What Is a Poem Good For? The Possibilities of Poetic Inquiry Within Educational Research

Session Submission Type: Demonstration/Performance

Abstract

Within this performance session, diverse poetic inquiry practices (Prendergast, Leggo & Sameshina, 2009) will be demonstrated and discussed in terms of educational research. Six poets who are also educators and educational researchers will respond to the question "what is a poem good for?” This question plays on the anxiety of evaluation that teachers/poets/students express when asking: "is this a good poem?" The inverted question “what is a poem good for?” situates us instead in the midst of concerns around educational improvement while using poetic play as “lines of flight” (Deleuze & Guatteri, 1987) for expanded possibilities for action therein. The juxtaposition of poetic perspectives on the question will invite all into the multifaceted, multi-vocal experience of poetic knowing itself.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Arts-Based Educational Research

Chair

• Pamela Richardson, The University of British Columbia

Papers

• Education and/as Art: A Found Poetry Suite - Monica M. Prendergast, University of Victoria

• Eco-Poetic Inquiry: The Poetry of Place - Veronica Gaylie, The University of British Columbia

• Being Eaten and Eating: Red Meets Her Wolf - Cornelia Hoogland, University of Western Ontario

• Homophobic Graffiti on the Portable Wall - John J. Guiney Yallop, Acadia University

• Living in a Different Key: Poetic Inquiry as Educational Research - Rebecca J. Luce-Kapler, Queen's University

• Letters of Love and Loss: Writing Mileva Einstein - Pamela Richardson, The University of British Columbia