Poetics in the Time of Pandemic. There is Always Going to be a Before and an After

In her scholarly article “Poetics in the Time of Pandemic: There is Always Going to be a Before and an After,” Liliana E. Correa, a cultural researcher at Western Sydney University, examines the social transformations instigated by the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on its impact on artists and creatives in Sydney, Australia. Drawing from personal experience and observation, she explores how the pandemic altered the visual and symbolic language of the city—street art, signage, and public messaging became saturated with COVID-related imagery, marking a shift in how social interactions are mediated. Correa integrates empirical research with theoretical and creative methodologies to highlight the role of theatre in narrating pandemic experiences, particularly those of marginalized communities, including First Nations peoples. She describes theatre as “a place where we ‘see’ the truth about ourselves” (Correa 27), emphasizing its function as a site of collective self-recognition.

Alongside her critical analysis, Correa reflects on unexpected solidarities that emerged during the pandemic. She documents a surge of kindness and mutual care within her communities, suggesting that the crisis exposed not only collective vulnerability but also a shared longing for connection and creative reinvention. Correa’s work foregrounds the importance of artistic expression—especially narrative and performative forms—in helping societies make sense of disruption and imagine alternative futures. Her account offers a distinct perspective that moves beyond biomedical or economic framings to underscore the cultural and affective dimensions of pandemic life.