Spoken word
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Spoken word is artistic performance using, as the name might imply, the spoken word, alone or in combination with other speakers and/or musicians. One of the most common sorts of spoken word performances is performance poetry, where a poet either reads previously-published poems, or reads poems specifically written to be performed aloud. Another kind that has gained popularity in recent years is political and social commentary, done in such a way that it is, while still prose, somewhat more artistic than a typical speech. Spoken word artists are often poets and musicians.

Artists known for spoken word performances and recorded spoken word releases include:

• Performance poetry:
  • Jack Kerouac
  • William S. Burroughs
  • bpNichol
  • The Four Horsemen
  • Susan McMaster
  • Colin Morton
  • Andrew McClure
  • First Draft
  • Geode Music & Poetry

• Political and social commentary:
  • Jello Biafra
  • Henry Rollins
  • Gil Scott-Heron
  • Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
• Both:
  • Garrison Keillor
  • John Trudell

See also: Dub Poetry

The original article can be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoken_word.
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