“We need people to talk poetry to each other. That’s how we communicate our values, our hearts, the things that we’ve learned that make us who we are.” - Marc Kelly Smith

What is a Poetry Slam?
I’m glad you asked.  Slam is a form of performance poetry that follows very specific rules in its delivery. Poets are given three minutes to step up to the microphone and perform one original poem of their own construction. No props, costumes, or outside accompaniment are allowed. After the poem is finished, it is given a numerical score between zero and ten by a panel of five judges who have been selected from the audience.

Poetry Slams are interactive events and the audience plays an important role in the process. Slam is about the idea that everyone’s opinion about a poem is a valid opinion. One of the goals of a poetry slam is to challenge the authority of anyone who claims absolute authority over literary value. No poet is beyond critique, as everyone is dependent upon the goodwill of the audience. What is a Poetry Slam?

What is Southern Fried?

The Southern Fried Poetry Slam was started by Allan Wolf in 1993 in Asheville, North Carolina. This performance poetry competition, which travels to a different southern city annually, has grown into one of the largest poetry convention in the nation, second only to the Poetry Slam, Inc.’s National Poetry Slam, which started in 1990.

In 2009, WE ARE BRINGING SOUTHERN FRIED BACK HOME TO NC!!!

Over three days, teams and independent spoken word artists from our Southern Cities will compete head to head on local stages. They prepare for months in order to be on stage for mere minutes.

The event will culminate with the Best of the Best meeting on the Final stage to compete for the title of 2009 SOUTHERN FRIED CHAMPION! A southern tradition, winners receive RC Cola’s and Moon Pie’s in addition to cash prizes for the top 3 teams and individual poets. Finals will be held at the new Durham Performing Arts Center on June 6, 2009, and will include a special guest performance in addition to the competition.

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