Song Lyrics As Form and Ideology

• Applicant: Dr. Andrey Logutov
• Subject Area: General and Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 526218060

The project aims to examine popular song lyrics as a unique form of art that is not only defined by its musical component, but also by the way it is consumed, which often involves repetition. Despite the fact that the role of repetitive patterns in culture has been widely studied, the repetition found in oral poetry and song has yet to receive proper attention from scholars. The project has four main objectives: First, I intend to re-conceptualize popular song lyrics as a distinct discursive phenomenon, characterized by the interplay between music and lyrics, and the presence of repetition in various forms. This includes publishing two papers and completing a book on the analysis and ideology of song lyrics. I am planning to publish the monograph, which I had almost completed in Russian in 2021, in English within the first several months of the project. Secondly, I find it important to explore the broader implications of repetition in contemporary aesthetics, drawing on the works of researchers such as Deleuze (1968) and Margulis (2013). This includes examining how repetition in popular culture relates to societal issues such as discrimination and political activism. Third, with a view to expand the scope of the research I am intent on taking advantage of my native command of the Russian language and including an examination of how popular song lyrics are incorporated into the political landscape of modern Russia, and how they reflect and shape the country's struggles for democracy and the aggression against Ukraine. Finally, my fourth objective is to develop a graduate level course in song lyrics analysis. My research has always gained momentum from interactions with students and young scholars, and I hope to see this continuing into the future.

• DFG Programme: WBP Position