Meeting Benches World art in all forms
Poetry Slam, an artistic competition that combines writing, acting and participation.
Meeting Benches is a website that celebrates art in all its forms. It’s a virtual place where people can share art, stories and thoughts. The site offers a variety of content, including articles on artists, interviews, art galleries and more. The site was created to stimulate creativity and imagination. It offers a space for people who are interested in art to connect and share their passions. Meeting Benches is a valuable resource for artists, art lovers and anyone interested in discovering new forms of creative expression. The site offers a welcoming and inclusive environment where people can learn, grow and connect with other art enthusiasts. If you are an artist or art lover, I encourage you to visit the Meeting Benches website and explore its many features. You may discover new works of art, connect with other artists and find inspiration, including for your poetic creativity. The digital images accompanying the post were created by Dastilige Nevante.
The contemporary poetry scene is very diverse and dynamic, with a great variety of styles and themes. In fact, it ranges from traditional forms to avant-garde experiments. Poets such as Antonella Anedda and Giampiero Neri, for example, represent important voices in current Italian poetry. Many contemporary poets address issues such as identity, race, gender, sexuality, and environment. This reflects a concern for current problems and a search for critical reflection on society. The Internet has enabled the proliferation of new forms of poetry, such as “Poetry Slams” and “Facebook Poetry Society,” where poets compete online. These platforms have democratized access to poetry and allowed new emerging voices to make themselves known. But not only that. The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Italian Poets collects and presents the works of current poets, providing a precious resource for understanding the evolution of poetry in the contemporary context. Even a festival, “La Punta della Lingua“, celebrates contemporary poetry and encourages dialogue between different currents and styles.
“Poetry Slams” are poetry competitions in which poets recite their verses in front of an audience and a jury. The first poetry slam was organized in 1984 in Chicago by the poet Marc Smith. His goal was to make poetry more accessible and participatory, moving it away from traditional academic environments. These poets compete by reciting their poems and are judged by a panel of randomly selected audience members. Their performances, often energetic and dramatic, have a strong interaction with the audience. Although they vary, poets are generally given 3 minutes to recite their poems, as long as they do not use props, music or costumes. Poetry Slams have expanded globally and take place in many countries, including Italy, where Slam X influence popular culture.
Among the important poets in the poetry slam scene, Marc Smith, the founder of poetry slam, started this form of competition in Chicago in 1984. Taylor Mali, on the other hand, an American poet and educator, is known for his energetic style and his poems about teaching and education. Sarah Kay, co-founder of the VOICE Project, is a poet and educator who has won international recognition for her emotional and thoughtful performances. Three-time world poetry slam champion, Buddy Wakefield is known for his ability to connect with his audience. One of the most influential poets on the poetry slam scene, Andrea Gibson, addresses topics such as gender, sexuality and politics in her poems. An advocate for social justice through his art, Guante, a poet and activist from Minnesota, uses his poetry to address social and political issues.
I cannot provide you with a complete poem by Guante, however, I can share a short excerpt from one of his most famous poems that addresses the themes of masculinity and the social expectations associated with it: “TEN RESPONSES TO THE PHRASE MAN UP – Man up? Oh, that’s the new superhero, right? world come on, I don’t know, feelings.”
Here is a short excerpt from one of his most famous poems by Marc Smith, a poem that reflects his characteristic style, which combines a strong stage presence with themes of everyday life and personal struggle: “THE HAMMER – I am the hammer, I I’m the nail, I’m the builder, I’m the wrecking ball.”
Finally, we share with you a short excerpt from one of Andrea Gibson‘s famous poems which addresses issues such as trauma, loneliness and inner strength: “THE NUTRITIONIST – The doctor said an antipsychotic could help me forget what the trauma said. Trauma said don Don’t write this poem. No one wants to hear you cry from the pain inside your bones. My bones said: Tyler Clementi was convinced he was completely alone in the Hudson River. My bones said: Write the poem.”
