Be warned. Some of these poems have spicy language in them. But hey, slam poetry & spoken word is kind of a Postmodernist thing!
This is Taylor Mali. He's one of the most famous slam poets in America. I bet you can't figure out why I love this poem so much! This is full of irony and a dash of paranoia.
Here is Rudy Francisco's spoken word performance of "Complainers." Consider his use of maximalism and fragmentation here when you watch his inspiring, energizing presentation!
Oh, come on. You knew there would be some Epic Rap Battles of History in here. I love the pastiche and historiographic metafiction elements of this one, combining historical events with Marvel comics. Perfect.
[Content Note in description below.]
This is spoken word called "Dear Anxiety" by Clayton Jennings. It is a powerful account of his overcoming anxiety, and it uses Postmodern elements of metafiction and intertextuality/pastiche. I tear up when I watch him. This one is heavier, so [CN - it addresses mental health issues, religion] skip this one if you think it's inappropriate for you.
I love that Epic Rap Battle, I thought it was absolutely hilarious. The one with Thanos and Oppenheimer is pretty clever with the words; they include lots of historiographic metafiction, black humor and magical realism by intertwining the MCU and modern society/historical events. I didn’t know who Oppenheimer was at first but I looked it up and he was the creator of the first atomic bomb and then It clicked. Super funny how they fought with each other to see who was more powerful/evil; Thanos: destroyer of planets, Oppenheimer: culprit of mass destruction. Who will win???
Taylor Mali's slam poetry was really enjoyable to listen too. Whenever I watch this video, once he shifts into the powerful and emotional tone, without fail it gives me goosebumps. You can tell by his body action that he is really invested and loves what he does and won't stand for slander of that. What's more, what he is saying is true. Teachers help shape future generations, and they should be treated with the respect that they deserve.
Sometimes the biggest burdens people have and deal with are the ones we cant see. Clayton Jennings describes the effects of anxiety in such a unique and impactful way in his poetry slam "Dear Anxiety". It was very insightful the way he chose to described it. He says that it kills you and he admits it almost killed him many times. It's constantly there and it always comes back stronger. As a person who doesn't suffer from sever anxiety I found it very eye opening. I didn't realize how soul crushing it can truly be and how some people dont want to admit that they need help because there embarrassed. It was truly impactful to me and I think we need to bring more awareness for the problem.
I lovedddd listening to Taylor Mali’s outlook on the teaching lifestyle. Teachers this day and age aren't given enough credit for what they go through daily and he shows this by using an ironic appeal to this. He brings up the idea that people who are rich bring up money, but with giving to those around you will make you only truly rich. He really does have an amazing speaking voice and words that can make you rethink anything.
I watch Epic Rap Battles of History like it's part of my religion. I've probably got 7 fully memorized raps under my belt. I've yet to use it but boy oh boy when that day comes I'll be more than ready.
A very notable Postmodernist element that can be seen in a lot of these rap battles is the combination of low-brow and high-brow genres. Both villains have their own moral code infused in their rhymes, which I consider a more high-brow genre. The infused moral code to fight for what one believes was right despite deadly repercussions... and then a penis joke here and there. I think this hybrid of maturity and proud immaturity is what draws in so many viewers, because it's a little something for everyone.
Also combining WW2 with the Marvel universe creates an awesome apocalyptic type of historiographic metafiction. If I were to answer the question, I do think Oppenheimer won that one. I thought the character's betrayal was so quietly brutal and just sunk in the jabs in so much deeper. Also Thanos killed Dr.Strange so he will lose every time in my eyes.
My favorite this week! Douglass just completley destroys Jefferson and the lyrics are just *chefs kiss*. Who knew Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence while inventing the swivel chair.
After watching the Epic Rap Battle between Thanos and Robert Oppenheimer, I realized that I had bias for Thanos because I know who he was. I never heard who Oppenheimer was, but I decided to research him and found out he was known as the "father of the atomic bomb" as he designed and built the atomic bomb. What's funny about this is that both of these people are destroyers of worlds, partly. Robert himself definitely didn't destroy worlds, but the creation could have. Thanos is, but even with his biased advantage, I still think Robert Oppenheimer had better comebacks and dropped the atomic bomb on Thanos and absolutely obliterated him.
I loved hearing Taylor Mali's poetry, because he used so much power with his volume, tone of voice, and facial expressions. He used irony and black humor to mock people who make fun of teacher's. While these teachers are making a difference in life, the people just making fun of them aren't doing anything to help others. However, even though so many students just hate teachers, the teachers continue to assist the kids in pursing their education and future. His speech expresses his anger over the situation and how ridiculous it is. His main message is that teachers aren't appreciated and recognized enough for what they do.
Taylor Mali's subversion of the question 'what do you make?' in his poetry makes for an interesting presentation on why teachers choose their profession. Being a teacher is a hard job that doesn't pay as well as other lines of work, but it is vital for the betterment of future generation. Mali explains that he teaches because he enjoys making a difference in his students' lives in a way that reflects the annoyance of having his work scrutinized constantly, his frustration is communicated perfectly when he turns the value of his work onto others when he asks what difference they make.
I really thought that Clayton Jennings' story is so powerful. The way he presents his life with anxiety is so moving. He uses temporal distortion when he initially talks about his experiences with anxiety as a 30 year-old adult, and then suddenly transitions to when he was a child and how it affected him then. Also, i think that the lyrical-and almost musical- way that he performed made it easier for him to convey the emotions that he was feeling to those listening. Overall, I really enjoyed it and I think I will look more into his poetry in the future.
I watched Clayton Jennings’s speech and one of the things that caught the most attention for me was the portrayal of his character. The fact that he comes in and leaves the same person with the same problems I think adds to the hopelessness of society. I think it also points to the fact that not all action is helpful because you can‘t help a person who doesn’t want help. At first you think this person is speaking his heart, but then you find the truth that it was only his imagination. I thought it was interesting that at one point in the monologue the room is empty. This was the first hint that the person was not speaking publicly but only thinking in his mind. He was lonely. The last transformation is the Anxiety Support Group into Anxiety Supportless Group. It’s a disappointing turn of events for what seemed like a promising group.
I listened to Rudy Francisco's performance "Complainers." He actively uses fragmentation when he tells stories of people who have had to face difficult realities in this world. He will abruptly shift to a new story without notice, yet still makes it clear to his audience that there is a new storyline. He uses maximalism by detailed descriptions of informative stories. By utilizing these stories to show how difficult situations make us stronger and to help us see that things could always be worse. It allows his audience to be grateful for provisions we are provided.
In Taylor Mali's poem slam he talks about someone asking him what he makes as an educator. Now most people would associate "make" with money or some form of a tangible item. Taylor didn't take it that way he told his audience that he made more than just some money he made a difference in peoples life. The whole poem is ironic because people would think, how much money does he make but he turns it into a difference he's made in those he has taught.
I really enjoyed the tone in Jennings voice during this performance. It helps you to feel how he feels about the words he is saying. I also liked how it was set at a support group and that in the end you learn he never even said anything and it was all in his head. The build up to him saying that God helped him through it was amazing. The beginning was all negative and felt so hopeless, but after he began talking about his religion and relationship with God it showed that he could be ok.
I think it's intriguing to compare these two personalities because many people have argued, supported, and debunked their acts and ideas. The parallel between Thanos and World War II events was fantastic. They are divisive because many people believe they were/are both vital to the globe today and during World War II. I also find it fascinating that superhero comics were created during and after World Wars 1 and 2 to provide people with inspiration and a sense of hope in something. And Thanos' entire world was formed based on the characters and events of the great wars; you could even argue that Thanos was based on the men who invented the atomic bomb, the men who wielded boundless power. This rap battle reminds me of Whitney Avalon's princess rap wars. Here's an example.
Taylor Mali is like the Eminem of the Slam Poetry world. The way he was calling people out and speaking truth and not being afraid to insult people because he knows that he's right. It's ironic how he turns the harsh comments that people make to him about being a teacher and flips it on them saying, "here's everything I do to change the world as a teacher!" "What have you done to change the world?" "What have you contributed to society?" Just ripping people apart for the things they insult him with.
Hearing Rudy Fransisco speak was like listening to a good preacher that does not make the lecture boring. I cannot count how many times my parents have said something similar to me or my siblings when we do not like our food at dinner. The explicit details of the anecdotes -especially the boulder and dehydration related deaths- he uses creates postmodern maximalism that makes the message more effective. The strength in his voice alone was enough to be compelling and to demand an audience. It really puts into perspective how much you are overreacting to a problem versus how serious it could have been. This reminds me of "The Giver" when the boy gets upset when his sister thinks she is angry when in fact she is mildly annoyed because she does not understand the true feeling of anger.
I watched the video about Clayton Jennings and I was overall captivated and proud with how it turned out to be. I'm religious, so hearing how he turned to God about dealing with anxiety and how he was saved from the demons made me very proud of him. I also throughly enjoyed that he talked about his past and discussed on going issues that our society deals with today, so the viewer can feel touched by his message and be able to relate easier. The tone of his voice really showed me how much his message means to not only him, but wanting it to get across to others. Although he embedded personal anecdotes into his story, he was able to successfully add parts in so the audience could also relate to this mental health issue. I was overall very pleased with this video's outcome and very interested into how much this message meant to him. Very great and inspirational video for those who are religious and those who aren't, I loved it.
John SMith, 7th says: I loved listening to Taylor Mali's slam poetry. He was spitting facts, teachers really help shape the future and they are not appreciated enough. Clever writing and great use of imagery. The use of irony is excellent and conveys such intense anger at being underappreciated for his teaching career. He expressed such anger in so many different ways. Through his writing, his methods, and his volume. SO impactful!
The amount of twists and turns this video took you through oh my goodness. When she said he didn't normally share, but then he literally emptied his heart out, when he stood up and suddenly the room was dark and he was alone, and when he came back down to reality and he hadn't shared anything, and when he left and the sign said "Anxiety Supportless Group". It was twist after twist and it was completely unexpected every time!
I saw metafiction because he's talking about the creation and the origins of his anxiety, along with maximalism because the absolute sheer amount of detailing that he put into his poetry was amazing. He was describing a feeling, but you could literally feel his anguish, his turmoil, his frustration, all through words alone. There was also intertextuality/pastiche because he said in a comment that the entire video had been based on Eminem's song "When I'm Gone". Good thing I checked the comments!
I really liked Rudy Francisco's “Complainers”, he begins his poetry slam by introducing several individuals' injuries and dark experiences. He then states that all of the individual's reaction to their experience was that “it could have been worse”. He then begins stating experiences we have all complained about and how most of us are dramatic about how horrible little things are. His fragmentation is shown within his switch of bad experiences. He is trying to tell us to stop complaining and think about how things could be worse. He pushes us to look at the good rather than the bad.
catsarecoolaswatermelon 7th Pd.
EPIC RAP BATTLES: THANOS VS. OPPENHEIMER
I love that Epic Rap Battle, I thought it was absolutely hilarious. The one with Thanos and Oppenheimer is pretty clever with the words; they include lots of historiographic metafiction, black humor and magical realism by intertwining the MCU and modern society/historical events. I didn’t know who Oppenheimer was at first but I looked it up and he was the creator of the first atomic bomb and then It clicked. Super funny how they fought with each other to see who was more powerful/evil; Thanos: destroyer of planets, Oppenheimer: culprit of mass destruction. Who will win???
Hailstorm 4th
Taylor Mali's slam poetry was really enjoyable to listen too. Whenever I watch this video, once he shifts into the powerful and emotional tone, without fail it gives me goosebumps. You can tell by his body action that he is really invested and loves what he does and won't stand for slander of that. What's more, what he is saying is true. Teachers help shape future generations, and they should be treated with the respect that they deserve.
Hero Brine 7th
Sometimes the biggest burdens people have and deal with are the ones we cant see. Clayton Jennings describes the effects of anxiety in such a unique and impactful way in his poetry slam "Dear Anxiety". It was very insightful the way he chose to described it. He says that it kills you and he admits it almost killed him many times. It's constantly there and it always comes back stronger. As a person who doesn't suffer from sever anxiety I found it very eye opening. I didn't realize how soul crushing it can truly be and how some people dont want to admit that they need help because there embarrassed. It was truly impactful to me and I think we need to bring more awareness for the problem.
BOB ROSS 3rd
I lovedddd listening to Taylor Mali’s outlook on the teaching lifestyle. Teachers this day and age aren't given enough credit for what they go through daily and he shows this by using an ironic appeal to this. He brings up the idea that people who are rich bring up money, but with giving to those around you will make you only truly rich. He really does have an amazing speaking voice and words that can make you rethink anything.
2ndThing
5th Period
I watch Epic Rap Battles of History like it's part of my religion. I've probably got 7 fully memorized raps under my belt. I've yet to use it but boy oh boy when that day comes I'll be more than ready.
A very notable Postmodernist element that can be seen in a lot of these rap battles is the combination of low-brow and high-brow genres. Both villains have their own moral code infused in their rhymes, which I consider a more high-brow genre. The infused moral code to fight for what one believes was right despite deadly repercussions... and then a penis joke here and there. I think this hybrid of maturity and proud immaturity is what draws in so many viewers, because it's a little something for everyone.
Also combining WW2 with the Marvel universe creates an awesome apocalyptic type of historiographic metafiction. If I were to answer the question, I do think Oppenheimer won that one. I thought the character's betrayal was so quietly brutal and just sunk in the jabs in so much deeper. Also Thanos killed Dr.Strange so he will lose every time in my eyes.
My favorite this week! Douglass just completley destroys Jefferson and the lyrics are just *chefs kiss*. Who knew Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence while inventing the swivel chair.
Thing 1 5th
Epic Rap Battles - Thanos Vs. Robert Oppenheimer
After watching the Epic Rap Battle between Thanos and Robert Oppenheimer, I realized that I had bias for Thanos because I know who he was. I never heard who Oppenheimer was, but I decided to research him and found out he was known as the "father of the atomic bomb" as he designed and built the atomic bomb. What's funny about this is that both of these people are destroyers of worlds, partly. Robert himself definitely didn't destroy worlds, but the creation could have. Thanos is, but even with his biased advantage, I still think Robert Oppenheimer had better comebacks and dropped the atomic bomb on Thanos and absolutely obliterated him.
Anonymoussmile05 p. 5
Taylor Mali
I loved hearing Taylor Mali's poetry, because he used so much power with his volume, tone of voice, and facial expressions. He used irony and black humor to mock people who make fun of teacher's. While these teachers are making a difference in life, the people just making fun of them aren't doing anything to help others. However, even though so many students just hate teachers, the teachers continue to assist the kids in pursing their education and future. His speech expresses his anger over the situation and how ridiculous it is. His main message is that teachers aren't appreciated and recognized enough for what they do.
Tamika Flynn 6th
Taylor Mali's subversion of the question 'what do you make?' in his poetry makes for an interesting presentation on why teachers choose their profession. Being a teacher is a hard job that doesn't pay as well as other lines of work, but it is vital for the betterment of future generation. Mali explains that he teaches because he enjoys making a difference in his students' lives in a way that reflects the annoyance of having his work scrutinized constantly, his frustration is communicated perfectly when he turns the value of his work onto others when he asks what difference they make.
porcifan234 p3
I really thought that Clayton Jennings' story is so powerful. The way he presents his life with anxiety is so moving. He uses temporal distortion when he initially talks about his experiences with anxiety as a 30 year-old adult, and then suddenly transitions to when he was a child and how it affected him then. Also, i think that the lyrical-and almost musical- way that he performed made it easier for him to convey the emotions that he was feeling to those listening. Overall, I really enjoyed it and I think I will look more into his poetry in the future.
Legolas 3rd
I watched Clayton Jennings’s speech and one of the things that caught the most attention for me was the portrayal of his character. The fact that he comes in and leaves the same person with the same problems I think adds to the hopelessness of society. I think it also points to the fact that not all action is helpful because you can‘t help a person who doesn’t want help. At first you think this person is speaking his heart, but then you find the truth that it was only his imagination. I thought it was interesting that at one point in the monologue the room is empty. This was the first hint that the person was not speaking publicly but only thinking in his mind. He was lonely. The last transformation is the Anxiety Support Group into Anxiety Supportless Group. It’s a disappointing turn of events for what seemed like a promising group.
I watched this video today and thought it fit in.
Darrel Barrel 2nd
I listened to Rudy Francisco's performance "Complainers." He actively uses fragmentation when he tells stories of people who have had to face difficult realities in this world. He will abruptly shift to a new story without notice, yet still makes it clear to his audience that there is a new storyline. He uses maximalism by detailed descriptions of informative stories. By utilizing these stories to show how difficult situations make us stronger and to help us see that things could always be worse. It allows his audience to be grateful for provisions we are provided.
Could be worse...
Noel Sawyer 6th Period
In Taylor Mali's poem slam he talks about someone asking him what he makes as an educator. Now most people would associate "make" with money or some form of a tangible item. Taylor didn't take it that way he told his audience that he made more than just some money he made a difference in peoples life. The whole poem is ironic because people would think, how much money does he make but he turns it into a difference he's made in those he has taught.
"Dear Anxiety" by Clayton Jennings 4th pd
I really enjoyed the tone in Jennings voice during this performance. It helps you to feel how he feels about the words he is saying. I also liked how it was set at a support group and that in the end you learn he never even said anything and it was all in his head. The build up to him saying that God helped him through it was amazing. The beginning was all negative and felt so hopeless, but after he began talking about his religion and relationship with God it showed that he could be ok.
King Midas 3rd
I think it's intriguing to compare these two personalities because many people have argued, supported, and debunked their acts and ideas. The parallel between Thanos and World War II events was fantastic. They are divisive because many people believe they were/are both vital to the globe today and during World War II. I also find it fascinating that superhero comics were created during and after World Wars 1 and 2 to provide people with inspiration and a sense of hope in something. And Thanos' entire world was formed based on the characters and events of the great wars; you could even argue that Thanos was based on the men who invented the atomic bomb, the men who wielded boundless power. This rap battle reminds me of Whitney Avalon's princess rap wars. Here's an example.
Here is the link to the video
the_freckle_face 7th
Taylor Mali is like the Eminem of the Slam Poetry world. The way he was calling people out and speaking truth and not being afraid to insult people because he knows that he's right. It's ironic how he turns the harsh comments that people make to him about being a teacher and flips it on them saying, "here's everything I do to change the world as a teacher!" "What have you done to change the world?" "What have you contributed to society?" Just ripping people apart for the things they insult him with.
Hansel pd. 3
Hearing Rudy Fransisco speak was like listening to a good preacher that does not make the lecture boring. I cannot count how many times my parents have said something similar to me or my siblings when we do not like our food at dinner. The explicit details of the anecdotes -especially the boulder and dehydration related deaths- he uses creates postmodern maximalism that makes the message more effective. The strength in his voice alone was enough to be compelling and to demand an audience. It really puts into perspective how much you are overreacting to a problem versus how serious it could have been. This reminds me of "The Giver" when the boy gets upset when his sister thinks she is angry when in fact she is mildly annoyed because she does not understand the true feeling of anger.
Donald Duck 7th
Poetry Slam Comment- Dear Anxiety
I watched the video about Clayton Jennings and I was overall captivated and proud with how it turned out to be. I'm religious, so hearing how he turned to God about dealing with anxiety and how he was saved from the demons made me very proud of him. I also throughly enjoyed that he talked about his past and discussed on going issues that our society deals with today, so the viewer can feel touched by his message and be able to relate easier. The tone of his voice really showed me how much his message means to not only him, but wanting it to get across to others. Although he embedded personal anecdotes into his story, he was able to successfully add parts in so the audience could also relate to this mental health issue. I was overall very pleased with this video's outcome and very interested into how much this message meant to him. Very great and inspirational video for those who are religious and those who aren't, I loved it.
John SMith, 7th says: I loved listening to Taylor Mali's slam poetry. He was spitting facts, teachers really help shape the future and they are not appreciated enough. Clever writing and great use of imagery. The use of irony is excellent and conveys such intense anger at being underappreciated for his teaching career. He expressed such anger in so many different ways. Through his writing, his methods, and his volume. SO impactful!
"Dear Anxiety" by Clayton Jennings
Noah Lott 2nd
The amount of twists and turns this video took you through oh my goodness. When she said he didn't normally share, but then he literally emptied his heart out, when he stood up and suddenly the room was dark and he was alone, and when he came back down to reality and he hadn't shared anything, and when he left and the sign said "Anxiety Supportless Group". It was twist after twist and it was completely unexpected every time!
I saw metafiction because he's talking about the creation and the origins of his anxiety, along with maximalism because the absolute sheer amount of detailing that he put into his poetry was amazing. He was describing a feeling, but you could literally feel his anguish, his turmoil, his frustration, all through words alone. There was also intertextuality/pastiche because he said in a comment that the entire video had been based on Eminem's song "When I'm Gone". Good thing I checked the comments!
LotteryWinner04 -6th pd
I really liked Rudy Francisco's “Complainers”, he begins his poetry slam by introducing several individuals' injuries and dark experiences. He then states that all of the individual's reaction to their experience was that “it could have been worse”. He then begins stating experiences we have all complained about and how most of us are dramatic about how horrible little things are. His fragmentation is shown within his switch of bad experiences. He is trying to tell us to stop complaining and think about how things could be worse. He pushes us to look at the good rather than the bad.