What is Spoken Word?

Review of "Out Loud: Speaking Volumes with Spoken Words" Workshop

By Sarah Walker

I could give you the dictionary definition, but after attending Betty Carpick’s workshop on Tuesday, October 11th I am not.  It would not give the evening’s presentation enough justice.   Instead, I will give you my own thoughts and if we agree great! If we do not that is fine, because sometimes we are not supposed to agree. 
 
Spoken Word:

Spoken word is a theme, an idea and expression.
It is a thought a feeling an emotion. 
It is playing with words that might not play well together.
Spoken word is a story about a girl who likes to listen to people walk and talk, while she sits in the park. 

It is a story about a boy who listens to his favourite song a thousand times, he begins to speak in beats and move to the melody created by the vibrations of the music’s bass.

"Out Loud: Speaking Volumes with Spoken Words" Workshop with Betty Carpick

Spoken word is a poets love, heartbreak, anger and laughter.
Spoken word is an actor performing a piece and realizing they are an activist. 
Or an activist so deeply entwined in their passion, their right, their belief that they stand in front of millions and their fear of public speaking becomes a performance.  It is that powerful. 
 
In two hours, I learned the importance of listening, feeling and understanding what I am writing or what I am writing to perform.  It does not matter how many years you have creating your craft.  What matters is how you choose to present yourself and how confident you are in your own presence.
 
That is Spoken Word.  Do you hear me?