On June 28th, 2018, the School of Foreign Languages of Shenzhen University celebrated the opening ceremony of "the Poetry and Drama Research Center" in Conference Room 1200. Prof. Luo Lianggong, Dean of Huazhong Normal University, Prof. Zhang Xiaohong, Dean of Shenzhen University, and Prof. Zhang Guangkui, Director of the "Poetry and Drama Research Center" attended the ceremony.
The same afternoon, Prof. Luo Lianggong gave a lecture on "The Visual Aesthetics of Modern and Contemporary American Poetry" in Conference Room 1200. He mentioned that "poetry is not only the art of language" and "poetry consists of three sub-texts: textual text, sound text and visual text", and analyzed a large number of poetic texts for the audience's understanding, such as the poem A Red Wheel Barrow, The Altar, Easter Wings, etc. Professor Luo's lecture was lively and humorous. After the lecture, Professor Luo gave insightful answers to the audience's questions, which presented a valuable opportunity for academic exchange and learning for the scholars, teachers and especially students who attended the lecture.
In order to celebrate the establishment of the Poetry and Drama Research Center, during the evening the "Liyuan Night: Poetry and Drama Research Center Celebration and Poetry Performance and Reading" was held. Prof. Luo Lianggong, Prof. Liu Yi, Prof. Zhang Guangkui, Prof. Wang Hongyan, Prof. Hua Weifen, Prof. Tang Lixin and other teachers, graduate students, undergraduates and poets who love poetry all attended this poetry party.
The program was diverse and rich in content, containing 22 parts, including poetry reading and singing, in English, Japanese, French, Cantonese, Hakka, Sichuan and other languages. The content of each program was novel and the way it was presented was refreshing. The program "When You're Old" featured a heartfelt reading by Professor Zhang Guangkui's master's student, Yu Shenglan, followed by a performance by Liu Yun, who sang in a European court dress. Professor Zhang Guangkui, dressed in Chinese costume, recited a Cantonese intro, followed by a powerful poem recitation. Professor Tong Xiaowei's Japanese reading was rhythmic, and captivating like a nursery rhyme. The guest speaker of the evening, Professor Luo Lianggong from Central China Normal University, recited his poem "Admonitions of the Boudoir" with profound meaning. “Down by the Sally Gardens" was beautifully sung by Wen Wei, a graduate student of Professor Zhang Guangkui in this year's Master's degree program. Professor Liu Yi's poem "Qingming Festival" was full of emotion and reminiscence. Professor Tang Lixin performed a magnificent poem called "Zhenye Science and Technology", which shocked the heart. “The Road Not Taken" was interpreted in Sichuanese by Jin Ke, a master's student from our school, and met with applause. There was also a novel and affectionate reading of Hugo's "Tomorrow, Morning" in French by Lv Lou, a postgraduate student with a master's degree from our school.
At the end of the poetry festival, a free recitation stage was held for teachers and students, and the atmosphere was active. Around 21:30, the poetry session came to a successful conclusion.
The establishment of the Poetry and Drama Research Center will certainly further promote the discipline and professional construction of the School of Foreign Languages of Shenzhen University, and especially help the development of the activities of the English drama classes and improve the teaching quality of the special courses of the School of Foreign Languages.
We would like to thank the experts from inside and outside the university and the School of Foreign Languages for their strong support. Let us look forward to more academic activities, academic achievements and more colorful poetry and drama activities of the center!
