Guest lecture – Hsiang-Yin Sasha Chen: "Metaphors and Metamorphosis of Life in Soviet, Taiwanese and Chinese 'Rock Poetry'"

The DFG Center for Advanced Studies “Russian-Language Poetry in Transition” (FOR 2603) cordially invites you to a lecture with Hsiang-Yin Sasha Chen streamed live via Zoom. Please register by e-mail with Anna Fees (anna.fees@uni-trier.de) no later than July 13rd, 2021, to receive the stream’s access data.

My presentation provides a comparative analysis of metaphors and metamorphosis of life in Soviet, Taiwanese and Chinese “Rock Poetry”, with specific reference to the songs of Boris Grebenshchikov, Andrei Makarevich, Kino, Xue Yue, and Cui Jian. My study focuses on the literary, musical and socio-political connections between rock musicians and their works in the Soviet Union, Taiwan, and mainland China after the open policies in the 1980s, showing the ideological similarities and cultural differences of using metaphors of life under communism, socialism or collectivism. This presentation further demonstrates how life metamorphoses in transcultural movements in the face of rising capitalism and commercialism after open policies in the three countries. Providing such comparative and transcultural analysis of their works enables a re-reading and scrutiny of the place of rock music in Russian-Soviet, Taiwanese, and Chinese cultures and their relationship between musicians and their fans under the social transitions in the 1980s.