"Be prepared to participate. Be prepared for anything."
This is the advice Veronica Harner, an art education sophomore, gives to people that have never been to a poetry slam, an event where poetry is spit out, thrown, huffed, whispered and sung rather than just read.
Marc Smith first created poetry slams in 1986. Since then, they have been putting a competitive edge on the typical coffeehouse performance and creating a greater connection between the audience and the artist by turning listeners into judges.
Tempe and downtown Phoenix are regular hosts to these eclectic performances, boasting weekly slams that are often dominated by poets from ASU.
Shaun Kuter, a senior political science major, says slam poetry has created a new way for him to get his message out to the public.
"Slam is a way for me to give myself a creative outlet," Kuter says. "I've always wanted to be heard more than read, so slam is perfect in that respect."
Harner says she is also a fan of the unique quality of slam compared to that of regular poetry readings. "The idea of people writing poetry that was to be shouted or even rapped when read really intrigued me," she says.
"[Slam poetry] has reawakened my hope for the English language," Harner adds, saying it has changed her writing style and her views on poetry and poets.
Kuter says he is drawn to the modernity of the art. "Slam poetry is accessible poetry. It doesn't ask anyone to conform to a restrictive structure or meter - you don't even have to rhyme. You just have to be yourself and say something meaningful," he says.
After a poet reads his work, audience members rate the poem and performance on a scale of one to 10, with 10 being the highest. Each scorecard pops up in a room full of listeners sprawled on couches or encircling the poet like a small community, and the scores are read.
Audience participation is key, with judges often being chosen at random from the audience as the slam venue fills up. Attendees that aren't judging are encouraged to hassle the scorer if they feel the scorer ha awarded too few points, or cheer for a score with which they agree. Top-rated poets proceed to the next round.
"It might just be verbal masturbation, but I really believe that sometimes I have something substantial to say, and slamming allows me to do that," Kuter says.
Kuter says the majority of poems he uses at slams are about personal experiences. "Mostly [I write about] how I'm not having as much sex as I'd like to," he says.
Harner, on the other hand, slams about both personal and public issues. "I've written about depression, losing my mother, America, politics and being non-heterosexual," she says.
Kuter says he has sold a few books because of his passion and gathered more than a few compliments. "I've had people tell me that I really capture their imagination, that they like the perspective I have, and they think my poems are fresh and funny," he says.
"But at the same time, sometimes you have to treat it as a hobby to be successful; otherwise, you fall in love with your own style and leave yourself no room to improve," Kuter adds.
Whether going to a poetry slam to participate, judge or just watch for the first time, attendees may leave with a new perspective on both the art of poetry and the topics people slam about. "A poetry slam ... is one of the most diverse events you could attend. It gives everyone a voice," Kuter says.
Reach the reporter at: amanda.frunzyski@asu.edu.
