Versopolis Podcast #6: Poetry and Philosophy

Does a great poem always present us with a crumb of philosophical insight or is it the other way around, can reading philosophy facilitate writing verses? Why has science replaced philosophy in discovering the bigger questions of life today? How can the gaze in the philosophy of Michel Foucault be related to the lyrical subject? Why is boredom important and how can we use it to battle burnout? These questions are explored by poet and writer Dr Aušra Kaziliūnaitė in conversation with Dr Mitja Drab.

Dr Aušra Kaziliūnaitė is a writer, poet and a philosopher from Lithuania. She is the author of five books of poetry. Her selected poems, The Moon is a Pill, was published in 2018 and listed among the five best works of Baltic literature recently translated into English. Her works have been translated into fourteen languages and received numerous Lithuanian national awards including the Young Artist Prize from the Ministry of Culture (2016). She actively participates in international literary festivals and book fairs, showcasing her poetry on a global stage. Her poetry has been called post avant-garde, active, sharp, polyphonic, often featuring surrealist, dream-like imagery. Aušra holds a PhD in philosophy with a focus on Michel Foucault’s panopticism and hosts a podcast titled Writing room.