Somers-Willett, Susan B. A., 1973-

The cultural politics of slam poetry : race, identity, and the performance of popular verse in America / Susan B. A. Somers-Willett. - Ann Arbor : University of Michigan Press, c2009. - xi, 191 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 169-178) and index.

On page and stage: slam poetry as a genre -- Poetry and the people: the cultural tensions of American popular verse in performance -- I sing the body authentic: slam poetry and the cultural politics of performing identity -- "Commercial niggas like me": spoken word poetry, hip-hop, and the racial politics of going mainstream.

9780472070596 (cloth : alk. paper) 0472070592 (cloth : alk. paper) 9780472050598 (pbk. : alk. paper) 0472050591 (pbk. : alk. paper)

2009004564


Performance poetry--History and criticism.--United States
American poetry--History and criticism.--20th century
Race in literature.
Identity (Psychology) in literature.
Oral interpretation of poetry.
Poetry slams--History.--United States
Poetry--Political aspects--United States.

PN4151 / .S67 2009

808.5/45