Browsing by Author "Kaya, Naliyah"
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Item Pen-Full Resistance: Poetry, Power, and Persona(2015-09-01) Kaya, Naliyah; Kaya, Naliyah; Scimecca, Joseph A.This dissertation explores the concepts of agency and structure in relation to the phenomenon of spoken word performance culture. Many have argued that the art form serves as a site of resistance for the disadvantaged self--those selves/identities that have traditionally been underrepresented, marginalized and/or oppressed; however, some would question if this cultural medium--largely dismissed and denigrated by the gatekeepers of society--can effectively address the causes of inequality so frequently referenced by poets. Guided by the overarching question of how and why disadvantaged selves use the arts to define and address inequality and social problems, this dissertation seeks to answer the following questions: What themes emerge overall in spoken word performance poetry? What types of public selves are exhibited or described by performers, and which social problems/topics are these selves connected to?Item Poetic Personas: Self & Society in Spoken Word Performance Culture(2010-05-20T14:40:19Z) Kaya, Naliyah; Kaya, NaliyahThis thesis examines recurring themes in spoken word performance poetry, artists’ displays and narratives of self (public selves), and their descriptions of society. Specifically the research seeks to answer the following questions: What themes emerge overall in spoken word performance poetry? How often do artists make self the topic in poems? What types of public selves are exhibited or described by performers and which social problems/topics are these selves connected to? Data, with the exception of one open mic that took place in New York, were collected in the Washington Metropolitan Area during 2009 using the following methods: seven participant observations of open mics, three participant observations of two professional spoken word artists, two in-depth interviews and two diary entries. Criteria for inclusion in the study was based on the age of individuals, the requirements included being 18 years of age or older and participation in the spoken word community as performers at public events.