A Short History of Spoken Word Poetry | Spoken Word Archive

Summary

The spoken word poetry movement has a rich history, originating from jazz poetry of the 1920s and evolving through the Beat Generation to become a powerful voice for counterculture in the 1960s. It has influenced and been influenced by various art forms, including political black poetry, which laid the groundwork for hip-hop, and comedy poetry in the cabaret scene. With the advent of slams and online platforms, spoken word has reached global audiences, inspiring activism and artistic expression. Today, poets headline festivals and go viral, keeping the tradition alive and exploring new frontiers like digital media.

Takeaways

• 🎭 The spoken word poetry movement has a rich history of entertaining and connecting communities across cultures.
• 🎼 Performance poetry originated from jazz poetry of the 1920s and was further developed by the Beat Generation in the late 1950s.
• 🇬🇧 Beat poetry reached the UK in the 1960s, where it became a voice for counterculture in both the US and the UK.
• 📢 Spoken word served as a powerful medium for protest and artistic expression during the Civil Rights Movement in the US.
• 🖊️ Political black poetry in the 60s and 70s laid the groundwork for the emergence of hip-hop in the US.
• 🇬🇧 The UK's 'ranting poets' mirrored the anti-establishment sentiments of the punk movement through their poetry.
• 🍎 In 1982, Apples and Snakes was established in London, marking a significant development in the spoken word scene.
• 🏆 The first poetry slam occurred in Chicago in 1984, introducing a competitive element to spoken word performances.
• 🎭 Spoken word has evolved into a melting pot of influences from various art forms, including dub poetry from the Jamaican reggae scene.
• 🎤 Comedy poetry and solo poetry shows became prevalent in the cabaret scene and expanded the reach of spoken word in the 1990s.
• 🌐 With the advent of the internet, spoken word poets gained global visibility, amassing millions of views and inspiring a new generation of poets.

Q & A

What is the significance of stories in human history and cultures?

Stories have been essential throughout human history and across cultures for entertainment and to connect communities.

What is the spoken word poetry movement?

The spoken word poetry movement is a powerful performance style that has spread globally since the mid-20th century, encompassing performance poetry or spoken word.

What historical period did spoken word poetry emerge from?

Spoken word poetry emerged from the jazz poetry of the 1920s and the subsequent experiments of the Beat Generation writers in the late 1950s.

How did spoken word poetry find its way to the UK?

Spoken word poetry, specifically beat poetry, made its way to the UK in the 1960s.

What role did spoken word play during the US Civil Rights Movement?

During the US Civil Rights Movement, spoken word served as a powerful format for protest and artistic expression.

How did political black poetry contribute to the development of hip-hop in the US?

Political black poetry in the 1960s and 70s laid the foundations for hip-hop in the US by providing a voice for social and political commentary.

What was the significance of Apples and Snakes' founding in 1982?

Apples and Snakes, founded in 1982 in a London pub, marked a significant development in the spoken word scene, providing a platform for performance poets.

When and where did the first poetry slam take place?

The first poetry slam took place in Chicago in 1984, marking a new competitive aspect of spoken word performances.

How has spoken word poetry incorporated influences from other art forms?

Spoken word has become a melting pot of influences, including dub poetry from the Jamaican reggae scene and comedy poetry from the cabaret scene.

What is the impact of online platforms on spoken word poetry in the late 2000s?

Online platforms in the late 2000s allowed spoken word poets to reach thousands and then millions of views, inspiring more people and bringing poetry into homes worldwide.

What is the current status of spoken word poets in the world?

Currently, spoken word poets are headlining festivals, going viral on the internet, and continuing the tradition of activism.

What could be potential future developments for spoken word poetry?

The future of spoken word poetry could include innovative platforms such as poems in space, poet robots, or poems on the ocean floor.