on safe space and slam

[succulentpoet]

This is for anyone who is a poet, runs a venue, or attends poetry slams semi-regularly: do you have any guidelines about maintaining the slam as a safe space?

In any open forum, there is the capacity for sexism, racism, homophobia; for oppression; for threats; etc. And while freedom of speech is paramount to the success of slam, it can also be a

Comments

[bettymonroe_]

I am always going outside during slams because there are people who make me really angry, to the extent that I can't watch them perform.

I don't know what to do about it, and a lot of my feelings about people are formed on gossip, which I don't like. But I also don't feel like I can really assert some of my qualms directly, so I'm kind of stuck.

It is confusing to me, when people who (allegedly) are violent to women, or threatening towards trans people are up on stage, performing, and getting cheered on, without it even being properly talked about or dealt with. It seems like there is a lot of bad blood and drama in the slam community, and not much actual resolution of issues.

Anyways, the whole thing worries me, and makes me feel weird about slams.

Sorry for not actually saying anything helpful here.

[bottledepot]

The slam is a public space. It is not a space that has been designated as progressive or safe, and designating it that way would exclude people and drive people away, and probably be contrary to PSI regulations. The slam is open to everyone, and because it is open to everyone, it will never be a safe space, and it will always cause minorities to feel uncomfortable. That is part of real life, and real life is something that you cannot avoid in a public venue, especially when you fill it so full of real people.

[beeblefish]

No. It's not open to everyone. It's open to those in line with the systems of power in place. And if you don't care about that, you are a part of the problem. Oppression is not okay or "neutral" and it's often (OFTEN) propagated by art and artists. I think L is courageous to bring up these issues and try to make some change in a community she cares about. How dare you simply dismiss that.

[bettymonroe_]

I have to agree sort of.

Although I would never ask Jeremiah "how dare you" anything.

[succulentpoet]

See my comment further down.

[icecreamemperor]

I don't know if there's much to do on a broad level, beyond acting personally to try and counter-balance or shut down any bad behaviour you see, and trying to get people who will take similar measures more involved in the scene. Institutional censorship of assholes is presumably not on the slam agenda, even if it were a feasible task. Censuring said assholes and calling them on their behaviour might be easier, and doing so from a position of personal (and institutional) authority in the community will probably make that more effective.

I feel like most of the initiatives taken to create 'safe spaces' in places like Women's Centers are pretty difficult to apply to a public space. On the other hand, a short statement read at the beginning of every event could be effective -- it will make the assholes roll their eyes, the accidental assholes a little more self-aware, and everyone else a lot more likely to say something when problems occur.

[queenofcrows]

This may sound a little cheesy at first glance, and icecreamemperor already mentioned this, but the first thing that came to my mind was a brief catchy statement that was read early in the show during the 'for all the newbies, this is what a slam is all about' spiel. If a situation occurs (onstage or more privately), the statement could be quoted as a reminder. Sometimes we need to be reminded of the simple things, as a sort of speedbump value check, and most people respond well to concise clear verbal notices.

It's important to define the terms, especially what a 'safe place' is. Here, does 'safe place' refer to a venue where creativity is encouraged and selfexpression is welcomed, or to a space where individuals feel comfortable and unthreatened physically/sexually/et cetera? As well, who defines what behaviour is unacceptable and in need of addressing -- how do we subjectively define/identify 'unacceptable behaviour' or 'an asshole'? A situation which may appear obvious to one person may appear quite different to another.

As bottedepot mentioned, the

[beeblefish]

Oh please. I'm a man and I recognize the need to name sexist patriarchy as what it is. And to let women rage against it. It's because (white) men are the first class citizens of the world that violence is so easily propagated by them. Hearing that out isn't being submitted to reverse-sexism, unless it suddenly reverses a thousand years of gender oppression as it's doing it. Maybe men need to be made to feel discomfort sometimes, did you think about that? Maybe they need to feel like their privilege isn't taken as universal, even if it's only in art. It's called de-centring and I suggest you look it up.

[succulentpoet]

Nathan, take a minute and think about something. (First, remember that I completely adore you. Okay?) I think your commentary is interesting, and certainly something that I can recognize as a result of years of higher education in anti-oppression. There is a type of classism here, that assumes that everyone with any brains will understand the theoretical underpinnings of sexist patriarchy and de-centering. One of my issues with academia is that it is often removed from the real world

[beeblefish]

Fair enough, and thank you for the check about classism, because it is something that I need to work at. That said, I'm also tired of men who complain about reverse-sexism. I think it's ridiculous and I hear it all the time. So when I read a man complaining about this it gets to me and I react. But you are right, I did jump to conclusions and mis-read the context, so I apologize for my overly strong comment. But also, Lisa, I have to let you know that your comments have made me feel this is an unsafe space for me to express my opinions. You can't always make a space safe for everybody, and I've found that (not just hear but on my journal as well) LJ is a non-safe space for me, it's why I hardly post anymore. I understand your desire to manage your space the way you want and call people on their behaviour, which is valid, but I guess that just means that I can't be a part of this space or conversation, because I do want to call people on things when I think they are wrong. I don't want to upset you by writing this, but I