8 = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
COVER STORY
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2003
A poetic variety Different people with distinct styles
By Lauren Bristow
lbristow@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
When you hear the word poetry, what is the first thing you think of? Roses are red, violets are blue? How about some epic poem read by a man dressed in all black in a dimly lit coffee shop?
Throw out your preconceived notions because these days, poetry isn't what it used to be. These are the stories of four people and their experiences with poetry
The Traditional/Slam Poet/Disc Jockey
"Poetry is no longer a kind of surly guy in a coffee shop, pissed off."
Adrienne Banks Stilwell junior
Adrienne Banks, Stilwell junior, said she was usually one of the youngest poets at the poetry readings she attended.
ship," she said.
"Poetry is no longer a kind of surly guy in a coffee shop, pissed off."
At poetry slams, audience members judge performers in a competitive atmosphere.
Banks also hosts a one-hour poetry show called "Ululations" on KJHK. Usually, she conducts interviews and airs readings with local poets, while other days she plays critically-acclaimed poetry recordings. Her showairs at 10 a.m. on Sundays.
Check out some of Banks' slam poetry on Kansan.com.
"Slam has brought people who usually wouldn't be interested in poetry together," Banks said.
Gary Strong, owner of Aimee's Coffee House started open poetry readings at the coffee shop almost two years ago.
The Coffeehouse Owner
Aimee's, 1025-A Massachusetts St., hosts "Poetry Unplugged" on the third Friday of each month. It also hosts The Medusa Poetry Group, a critique
"Most people are trying to express their feelings about society and themselves. They are trying to individualize and identify themselves."
Gary Strong
Owner of Aimee's Coffee House
group for women, when it holds a reading on the first Thursday of the month.
"I started the poetry readings for the simple fact that when I was 17- and 18-yearsold, I hung around poetry readings," Strong said.
Strong, 55, jokes that it was only a few years ago and then admits that it was closer
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