Joanna Bator is a cultural expert and a well-known Polish prose writer, the author of, inter alia, "Piaskowa Góra", "Gorzko, gorzko" and "Ucieczki niedźwiedzicy". She shared her reflections on her creative process with the audience. The lectures were personal and focused on various aspects of the writing journey. However, they also included numerous references to the theoretical thoughts of scientists.
About writing with no secrets
During those three meetings, the author talked about the side of imagination, the side of compassion and rebellion, as well as the side of care. During the lectures, the artist touched upon, among other things: issues regarding the role of imagination in the creative process, the influence of personal experiences on writing, the importance of literature in today's world and the ethics of writing. She also spoke about the challenges and joys of being a writer.
Joanna Bator's speeches met with great interest from the audience and were widely commented on in the media. The listeners praised the writer for her honesty, openness and thorough analysis of her own work, while appreciating her communicative and colourful language of expression.
"Lodz Lectures on Poetics" now on Spotify
The lectures by the artist were preceded by short introductions by three moderators: Marta Zdanowska, Dr Izabella Adamczewska-Baranowska and Dr Angelika Siniarska-Tuszyńska (in order of meeting dates). Each self-report by Joanna Bator was followed by a short conversation between the writer and the moderator. The audience also joined the debate.
The audio recording of all three lectures this year is published below. You can also listen to them directly on the Spotify streaming service.
That's how it all started
The "Lodz Lectures on Poetics" series began in March 2018, when Olga Tokarczuk visited the Faculty of Philology at the University of Lodz. The later winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature gave three lectures at the University of Lodz. In the following years, Andrzej Stasiuk, Monika Sznajderman and Mariusz Szczygieł appeared at the faculty building as part of subsequent editions of the series. The Dean of the Faculty of Philology at the University of Lodz, Prof. Dr hab. Joanna Jabłkowska is the originator of the series.
Text: Dr Angelika Siniarska-Tuszyńska
Edit: Promotion and Communication Office at the Faculty of Philology, University of Lodz
Photos: Eryk Woźniak / Angelina Kusowska / Bartosz Burski