Slam poetry is a form of performance poetry that combines the elements of performance, writing, competition, and audience participation. It is a competitive art event in which poets perform spoken word poetry before a live audience and a panel of judges. Here are some key features of slam poetry:

• Performance: Slam poetry is stage-based and incorporates spoken word poetry, performance, and audience participation.

• Competition: Slam poetry is a competitive event where poets perform their poetry against fellow poets and in front of an audience. Poets are judged by selected audience members, and winners are determined by total points.

• Writing: Slam poetry is not concerned with academia or publishing. It is more focused on the power of everyday language and delivery with the poets enthusiasm and voice.

• Audience participation: The audience has the power to praise or, sometimes, destroy a poem, and the high-energy performance style of the poets is a defining feature of slam poetry.

The concept of slam poetry originated in the 1980s in Chicago, Illinois, when a local poet and construction worker, Marc Kelly Smith, created a weekly poetry event—the poetry slam—where anyone could participate. Today, slam poetry is considered an artistic movement as well as a genre of poetry and spoken word. Slam poets influenced many aspects of modern culture, such as political movements, art, media, literature, and entertainment.