Why is Spoken Word Poetry Not Seen as ‘Real’ Literature? With Dr. Joshua Bennett

UnTextbooked | A history podcast for the future

Spoken word poetry is an oral tradition dating back centuries. So why is this form of poetry not always taken seriously? Producer Sydne Clarke sits down with Dr. Joshua Bennett, the author of "Spoken Word: A Cultural History". His nonfiction debut is a personal investigation into the history of spoken word, specifically the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. This is a cultural hub that started in the Lower East Side living room of Miguel Algarin.

Bennett has authored several books of poetry, including The Sobbing School, which was a National Poetry Series selection and a finalist for an NAACP Image Award. He has received fellowships and awards from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Whiting Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Society of Fellows at Harvard University. He is a Professor of Literature and Distinguished Chair of the Humanities at MIT.

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Show Notes:

(00:00) - What is Spoken Word Poetry?

(2:14) - Nuyorican Poetry

(6:41) - Saul Williams

(10:24) - Inspiration and Representation

(14:36) - Is Slam Poetry the “Death of Art?”

(21:49) - Advice to Young Poets

(23:47) - Outro