Poetic Inquiry: Arts Base Research Methodology
Poetic Inquiry : Poetry is communication through language; it can be lyrical and raw, direct or nuanced. Poetry conveys meaning through juxtaposition of words and image/feelings that words provoke. Because poetry is such an evocative art form, it is able to elicit emotional and intellectual responses from the audience. Poetry can bridge not only language and art, but also understandings from one person to another. Poetry can be ironic, funny, and poignant. It can be told from a variety of perspectives, from individuals to inanimate objects, from first person or third person.
As a result of its innate strength, versatility and beauty, it is perfectly poised for some arts based researchers. As a method of research representation, the poetic form invites distillation of information and language such that meaning and/or feeling are immediate. Since the purpose of most arts based research is to offer insights, understandings and common ground, poetry becomes both art and education.
Poetry can also be the research data itself. Arts based researchers can ask participants to respond to questions and inquiry through poetry. These poems can be coded and analyzed for patterns and themes which can, in turn, reveal deeper meaning and insights about the research.
One other key aspect of poetry in arts based research is its accessibility to both participants and to audiences. Billy Collins, former poet laureate, believes that poetry “should be ‘easy to enter’ so that readers have an entrée into the meaning contained within them” (p. 83 Leavy, 2009). This aspect of poetry is particularly important to arts based researchers because it enables participants and researchers to communicate directly through poetry.
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Guiding Question to consider:
If poetry is a distillation of meaning, how can you use this process of distillation in your own practice to create meaning making material?
