The Education and Career Development Council of CTYA alongside its Writers Network: Power of the Pen will proudly be hosting its 2nd poetry slam on May 31st 2012. The mission of the poetry slam is to promote the performers, create an avenue that will enhance audience participation, foster education, and inspire those with poetic talents with an avenue to engage in creativity.
Poetry is a medium through which one can express their passion for continuing the fight for the justice and self-determination of Tamils. It can very well also be used to convey the pain of the inevitability on being unable to put an end to the atrocities occurring in Mullivaikal. The importance of enabling the community to articulate feelings of oppression, resentment, hope and change in the form of spoken word, poetry, and the art of language is a right that we all are entitled to and should utilize to the best of our ability. This event will not only enable our youth to convey their emotions but will be given a chance to speak for those incapable and powerless to freely express their thoughts of May Massacre in our homeland.
As the second generation diaspora living in Canada, we have a moral duty and obligation to produce a high level of awareness regarding the genocide of Tamils through various means, which includes but is not limited to poetry. Literature enables us to mould our thoughts and emotions with words amid surreal powers allowing us to examine our past, present and future.
Performers at this event will have the audience’s full attention as they use techniques to bring written words to life. But don’t take our word for it, come out and see it for yourself! The event will be taking place at the Alumni Lounge upstairs of the UTSC Student Centre on Thursday May 31st, 2012 from 6PM-9PM. Food and drinks will be provided and we will be accepting a recommended donation of $5 which will go towards future Education and Career Development related events and projects.
Power of the Pen organized by the Education and Career Development Council is part of the “Recreation and Innovation Centre for Tamil Youth” initiative.
Guidelines:
• All poetic styles and individuals with different levels of experience are encouraged to participate;
• Performers must be within the ages of 13-30;
• No performance should last longer than 5 minutes;
• Performers may present their poems either in Tamil or English;
• Profanity and vulgar language will not be tolerated, as the audience is open to all ages;
• Each poet must perform work that he or she has created, as any form of plagiarism will not be tolerated;
• Because the poetry slam is not a competition, props and musical instruments will be allowed to enhance performances but the committee should be notified in advance;
• In all fairness, the order of performances will be drawn on Wednesday May 30th, 2012;
• All poems must be submitted to education.career@ctya.org by Wednesday May 30th, 2012.
Now, imagine a dim light setting, powerful performances, and individuals’ inner selves releasing as they create a world of their own.
Tags: News, Poetry/Art
