We all need words. It’s how we communicate. I’m doing this. You’re going there. We have lists and rules and social norms for accomplishing much of this needed communication. Much of the time, words alone are enough.
But often we have more than a simple need to convey what we’re doing or what we’re looking for. Sometimes we have an urgency to reveal how we’re feeling, at a level deeper than the surface. While the written word can achieve much, we’ve all experienced the inherent weaknesses. Do ALL CAPS mean we’re excited or angry? Do fewer words represent fewer feelings? It is impossible to convey emotion and ensure the hearer understands.
The Written Word Becomes the Spoken Word
Even the poem, for all its’ lyrical artistry, is limited to the understanding of the reader. Enter the poetry slam, a forensic competition where argument and advocacy skills are displayed. According to the American Forensic Association’s website, their goal is to train college students in “reasoned discourse in public life.” 1
Amaris Longenecker, a senior marketing major, finds great release in competing for Grace College’s forensics team. Writing slam poetry is a fantastic way to write out her emotions. Of course, it is much more than the written word, as slam poetry is not only spoken but performed. A quick search for slam poetry will find it is more than a performance, but a declaration of who people see themselves to be. Accept me. Reject me. Do what you want, but I will be heard.
Diverse viewpoints fill each poetry slam event. Noting that judges will critique based on whether they agree with you, Amaris discusses the challenges. “Competing as a Christian school is about raising awareness of a topic, seeking to find issues which can unite our audience rather than arguing for or against a polarizing issue. It’s our opportunity to shine like a light in a world so filled with darkness.”
