Tonight: Activism & Feminism in Spoken Word Poetry

Spoken word poetry has become, and is traditionally based on, activism. It's a tool utilized mostly by younger generations to express their opinions and tell their own stories. Spoken word is the poetry of people who have been repressed in some way; it has been an important aspect of the feminist, anti-war and anti-discrimination movements (among many others).



Tonight we'll feature works and stories from some amazing men and women of Spoken Word. Below are some links and videos to works and interviews from some of the artists that we'll be discussing on the show tonight:



Sonya Renee - What Women Deserve



Alix Olson - Cunt Cuntry



Lauren Zuniga - Girl:Exploded





Sunni Patterson - We Made It





AlJazeera's One on One : Suheir Hammad

A wonderful feminist spoken word piece

Lauren Zuniga performs a poem for the Oklahoma legislators that are trying so hard to take away women's reproductive rights. The bill in question will require women to receive an ultrasound and listen to the baby's heartbeat before an abortion.







Thanks to Lemon of Choice for telling me about this video!

Tonight: Interview with a Saskatchewan Feminist

Tonight I'm chatting with Bernadette Wagner, a poet and feminist who has been involved in Saskatchewan's activist/feminist community for the past 25 years.

Check out Bernadette's poetry book, This Hot Place.

Bernadette is also one of the founders of the Prarie Lily Feminist Society.

Feminist Poetry Reading - Thursday May 6

Bernadette Wagner has been involved in Saskatchewan's feminist and activist community for over 25 years. Although her writing has appeared in journals, magazines, online and in many other places, "This Hot Place" is her first book of poetry.

Bernadette's poems are an examination (and cross-examination) of place, heart, politics, the socio-placement of women in the land and their quest for spiritual grace and worth. Her poetry is invluenced by both her feminist beliefs, as well as the natural landscapes of Saskatchewan.

Check out Bernadette's book and hear her read at her upcoming poetry reading in Calgary:
Thursday May 6 @ 7:30 p.m.
Pages on Kensington
1135 Kensington Rd. NW

Monday's Show - Interviewing Métis Filmmaker Cara Mumford

Please join me on Monday night for a an interview that I am very excited about! I'll be chatting with Métis filmmaker Cara Mumford about her new "short poetry dance film" entitled Echoes.

Echoes was inspired by Cara's response to the events of September 11, 2001. The film incorporates dance, music, Super 8 film, still photography, manipulated found video and animation. It's screening at the imagineNATIVE Film & MEdia Arts Festival in Toronto on October 15, 2009. You can read more about Echoes here: http://echoes-film.blogspot.com/

Cara is now working on a new film, December 6, which commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre.

To hear this interview, tune in to CJSW 90.9 fm from 8:30 to 9:00 pm on Monday Oct 5. If you miss the live show, download the podcast, which will be available on Wednesday Oct 7.

Tonight's Show : Poetic Musings with Anushka

Tonight, Geea and I will sit down with Calgary ex-pat/poet/feminist friend and SLAM! Poetry finalist, Anushka. She's back in the CGY just until the end of summer and she's been kind enough to make an appearance on Yeah, What She Said before she flees back to Victoria. We'll ponder all things creative, chatting about life, feminism, the globe, the art of poetry, and most importantly, we'll delve into some live rhymes from Anushka herself.

It will be a cozy little get together and a wonderful way to wind down on a Monday night. Join us at 8:30 PM (MST) on CJSW 90.9 FM and stream it online at http://www.cjsw.com/