Slam poetry, also known as spoken-word poetry or performance poetry, is the act of a poet performing a memorised or unmemorised original poem for an audience. I’m interested in uncovering the community behind, and the purposefulness of slam poetry videos online.
In our postmodern world, that is infused in a booming technological age, we are as disconnected as a society, as ever. It is perplexing to me that some perceive poetry best left dead, dated and buried with the likes of Shakespeare and E.B.B, when likely, we need strong poetry communities to connect us now, more than ever. Online slam (poetry) brings together a global community of poets and audiences who collaboratively; share new ideas, grapple with social justice issues, confront history, and empathise with human stories. I really believe slam poetry gifts the tools needed to start uncomfortable, necessary conversations, including those to tear down mental health stigma. Slam is important because it teaches and informs the audience about significant causes that effect our current world, (like feminism, racism, homophobia and xenophobia) and crucially, from the storytellers who experience these issues intimately.
There are slam communities scattered worldwide but the most known, and leading slam channel on Youtube is Button Poetry (U.S). BP generates over 10,000 views a week across daily uploads (an impressive feat for poetry in the modern era). The total channel views extend over 271,740,000 since it’s birth in 2011.
Locally, Bankstown Poetry Slam, that (without COVID) traditionally holds a slam every month, uploads content on their Instagram and YouTube channel. The audience connects to live events on Facebook, and supports the live slam on an Instagram stream or live video stories posted if they can’t make it in person. The main demographic for poets and audience at BPS is widely Muslim and POC poets who set the room on fire with their stories. However, the audience online is inclusive to all public.
I believe in-depth observation and research into online slam and it’s worldwide communities will reveal the positive effects it has on its participants, especially audience members who use the platform to seek comfort in, and navigate through personal issues. I also want to discover the real-time effects that both sprouting and seasoned slam poets alike experience from the community.
References
Benaim, S., 2014. Button Poetry: Sabrina Benaim – Explaining My Depression to My Mother. Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqu4ezLQEUA>.
Francisco, R., 2018. Button Poetry: Rudy Francisco. Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld95X59WTbw>.
Mansour, S., 2018. “My Australia” – Sara Mansour | Spoken Word Poetry | Bankstown Poetry Slam. Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q77yakmwgM8>.
internet kid 