Join us for another event in our JACS LECTURE SERIES 2023 on June 30, 13:00-14:30 in Room 129 of the School of Humanities.
This presentation aims to explore the work of young Japanese poets during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a specific focus on three exemplary poets: Saihate Tahi, Fuzuki Yumi, and Mizusawa Nao. In response to social distancing measures and event cancellations, these poets created alternative spaces to showcase their poetry. Through an analysis of their works, this presentation will delve into the diverse manifestations of these 'poetic spaces', ranging from indoor and outdoor poetry installations by Saihate Tahi and Fuzuki Yumi, to virtual exhibitions, as demonstrated by Mizusawa Nao. By examining these examples, this presentation will shed light on the varied and innovative ways in which these poets responded to the challenges imposed by the pandemic. It will unveil how their poetry sometimes fostered engagement and connection among recipients, while at other times, further isolating them.
Sarah Puetzer is a PhD student at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oxford. Her research focuses on contemporary Japanese literature and poetry, with a particular interest in exploring the concept of 'poetic spaces' in the works of poets Saihate Tahi, Mizusawa Nao, and Fuzuki Yumi among others. She has pursued her studies in Oxford, Berlin, and Japan, and graduated from the IUC 10-month programme of professional Japanese training in Yokohama, administered by Stanford University. Currently, she is a visiting PhD student at the German Institute of Japanese Studies in Tokyo.