Poetry & Listening: The Noise of Lyric

Poetry & Listening: The Noise of Lyric explores how poetry has been re-energized by the influence of recorded sound and influenced by the creative methods that emerged with it, offering insights into sensory perception and acoustic relationships between language and the environment.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2023
Publisher: Liverpool University Press

In the realm of poetry, the art of listening has always held a profound significance, but what happens when the very act of listening undergoes a transformative shift? In Poetry & Listening: The Noise of Lyric, the field of sound studies, which has revolutionized research in contemporary music, enters into a captivating dialogue with new lyric criticism. This book delves into the intricate relationship between poetry and sound, exploring how contemporary poetry has been re-energized by the influence of recorded sound and shaped by the innovative creative methods that have emerged alongside it. By examining poetry as it is mediated by performance, technology, and translation, this insightful work unveils how contemporary poetry has been revitalized, imbuing it with new life and vitality.

Moving beyond traditional analysis of poetic form, this book delves into the acoustic contexts of contemporary poetry, broadening our understanding of its sonic dimensions. It invites us to consider the social, political, and ecological implications of a poem's sounds and silences, shedding light on the ways in which poetry engages with the world around us. Through a lucid engagement with a diverse range of richly innovative English-language poetry from the UK and USA, this book makes a compelling argument for the centrality of listening in a form of composition where language not only represents sonic experience but becomes an integral part of it.

In exploring the relationship between poetry and sensory perception, this book draws upon the insights of Jean-Luc Nancy, who distinguishes between hearing and listening. It further explores the work of other key theorists of sound and noise, shedding light on how poetry offers insights into our perception of the world and how it charts the intricate acoustic relationships between language and the environment.

By examining the ways in which poetry engages with sound, Poetry & Listening: The Noise of Lyric provides a fresh perspective on the art form, demonstrating how it can be re-imagined and revitalized in the age of digital technology and global interconnectedness. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in poetry, music, and the broader field of sound studies, as it offers a wealth of insights and ideas that will inspire and challenge readers alike.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781837644247