Anglo-American Poetry Slam in the Context of Orality and Performativity

Abstract

This master thesis explores the relationship between a supposedly new phenomenon called Poetry slam and traditional oral poetry. It analyses the form and content of Poetry slam performances by presenting the works of English, American, and Canadian authors and shows similarities between this contemporary poetry movement and established oral poetry, which dates back to the period before the invention of the printing press, especially oral poetry from Ancient Greece. Poetry slam is also analyzed from the point of view of orality and literacy and their effect on the development of oral poetry in the 20th century.