INTRO: WHAT IS SPOKEN WORD POETRY?
DESCRIPTION: This foundational video explores the definition of spoken word poetry, and why it's a powerful and practical art form to practice. NOTE: Link to the referenced article "Ten Things Everyone Should Know About Spoken Word and Slam Poetry" by Guante. Highly recommended reading.
CONCEPT #1: SPECIFIC DETAIL
DESCRIPTION: In this first video, we examine how adding specific detail to our writing can easily enhance and improve it. Includes a quick writing exercise—the "Snapshot Poem"—to practice noticing and naming the details of our environment using all five senses.
CONCEPT #2: METAPHOR/SIMILE
DESCRIPTION: In this second video, we continue working with the five senses as we discuss metaphorical language, and how it can serve us in understanding and expressing our emotions. Includes a very simple exercise that often yields amazing poetic results.
CONCEPT #3: LISTENING LIKE A WRITER
DESCRIPTION: This third video discusses how we can benefit from actively listening to other poets, and how to come into conversation with another poet's work. NOTE: Link to the referenced Get Inspired page on this website, which will point you to galleries of poetry to watch.
CONCEPT #4: CONTRAST = ATTENTION
DESCRIPTION: In this fourth video, we address a very helpful concept to keep in mind when we're deciding how we want to perform a poem -- the value of contrast. NOTE: Here's where you can find the referenced video tutorial about performance with Oregon's current Poet Laureate, Anis Mojgani.
CONCEPT #5: PROMPT PROMPTS!
DESCRIPTION: This final video talks briefly about being in the "creating mode" vs. being in "editing mode," and offers some quick, timed prompts to help with getting the words flowing (don't think, just write :).
RESOURCES FOR MAKING
A POETRY VIDEO
RECORDING TIPS FROM
This video tutorial offering from Literary Arts in Portland offers 15 minutes of great advice about how to capture the best video of yourself reading your poem to a phone camera or computer camera. DESCRIPTION: "Arthur Bradford, author and filmmaker, gives students tips for recording a well-produced video of their slam poem. Framing, sound, light, and performance are all key to a well done video, and will help students create their best submission."
FREE DIGITAL TOOLS ONLINE
If you're interested in adding other creative elements to your poetry video, such as images and music, it's important to make sure that you aren't using copyrighted materials without the creator's permission. (To learn more about the importance of copyrighting and fair use, check out this 3 Minute Video). There are many sources of copyright-free visuals and sounds, and tons of different video/audio editing softwares and apps. Here are just a few starting points, chosen because they are totally free of cost, and can all be accessed online in a browser (no software/app needed).
PIXABAY
Pixabay is a vibrant community of creatives, sharing copyright free images and videos...safe to use without asking for permission or giving credit to the artist.
YOUTUBE LIBRARY
You can use the YouTube Audio Library to get free music and sound effects to use in your videos. Here's the instructions...
BANDLAB
BandLab is a social music platform that enables creators to make music and share it. Great for editing audio of your voice, and/or adding music and sound effects.
CLIPCHAMP
Clipchamp offers a free version which allows you to use their video editor, compressor, converter and webcam recorder.
