What's the Word? Poetry in Performance

From: Modern Language Association
Length: 29:48

From Homer to slam, the special appeal of poetry in performance. Read the full description.

Piece Audio

Playing: What's the Word? Poetry in Performance
From: Modern Language Association

Pinskybyvanotteren_small There is a resurgence of interest in the public performance of poetry. On this show we hear about the oral tradition from Homer to slam poetry, and 39th Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky talks about his campaign to revive interest in poetry by having Americans record their favorite poems for the Library of Congress archives. John Miles Foley looks at the tradition of spoken poetry in the form of the oral epic, and poet Phil West brings us up to date on slam poetry-a live, interactive poetry performance event that began in the mid 1980s. Well-suited to National Poetry Month in April. Thirty-second promo available. Photo: Robert Pinsky, 39th Poet Laureate Photo Credit: Julia Van Otteren

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Piece Description

There is a resurgence of interest in the public performance of poetry. On this show we hear about the oral tradition from Homer to slam poetry, and 39th Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky talks about his campaign to revive interest in poetry by having Americans record their favorite poems for the Library of Congress archives. John Miles Foley looks at the tradition of spoken poetry in the form of the oral epic, and poet Phil West brings us up to date on slam poetry-a live, interactive poetry performance event that began in the mid 1980s. Well-suited to National Poetry Month in April. Thirty-second promo available. Photo: Robert Pinsky, 39th Poet Laureate Photo Credit: Julia Van Otteren