In what ways are beat poetry and rap linked?
1. Define what beat poetry and rap
2. how are they linked
"Beat Poetry is a form of Poetry that was popular in the '60s during the hippie generation." (Chegg Tutors, n.d.). Beat poetry was introduced and used after the second world war when the American's wanted a place to stand up for themselves in the 1940s. These poets talk about political and cultural differences in modern-day society that was crucially affected after the second war, according to Eric. R (n.d). To me, personally, i think beat poetry is more like spoken word poetry. You have these opinions in your head that you want to say to the society that you say in music or poetry. Poetry Foundation (n.d.) states that beat poets are a pack of the new generation rebels who writes poetry and turns it to music in the 1940s -50s. Poetry Foundation quotes in their article, "hallucinogenic drugs, sexual freedom, Eastern religion, and the natural world" (para.2) are topics which they saw and had opinions about a certain perspective on it, and they wanted to show the world by jazz musicians and other poets like visionary poets. Rap. Back then, rap music was more of "hip-hop" music in the 1980s. Rap music is used to having imagery in poetry, which helps musicians engage with the audience (Smolcic, 2016, para 3 and 4). Smolocic (2016) states that both rap and music and poetry have an interesting common thing between them, and that is rhythm. Without it, music or poetry would not make sense or make imagery for their audience. Smolocic (2016) quotes, "the rhythm in poems and rap can be smooth, flowing, choppy, edgy, violent, gentle, restful or turbulent." Beat Poetry and Rap are somehow linked somewhat ways like they have their own opinions to state what they mean; they use music to have a "rhythm" in their poetry or music lyrics. I think beat poetry is another word for spoken word poetry. Therefore, Rap and Beat (spoken) poetry are not inked because in a blog by Wordup 411 (2017) argues, "Raps focus is on the rhythm, rhyme, and musicality. Poetry is base on word flow and rhyme alone."
Eric.R. (n.d.). What is Beat Poetry - Chegg Tutors | Online Tutoring | Chegg.com. Retrieved from https://www.chegg.com/tutors/what-is-Beat-Poetry/
Poety Foundation. (n.d.). An Introduction to the Beat Poets. Retrieved from https://www.poetryfoundation.org/collections/147552/an-introduction-to-the-beat-poets
Smolcic. (2016, September 28). Is Rap Music Poetry?. Retrieved from http://www.thebowenstreetpress.com/bsp-blog/2016/9/28/is-rap-music-poetry
Willms, K. (2017, May 30). Gatsby, Hemingway, and Howl: The Influence of The Waste Land. Retrieved from https://owlcation.com/humanities/Gatsby-Hemmingway-and-Howl-The-Influence-of-The-Waste-Land
Worldup 411. (2017, September 1). What is the Difference Between Spoken Word Poetry, Rap and Poetry?. Retrieved from https://wordup411ng.com/what-is-the-difference-between-spoken-word-poetry-rap-and-poetry/
Hi!
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you on the similarities between spoken word poetry and beat poetry - if anything, I'd argue that beat poetry possibly birthed spoken word.
However, I'd have to disagree with your statement that rap and beat poetry are not linked. You provided an opinion that "poetry is based on word flow and rhyme alone" while rap is focused on the "rhythm, rhyme and musicality." While, I believe this to be somewhat true, the question is about beat poetry (specifically) which you even stated is done by writing poetry to music. Is that not what, in essence, rap is? Written rhymes (poetry) to music (song)? With this in mind, would the link not be that beat poetry (somewhat) helped bring about rap music? You are, of course, welcome to disagree, but I'm pretty passionate about rap music and the way it's perceived and like Jay Z, I believe rap should be considered poetry not separated from it. I personally think it comes from the idea that poetry is intended to be seen through literal pieces of writing whereas rap comes to people in the audible form of song. This is an outdated and archaic understanding of rap, to me. I hope I can get you to reconsider your answer but still a great post, Karishma!