A Framework for Studying the Perception of Print-based Poems and Their Trans-medial Adaptations
A Framework for Studying the Perception of Print-based Poems and Their Trans-medial Adaptations

Summary/Abstract: The aim of my research project described in this article was: 1) to create a framework for studying the perception of print-based poems and their transmedial interpretations; 2) to test its practical application in order to see whether further adjustments are necessary. The first section of the article is a review of the historical context (previous research in sensory and text perception, recent developments in reading patterns and text comprehension). The next section is a contextual analysis of theoretical literature focusing on the semantics of print-based versus trans-medial poetry (key authors: Katherine N. Hayles, Espen Aarseth, Mirona Magearu, Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari), level and type of immersion (Marie-Laure Ryan), and literariness (David Miall and Don Kuiken), which are the building blocks for my Reader Experience Questionnaire (REQ). It is followed by a description of how the REQ was tested by conducting an anonymous online study evaluating respondents’ perception of four selected poems and their audiovisual interpretations (each with a specific agenda) in order to: 1) test whether the questionnaire fulfils its purpose; 2) see whether the collected qualitative and quantitative data reflect the author’s initial expectations in regard to the level and type of immersion, perception of literariness, and interpretation of meaning(s) of the print-based versus trans-medial poems presented. In conclusion, there are suggestions about possible further applications and adjustments of REQ, and a brief overview of some of the observations on reader’s/viewer’s perception based on the data collected.

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