Marginal notes: The poetic world of Yana Diagileva

Yana Diagileva was a rock poet who performed in Russia from 1987 until her death in 1991. While it would be a stretch to characterize Diagileva as a feminist, her dark verse often treats issues such as rape and the marginalization of women. Her untimely death has left us with a limited number of works, whose power, however, more than compensates for their small quantity. This study examines the relationship between Diagileva’s poetic persona and those to whom she addresses her songs and those about whom she sings. I explore the ways in which Diagileva’s presentation of this relationship elicits alienation and despair, while creating a feeling of intimacy between her and the listener.