Performance poetry, or spoken word, is a growing force among teens. With roots as diverse as the West African Griot tradition, Native American oral storytelling and Beat Bebop, spoken word gives teens a chance to sort out complex issues, view their lives as a source of inspiration, and incorporate their own rhythms and language into art. POETIC LICENSE follows several young poets who mesmerize audiences as they candidly express what it's like to grow up in America today.
Premiere: Public Television, April 2001
"This poetically uplifting film explores the explosion of teen performance poetry from rant to rap to rhyme."
