Slam: Literary Fad or Movement

From: Don McIver
Length: 58:54

In the 80's Marc Smith invented the Poetry Slam, which has swept the country and created a spoken word revolution. Read the full description.

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Playing: Slam: Literary Fad or Movement
From: Don McIver

Smalllogo_small Tired of going to poetry readings where the poet just read and wasn't accountable to the audience, Marc Smith invented the Poetry Slam. Since then, the Slam has expanded and created a national movement, with the finals to the 2005 National Poetry Slam selling out a 2,400 seat theater and a 4 day attendance of 18,000. Join Slam Poet and award winning producer Don McIver on a journey through Slam as he talks with some of the early practitioners: Marc Smith, Patricia Smith, Taylor Mali, Gary Mex Glazner, and Danny Solis. They discuss the origins of Slam, its importance as a way of introducing people to poetry, and criticize its development as it becomes more culturally and financially viable.

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Piece Description

Tired of going to poetry readings where the poet just read and wasn't accountable to the audience, Marc Smith invented the Poetry Slam. Since then, the Slam has expanded and created a national movement, with the finals to the 2005 National Poetry Slam selling out a 2,400 seat theater and a 4 day attendance of 18,000. Join Slam Poet and award winning producer Don McIver on a journey through Slam as he talks with some of the early practitioners: Marc Smith, Patricia Smith, Taylor Mali, Gary Mex Glazner, and Danny Solis. They discuss the origins of Slam, its importance as a way of introducing people to poetry, and criticize its development as it becomes more culturally and financially viable.