Discussion,Brainstorming, Research & Outline: Performance Poetry Podcast

For my project I am going to focus on Performance poetry. Within this form I would like to specifically focus on Maya Angelou and two of her poems called, “ Still I Rise” and “Caged Bird”. Two things I want my audience to learn from my podcast are how poetry has been used throughout history to tell the story of our world and the injustices that have occurred as well as the emotions they have caused like Maya Angelou has done in her poems. I would also like to emphasize the use of emotion, tone, repetition, call and response and figurative language in performance poetry and how it engages the audience to connect. Specifically in Maya Angelou’s poems and how it develops the audience’s connection to the poet and the art itself. 2 influential ideas of form that are present in the performance poetry are Overlap & Intersect because it does intersect with the blues and the history of it being that the blues is also a form used throughout history to express political perspective and emotional perspectives of history. These two overlap in form with flow and repetition as well as tone. Another influential idea of form that is present is that it does political work as it shares the story of the history of injustice. Many performance poets utilize their art to tell a story. Performance poetry is a great way to connect with an audience because they are allowed to create their own emotions and connections based on how the poetry is delivered. In a historical context performance poetry can be a great educational tool as well as a motivational tool to be more connected with our society as whole. I am planning to do my podcast in the solo/monologue podcast format. With that I will use two resources being, “ Repetition: A Mirror Of Trauma In The Select Poems Of Maya Angelou” by K Preethi, and “ Conflict of Resilience in Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” (1978): Psychosocial Analysis” by Krisna Deni M. Hamzah, Jeanza, A. D., Arifa, R., Listyanti, N. R., & Saraswati, R. to add to my storyline. Also to be able to build onto my own perspective with other knowledgeable perspectives. I will use the two guiding questions of, “ How does performance poetry allow people to give a message that emotionally relates to themselves and our history with the use of flow, repetition, and figurative language ?”, and “ What psychological aspects can we learn about through poetry and how does Maya Angelou give great examples of that?” 2 things I want my audience to learn from my radio show is how poetry has been used throughout history to tell the story of our world and the injustices that have occurred as well as the emotions they have caused like Maya Angelou has done in her poems showing psychological connections. As well as the use of emotion, tone, repetition, call and response and figurative language in performance poetry and how it engages the audience to connect.

Outline:

• Introductory/Opening Statement:
• Introduce myself- My name, my major, my interest in poetry
• Introduce the poetic form- Performance Poetry; its history and its power
• First segment:
• Introduce Maya Angelou and discuss her background ( how she connects to history )
• Discuss the blues and how it shows intersectionality and overlapping with performance poetry form
• Discuss how performance poetry does Political work- How it tells us stories of history
• Second Segment
• Speak about “Still I Rise” and “ Caged bird” by Maya Angelou- A deep and brief analysis
• Incorporate two small clips of parts of her performances when pointing out examples
• Third segment:
• Discuss how the content of her poems bring out a psychological aspect
• Explores resilience and self-esteem as well as defiance in oppression & discrimination
• Closing Statement:
• Give appreciation for listening & close out with a question by saying, “ I want to leave you with thoughts by asking…”

Courtest of https://wkutalisman.com/an-overview-of-slam-poetry/