The Mirror of Masks: Bacchanalia to Contemplation Studio+

Traversing from revelry to meditation using cultural masks to discover our own true selves.

‘The point of Carnival is loss of self.’ – Roger Turton

Bacchanal is a Caribbean word for confusion, scandal or wild revelry. It is also the corybantic freedom experienced during the pre-Lenten days of Carnival, only to be reined in on Ash Wednesday. For these few days, social hierarchies are willingly displaced.

This year marks the unusual conjunction of the beginning of both Lent and Ramadan: periods of abstinence, inner reflection and deep contemplation.

In this course, we will displace our own poetic hierarchies. We cross over from reveller to the meditative using masks of cultures of the Caribbean and Venice, to West Africa and Japan. The writers we will examine along the way will include Wole Soyinka, Patience Agbabi, Anthony V. Capildeo, Sai Murray, Jean Rhys, and Fyodor Tyutchev.

We’ll experiment with becoming and writing with other voices, then connect with each other to speak and create with these new transformations. Perhaps even, we may learn how to play our true selves.

Studio+ Courses are an expanded version of our Studios and feature a portfolio of preliminary reading, alongside 4 writing assignments, and some additional bonus features bespoke to each course, such as Zoom sessions, collaborative projects, and inter-disciplinary work. There are no Live Chats on this course. Suitable for UK & International students.

Concessions & Accessibility

To apply for a concession rate, please send relevant documentation showing your eligibility for one of our concessions to [email protected]. Conditions of eligibility are detailed here. If you have any questions or wish to be added to the waiting list of a sold-out course, please email [email protected].

What to Expect

Please check the left hand side of this page for information on how this course works in practice, under the heading ‘Course Style‘. If you’re unsure as to what any of the terms there mean, or if this course is a good fit for you, please visit our What to Expect page which includes some further information on how our courses function.

Image credit: @mikhail-nilov

About Fawzia Kane View Profile

Fawzia Muradali Kane was born and grew up in Trinidad and Tobago. She is an architect and poet, now based in London. Her collection Guaracara (Carcanet) was published in 2025.

"There's a diverse range of topics and it's great to connect with other poets and receive their feedback and support."

– Summer 2025 Survey Response

The Poetry School