I also wanted to post about the spoken word/poetry slam topic. When we listened to them in class the other day, particularly Jejudo Dreams, I felt like the text had a whole different meaning and a whole different tone than what I imagined it to be (as many others have commented). I have only ever heard one poem done in this style live- so I am not terribly familiar with the style, and could be making assumptions that aren't true based one this one instance. While the spoken aspect of the performance gives insight into how the author felt and provides a sort of framework for the actual words to fit in so that they make sense to us, it strikes me as odd that these performances are so similar in execution. Is there some type of convention that should be followed? My interpretation of this type of work was that it is free flowing and personal.

However, I noticed in the recordings that we listened to, as well as the live perfromance I saw, that the execution techniques are the same. Starting slowly with a quiet, calm voice, the speaker inserts more pauses in the beginning... and gradually builds up to a loud, angry, passionate frenzy of words without pauses- and barely room to take a breath. The same process may occur several times within a poem based upon the inherent sectioning of the work and its themes. Why are they executed this way, in this pattern? Is spoken word truely a form of self -expression, or at least more full of self-expression than text alone, than why are so many executed as though there is some set of unspoken rules that need to be followed.

I think Chin's piece "Slammed" brings up an interesting point about the concept of "victim art" and getting points. He states that, " The pieces I witnessed the poets read were heartbreaking: abuse, incest, rape, gay-bashing, racism, failed relationships. My boyfriend died of AIDS.. give me points..." Is this not how society operates in general? People are always making themselves the victim to gain respect or recognition, or agency in society. Its unfortunate that this is often the only way certain groups, particularly queer groups, are recognized. it is not until you flaunt your pain and suffering in someone's face time and time again that they suddenly realize that something is wrong, that society's outlook on things perhaps needs to be refined. While Chin's comments applied specifically to the slam and to writers, I think it also has a broader interpretation that can be applied to different oppressed groups in society.

--Ashley