The Cultural Politics of Slam Poetry: Race, Identity, and the Performance of Popular Verse in America (Anthropology series)

How do slam poets and their audiences reflect the politics of difference? | "For a lucid and thorough 'real-world' analysis of the movement from the ground-up—including its history, aesthetics, and culture, there is surely no better place to start than Somers-Willett's trailblazing book." —- Jerome Sala, Pleiades "Finally, a clear, accurate, and thoroughly researched examination of slam poetry, a movement begun in 1984 by a mixed bag of nobody poets in Chicago. At conception, slam poetry espoused universal humanistic ideals and a broad spectrum of participants, and especially welcome is the book's analysis of how commercial marketing forces succeeded in narrowing public perception of slam to the factionalized politics of race and identity. The author's knowledge of American slam at the national level is solid and more authentic than many of the slammers who claim to be." —-Marc Kelly Smith, founder/creator of the International Poetry Slam movement The cultural phenomenon known as slam poetry was born some twenty years ago in white working-class Chicago barrooms. Since then, the raucous competitions have spread internationally, launching a number of annual tournaments, inspiring a generation of young poets, and spawning a commercial empire in which poetry and hip-hop merge. The Cultural Politics of Slam Poetry is the first critical book to take an in-depth look at slam, shedding light on the relationships that slam poets build with their audiences through race and identity performance and revealing how poets come to celebrate (and at times exploit) the politics of difference in American culture. With a special focus on African American poets, Susan B. A. Somers-Willett explores the pros and cons of identity representation in the commercial arena of spoken word poetry and, in doing so, situates slam within a history of verse performance, from blackface minstrelsy to Def Poetry. What's revealed is a race-based dynamic of authenticity lying at the heart of American culture. Rather than being mere reflections of culture, Somers-Willett argues, slams are culture—-sites where identities and political values get publicly refigured and exchanged between poets and audiences. Susan B. A. Somers-Willett is a decade-long veteran of slam and teaches creative writing and poetics as an Assistant Professor of English at Montclair State University. She is the author of two books of poetry, Quiver and Roam . Visit the author's website at: http://www.susansw.com/. Photo by Jennifer Lacy. "Finally, a clear, accurate, and thoroughly researched examination of slam poetry, a movement begun in 1984 by a mixed bag of nobody poets in Chicago. At conception, slam poetry espoused universal humanistic ideals and a broad spectrum of participants, and especially welcome is the book's analysis of how commercial marketing forces succeeded in narrowing public perception of slam to the factionalized politics of race and identity. The author's knowledge of American slam at the national level is solid and more authentic than many of the slammers who claim to be."---Marc Kelly Smith, founder/creator of the International Poetry Slam movement The cultural phenomenon known as slam poetry was born some twenty years ago in white working-class Chicago barrooms. Since then, the raucous competitions have spread internationally, launching a number of annual tournaments, inspiring a generation of young poets, and spawning a commercial empire in which poetry and hip-hop merge.The Cultural Politics of Slam Poetryis the first critical book to take an in-depth look at slam, shedding light on the relationships that slam poets build with their audiences through race and identity performance and revealing how poets come to celebrate (and at times exploit) the politics of difference in American culture.With a special focus on African American poets, Susan B. A. Somers-Willett explores the pros and cons of identity representation in the commercial arena of spoken word poetry and, in doing so, situates slam within a history of verse performance, from blackface minstrelsy toDef Poetry.What's revealed is a race-based dynamic of authenticity lying at the heart of American culture. Rather than being mere reflections of culture, Somers-Willett argues, slams are culture---sites where identities and political values get publicly refigured and exchanged between poets and audiences.Susan B. A. Somers-Willett is a decade-long veteran of slam and holds a PhD in American Literature and an MA in creative writing from the University of Texas at Austin. She has taught at Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Illinois, and the University of Texas and is the author of two books of poetry,QuiverandRoam. Visit the author's website at: http://www.susansw.com/.Photo by Jennifer Lacy

The cultural phenomenon known as slam poetry was born some twenty years ago in white working-class Chicago barrooms. Since then, the raucous competitions have spread internationally, launching a number of annual tournaments, inspiring a generation of young poets, and spawning a commercial empire in which poetry and hip-hop merge.

The Cultural Politics of Slam Poetry is the first critical book to take an in-depth look at slam, shedding light on the relationships that slam poets build with their audiences through race and identity performance, and revealing how poets come to celebrate (and at times exploit) the politics of difference in American culture.

With a special focus on African American poets, Susan B. A. Somers-Willett explores the pros and cons of identity representation in the commercial arena of spoken word poetry and, in doing so, situates slam within a history of verse performance, from blackface minstrelsy to Def Poetry. What's revealed is a race-based dynamic of authenticity lying at the heart of American culture. Rather than being mere reflections of culture, Somers-Willett argues, slams are culture—sites where identities and political values get publicly re-figured and exchanged between poets and audiences.

Susan B. A. Somers-Willett is a decade-long veteran of slam and holds a PhD in American Literature and an MA in creative writing from the University of Texas at Austin. She has taught at Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Illinois, and the University of Texas and is the author of two books of poetry, Quiver and Roam.

The Cultural Phenomenon Known As Slam Poetry Was Born Some Twenty Years Ago In White Working-class Chicago Barrooms. Since Then, The Raucous Competitions Have Spread Internationally, Launching A Number Of Annual Tournaments, Inspiring A Generation Of Young Poets, And Spawning A Commercial Empire In Which Poetry And Hip-hop Merge. The Cultural Politics Of Slam Poetry Is The First Critical Book To Take An In-depth Look At Slam, Shedding Light On The Relationships That Slam Poets Build With Their Audiences Through Race And Identity Performance And Revealing How Poets Come To Celebrate (and At Times Exploit) The Politics Of Difference In American Culture. With A Special Focus On African American Poets, Susan B.a. Somers-willett Explores The Pros And Cons Of Identity Representation In The Commercial Arena Of Spoken Word Poetry And, In Doing So, Situates Slam Within A History Of Verse Performance, From Blackface Minstrelsy To Def Poetry.--book Cover. On Page And Stage: Slam Poetry As A Genre -- Poetry And The People: The Cultural Tensions Of American Popular Verse In Performance -- I Sing The Body Authentic: Slam Poetry And The Cultural Politics Of Performing Identity -- Commercial Niggas Like Me: Spoken Word Poetry, Hip-hop, And The Racial Politics Of Going Mainstream. Susan B. A. Somers-willett. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 169-178) And Index. Contents......Page 14 Introduction: Slam and the Search for Poetry’s Great Audience......Page 16 1. On Page and Stage: Slam Poetry as a Genre......Page 31 2. Poetry and the People: The Cultural Tensions of American Popular Verse in Performance......Page 54 3. I Sing the Body Authentic: Slam Poetry and the Cultural Politics of Performing Identity......Page 83 4. "Commercial Niggas Like Me": Spoken Word Poetry, Hip-Hop, and the Racial Politics of Going Mainstream......Page 111 Epilogue: "Designs for Living"—Notes on the Future of Slam Poetry......Page 149 Appendix......Page 154 Document 1: The Official Rules of National Poetry Slam Competition......Page 156 Document 2: The Official National Poetry Slam "Emcee Spiel"......Page 164 Document 3: The Official National Poetry Slam Instructions for Judges......Page 165 Notes......Page 168 Bibliography......Page 184 Index......Page 194 Kenneth A. Rice. Bibliography: P. 251-253.