Despite satellites, global technology, and scientific discoveries that lead one to wonder what it is exactly to be human, HBO’s Def Poetry continue to prove that poetry is at the core of human essence. Aristotle’s Poetics also draws on the importance and the composition of poetry as an art form. With particular attention to chapters one through four, Aristotle articulates what one witnesses on an episode of Def Poetry. Through Aristotle’s examination of the topics of media, objects, and manner of poetic imitation, one can come to a deeper understanding of Aristotle’s appreciation for the individual and catharsis, as seen in Def Poetry.
The performers in Def Poetry exercise the rhetoric of pathos to extreme lengths. There is yelling, whispering, tears, sweat, rhyme, and emotion pervades through the performers and audience. The HBO website describes the show as “audacious and uncensored” (HBO.com), and they continue to “recognize the power of urban poetry on modern culture,” and “turn the spotlight on the freshest and most fearless voices in America today” (HBO.com). One of the strengths of this program is its ability to transcend culture and race. Although much of the topics do focus on urban issues, there is a magic that takes place on this stage that transcends race, class, and creed.
Distancing himself from Plato, Aristotle recognized the power of the individual in the community, and the power that individual can render through poetic expression. Slam Poetry makes great use of Aristotle’s explanation of the “media of poetic imitation” (Murray 57). Aristotle makes the point that, “Some people, whether by art or by practice, can represent things by imitating their shapes and colours, and others do so by the use of the voice; in all the arts mentioned above the imitation is produced by means of rhythm, language, and melody, these begin used either separately or in combination” (Murray 57). Upon reading this, one can immediately connect the impassioned performances of Def Poetry to such a description. The rhythm, song, and meter that are expressed through the impassioned words of these urban poets are undeniable and moving. While the methods of rhyme, song, and language intonation vary greatly in Def Poetry, they did to some extent in Aristotle’s time, as well.
When recognizing the “objects of poetic imitation,” and the quality of their character, Def Poetry presents an interesting paradigm. Aristotle says, “Since imitative artists represent men in action, and men who are necessarily either of good or of bad character… these men must be represented either as better than we are, or worse, or as the same kind of people as ourselves” (Murray 59). The paradigm shift occurs as the audience seems unable or unwilling to conclude on such “representations.” There is a great deal of duality presented in Def Jam, that Aristotle would perhaps appreciate; with his blending of tragedy and comedy. In the poem “Bittersweet,” for example, the author writes, “Bittersweeeet,/ You’re gonna be the death of me/ I don’t want you, but I need you,/ I love you and hate you at the very same time” (www.sing365.com). Aristotle recognizes the expression of human psychology through poetry, and how important this can be for educational advancement and awareness.
The manner of poetic imitation is clearly important, as well. Aristotle states that, “it is possible, using the same medium, to represent the same subjects in a variety of ways. It may be done partly by narration and partly by the assumption of a character other than one’s own…” (Murray 60). In the poem, “Bittersweet,” (included in its entirety at the end of this essay) one see’s subjects being represented in a variety of ways, and through several of characters. This is a powerful poetic device that allows the audience to experience multiple perspectives; whether they are “good” or “bad.” Such a medium is important in allowing for individual thinking, intellectual advancement, and a collective appreciation for the duality that often exists in art.
The artist who presented in Def Poetry is conflicted, and through his freedom of speech, he is able to connect to emotions, and to share his tragic feelings with the general public. This freedom of expression should be honored and respected, as Aristotle might agree. At one point, the poet says, “what I want so much, should never hurt this bad” (www.sing365.com). Such internal conflict helps us to define and understand the human condition. Aristotle recognizes this when he says that the creation of poetry is “rooted in human nature, and that “learning is a very great pleasure, not only for philosophers, but for other people as well” (Murray 60-61).
Bittersweeeet, You're gonna be the death of me I don't want you, but I need you, I love you and hate you at the very same time See what I want so much, should never hurt this bad Never did this before, that's what the virgin says We've been generally warned, that's what the surgeon says God talk to me now this is an emergency And she claim she only with me for the currency, You cut me deep bitch cut me like surgery And i was too proud to admit that it was hurtin me Id never do that to you at least purposely We breakin up again We makin up again But we don't love no more I guess we fuckin then Have you ever felt you ever want to kill her And you mixed them emotions with Tequila And you mix that with a little bad advice On one of them bad nights y'all have a bad fight And you talkin about her family her aunts and shit And she say motherfucker your mama's a bitch You know domestic drama and shit All the attitude I'll never hit a girl but I'll shake the shit out of you But ima be the bigger man Big pimpin like jigga man Oh i guess i figure itsBittersweeeeet,You're gonna be the death of me I don't want you, but I need you, I love you and hate you at the very same time See what I want so much, should never hurt this bad Never did this before, that's what the virgin says We've been generally warned, that's what the surgeon says God talk to me now this is an emergency And my niggas said I shouldn't let it worry meI need to focus on the girls we getting currentlyBut I been thinking and it got me back to sinkin and this relationship it even got me back to drinkin and this henneseeeyyyIs gonna be the death of meAnd I always thought that you havin my child was our destinyBut I cant even vibe with you sexuallyCuz everytime that I try you will question meSayin you fuckin them girls disrespectin me?You don’t see how your lies is effecting meYou don’t see how life was suppose to beAnd I never let a nigga get that close to meAnd you ain't cracked up to what you was suppose to beYou always gone you always be were them hoes will beAnd this the first time she ever spilled her soul to meI fucked up and I know it GI guess its bittersweet poetry…See what I want so much, should never hurt this bad Never did this before, that's what the virgin says We've been generally warned, that's what the surgeon says God talk to me now this is an emergency See what I want so much, should never hurt this bad Never did this before, that's what the virgin says We've been generally warned, that's what the surgeon says God talk to me now this is an emergency Bittersweeeet, You're gonna be the death of me I don't want you, but I need you, I love you and hate you at the very same time...
Works Cited
"HBO: Def Poetry - About the Show." HBO Online. 13 July 2009
"KANYE WEST - BITTERSWEET (FROM DEF POETRY JAM) LYRICS." Lyrics. 13 July 2009
Various. Classical Literary Criticism (Penguin Classics). New York: Penguin Classics, 2001.
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