Marina Kazakova: Lyric Poem. A research on how the unique characteristics of lyric poetry can be expressed in audio-visual medium

Marina Kazakova, PhD in the Arts

In my doctoral research I would like to examine how the basic characteristics of lyric poetry can be expressed in audio-visual medium, particularly in live poetry performance: (1) form,  (2) musical qualities, (3) figurative language, (4) non-narrative, vertical investigation of the situation, and (5) the first-person point of view/ a self-reflexive speaker. This research places particular emphasis on the most specific and direct use of lyric poetry within live performance. The instruments of the live performance analysis and production should lead to a better understanding of my poetry-in-performance practice within contemporary poetry field and serve as an impetus for realizing lyric poetry within the medium of live performance.

The research question will be addressed from two interlocking perspectives. On the one hand, an overview of the characteristics of lyric poetry and poetry-in-performance is given and the analysis of how A.Bely and M.Čiurlionis applied the principle of symphonism in their art works. On the other hand, this theoretical investigation will provide input for the series of my own poetry-in-performance experiments.  My goal is to use methods such as poetry theory, interdisciplinary workshops and poetry-in-performance to find out how can a lyric poem be expressed on stage and in audio-visual medium. 

Since I write in Russian and in English, one of the side-questions that I will try to answer during this research period is ‘What is the effect of a different language on the combination of text and image’?

The pratical part of this research work, poetry-in-performance, is realised in collaboration with and under the guidance of Sara Maino, Theatre Director/Performer (Italy).

Supervisors:

• Dr. Volkmar Mühleis (supervisor, KU Leuven/LUCA)
• Dr. Steven Malliet (co-supervisor, KU Leuven/LUCA)
• Dr. Jan Peeters (co-supervisor, KU Leuven/LUCA)

Research Unit: Image

Duration: 2018 - 2020