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 did “Complainers” and wow, that was so inspiring!! I love the way he used maximalism to detail relatable things people often complain about, not realizing that some people have it way worse than them. Moreover, the fragmented contrast of several people who had a reason to complain in comparison to many things people complain about without reason made the poem all the more stunning. This makes me feel guilty for every time that I have complained about little things like homework. What made the poem even better was the presentation. Francisco’s frantic tone and non-stop lists of complaints make listeners understand what they sound like when they complain about meaningless things. I absolutely love this breath-taking performance!!!
Panda
3rd pd.
I did “Complainers” and wow, that was so inspiring!! I love the way he used maximalism to detail relatable things people often complain about, not realizing that some people have it way worse than them. Moreover, the fragmented contrast of several people who had a reason to complain in comparison to many things people complain about without reason made the poem all the more stunning. This makes me feel guilty for every time that I have complained about little things like homework. What made the poem even better was the presentation. Francisco’s frantic tone and non-stop lists of complaints make listeners understand what they sound like when they complain about meaningless things. I absolutely love this breath-taking performance!!!