- This House believes that Rap and Song Lyrics are not Poetry!
Watch videos below of Chaucer arguing for the motion and Spoz arguing against the motion
Associate Director at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre (the REP)
Chaucer stated that:"Not only is rap not poetry,
but that common, uneducated people
have no place to write poetry!"
but Spoz defended his stance
and proved the wonders of rap & lyrics!
(See biographies below)
What do you think? Vote now......
The event develops pupils' speaking and listening skills, providing them with the opportunity to contribute to the debate and take part in the vote.
FOR:
Chaucer was played by Matthew Ward, historical edutainer, best known for dying in many nasty ways in 'Horrible Histories'. He has also appeared on everything from Blue Peter to comedy shows with Johnny Vegas. When not being executed on TV, he appears regularly at the Community Museums of Birmingham as historical characters from Brum's past.
AGAINST:
Spoz. Spoz is not his real name. It’s actually Giovanni Esposito. ‘Spoz’ being the bit between the ‘E’ and the ‘ito’ (kind of).
Spoz is … a sort of poet. The sort, in fact, that has been published, recorded, been on the radio, won awards, is a member of the renowned ‘New October Poets’, taken part in so many festivals, he’s lost count and even had a commission from the BBC. The sort of poet that isn’t quite everybody’s cup of tea, though, could be yours.
CHAIR:
Steve Ball, is Associate Director at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. He trained as a teacher and taught in Essex and Barcelona before training as an actor at the Welsh College of Music and Drama. He worked for a number of children’s theatre and theatre in education companies before coming to Birmingham in 1986 and founding Language Alive! and Catalyst, two of the region’s leading educational theatre companies. He has also worked as a writer and producer for BBC Education, lectured at universities in the US and Australia and was Head of Arts for Birmingham City Council from 2001 to 2003. Steve has contributed to a number of journals and books, has an MA in Arts Management and a doctorate in Arts Education. He is Chair of TYA England and a governor at Harborne Academy and Summerhill School
(this article appears on the Birmingham Young Readers Blog http://www.youngreadersbirmingham.org/2007/06/teen-debate.html )
