We know, we know – society needs significantly more than just art, in order not to burn this world to the ground. We also know that art often feels like a luxury for those privileged enough not to fight daily for survival. Maybe this is just a way to justify to yourself that we matter. BUT we believe in the power of art, and we’ve come to believe that art can make a difference. Perhaps it will not change the world – but we’ re poets, we have to believe in the butterfly effect, right?!
So how can we make art more accessible to more people? How can we help artists spread their word to the whole world? How can we raise and amplify poets’ voices?
The answer should be obvious: but since we’re poets, we’re poor, and since we’re poor and poets, we’re often late to the tech game and so, now that AI is “the next big thing”, we thought we could get onboard with the “before-the-last next big thing”: a social network!
Yeah, yeah, we know what you’re thinking: “Another one?!?” And you’re probably asking yourself: “Can it be as good as the others?“
The answers are respectively YES and NO; but bare with us while we dig deeper, and we might be able to make you see what we see in our project.
Let’s face it: we’re overwhelmed by news, art (or whatever “content creators” think they’re doing… you’ll see the irony, here, in a bit), events, opinions, and everything we scroll through thanks to the algorithm; but are WE choosing what to experience, or someone (or something) chooses for us? See? The all-knowing algorithm strikes again!
If you’re into poetry, you surely came across one of this before:
“Oh, I didn’t know you were doing this show, why didn’t you tell me?“
“On Facebook?!? Who’s still on facebook?!? You’re old!“
“On Instagram?!? Not on TikTok?!? You’re kinda old“
“Poetry?!?“
“Poetry Slam? Isn’t it what rappers do when they insult each other’s mom?“
“Is it improv? No?!? Oh, because, you know, I’ve been going to this amazing improv thing on Mondays.You should come!It’s superclever and funny and you’d love it. Last time, someone shouted “your mom!” as a prompt, and…“
“Really?!? Poetry?!?“
Anyway, the point is: in a world where virtual popularity seems crucial for survival, and where information is scattered all over the internet, maybe the answer to “How could outcasts reach more people?” could simply be: Give outcasts their own place, and make people gather to see what humans can do.
Wouldn’t it be easier to have a hub for poetry, where anyone interested in poetry can find poetry and everything poetry related? Wouldn’t everyone’s audience be wider if every member invited their fans to a platform where they could discover works and events of both their favourite poets as well as many other artists?
So, is it just “another social network?” YES – but it’s also a little more than that.
And as for “Is it as good as the others?” NO… The answer is still NO, sorry, but here’s why.
The short answer: we’re poets!
The long answer: we’re not here for profit. We’re building something for the community. We’re part of the same scene we want to help and would love to see thrive. We know the struggles of artists because we live them too, and so we hope this platform will make things easier for those who join it.
If Poetry Slam has taught us anything, it is the sense of family that comes from realizing you’re not alone in this world. Listening to other poets is always more spiritually enriching than competing or trying to be the best. For those who still see Slam as “a competition where poetry gets judged”, we’d say: come to a show, then another, and another – you’ll understand, eventually.
And so, to honor the art form that gave us this sense of community, we’ve named our platform after the “getaway drug” that got us hooked. Since Slam is mainly a live experience, and our platform focuses on live events, we’re naming it SLAM IN. And, because we’re just silly, we bought the Italian domain, just so we could say: “Well, you can slamin.it!”
If you’re reading this because we sent it to you – or you sumbled upon this page because you’re passionate about poetry, Slam, art, or simply changing the world one word at a time – subscribe to our newsletter or remember to come back to this place and see the evolution of this platform where artists (in order not to offend anyone and have event organizers to join the platform too, we called them “creators”) and audience meet, feel, and live this art form that we (almost) all love.
Published: Dec 04 – 2024