- It was already during the studies that when reportages and radio dramas were discussed I instantly knew that the form of works is what is crucial for me and I felt something was missing in classic radio broadcasts. The radio experiment as an autonomous genre has not yet been the subject of interest of radio researchers - says dr Natalia Kowalska-Elkader.
She also adds:
- I will have a closer look at the structures of forms that go beyond the classic radio productions - on the one hand related to journalistic (reportage), artistic (radio drama, feature) genres, as well as implementing the assumptions of sound art.
Such works were created by Eugeniusz Rudnik, world-famous pioneer in electronic music and experimental radio. One of the most famous radio broadcasts of his authorship entitled Lekcja [A lesson] from the end of the 1950s, is an audio recording of lessons in the first grades of school. It consists of recited fragments, sound quotes and music. School recordings are documentary in nature, they are not played by actors. However, in the context of the entire radio broadcast they are treated equally with other materials. Their authenticity is their feature, not their uniqueness.
Rudnik used to compose by the use of many types of sound materials, and each of them meant as much as the sounds contained in it - this distinguishes him from documentalists and radio reporters for whom the human word is at the centre of attention. The dynamics between the documentary recording and the artistic form introduces new spaces of reception and makes us aware of the role of form in the radio art.
- In my activities I would like to juxtapose the works of Rudnik with those of the contemporary creators, mostly from the English-language cultural circle, for example with excellent radio broadcasts of Gregory Whitehead, but also with formally crazy German radio dramas or experiments. Creating a possibly complete genological landscape of audial art is my overriding goal and I hope that this project will bring me closer to it - explains the researcher.
She adds:
- I would like to study the nature of radio broadcasts that go beyond any genre and formulate the laws that govern radio experiment. For example, the radio experiment 86400 Seconds - Time Zones by Chantal Dumas is a story composed of many voices that are counting in different languages. They represent time zones. Depending on the population density of a given zone, during the editing process the author superimposed a corresponding number of votes on one another. The title of the broadcast refers to the number of seconds in a day, each of which is reflected in it. The strength of this broadcast lies in the innovative idea, while the meticulousness in reflecting the time zones showed accuracy of editing and coherence of the concept. The idea of the broadcast was formal elaboration of the world, its simultaneity and changeability. It is a sound representation of the globe's geography. Combining these features, both documentary and experimental, undoubtedly makes its reception attractive, and for me it creates a new research space.
In Polish radio broadcasting, the space for experimental activities remains to be exploited. The attempts that are made usually turn out to be very interesting phenomena, such as, for example, Nowe Słuchowiska and Nowe Słuchowiska II.
- I believe that at least some part of radio listeners has always been ready for sound challenges and experiments with form. Perhaps newly created radio stations will find the will and means to make use of the great potential of Polish radio creators. Simply as researchers and listeners - sums up the researcher.
Dr Natalia Kowalska-Elkader is a founder of the Radio Research Science Club, the members of which focus on scientific and popularising activities, for four years they have been organising scientific conferences in the series "Word, sound, silence." Audial and Radio Art". This year's edition is held on June 8.
She took her first steps in the implementation of research projects as part of the Faculty projects for young researchers, which enabled her to participate in the largest radio research conferences: the International Feature Conference in Vienna, the Third Coast International Audio Festival in Chicago or the ECREA radio section conference in Siena. Research consultations and materials collected during the trips enabled me to place my research in an international context.
Dr Natalia Kowalska-Elkader is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Journalism and Social Communication, UL. The radio expert deals with radio genology, with particular emphasis on artistic and experimental radio broadcasts. She is interested in syncretic forms, borderline genres that combine documentary and fictional elements. A member of the Radio and Sound section at ECREA, the Polish Society for Film and Media Studies and the Polish Communication Association (PCA).
Part of the publications by dr Natalia Kowalska-Elkader is available on the website of Academia.edu portal: https://unilodz.academia.edu/NataliaKowalska
She will conduct her research on experimental narrations of artistic radio thanks to the Grant for Experienced Researchers awarded by the University of Lodz, which is an element of the internal competitions within "The Excellence Initiative - Research University" programme of UL. The programme has been carried out by the University since 2020. As part of the grant programme, the University of Lodz awards grants to young and experienced researchers as well as apparatus grants. Some of the grants are dedicated to young and experienced scientists from the leading international universities who, thanks to winning the competition, can undertake lasting even several years cooperation with the University of Lodz.
Internal research competitions of the University of Lodz are funded under a subsidy that was increased by 2% for the Universities that took part in the Excellence Initiative - Research University (IDUB) competition organized by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. University of Lodz, as one of the participants of the first edition of the IDUB competition, obtained additional funds from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, which it will receive in the form of a subsidy for the next 6 years. UL wants to spend these funds on science. More information about IDUB competitions can be found on the website.
More information about the internal grant programme IDUB #UniLodz:
#UniLodz IDUB grants - post-Germanness of Lodz and the surrounding areas
Source: dr Natalia Kowalska-Elkader, Faculty of Philology, UL
Edit: Promotion Centre, UL