Song and Lyric in Greece and China: A Comparative Approach

Catalog description

What can we learn by comparing the lyric poetry of Ancient Greece and Rome with the song lyrics (ci) of Song Dynasty China? Each song culture developed subtle lyric conventions to evoke erotic desire, atmosphere and emotion; each centered around performances at banquets and drinking parties; each is remembered for producing an iconic female poet. In this class, we will discuss these and other points of comparison in order to gain new perspectives on the unique attributes and affordances of each lyric mode.