Here are some interesting stories that we have found on the web about poetry and spoken word.
The New York Times has an article about Ed Sanders and his new book, “Fug You”
Testifying at the Chicago Seven trial in 1970, Ed Sanders identified himself to Judge Julius Hoffman as a “poet, songwriter, leader of a rock-and-roll band, publisher, editor, recording artist, peace-creep.” He lived in the East Village, which, as he writes in his great-souled memoir of the 1960s, was a “Do-It-Now zone.” The book portrays him doing many things. Which was the most interesting?
The Washington Times has a video with a professor from American University in Washington, DC discussing the age old question “Is poetry dead?”
American University assistant professor Kyle Dargan discusses the strong literary community in Washington and talks about the relationship between poetry and government.
Some filmmakers in Chicago are putting together a documentary about the slam poetry and spoken word in their community
“It was all a total accident,” said filmmaker Greg Jacobs, 42, on the ideation of the documentary, which has since won more than a dozen film awards. Jacobs and Jon Siskel, 44, of Siskel/Jacobsons Productions produced the 99-minute film.
“By coincidence I was driving by the Metro in March 2005, and on instinct looked at marquee,” said Jacobs. “It said Louder Than a Bomb with a line of kids down the block, who were incredibly diverse. It seemed like such a strange thing to see diversity on north side, and to see teens doing poetry for fun.”
Photo credit: Dan Wilcox
