YOUNGSTOWN Poets will compete in 'slam'

This is not an event for the faint of heart.
By NANCILYNN GATTA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
Americans are by nature competitive people. Even art forms, which are not known for dog-eat-dog scenarios, can achieve a type of aggressive behavior.
Poetry slams are competitive poetry contests. These events emphasize the writer and performance of the poet. The judges consist of a volunteer panel of audience members.
On Aug. 20 at Cedar Caf & eacute;, the Pig Iron Press will hold its fifth annual poetry slam.
The idea of incorporating performance and judging with poetry readings originated in Chicago in the mid-1980s by poet and construction worker Marc Smith. He wanted to breathe life into open-mike poetry readings, so he created the competitive performance readings.
The criteria for participating in the slam are the following: Each poem must be an original work. The poet is limited to one four-minute poem. Poets may not use props or costumes. The poem can take any form or style.
Though most poetry slams are held in large cities, Jim Villani, publisher and owner of Pig Iron Press, believes that the Mahoning Valley has enough creative talent and interest to hold these types of performance readings.
"It is something that emerged from the bigger metropolitan areas. I think that we are a bigger metropolitan area even though people do not view the Mahoning Valley that way," said Villani.
Good turnout
He became aware of the attraction of the poetry slams in the Valley when his first attempt at holding the event drew 90 people. That is more than the monthly readings draw.
The slams have always been held at Cedar Caf & eacute;. Villani chose this location because of the support that The Cedars, as the caf & eacute; is commonly known, has shown for this art form.
"We started doing readings at The Cedars maybe 10 to 12 years ago in the ... bar. We discontinued that after awhile because it was awkward doing it in the bar. ...
"Tommy Simon, the manager, understood the problem. He liked the event because it brought in a different crowd. Then he got involved in creating the caf & eacute;. At that point, I was located downtown, right around the corner. He said right from the beginning, 'Will you start the poetry readings again in the caf & eacute; once we get it open?' I said yes," said Villani.
Cedar Caf & eacute; has donated toward the prize package given to the winner. The first-place poet of the slam receives a pig stuffed with numerous prizes which range from gift certificates to money.
Since the Pig Iron Press Poetry Slam is not affiliated with the university or any of the local schools, the event is not scheduled around the school year.
"We decided to do the slam in the summer because The Cedars has an outdoor venue that we don't use for the month-to-month readings. We have had all four previous slams in the garden, which actually accommodates more people than the caf & eacute; itself," said Villani.
The Africana Studies program at Youngstown State University has sporadically held poetry slams and hopes to offer the opportunity to its students in the future to participate in competitive poetry.
What's planned
As part of the 2003-04 academic school year orientation celebration for Africana studies students, open-mike poetry readings will be presented. The readings will take place in late August or early September at Kilcawley Center.
"Especially last year, I felt a need for us to combine that kind of event with our welcoming, our reception, orientation for black faculty and students," said Dr. Victor Wan-Tatah, director of the Africana Studies Program.
Wan-Tatah believes that it is important to offer this segment of orientation to tap into the creativity of the student body.
Youngstown State University's Poetry Center is also considering giving students and faculty the opportunity to participate in a poetry slam on campus. The center's founder and driving force is Dr. Phil Brady.
According to professor Stephen Reese, director of the center, their focus is "to provide readings by nationally established poets who represent the diverse nature of American poetry."