Abstract
In my paper, I discuss and analyze three poems that are included in my book of poetic memoirs, L’Esprit des Lieux (The Spirit of Places), which was published in Paris in 2022. They were inspired by the city of Lisbon: more precisely, by places that in many ways define the modern cultural identity of the Portuguese capital. The first one, which is entitled ‘La Maison d’Amalia’. (The House of Amalia), deals with the home of the legendary Fado singer, which I had the pleasure to visit with her personal secretary as a guide. It focuses on the strong catholic faith of Amalia Rodrigues, as her bedroom is filled with religious images and relics. The second one, which is entitled ‘Praça das Amoreiras’, refers to the life and work of the great abstract painter, Vieira da Silva, whose foundation is in downtown Lisbon. It enables me to stress the important relation between the artist and French culture, since she lived in Paris for numerous years. The third and last poem is entitled ‘Personnages (Characters)’. It is inspired by the Puppet Museum of Lisbon. I wish to stress here the role played by popular culture in the construction of a Portuguese cultural identity, since puppets are often used in stage performances and folk theatre. Being of Belgian nationality, these poems reflect the gaze and the perspective of an outsider who attempts to express his strong attraction for eternal features of Portuguese music, art and theatre through numerous poetic visions and images.
Presenters
Pierre TaminiauxProfessor Emeritus, French and Francophone Studies, Georgetown University, District of Columbia, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Poetry, French Language, Music, Art, Museums
