[quote]”There is no such thing as slam poetry. There is only the poetry slam.
~Marc Smith, founder of the slam movement[/quote]
The slam movement is over 25 years old, yet there is still little consensus around what slam poetry is, or if it exists as a distinct poetic form. Taylor Mali has attempted to define slam poetry as a high-energy presentation of accessible writing. Still, this definition creates as many questions as it answers. What sort of writing can be considered ‘accessible’, and who is it ‘accessible’ to?
Chris Gilpin will moderate the discussion. He will be joined by Julie Peters, Leah Horlick, and Ikenna ‘OpenSecret’ Okyegbula. Together they will analyze the many ways in which the word ‘Slam’ is used and the perceptions and misperceptions caused by the term ‘Slam Poetry’. There will be an extended Q & A session so that the audience can participate in the discussion.
Chris Gilpin has extensively researched the history of the Vancouver Poetry Slam, culminating in the publication of his two part essay on the first 15 years of Van Slam in the Canadian Review of Literature in Performance in 2011. He is the Co-Director of Verses Festival of Words.
Julie Peters holds a Masters in Canadian Poetry from McGill. Twice, she has won the right to represent Vancouver at the Women of the World Poetry Slam. She is a prolific blogger, writing on health, sexuality, and poetry.
Leah Horlick is the Poetry Editor of PRISM international. Leah’s first collection of poetry, Riot Lung, was released by Thistledown Press in fall 2012. She has also participated in the Vancouver Poetry Slam.
Ikenna ‘OpenSecret’ Okyegbula is the 2011 Canadian Individual Poetry Slam champion and a 2009 CFSW Team Slam champion. He is also the festival director of YouthCanSlam, the first-ever national youth team slam championships, which will launch in Ottawa in the summer of 2013.
[box]This show is All Ages.[/box]