The Spoken Word Revolution: Slam, Hip Hop & the Poetry of a New Generation (A Poetry Speaks Experience) - Softcover

Eleveld, Mark

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1402202466 ISBN 13: 9781402202469

Publisher: Sourcebooks MediaFusion, 2005

Synopsis

"A dynamic and clarifying volume chock-full of fresh and informative commentary...and an exciting array of knock-out poems."

―Booklist Starred Review

"Accompanied by a terrific CD that showcases the great variety of styles performance poetry embraces, from the purest of recitations to seductive musical presentations, this dynamic anthology embodies the thrilling and mutually beneficial rapprochement between the traditionalists and the slammers, something that seemed about as likely 10 years ago as that proverbial cold day in hell."

―Chicago Tribune

The Spoken Word Revolution brings to life the written and performed works of more than 40 of the most influential slam, hip hop, performance art and contemporary poets in the world today. This defining collection of spoken word poetry captures today's electrifying words and voices, in text and immediately live on one audio CD.

About this title

About the Author

Mark Eleveld is copublisher at EM Press and a board member of the Midland Authors Society in Chicago. He is a freelance writer and book reviewer for the Kankakee Daily Journal in Illinois. Mark Eleveld did press relations for poet Marc Smith from 1993 to 1996. He teaches English at Joliet West High School and is a philosophy instructor at the University of St. Francis in Illinois.

Few people can say that they single-handedly created a whole new art form. Marc Smith is one of those people. Since Marc began the Poetry Slam in 1987, competitive performance poetry has spread throughout the world. Through his creation of the Uptown Poetry Slam and many poetry organizations and ensembles such as the Pong Unit One, the Bob Shakespeare Band, Neutral Turf’s Chicago Poetry Festival and the Poetic Theatre Project, Marc has influenced and inspired poets to shake off the notion that poetry belongs only to the high-minded. Author of Crowdpleasers, Marc has performed poetry to more than one hundred thousand people during his sixteen-year-strong weekly show at the Green Mill Lounge in Chicago. He lives in Chicago.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

From the Publisher

When Sourcebooks MediaFusion published Poetry Speaks in the fall of 2001, the overwhelming reception to that book-and-audio-CD compilation opened up a world of possibilities for this publisher. One of the immediate outcomes of that success was the opportunity to work with Mark Eleveld and Marc Smith on The Spoken Word Revolution. Where Poetry Speaks focused on historic poets whose work long ago became part of the canon, Spoken Word delves into the living, churning, vibrant world of one of today's most widespread and acclaimed forms of poetry-spoken word.

Spoken word encompasses many movements, yet they all share a common credo-namely, that their poetry is designed to be performed in front of an audience. While no one could claim to have the "definitive" collection of slam, hip hop, and other spoken word styles-the art form is still kicking, breathing, and evolving-this book aims to introduce you to the art with a diverse array of extraordinary talent.

As with any art form that places oral performance at its core, it is essential that you hear the performances, which is why we've included a seventy-five-minute audio CD narrated by slam founder Marc Smith. The spoken word movement recognizes that to be a vital, relevant part of our culture, poetry must spread beyond the classroom and reach people where they live. Poetry was originally an oral art form-and a popular one. Spoken word returns to poetry's roots, and we revel in the opportunity to be a part of today's revolution.

Edition details

• Publisher: Sourcebooks MediaFusion
• Publication date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1402202466
• ISBN 13: 9781402202469
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 256