Slam Poets at Carleton University Question Canadian Identities

Carleton students in the I am Canadian (or am I)? ArtsOne cluster are hosting a slam poetry event that will feature three acclaimed slam poets.

Using slam, one of the most emotionally, politically and culturally-moving means of contemporary expression, the performers will explore a range of thoughts regarding their relationship with Canada. The all-star lineup of poets consists of Chris Tse, National Capital Slam champion, Mosha Folger, talented Inuit poet and hip-hop artist and Festrell, community organizer and finalist in last month’s inaugural Ottawa Women’s Slam Championships.  The three artists will slam the airwaves with poetic justice.

The event, entitled I [Sl]am Canadian?, wraps up a year-long interdisciplinary exploration into issues of Canadian and Aboriginal history, culture and identity.  Professors Kate Higginson from English, Alexis Luko from Music and Michel Hogue from History are co-ordinating the event, along with students from the cluster. In preparation, students have attended poetry slams organized by Capital Slam and Urban Legends.  They have also researched biographies of the performers, the history of slam poetry, created posters and learned about publicizing the event.

When: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. with a reception to follow

Where: Dunton Tower 2017, Carleton University

The event is free and open to the public. Click here to read more about the event.

About ArtsOne:

ArtsOne is an innovative learning community program that is available to new, first-year Bachelor of Arts students.  In the program, students take a pre-selected set of courses, or a cluster, organized around a single unifying theme.  The program challenges students to think about issues from a variety of perspectives, while offering the proper support to help them succeed in their first year of post-secondary education.

Each cluster emphasizes the importance of hands-on learning and critical thinking and provides students with a small, interactive group environment which includes first-year seminars, lecture courses and tutorial groups.

For more information:

Dr. Alexis Luko
alexis_luko@carleton.ca

Dr. Kate Higginson
kate_higginson@carleton.ca

Dr. Michel Hogue
michel_hogue@carleton.ca

Professor Richard Nimijean
Assistant Dean (Recruitment and First-Year Programs), Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences)
richard_nimijean@carleton.ca