Poetry Beyond Text: Vision, Text and Cognition

This research project uses psychological, critical and creative methods to study how readers respond to the visual aspects of poetry. It involves specialists in English and Comparative Literature, Fine Art and Psychology. These include the shape of visual or concrete poetry (where words are arranged spatially in particular patterns on the page), the combination of poetry with images (in artists' books and prints), and the moving words and images found in digital poetry (a relatively new form of poetry which is usually web-based and often interactive). We will assess how reading strategies affect memory, interpretation and perceived aesthetic value, using both quantitative measures and reader-response theories. Participants in the project will be regarded as co-researchers, with results being presented to them. Art works and materials from the project will appear in exhibitions and an on-line gallery, and results will be discussed in journal articles.