Social Media and Cultural Heritage

Social Media and Cultural Heritage: Promoting Nikos Engonopoulos in the Digital Landscape

BY IRINI KOUTLI

Athens, 2025

It is prohibited to copy, store and distribute this thesis in whole or in part, for commercial purposes. Reprinting, storage and distribution for non-profit, educational or research purposes is permitted, provided that the source is acknowledged and this message is preserved. Questions regarding the use of the thesis for profit should be addressed to the author.

The Nikos Engonopoulos Archive

The archive of Nikos Engonopoulos serves as a vital repository of the life and works of one of the most important surrealist poets and painters of Greece. Engonopoulos (1907–1985) was a defining figure of the Greek avant-garde, seamlessly combining dreamlike imagery with vivid colors and deep poetic expression. His artistic and literary contributions remain integral to contemporary Greek culture, reflecting a unique fusion of surrealism with Greek tradition. His archive provides invaluable information about his creative journey, hosting a rich collection of manuscripts, paintings, personal correspondence, rare publications, and critical essays. It offers scholars, artists, and enthusiasts a comprehensive resource to explore its multifaceted legacy. Whether through his living canvases or through his enigmatic poetry, Engonopoulos continues to inspire new generations, cementing his position as a cornerstone of European surrealism.

This academic semester of 2025 as students and researchers we were called upon to carry out our own research, delving into the archive that had not yet seen the light of day, a rare and unique opportunity that opened our horizons. Our goal was to explore the archive of Nikos Engonopoulos, enabling us to develop skills of critical analysis, creative recomposition and digital communication. Having access to this archive of unpublished and published works, we were tasked with making a work that revolves around his works. Through the work I studied the material containing manuscripts and paintings with correspondence as well as audiovisual material and developed personal approaches that connect literature, visual art and the media. The purpose of this article is to document the process by which I did my work and the things I learned while researching the archive.

From the beginning, I had a clear goal, I wanted the archive to be as accessible as possible to anyone, not only researchers, academics, progressive lovers of literature and art but also to the general public, people with difficulties such as dyslexia or people with visual impairments who may want to learn about the fantastic and pioneering works of Engonopoulos but do not have the appropriate educational tools available. Having dyslexia myself, I found myself in a difficult position when I had to research his texts. Although his works are excellent and thought-provoking, I found myself thinking, "I wish I had someone to read it to me" and "I wish I could hear the opinion of an expert on this subject."

Thus, the idea of a podcast was created that would not only have the narrations of his texts but also interviews with experts (writers, academics, poets) who would read his poems and comment on them with their own ideas and understanding of the mentalities and ideals of Nikos Engonopoulos, while at the same time guiding and educating the audience that does not know him.

The aim of my work is to find ways to make the archive both understandable and accessible to the public and to highlight the poetic works of Engonopoulos to the wider public. I think it would be a shame not to do so, as art in any form should be enjoyed by everyone.

Theoretical and Historical Context

The poetry of Nikos Engonopoulos is one of the most characteristic and at the same time enigmatic exponents of surrealism in Greece. Through a poetic writing that unites dream with reality, the mythical with the modern and the Greek with the global, Engonopoulos has composed a poetic universe that does not obey the rules of realistic representation, but functions as a field of autonomous aesthetic and ideological freedom.

Understanding his poetry requires its placement both in the theoretical framework of the surrealist movement and in the historical context of Greek intellectual life in the 20th century.

Surrealism as a Poetic Perspective

Surrealism (or surrealism), theoretically founded by André Breton in 1924 with the Manifesto of Surrealism, proposes a form of artistic expression based on freedom of the mind, spontaneous writing, imagination and the unconscious. The goal is not to represent the world realistically, but to reveal deeper truths through associations, paradoxes, dream images and heterogeneous correlations.

Engonopoulos adopts these principles, but incorporates elements of Greekness, historical reference and symbolism into surrealism, creating an original hybrid that goes beyond the limits of the "imported" style. I hope that all of this will be broadcast to the audience that will listen to this podcast series, so that they too can travel as the Surrealism movement intended to do.

In Engonopoulos' poetics, specific motifs and techniques are observed, such as the use of heterogeneous figures (mythological, historical, everyday) without logical continuity, a strong image and symbolic language, which functions not as a means but as an end in itself, a combination of ancient Greek and Byzantine elements with modern symbols, e.g. sewing machines, soldiers, still lifes, resistance to logical linearity and avoidance of traditional narrative flow. is strengthened through psychoanalytic readings (Freud – unconscious, Jung – archetypal motifs), theories about Greek identity (e.g. K. Tsoukalas, P. Kondylis) and intertextuality: relationship with Seferis, Cavafy, but also with Byzantine or Folk songs.

Historical Context - The Interwar Period and the Birth of Surrealism in Greece.

Nikos Engonopoulos was born in 1907 and appeared in Greek literature in the late 1930s. This era was characterized by political instability (Metaxas dictatorship, Occupation, Civil War) and at the same time by intellectual quest. At the core of this quest is the need to reshape the Greek identity.

Surrealism finds ground in Greece mainly through Andreas Embiricos, but Engonopoulos' poetry is differentiated due to its close connection with visual thought (he was also a painter), but also its emphasis on Greek cultural symbolism.

Poetry as Resistance and Personal Refuge

During the Occupation and the Civil War, Engonopoulos wrote poems that functioned as acts of resistance, not with political slogans but with the liberation of the imagination. Poetry becomes a kind of inner freedom, which is recognized in his famous phrase "Surrealism is the most realistic form of resistance".

The Reception and Interpretation of the Work

The reception of his poetry was initially controversial. Critics such as Tellos Agras found it difficult to classify it, while today it is considered pioneering and fundamental for contemporary Greek literature.

The existence of Engonopoulos' archive (manuscripts, personal notebooks, correspondence) offers valuable material for the reconstitution of his intentions, his personal ideology and his relationship with his time.

The poetry of Nikos Engonopoulos is part of the framework of Greek surrealism, differentiated with a strong personal and cultural connotation. Her study, especially through his archive, reveals a deep need for freedom, overthrow and redefinition of Greekness in a turbulent historical period. The combination of theoretical foundation and historical understanding is essential for the decoding of its rich, often inaccessible, but extremely fruitful poetic world.

Detailed Description of the Creative Work:
Poetry Hub: "A Poet Takes Me On A Journey"

The present proposal concerns the creation of a podcast entitled Poetry Hub: "A Poet Travels Me", which focuses on the work and thought of Nikos Engonopoulos. The central idea is to create an original audio experience that will not be limited only to the reading of Engonopoulos' poems, but will also be extended to their commentary by experts — writers, academics, poets — who will illuminate aspects of his works and convey to the public the deeper essence of his ideals and aesthetics.

The primary goal of the project is to offer access to the archive and poetry of Engonopoulos in a direct, accessible and attractive way. Our desire is for the poems and their spirit to become the property of a wider audience, who may have never come into contact with the poet's work. We strongly believe that art, in any form, should be accessible to everyone – and that's what we're trying to achieve with Poetry Hub.

Structure and Content of the Podcast

The podcast is structured in thematic units that alternate with each other, in order to maintain the flow and interest of the listener, while at the same time providing a multi-layered approach to Engonopoulos' work:

Reading and Annotation of Poems
Guests will read selected poems and comment on the themes, images and style, bringing to light new interpretations.
Interviews with Special
Discussions with important personalities of literature and academia, who will place Engonopoulos' work in its historical and artistic context.
Dramatized Narratives
Excerpts rendered in theatrical form, without interpretative commentary, so that the listener can experience the power of words in a direct way.
Audiobooks & Subscription Content
The possibility of accessing readings of larger poetic works, in the form of audiobooks, is provided through a subscription for those who wish to have more extensive contact.

Collaboration and Presentation

The podcast will be hosted in collaboration with Panteion Radio and will be presented by Zoe Economou, a personality with sensitivity, aesthetic perception and direct contact with the audience. Her voice and presence create an intimate, welcoming and artistic context that reinforces the vision of expression and connection.

Chapters of the Podcast:

● Module 1: "Opening the Archive: Nikos Engonopoulos through the eyes of students"
Focus on the workshop dedicated to the poet and the presentation of works and approaches by students. Through their own voices and glances, a new dimension of the archive is illuminated.

● Module 2: "From the Archive to the Stage: A Revoir, Theophilos"
Recording of the experience of presenting an original play based on unpublished material by Engonopoulos. In the presence of experts who comment on the performance and analyze the play.

● Section 3: "Bolívar — The Man Who Liberated Poetry"
A tribute to the emblematic poem of Engonopoulos, with readings, musical accompaniment and literary analysis. The aim is to highlight the revolutionary power of his poetry.

Structure and Options Analysis

The choice of this structure is based on the desire for a balance between information and experience. The alternation of forms (reading, commentary, narration) gives liveliness and avoids monotony. The use of interviews, dramatizations and audiobooks targets different listener profiles – from the expert to the unsuspecting listener.

Material Evaluation

The photographs, excerpts, documents that accompany the audio content are not only of informative value. They are integrated into experience to create a dialogue between speech and image, memory and present. They are thematically linked to each unit, acting as an occasion for thought, aesthetic pleasure or emotional connection with Engonopoulos' work.

The Poetry Hub aims to highlight poetry not as something remote and academic, but as a living field of expression, in which everyone has the right to access and participate.

Project Dissemination and Communication Channels

For the success and sustainability of the podcast Poetry Hub: "A Poet Travels Me", it is crucial to effectively and multi-level promotion of the work in selected digital and printed media, addressed to both domestic and international audiences. The channels that will be used are the following:

1. Social Media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram):
Social media platforms will be a key means of communication with the public. Through creative posts, excerpts from poems by Nikos Engonopoulos, images and posters of episodes, short excerpts (teasers) from the interviews of experts and announcements for the release of new episodes will be posted regularly.
The strategy here is based on aesthetic curation, systematic content planning, and creating a consistent, recognizable "visual style" of the podcast.

2. YouTube – Visual Podcast Series:
YouTube will be used for the visualized version of the podcast. Each episode will combine the narration or interview with visual elements, archive photos, manuscripts, and contemporary graphics. Thus, the audience will be able to engage in a more immersive audiovisual environment that highlights the poetic universe of Engonopoulos in more contemporary terms.

3. Medium – Collaboration with Bloggers and Columnists:
The Medium platform will publish articles by bloggers and scholars specializing in literature and art criticism. The articles will be about the work and impact of Nikos Engonopoulos, analyses of podcast episodes and interviews with the participating experts. which can increase the impact and credibility of the project.

4. Collaborations with Print and Digital Media:

● Kathimerini (Department of Culture):
The aim is to publish articles and presentations of the podcast through one of the most reliable cultural inserts in Greece.

● To Vima (Books – Arts):
The aim is to present the project in a tribute or column concerning Greek literature and contemporary artistic activities.

● The Guardian (Arts & Books):
The sending of a press release and relevant content for possible presentation to the international English-speaking public. Particularly important for the promotion of Greek poetry at an international level.

● Literary Hub (LitHub):
Proposal for the publication of an English-language article that will present Engonopoulos, his surrealist writing and the podcast project as a new form of popularization of modern poetry.

Description of the Creative Process

The first step in the execution of the project is to fully understand the archive, my main focus at the beginning was the following two texts: À REVOIR: THEOPHILOS and BOLIVAR, a new text by him and one that made him famous even abroad. All of which were read both manually and using Adobe Acrobat, which allowed the bot to read the texts aloud to understand them better. In À REVOIR: THEOPHILOS where Mrs. Elizabeth Arseniou who did Philological Editing - Epimeter of the text included many useful notes and explanations for each verse that allows for a more in-depth look from an expert like herself, helping me to understand more than was on the surface. This is how I want my podcast to be framed, for a professional to read the text, analyze it, and express their own opinion on it.

Bolívar Analysis

"Bolívar" by Nikos Engonopoulos (1942) is one of the most emblematic and much-discussed poems of Greek surrealist poetry. It is a poem-hymn to freedom, a political and existential manifesto, written during the Occupation, which elevates Simon Bolivar to a symbol of global struggle. It is a manifesto of freedom and human dignity, combining surrealism with a deeply patriotic and universal spirit. Through this, the poet highlights that the struggle for freedom is personal, collective and timeless.

Messages

● Resistance and freedom: Written during the Nazi Occupation, the poem conveys messages of resistance through surrealist discourse.

● Universality of the struggle: The struggle for freedom is not limited geographically. Bolívar becomes "ours", that is, contemporary, timeless and Greek.

● Heroism and human loneliness: The hero bears the burden of responsibility and the tragedy of the man who fights for a higher cause.

Analysis À REVOIR: THEOPHILOS

Engonopoulos praises the folk painter Theophilos Hatzimichail (1870–1934), presenting him as a symbol of authenticity, Greek folk soul and intellectual resistance against bourgeois hypocrisy and social conventionality.

Conclusions

Engonopoulos with the poem "Theophilos":

● Honors innocence and spiritual purity.

● It criticizes the bourgeois society that rejects the different.

● It paves the way for a new Greekness, rooted in tradition but free expression through modern art.

Technical

Throughout the process of analyzing his works and creating mockups for the podcast, various tools were used, the most notable of which are:

● Canvas and CapCut to create your mockup videos and social media posts.

● Audacity to edit audio of the video

● HyperWrite AI Literature Analysis Assistant who provided assistance in analyzing his projects while also providing a more in-depth insight into the Historical Context of each project.

Conclusions
The experience of dealing with the Engonopoulos archive has been essential both on a personal and academic level. On the one hand, it has empowered me to develop skills in critical reading, audiovisual creation and digital communication. On the other hand, my personal relationship with dyslexia has made the issue of accessibility a central axis of the work, leading to a deeper empathy for the needs of the wider public. podcast in response to this experience shows how personal difficulty can be transformed into innovation and social contribution.

The engagement with Engonopoulos raised questions about the place of art in conditions of historical crisis, the importance of cultural identity through surrealist writing, and the role of new technologies in the transmission of literature. Questions also arose about the connection between visual and literary creation, as well as about the interpretative freedom offered by the podcast as a medium.
The creative approach through podcasts, which incorporates readings, interviews, dramatizations and audiovisual content, broadens the possibility of understanding the work. It is not limited to an academic approach, but transforms poetry into an experiential experience. It also offers new gateways of access for those who are not familiar with literature, thus highlighting the timelessness and liveliness of Engonopoulos' art.

Suggestions for the development of the project:

For the development of the project "Poetry Hub: A Poet Takes Me On A Journey", several steps can be taken that will expand its action and enhance its accessibility to wider audiences. An important proposal is the inclusion of the podcast in a physical or digital exhibition on the subject of Greek surrealism. In such an exhibition, the podcast can function as a living narrative background, framed by Nikos Engonopoulos' archive, artworks, manuscripts and audio or dramatized projections, thus enhancing the experiential reception of his poetry and work. In addition, it is proposed to expand the content into educational material, by creating accompanying brochures, interactive applications or educational packages for schools and universities. In this way, Engonopoulos' literary approach acquires a pedagogical dimension and is actively integrated into modern education. Finally, a key priority is the collaboration with institutions for Persons with Disabilities (PWD), in order to enhance the accessibility of the project. Incorporating subtitles, audio descriptions, and versions specifically designed for people with dyslexia, visual or hearing impairments, will ensure that artistic expression becomes truly universal and inclusive. Through these proposals, the podcast can evolve into a multidimensional cultural tool, uniting the past with the present, art with technology, and creativity with social sensitivity.

The paper proves that research is not just a collection of data, but a process of personal discovery and transmission. The connection of the past, through Engonopoulos, with the present, through the podcast, paves the way for a more democratic, experiential and participatory future in the field of literary reception.

Bibliography – Links – Appendices

Engonopoulos, N. (2024). ΄A Revoir: Theophilos.

Engonopoulos, N. (1962). Bolivar.

N. PSACHOU, M. (2011). THE POETIC GENERATION OF THE 70S: IDEOLOGICAL AND AESTHETIC EXPLORATION [UNIVERSITY OF IOANNINA, SCHOOL OF PHILOSOPHY, DEPARTMENT OF PHILOLOGY, DEPARTMENT OF MEDIEVAL AND MODERN GREEK LITERATURE]. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjNlK3iu4COAxWESfEDHW6DLhYQFnoECBkQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Folympias.lib.uoi.gr%2Fjspui%2Fbitstream%2F123456789%2F5758%2F1%2F%25CE%2594.%25CE%2594.-%25CE%25A8%25CE%2591%25CE%25A7%25CE%259F%25CE%25A5%2520%25CE%259C%25CE%2591%25CE%25A1%25CE%2599%25CE%2591.pdf&usg=AOvVaw2onJp3TgGWxc54Q0yPutQH&opi=89978449

Frantzis A. (1988). Anyway - Anagnotakis - Engonopoulos - Kachtitsis - Hatzis

PEK (2008). INTRODUCTION TO THE POETRY OF ENGONOPOULOS

Dimitroulia, T., Lillis, G., G. Papageorgiou, K., Chatzivassiliou, V., & N. Psahou, M. (2019). APPROACHES TO THE POETRY OF THE GENERATION OF THE '70S. GOVOSTIS.

--------

Canvas. (n.d.). https://www.canva.com

AI Literature Analysis Assistant | AI-powered literary analysis tool | HyperWrite AI Writing Assistant. (n.d.). https://www.hyperwriteai.com/aitools/ai-literature-analysis-assistant