Harry Carter
I work on songs and lyrics, mainly those of Greco-Roman antiquity, Song dynasty China (960–1279 CE), and medieval Western Europe. By examining song lyrics from different traditions in a comparative framework, I try to clarify aspects of how they work that remain blurry or invisible when they are considered in isolation. For instance, in July 2022 I gave a paper at the in Leeds, discussing the treatment of ineffability in medieval European fin’amor song lyrics and ci 詞 song lyrics from Song Dynasty China.
I am also interested in the permeable and productive border between song lyrics and poetry. In March 2023 I gave a paper at the , arguing that fin’amor song lyrics and ci 詞 song lyrics departed radically and self-consciously from the poetic ideals of their times. In an article of mine published in , I argue that Geoffrey Chaucer (1343–1400) brings his songwriting expertise to bear on his approach to writing narrative poetry. In Spring 2024, I am co-teaching a comparative and cross-temporal , co-designed with Marisa Galvez. We were interviewed about the class by .
In the academic year 2021–2022 I was Vice Chair of the research collective, which organises seminars, conferences and workshops to enable interdisciplinary dialogue among scholars of premodern literature.
I am a member of , a musical collaboration with and . The project tries to give new life to old lyrics, through settings, translations and reimaginings.