Postmodernist Spoken Word and Poetry Slams

in Postmod Final Exam Forum

Extra Credit

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.

83 comments

83 Comments

garcim2198

May 20, 2022

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