The free lunchtime lecture at Dr Johnson’s House this October, as part of Black History Month, will be delivered by Dr Yewande Okuleye. With a wealth of knowledge across science, fine art and social justice, Dr Okuleye will turn our attention to Poetic Soundscapes: Language, Subjectivities and Heart Centred Conversations.
Book your tickets here: https://lnkd.in/edvTXqC8
Dr Yewande has worked as an adviser to Dr Johnson’s House on educational workshops exploring the life and legacy of Francis Barber, who was born into slavery in Jamaica but later lived as a freeman in Dr Johnson’s household in Gough Square, and who ultimately became his sole heir.
For this talk, Dr Yewande is exploring sound, poetry and vocals in relation to the writer’s house museum:
“My most memorable impression when I visited Dr Johnson’s House was the personal stories and narratives about his circle of friends. The dictionary remains at the heart of the house; however, the friendships, conviviality, and conversations capture the essence of Dr Johnson’s personality. Within my research, I use sound, poetry, and vocals to reimagine feelings and subjectivities that language can’t capture. For example, speaking about the death of his friend and companion Anna Williams, Dr Johnson tells us that “Her curiosity was universal, her knowledge was very extensive, and she sustained forty years of misery with steady fortitude. Thirty years and more she has been my companion, and her death has left me very desolate.”
Poetic soundscapes provide a different entry point to the language of emotion. In this 30-minute interactive talk we will use evocative sounds, poetry, and vocals to construct soundscapes as a creative intervention to explore narratives about Dr Johnson and his circle of friends. You do not need to be a poet to participate.the journey with an open mind and heart to explore the possibilities and limitations of language which takes us beyond the clarity, precision, and simplicity of words.”
