6/30: F@#!-ing Poetry Slam!

Last week the students in my Renaissance and Reformation class had a poetry slam during the first half of class.  For extra credit they could do a dramatic reading of a poem written by any author who lived during the time period that the class covers.  During the class period before many of them had expressed their excitement about the slam and some had even engaged in a bit of shit talking - to use the vernacular, so I thought I would wear my Wendy Brandes swear rings¹ to class for the event.  This was their debut in the classroom, and I think that the setting was perfect for them.  Even so, I decided to keep the rest of my outfit on the more conservative side.

1. Rings - Wendy Brandes

30x30 Items: 16. Black & White Striped Top + 25. Velveteen Blazer - Rafaella + 27. Spectator Oxford Pumps - r2 + 9. Purple Corduroys - Mango

Other Accessories: Scarf - Oscar de la Renta (TJ Maxx and remixed)

My students demanded that I do a reading to start them off, which made me especially glad I had worn the rings in honor of the occasion.  I read a Campion poem about how youth think they're all that but death comes for them first.  I worked my rings into the performance.  And my students seemed to approve - they applauded at least....

The slam was a lot of fun.  One of my students brought in a feathered cap as a prop and another acted as an early modern heckler, jangling his keys between performances (a slight anachronism as a Renaissance heckler would have done it to drown out the speaker).  I am thrilled that the atmosphere that my students and I have created in this class is one that allows me to do these kinds of activities every now and then.

Would you wear these rings in the classroom or would you classify them as NSFW (not suitable for work)?