Difference between revisions of "Joyce Kilmer Memorial Bad Poetry Contest"

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The '''Joyce Kilmer Memorial Bad Poetry Contest''' has been hosted by the [[Philolexian Society]] since [[1986]], drawing crowds of 200-300 students and participants vying for the title of best of the worst. Columbia faculty members serve as judges. The event is usually held in November and is heralded by the appearance of ''Bad Poetry in Motion'' flyers around campus featuring some of the best (or worst?) verses of the last 20 years.
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The '''Joyce Kilmer Memorial Bad Poetry Contest''' has been hosted annually by the [[Philolexian Society]] since [[1986]], drawing crowds of 200-300 students and participants vying for the title "Poet Laureate" of the Society. Members of the Columbia community are invited to present original works of "bad poetry" before an audience of their peers, and a panel of judges consisting of members of the Columbia faculty.
  
It is named for "bad" poet (and Columbia alumnus) [[Joyce Kilmer]]. His work "Trees" is read aloud by audience members at the contest's end.
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The contest is typically held in mid-November and heralded by the appearance of the distinctive ''Bad Poetry in Motion'' flyers around campus, which feature excerpts from memorable poems from throughout the contest's history. Many alumni of the Society also attend the event, which the Society treats as an unofficial gala, with current members often adopting an optional 'formal' dress code. There is no actual dress code however, and attendees are welcome in any manner of dress.
  
Recent winning poems have been posted online on Philo's blog ([http://philolexian.blogspot.com/2007_11_01_archive.html 2007], [http://philolexian.blogspot.com/2006/11/kilmer-2006.html 2006], [http://philolexian.blogspot.com/2006/11/kilmer-2005.html 2005], [http://philolexian.blogspot.com/2007/01/blast-from-past-winners-from-2004.html 2004], [http://philolexian.blogspot.com/2005/11/kilmer-2003.html 2003])
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The Poetry Contest is dedicated to the memory of poet and Columbia alumnus (and one-time Philolexian vice president) [[Joyce Kilmer]] CC 1908. Best known for his work [[w:Trees (poem)|"Trees"]], Kilmer was unabashedly romantic and sentimental, and his poetry was disparaged by contemporary and later critics. However, "Trees" has endured in popularity, and served as the basis for innumerable parodies. Each year the contest ends with a reading of "Trees."
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==Winning poems==
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Recent winning poems have been posted online on Philo's blog:
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*[http://philolexian.blogspot.com/2011_01_02_archive.html 2010]
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*[http://philolexian.blogspot.com/2009/12/kilmer-2009-winner.html 2009]
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*[http://philolexian.blogspot.com/2008/12/kilmer-2008-winner.html 2008]
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*[http://philolexian.blogspot.com/2007_11_11_archive.html 2007]
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*[http://philolexian.blogspot.com/2006/11/kilmer-2006.html 2006]
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*[http://philolexian.blogspot.com/2006/11/kilmer-2005.html 2005]
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*[http://philolexian.blogspot.com/2007/01/blast-from-past-winners-from-2004.html 2004]
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*[http://philolexian.blogspot.com/2005/11/kilmer-2003.html 2003]
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==Cultural references==
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During an episode of the television show ''[[w:Castle (TV series)|Castle]]'', the title character's daughter, a Columbia student, informs him that she met her new boyfriend at "the annual bad poetry contest, right before Thanksgiving."<ref>''Castle'', Season 5, Episode 9, "Secret Santa" (Aired: 3 Dec 2012) at approx. the 20 min mark. According to the by-laws of the Society, this makes Alexis Castle a lifetime member of the Society.</ref>
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
* [http://www.columbiaspectator.com/?q=node/28177 Worst Poetry in the World Draws Crowd], Columbia Spectator, November 16, 2007
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* [http://www.columbiaspectator.com/2007/11/16/worst-poetry-world-draws-crowd Worst Poetry in the World Draws Crowd], Columbia Spectator, November 16, 2007
* [http://www.bwog.net/index.php?page=post&article_id=4635 Forensic Poets are on the scene], The Bwog, November 16, 2007
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* [http://bwog.com/2007/11/16/forensic-poets-are-on-the-scene/ Forensic Poets are on the scene], The Bwog, November 16, 2007
* [http://www.bwog.net/index.php?page=post&article_id=2664 No Frosts Allowed], The Bwog, November 18, 2006
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* [http://bwog.com/2006/11/18/no-frosts-allowed/ No Frosts Allowed], The Bwog, November 18, 2006
* [http://columbiaspectator.com/?q=node/13562 The Worst Poet at Columbia, and Proud of It], Columbia Spectator, December 3, 2003
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* [http://files.columbiaspectator.com/2003/12/03/worst-poet-columbia-and-proud-it The Worst Poet at Columbia, and Proud of It], Columbia Spectator, December 3, 2003
* [http://columbiaspectator.com/?q=node/11197 Letters to the Editor: Article about Bad Poetry Contest Contained Several Small Mistakes], Columbia Spectator, December 3, 2002
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* [http://www.columbiaspectator.com/2002/12/03/letters-editor Letters to the Editor: Article about Bad Poetry Contest Contained Several Small Mistakes], Columbia Spectator, December 3, 2002
* [http://columbiaspectator.com/?q=node/11149 Only CU Students Can Make Bad Poe-Tree], Columbia Spectator, November 25, 2002
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* [http://www.columbiaspectator.com/2002/11/25/only-cu-students-can-make-bad-poe-tree Only CU Students Can Make Bad Poe-Tree], Columbia Spectator, November 25, 2002
* [http://columbiaspectator.com/?q=node/6376 Poets Perform in Off-Beat Event], Columbia Spectator, December 1, 2000
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* [http://www.columbiaspectator.com/2000/12/01/poets-perform-beat-event Poets Perform in Off-Beat Event], Columbia Spectator, December 1, 2000
* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE7D6123DF936A35751C1A961948260 About New York; No, Not a Curse But a Jersey Prize For Worst Verse], New York Times, December 5, 1987
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* [http://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/05/nyregion/about-new-york-no-not-a-curse-but-a-jersey-prize-for-worst-verse.html  About New York; No, Not a Curse But a Jersey Prize For Worst Verse], New York Times, December 5, 1987
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==References==
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<references/>
  
 
[[Category:Annual events]]
 
[[Category:Annual events]]
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[[Category:Philolexian Society]]

Latest revision as of 16:02, 12 May 2013

The Joyce Kilmer Memorial Bad Poetry Contest has been hosted annually by the Philolexian Society since 1986, drawing crowds of 200-300 students and participants vying for the title "Poet Laureate" of the Society. Members of the Columbia community are invited to present original works of "bad poetry" before an audience of their peers, and a panel of judges consisting of members of the Columbia faculty.

The contest is typically held in mid-November and heralded by the appearance of the distinctive Bad Poetry in Motion flyers around campus, which feature excerpts from memorable poems from throughout the contest's history. Many alumni of the Society also attend the event, which the Society treats as an unofficial gala, with current members often adopting an optional 'formal' dress code. There is no actual dress code however, and attendees are welcome in any manner of dress.

The Poetry Contest is dedicated to the memory of poet and Columbia alumnus (and one-time Philolexian vice president) Joyce Kilmer CC 1908. Best known for his work "Trees", Kilmer was unabashedly romantic and sentimental, and his poetry was disparaged by contemporary and later critics. However, "Trees" has endured in popularity, and served as the basis for innumerable parodies. Each year the contest ends with a reading of "Trees."


Winning poems

Recent winning poems have been posted online on Philo's blog:

Cultural references

During an episode of the television show Castle, the title character's daughter, a Columbia student, informs him that she met her new boyfriend at "the annual bad poetry contest, right before Thanksgiving."[1]

External links

References

  1. Castle, Season 5, Episode 9, "Secret Santa" (Aired: 3 Dec 2012) at approx. the 20 min mark. According to the by-laws of the Society, this makes Alexis Castle a lifetime member of the Society.