Comments on: Can poetry be categorized as a performing art?

By: samuel g

samuel g — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:43:59 +0000

Back in ancient Greece poetry recitation was a competetive performance art that could earn prizes comparable to the awards won by olympic atheletes. In the 60s, beat poets performed poetry, including important authors such as Allen Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs. Today poetry recitation is a performance art in forensics teams in high schools, and you’ll often see poets performing in coffee shops and stuff.

To me poetry recitation is like playing an instrument, where you take some ink on paper and you bring it to life so that everyone can enjoy it. I mean, writing poetry is an art as writing music is, but the oral interpretation adds a whole extra level to the experience.
References :
Plato’s "Ion" talks about ‘rhapsodes’ or poetry performers in Greece

This is a national poetry recitation contest http://www.poetryoutloud.org/

By: shiveshshaktidivya

shiveshshaktidivya — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:36:59 +0000

In the Categorization for Literature it can’t be
taken as performing arts.

But,if poetry is presented in some media of
classical or vocal music or dances be
performed we can associate as performing
art.SUCH AS RAMLEELA.RASALEELA,
ALHA UDAL etc.
References :
personal suggestion

By: highcoo

highcoo — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:31:59 +0000

Absolutely. I am a poet and read my poetry aloud often. My pieces are performance pieces even on paper. When I publish in book form I often use phrasing and shapes in the actual poems to express something more to the reader. There is a performance going on even there on the page. My poetry is all short form and very expressive. For examples, see my online poetry, at http://www.pagencepress.com/index.shtml. All art that is shared could be considered performance art. If art had to answer to categories, the freedom of expression that makes art possible would be compromised.
References :

By: tonkgirl13

tonkgirl13 — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:41:59 +0000

If you’re in middle school/high school, then yes it would. In 99.99% of middle and high school speech and debate tournaments, Poetry is an event (I should know, I participate in it) that students can compete in. It is also recognized as an event in the national speech and debate tournament (the olympics of american speech and debate).
There are also countless poetry clubs(where people go to recite their poetry) accross the country and probably around the world. There was a show on HBO hosted by Mos Def (dont really know how to spell his name) called Def Poetry. So, yes. I think that poetry would count as a type of performing art, but it would have to be poetry oratory and not just poetry(writing, reading, etc.).
As for another type of performing art, dance would be quite intersting I think. Maybe even interpretive dance. Not a lot of people know much about it, and it might be an interesting thing to research.
Hope that helped! Good luck with your project! =D
References :