Research Article

The Satirical Vision of Canadian/Scottish Songwriter, Poet, and Novelist Graeme Williamson

Volume: 2 Number: 1 April 27, 2022
  • Victor Kennedy *

The Satirical Vision of Canadian/Scottish Songwriter, Poet, and Novelist Graeme Williamson

Abstract

Graeme Williamson, best known as the lead singer/songwriter of the 1980s Toronto New Wave band Pukka Orchestra, was also a poet, short story writer, and novelist. Born and raised in Canada, he moved to Scotland after a serious illness, and his works reflect his personal experience in developing themes of travel, alienation, loss, and awareness of mortality, using biting satire, caustic wit, and a clear insight into the darker reaches of the human psyche. This paper will analyse several of Williamson’s song lyrics, poems, short stories, and his novel, Strange Faith, to show how his writing presents a critical view of modern society.

Keywords

References

  1. Barthes, Roland. Mythologies. Translated by Annette Lavers, Cape, 1972.
  2. Bloom, Harold. Anxiety of Influence: A Theory of Poetry. 2nd ed., Oxford UP, 1997.
  3. Brown, Edward. “Toronto Urban Legends: ‘Cherry Beach Express’; Is There Any Truth to the Stories about Police Using Cherry Beach as a Place to Rough up Perps?.” Torontoist, 3 Oct. 2012, https://torontoist.com/2012/10/toronto-urban-legends-cherry-beach-express/. Accessed 17 Sept. 2019.
  4. Duggan-Smith, Tony. Interview. Conducted by Victor Kennedy. 21 July 2020.
  5. Forsyth, Bruce. “Video Should Have Spelt the End of the Cherry Beach Express.” Toronto, Feb. 2021, https://militarybruce.com/video-should-have-spelt-the-end-of-the-cherry-beach-express/. Accessed 14 Jan. 2022.
  6. Harris, Amy Lavender. Imagining Toronto. Mansfield, 2010.
  7. Hoffman, Bruce, et al. “Assessing the Threat of Incel Violence.” Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, vol. 43, no. 7, 2020, pp. 565-587. Taylor and Francis Online, doi: 10.1080/1057610X.2020.1751459.
  8. Kennedy, Victor. “Breaking Taboos in 1980s Toronto New Wave Music.” Words, Music and Gender, edited by Michelle Gadpaille and Kennedy. Cambridge Scholars, 2020, pp. 67-91.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Literary Studies

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Victor Kennedy * This is me
0000-0002-1214-0102
Slovenia

Publication Date

April 27, 2022

Submission Date

January 15, 2022

Acceptance Date

March 23, 2022

Published in Issue

Year 2022 Volume: 2 Number: 1

APA
Kennedy, V. (2022). The Satirical Vision of Canadian/Scottish Songwriter, Poet, and Novelist Graeme Williamson. IDEAS: Journal of English Literary Studies, 2(1), 45-59. https://izlik.org/JA52FE98ER
AMA
1.Kennedy V. The Satirical Vision of Canadian/Scottish Songwriter, Poet, and Novelist Graeme Williamson. IDEAS. 2022;2(1):45-59. https://izlik.org/JA52FE98ER
Chicago
Kennedy, Victor. 2022. “The Satirical Vision of Canadian Scottish Songwriter, Poet, and Novelist Graeme Williamson”. IDEAS: Journal of English Literary Studies 2 (1): 45-59. https://izlik.org/JA52FE98ER.
EndNote
Kennedy V (April 1, 2022) The Satirical Vision of Canadian/Scottish Songwriter, Poet, and Novelist Graeme Williamson. IDEAS: Journal of English Literary Studies 2 1 45–59.
IEEE
[1]V. Kennedy, “The Satirical Vision of Canadian/Scottish Songwriter, Poet, and Novelist Graeme Williamson”, IDEAS, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 45–59, Apr. 2022, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA52FE98ER
ISNAD
Kennedy, Victor. “The Satirical Vision of Canadian Scottish Songwriter, Poet, and Novelist Graeme Williamson”. IDEAS: Journal of English Literary Studies 2/1 (April 1, 2022): 45-59. https://izlik.org/JA52FE98ER.
JAMA
1.Kennedy V. The Satirical Vision of Canadian/Scottish Songwriter, Poet, and Novelist Graeme Williamson. IDEAS. 2022;2:45–59.
MLA
Kennedy, Victor. “The Satirical Vision of Canadian Scottish Songwriter, Poet, and Novelist Graeme Williamson”. IDEAS: Journal of English Literary Studies, vol. 2, no. 1, Apr. 2022, pp. 45-59, https://izlik.org/JA52FE98ER.
Vancouver
1.Victor Kennedy. The Satirical Vision of Canadian/Scottish Songwriter, Poet, and Novelist Graeme Williamson. IDEAS [Internet]. 2022 Apr. 1;2(1):45-59. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA52FE98ER

IDEAS: Journal of English Literary Studies is published by The English Language and Literature Research Association of Türkiye (IDEA).