slam”.
I just simply don’t care. I didn’t think I’d ever get there completely, but I think I’m there.
What I care about is poetry, and about more specifically about the art of “poetry, performed” as Guy would have it — and slam, and esp. NPS, is such a minuscule and increasingly self-referential and redundant part of the whole that I can’t waste my time on it.
Poetry is my religion. The search for myself in the pursuit of a poem through the twin disciplines of writing and performance/audience connection are the solitary and communal aspects of this religion.
To my eyes, slam and PSI/NPS are becoming increasingly focused on poetry in performance for its entertainment value, along with its corollary assumption that when it comes to entertainment, bigger is always better.
It’s not.
The fact that the 3×5 format allows 80 teams into the game is seen by so many as so important…I think it’s secondary.
What PSI/NPS SHOULD be focusing on is: how do you create a better experience for the audience?
It ain’t by increasing the number of poets, but by raising the bar. And anyone who’s watched the NPS over the last few years would be pardoned for thinking that the bar has not just not been raised, but has actually been lowered by the growth of a slam poet culture, where the slammers have grown up entirely within slam and only know poetry as it is practiced within slam.
At any rate…no more. Not for me.
Dark Matter 
April 12th, 2004 at 2:12 pm
Re: The thing is,
“The point being — you don’t NEED slam to run a performance poetry venue”
Absolutely, Tony. You’ve been to Newark’s reading – which I think is a perfect example.
April 12th, 2004 at 2:12 pm
Re: The thing is,
“The point being — you don’t NEED slam to run a performance poetry venue”
Absolutely, Tony. You’ve been to Newark’s reading – which I think is a perfect example.
April 12th, 2004 at 11:07 am
The thing is,
Worcester’s poetry scene and performance ethic — heck, the Asylum itself — WAY predates slam in Worcester.
And certainly the Lizard Lounge took forever to become a slam venue.
The point being — you don’t NEED slam to run a performance poetry venue.
April 12th, 2004 at 11:07 am
The thing is,
Worcester’s poetry scene and performance ethic — heck, the Asylum itself — WAY predates slam in Worcester.
And certainly the Lizard Lounge took forever to become a slam venue.
The point being — you don’t NEED slam to run a performance poetry venue.
April 12th, 2004 at 10:30 am
The fact that the 3×5 format allows 80 teams into the game is seen by so many as so important…I think it’s secondary.
What PSI/NPS SHOULD be focusing on is: how do you create a better experience for the audience?
You mean we PSI should be trying to focus on quality over quantity? Heaven forbid they sacrifice the egos of the poets for the entertainment for the audience. It’s not as though poetry slam is supposed to bring poetry to the people, it’s supposed to bring acclaim to the slammers. At least that’s the message I’ve been getting over the last couple of years.
I hope we’re all wrong, and that Taylor’s idea shall somehow right the canoe that Russel Simmons helped tip over. BUt that hope is not going to keep me from taking my oxygen tank off.
What’s most frustrating to me is that, on the local level, I love the slam. If one is run correctly, it gives as much back as a poet is willing to put in. Worcester has a fuin, eclectic poetry scene, The Lizard Lounge has an inviting performance scene, and under Simone’s reign, I hope that the Cantab will cease to be a political snarking scene and become a diverse poetry scene. I go to slams nearly every week because I often encounter something new when I attend. It’s not always good, but it’s often different. I haven’t encountered anything innovative at an NPS apart from, and Rives in 2002.
I’m going to try to do my part to change that this year, be it as poet or coach. Poems about poetry shall be outlawed. Anyone caught giving the origin or proper usage of terms like retard, nigger, or faggot will be forced to read real poets like Mark Doty and Phyllis Wheatley until they learn the gift of subtlety. Anyone trying to be Saul Williams will be strapped into a theatre Clockwork Orange style and forced to watch Saul’s performance on The Chris Rock show.
/proclamation
April 12th, 2004 at 10:30 am
The fact that the 3×5 format allows 80 teams into the game is seen by so many as so important…I think it’s secondary.
What PSI/NPS SHOULD be focusing on is: how do you create a better experience for the audience?
You mean we PSI should be trying to focus on quality over quantity? Heaven forbid they sacrifice the egos of the poets for the entertainment for the audience. It’s not as though poetry slam is supposed to bring poetry to the people, it’s supposed to bring acclaim to the slammers. At least that’s the message I’ve been getting over the last couple of years.
I hope we’re all wrong, and that Taylor’s idea shall somehow right the canoe that Russel Simmons helped tip over. BUt that hope is not going to keep me from taking my oxygen tank off.
What’s most frustrating to me is that, on the local level, I love the slam. If one is run correctly, it gives as much back as a poet is willing to put in. Worcester has a fuin, eclectic poetry scene, The Lizard Lounge has an inviting performance scene, and under Simone’s reign, I hope that the Cantab will cease to be a political snarking scene and become a diverse poetry scene. I go to slams nearly every week because I often encounter something new when I attend. It’s not always good, but it’s often different. I haven’t encountered anything innovative at an NPS apart from, and Rives in 2002.
I’m going to try to do my part to change that this year, be it as poet or coach. Poems about poetry shall be outlawed. Anyone caught giving the origin or proper usage of terms like retard, nigger, or faggot will be forced to read real poets like Mark Doty and Phyllis Wheatley until they learn the gift of subtlety. Anyone trying to be Saul Williams will be strapped into a theatre Clockwork Orange style and forced to watch Saul’s performance on The Chris Rock show.
/proclamation
April 12th, 2004 at 9:19 am
Anyway: recent furor over on the slam list leaves me so bored that I think I’ve finally realized how distant I am from any care about “the future of slam”.
here here.
April 12th, 2004 at 9:19 am
Anyway: recent furor over on the slam list leaves me so bored that I think I’ve finally realized how distant I am from any care about “the future of slam”.
here here.
April 12th, 2004 at 9:09 am
Re: you know
Here it is:
INFORMATION
We’ll be devoting an entire issue of The Worcester Review to the art of performance poetry. This review will be published in time to be on sale at the iWPS in Worcester in February of 2005.
The Worcester Review is a VERY prestigious journal distributed nationally and internationally. It has consistently published the work of some of the finest poets in the world, celebrating and adding to a long tradition of the appreciation of fine poetry in Worcester.
More information about the review is found at: http://www.geocities.com/Paris/LeftBank/6433/
We’re honored to have the Review devoting an entire issue (estimate, 128 pages) to the art of performance poetry. Plans right now include an accompanying CD!
While we’re going to be soliciting some essays and poems from various people, we’re looking for you to bring your own best work to the table by submitting up to 5 poems according to the guidelines listed below. (Yes, we’re only taking snail mail submissions…sorry.) |
Due to technical considerations, we will not be taking open submissions for the CD as previously stated, but will be soliciting audio of specific poems/poets. Please contact me backchannel for more information.
Poems in languages other than English are invited; due to limited resources available for translation, we would ask that an English translation be provided. Any such poems included will be published in both the original language and English as well.
Previously published poems and simultaneous submissions are fine; however, we would ask that poets refrain from submitting poems that have appeared or will appear in one of the magazines with whom the Worcester Review shares readership (examples: national publications like Ploughshares, regional ones like Diner or Sahara). Check with me if you have specific questions, and we’ll work it out.
There is NO requirement as to whether the poem has been used in an NPS or Regional slam.
We are looking for you to provide your best performance based work, and essays that consider current issues regarding the same.
I’m going to encourage you all to look at sending us work that will stand up on the page as well as on stage. The usual audience for the Review has not traditionally been a performance oriented audience per se; this is a brave departure, and I’d love us to show off our craft in this issue.
I will be one of the co-editors of this issue with Worcester’s own Linda Warren. I can tell you that we’re both excited as hell about this.
PLEASE do not hesitate to let me know of any questions you have…we’ll make sure answers are as prompt as possible, and communicated effectively through this channel and others as is appropriate.
The Worcester Review
The Worcester Review is an annual perfect-bound literary volume drawing on national and international submissions. Special issues focused on the lives and work of poets with strong ties to Worcester include Elizabeth Bishop, Stanley Kunitz, Charles Olson, Frank O’Hara, Etheridge Knight and Donald Baker.
Call for Submissions:
The Worcester Review is looking for submissions for a special issue on Slam Poetry to be released in conjunction with the National Individual Slam competition to be held in Worcester in February of 2005.
We are looking for poetry that works both on and off the page and essays which coherently examine aspects of slam and performance poetry so that our readers may have a clear understanding of all sides of the genre.
Submissions should be marked and mailed with SASE to:
Slam Poetry Special Issue, c/o Linda Warren, Editor, The Worcester Review, 6 Chatham St., Worcester, MA 01609. Deadline, June 1, 2004.
April 12th, 2004 at 9:09 am
Re: you know
Here it is:
INFORMATION
We’ll be devoting an entire issue of The Worcester Review to the art of performance poetry. This review will be published in time to be on sale at the iWPS in Worcester in February of 2005.
The Worcester Review is a VERY prestigious journal distributed nationally and internationally. It has consistently published the work of some of the finest poets in the world, celebrating and adding to a long tradition of the appreciation of fine poetry in Worcester.
More information about the review is found at: http://www.geocities.com/Paris/LeftBank/6433/
We’re honored to have the Review devoting an entire issue (estimate, 128 pages) to the art of performance poetry. Plans right now include an accompanying CD!
While we’re going to be soliciting some essays and poems from various people, we’re looking for you to bring your own best work to the table by submitting up to 5 poems according to the guidelines listed below. (Yes, we’re only taking snail mail submissions…sorry.) |
Due to technical considerations, we will not be taking open submissions for the CD as previously stated, but will be soliciting audio of specific poems/poets. Please contact me backchannel for more information.
Poems in languages other than English are invited; due to limited resources available for translation, we would ask that an English translation be provided. Any such poems included will be published in both the original language and English as well.
Previously published poems and simultaneous submissions are fine; however, we would ask that poets refrain from submitting poems that have appeared or will appear in one of the magazines with whom the Worcester Review shares readership (examples: national publications like Ploughshares, regional ones like Diner or Sahara). Check with me if you have specific questions, and we’ll work it out.
There is NO requirement as to whether the poem has been used in an NPS or Regional slam.
We are looking for you to provide your best performance based work, and essays that consider current issues regarding the same.
I’m going to encourage you all to look at sending us work that will stand up on the page as well as on stage. The usual audience for the Review has not traditionally been a performance oriented audience per se; this is a brave departure, and I’d love us to show off our craft in this issue.
I will be one of the co-editors of this issue with Worcester’s own Linda Warren. I can tell you that we’re both excited as hell about this.
PLEASE do not hesitate to let me know of any questions you have…we’ll make sure answers are as prompt as possible, and communicated effectively through this channel and others as is appropriate.
The Worcester Review
The Worcester Review is an annual perfect-bound literary volume drawing on national and international submissions. Special issues focused on the lives and work of poets with strong ties to Worcester include Elizabeth Bishop, Stanley Kunitz, Charles Olson, Frank O’Hara, Etheridge Knight and Donald Baker.
Call for Submissions:
The Worcester Review is looking for submissions for a special issue on Slam Poetry to be released in conjunction with the National Individual Slam competition to be held in Worcester in February of 2005.
We are looking for poetry that works both on and off the page and essays which coherently examine aspects of slam and performance poetry so that our readers may have a clear understanding of all sides of the genre.
Submissions should be marked and mailed with SASE to:
Slam Poetry Special Issue, c/o Linda Warren, Editor, The Worcester Review, 6 Chatham St., Worcester, MA 01609. Deadline, June 1, 2004.
April 12th, 2004 at 9:06 am
Re: you know
Right, the journal. Specs again, please.
April 12th, 2004 at 9:06 am
Re: you know
Right, the journal. Specs again, please.
April 12th, 2004 at 9:01 am
Re: you know
Well, at least you’ll get a shot to put your stamp on it as you go.
I’m done with NPS, of course; Chicago was it for me. I let my PSI membership lapse (and I was a Booster, so I hope that sent a message).
I’ll contribute my bit to iWPS in Worcester, I’ll edit the journal, and then it’s a last kiss off.
April 12th, 2004 at 9:01 am
Re: you know
Well, at least you’ll get a shot to put your stamp on it as you go.
I’m done with NPS, of course; Chicago was it for me. I let my PSI membership lapse (and I was a Booster, so I hope that sent a message).
I’ll contribute my bit to iWPS in Worcester, I’ll edit the journal, and then it’s a last kiss off.
April 12th, 2004 at 8:53 am
you know
This has been my main argument all along. Or one of them. Lots of arguments.
Actually, I’m probably done after August 2006.
April 12th, 2004 at 8:53 am
you know
This has been my main argument all along. Or one of them. Lots of arguments.
Actually, I’m probably done after August 2006.