DEF POETRY JAM: WHERE ARE YOU?

So one of my favorite shows of all time is definitely Def Poetry Jam.  I think if I were to talk about my own personal fascination with the “real”, I would have to say that this was the REALEST show on television.   It captures an entertainment art form as I call it, called Spoken Word.  Spoken Word is a style of performance poetry, which was created in New York City.

  Def Poetry Jam is a HBO television series that was created by Russell Simmons.  Russell Simmons being the one of the creators of Def Jam (AKA…first Hip Hop Record Label).   Def Poetry Jam is a show that presents spoken word to the public, and brought spoken word into popular culture by bringing onto the small screen.  In some ways spoken word used to be an underground culture, the series presents performances by many established spoken word artists, as well as up and coming poets.  The show also features many celebrities, who would often come by an surprise the audience with their own original poems. 

  Spoken Word is often called the ‘Hip Hop’ style of poetry.  It is also commonly deemed the African American style of poetry.   Def Poetry Jam was revolutionary to me because it showed Hip Hop artists as more than there stereotypes, it also challenged stereotypes that the rest of popular culture was trying to consume.  The show ran for five years, and I don’t think it was given as much respect as it deserved.  The show spoke of real issues about day to day lives, negative stereotypes, popular culture, differences and power.  So why wasn’t EVERYONE watching?  I think because spoken word is deemed the African American poetry in our culture; this show was represented as a “Black” Show.  Not to say it is not watched by many people of other races, but its definitely centraled at African Americans, because they are the most represented group in subject matter and poets.  But I think the “blackness” of the show, slowed its popularity in the media, or slowed its conversation in other avenues of popular culture.  In Herman Gray’s article “Where have all the Black Shows Gone,” he talks about the struggles that Black people have faced when trying to produce themselves in popular culture, because of stereotypes and type casting. He also goes on to say that containment of black shows, and their regulation of black visibility is the industry objective.  The fact that this show aired on Late-night HBO was interesting because 1.  I bet a lot of African Americans did not have access to HBO, 2.  It was on late at night, when children probably could not watch it. 

I think that this show is a representation of how visibility of Black shows, especially ones with challenging or positive messages are continually contained in order to continue the media’s fascination with what they want to believe “real” is when it comes to Hip Hop culture. 

 

Here are some clips of Def Poetry Jam

Smokey Robinson’s piece:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_KKyw8V-l0

Black Ice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY7pM8k8moY

Taylor Mali: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmLE2bliXCI