Spoken word is an oral poetic performance art based on the aesthetic qualities of both the poem and the performer, continuing into the twentieth century an ancient oral artistic tradition rooted especially in the Greek oral-formulaic tradition. It is a catch-all term covering any poetry recited aloud, including poetry readings, poetry slams, jazz poetry and hip hop, valued for the sound of its recitation rather than for how it looks on the page.
Facts
Partially Attested
Place of OriginModern American spoken word development is documented from at least 1849 and later the Nuyorican Poets Cafe (New York, founded 1973); the article also traces earlier oral-poetic roots to ancient Greece and other oral traditions, so this reflects the documented American development rather than a single ultimate origin. Notable Example"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" by Gil Scott-Heron (1970) 1 Defining TraitAn oral poetic performance art valued mainly for the poem's and performer's aesthetic qualities of sound rather than how it looks on the page 1 In the Other Atlases
Sources
1. Spoken word - Wikipedia
Development in the United States section, opening sentence
In 1849, the Home Journal wrote about concerts that combined spoken word recitations with music, as demonstrated by actresses Sophie Schroder and Fanny Kemble.
Development in the United States section
Spoken word poetry entered into wider American culture following the release of Gil Scott-Heron's spoken-word poem "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" on the album Small Talk at 125th and Lenox in 1970.
Lead paragraph, first sentence
Spoken word is an oral poetic performance art that is based mainly on the poem's as well as the performer's aesthetic qualities.
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