Well, I'm asking for it here, I know...
After trying and trying to get some intelligent debate/expressions of wit or humour/quality poetry on a range of political-themed contests, I've so far failed miserably.
In a last attempt to try and find these things on AP, here's another contest.
Subject: North Korea
Write me something humourous, intellectual, or other on the DPRK or a subject directly related to it.
Rules:
1) White text on black background only
That is all
After trying and trying to get some intelligent debate/expressions of wit or humour/quality poetry on a range of political-themed contests, I've so far failed miserably.
In a last attempt to try and find these things on AP, here's another contest.
Subject: North Korea
Write me something humourous, intellectual, or other on the DPRK or a subject directly related to it.
Rules:
1) White text on black background only
That is all
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on December 16, 2008
- Rewards: Gold: 400
- Final notes: Well...
Unsurprisingly, only about half the entrants managed to prove themselves capable of following one very simple rule.
Unsurprisingly, not one entrant convinced me that rhyme is anything other than trite and contrived.
Unsurprisingly, most entrants proved themselves incapable of submitting a poem with even a tenouous link to the contest's theme.
To you all - well done.
There were however two good entries, and the gold winner was genius, hopefully intended. The silver winner was also very good, with comment and intelligence and even humour. Allpoetry - you surprise me!
The contest did uncover one spectacular arsehole too, so special mention to one (dia)rheea, who completely failed to get a handle on the contest, the entries, or sanity in general. I hope the medication helps...
Contest Winners
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• Commented on by judge. [remove]
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There once was a dictator who lived by the sea,
his inadequate missile made it difficult to pee.• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
Good mourning, men!
It's another wonderful• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
Gold trophy winner
Silver trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Entries [11]
1 - 11 of 11
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Lives outside my mindscape
pictures on a screenby Black Narcissus 19 lines, 2 comments, on Nov 28 7:46 AM 2008• Viewed by judge. -
I am an inmate of the third generation.
Born in the Yodok Camp – a total control zone.by Wandering Woodchuck 40 lines, 26 comments, on Dec 3 10:52 PM 2008. In Politics, History, Dark, Sad
• Viewed by judge. -
by Rheea 45 lines, 13 comments, on Dec 1 1:40 PM 2008
• Commented on by judge.
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Comments
1 - 20 of 20
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"After trying and trying to get some intelligent debate/expressions of wit or humour/quality poetry on a range of political-themed contests, I've so far failed miserably. In a last attempt to try and find these things on AP, here's another contest."
"If you rhyme, you're not getting a trophy."
Your prejudice against rhyme may be one of the reasons you are not getting witty, humorous quality poetry. While quality poetry with wit and humor is possible with free verse, blank verse and other un-rhymed forms, well-structured rhymed poetry is very conducive to those qualities. Perhaps if you open your contest and your mind to rhyme, you will find the "intelligent debate/expressions of wit or humour/quality poetry" for which you seek. -
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I agree with you 100%. But as the rules don't state D/Q I thought I'd submit one any way.
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Right you are. Not being considered for acceptance as a finalist is not the same thing as being disqualified in a contest.
I once had a dislike for free verse, I think most of all because I am rarely happy with my own attempts at it. I have come to appreciate it, however, and many of the poems which I find most compelling are free verse. Poetry may be good or bad, but the form and structure do not qualify it as either of these.
Folks host contests based on certain subjects and themes, but they often include rules to exclude or discourage various forms and structure even though these have nothing to do with the contest theme. Unless the challenge is to write a poem with particular elements of form or structure, it seems like there should be encouragement to use any form in response to the prompt or focus of the contest. -
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Wow, you said that so well. I'm in the same boat - I used to not like free verse and now I am much more open about it, in fact I write a lot more free verse than rhyme now. I often see that type of contest with those kinds of rules. But I'd never have been able to explain it so well. Kudos.
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Feel free to enter rhyme, I was merely pointing out that as a rhymer it would have to be the Goddamn best bit of poetry I've ever read to medal.
If you can enter a rhyming piece and impress me, you will truly deserve a reward, so I am modifying that comment right now...
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I've entered a poem called prayer. Dont know if its what you're looking for or not? It does rhyme sort of so you might disregard it but it also attempts to address certain political and moral issues,albeit in an abstract manner. slit
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Great contest idea. I had not seen your previous contests. I have done a number of politcal and historical poems. But alas, I only rhyme. As such I would either offend you with my work or you would not read it. From your comments, it would appear if you changed your rules you would at least get two more entries.
Take care, and best of luck with your contest.
Mike -
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Feel free to enter rhyme if you wish!
Rules modified.
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you made a complete fool of yourself here with you comments to me on my poem and about me. The gold went to what I suspect is a lie why would an Airforce vet write something derogatory second hand about Marines? why not write about what he knows? Vietnam and the Airforce... EXACTLY . Because Airforce vets are on here that do know.
One branch of the service does not discredit the other. Your just someone else looking to bash our country . We said no you left with your tail between your legs. Do you not get it no one cares. You left Excellent poetry in the dust by excellent poets shame on you . -
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Would you care to explain just how they were foolish, or how your poem had any relevance whatsoever to the contest, or, indeed, how it had any artistic merit? Frothing at the mouth about something completely unrelated to this contest hardly great copy makes.
As for the gold winner, I didn't read the original version to which you took such great offence that the author felt it necessary to remove the poem. Thanks for spreading the freedom of speech. Neither Vietnam nor the U.S. Airforce has anything to do with this contest, nor do the U.S. Marines. As it was I felt it a great comment on censorship and freedom.
Again, for the 100th time, this was a contest about NORTH KOREA, it was not in anyway about the United States, neither to bash it nor to praise it - it's simply not about it. How that makes me have left with my tail between my legs I'm not sure. How it has highlighted your struggle against realities and the constraints of your closed and myopic little mind is crystal, however.
Which "excellent" (which shouldn't have been capitalised, by the way) poetry did I not reward? Maybe if you don't agree with my judging or my subject matter you should run your own contest. To make it easier for you I would suggest entitling it something like: "Piss poor poetry that suits the narrow-minded agenda of this Southern (e.g. I'm not a racist, but...) gal who's never left her state, and who is going to goddamn labour her exceptionally irrelevant point about her exceptionally irrelevant life, no matter what."
How's that?
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