Spring Break
Local slam poetry performances full of personality, persona
Jessi Stafford
Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: Verve
"This is a lot harder. It's totally different," he said. "It's more real, really."
And after attending contests, he found his initial assumptions about slam poetry were quickly swept away.
"I thought it was great … people were really speaking their mind," he said. "You would think poetry is something rhyming, but none of them did that. It was really unique."
Skogerboe has only begun to scratch the surface of slam poetry, he says, and plans on performing more pieces in the future.
"I write about everything I think about," he said. "Screwed-up shit in the world."
Average Jane
"Slam poetry is really social commentary on various topics," Booger said. "What people see as relevant says a lot about society."
Jessica Wacker has competed in a few slam poetry contests and watched various others while living in Chicago. She says slam poetry in Fort Collins is different than in big cities, but the topics vary just as much here as they do anywhere else. And, she says, the best part about this type of poetry reading is that anyone can do it.
"It's really coming off the street," Wacker said.
The academia part of poetry is taken out, Booger says, and a raw, theatrical art form takes its place.
"It's exhilarating … a chance to be much more interactive," Wacker said. "It's a sense of sharing."
In the Fort Collins scene, Booger says there's a wide variety of slam poets. And he is excited about the increasing participation from college students and the packed houses he continues to see on competition nights.
But, mostly, he is just excited about the art itself.
"I like to dig down deep for something that will stick to ya," Booger said. As for Wacker, she just looks forward to each and every time she can "find a mic and yell into it."
Staff writer Jessi Stafford can be reached at news@collegian.com.
And after attending contests, he found his initial assumptions about slam poetry were quickly swept away.
"I thought it was great … people were really speaking their mind," he said. "You would think poetry is something rhyming, but none of them did that. It was really unique."
Skogerboe has only begun to scratch the surface of slam poetry, he says, and plans on performing more pieces in the future.
"I write about everything I think about," he said. "Screwed-up shit in the world."
Average Jane
"Slam poetry is really social commentary on various topics," Booger said. "What people see as relevant says a lot about society."
Jessica Wacker has competed in a few slam poetry contests and watched various others while living in Chicago. She says slam poetry in Fort Collins is different than in big cities, but the topics vary just as much here as they do anywhere else. And, she says, the best part about this type of poetry reading is that anyone can do it.
"It's really coming off the street," Wacker said.
The academia part of poetry is taken out, Booger says, and a raw, theatrical art form takes its place.
"It's exhilarating … a chance to be much more interactive," Wacker said. "It's a sense of sharing."
In the Fort Collins scene, Booger says there's a wide variety of slam poets. And he is excited about the increasing participation from college students and the packed houses he continues to see on competition nights.
But, mostly, he is just excited about the art itself.
"I like to dig down deep for something that will stick to ya," Booger said. As for Wacker, she just looks forward to each and every time she can "find a mic and yell into it."
Staff writer Jessi Stafford can be reached at news@collegian.com.
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