Dr. Dolores Minakakis, Independent Scholar (Ph.D. in Indology, Universität Hamburg)

“The Motionless Crane: Suggestion and Eroticism in Indian Poetry” (BUCSA “Asia in Love” Series)

Ancient South Asian love poetry is filled with instances that may not, at first glance, appear particularly erotic. The key to interpreting these works correctly and appreciating their full meaning is connected to background knowledge of genre, suggestion, and non-literal reading. In this talk, Dr. Minakakis presents different aspects of eroticism in literature through an introduction to some major themes in Sanskrit poetics and various examples of Prākrit and Sanskrit poetry. Response by Professor Sunil Sharma (Chair, MLCL Dept.) Refreshments will be served.