Tell your parents that you went to a slam last night, and there's a good chance they will look at you like you are speaking a different language. In a way, you are. Unlike the traditional sonnets and limericks that your parents studied in high school, and that you were likely exposed to as well, slam poetry has no limitations. A genre that has been developing for decades now, it seamlessly blends lyricism, poetry, raw emotion, and performance aspects together to create an explosive experience that is hard to ignore or resist. To best understand the impact of slam poetry, we must first look at what it is, before turning to why it is so powerful, and finally examining its potential uses in the future.
First and foremost, you may be wondering what in the world slam poetry technically is. This is a difficult question to address, as most slam poetry defies definition. For some poets, it sounds like a rap, and with other poets, it takes on a prose like quality. Some performers deliver their verse in a rhythmic fashion, while others rely on their turns of phrase and alliteration to carry their spoken word. A simple explanation would state that slam poetry is a form of free verse that is written with intent to be orally delivered. For this reason, it is difficult to give any example of what a slam might look like, as the best way to comprehend is to watch a performance. If you Google slam poetry, you are likely to find a myriad of performances by some of the best slam poets in the nation. That's a start.
Why is slam poetry so powerful? One of the reasons it has such an impact is because it is specifically written to do so. While some poetry is written with the intent of displaying literary talent or to paint a picture of an emotion, slam poetry takes a different approach. Because the slams are written for performance, the words are arranged in such a way that the performer can reel you into actually feeling what they feel through pacing, articulation, intonation and emphasis. It is not unusual for a slam poet to sing a line or two of their piece, or deliver it like something close to a stand up routine. The poetry is meant to be interpreted, making it an emotional experience no matter how you spin it.
Slam poetry could have meaningful implications for the future. To begin with, we are already seeing groups using it as a means of outreach. Greenhouse Communications, an organization based in Bowling Green, Kentucky, travels the country, performing in prisons and outreach centers. Their poetry is based on life experiences, and rising above challenges. They use the poetry as part of a program that aims to teach people to use their creativity as a means of emotional outlet. They also travel to schools throughout Kentucky and Tennessee, performing for students in middle and high school. Their programs there are about teaching kids to love poetry again, possibly fostering a whole new generation of poets who can make meaningful contributions to the literary world. With implications like these, slam poetry is certainly worth a listen.