http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyag3eLbU71qdbea3o1_500.png
The following poem was titled "Drown" by Bianca Stewart. It was about the author who supposedly saw a friend of hers drown. It was extremely short. It's not the type of poetry we're typically used to but it kind of struck a chord with me. The brevity of the poem combined with the "choice" of diction was very interesting. For example, the author used the word "hugged" as opposed to "swallowed" or "captured." I think this choice gave the poem a sort of intimacy and acceptance. The last part "as though you were responsible for keeping it blue" brings with it a strange sense of peace. It establishes almost a love connection between the friend and the ocean, as opposed to a murder or something harsh of that nature. This makes the idea of death more tender and mellow. Also, not to mention that the "keeping it blue" part was a clever pun. I love the fact that this poem is not forcibly dramatic; it does not try to persuade the reader that this occasion was sad. It is not an argumentative piece, but rather a self-expression piece. The author speaks in a very natural, life-driven tone, and I think it is through these factors that the piece becomes poetry.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
AOW #22
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPTmsoZYkXI
This spoken word poem was written and performed by Rudy Francisco. The poem is about his ex-girlfriend and essentially their strained, destroyed relationship. Rudy shows his confliction through this poem by saying that he hates her and he loves her one after another. Rudy uses an extremely wide range of rhetorical elements. He uses metaphors, similes, puns, hyperbole, personification, allusion, digression, and even anaphora. His metaphors and simile put his state of heartbreak and nostalgia into a new, presentable, light. Heartbreak isn't anything no one hasn't already heard of before, but through his "gas chamber" and "hour glass" metaphors, he makes heartbreak sound freshly cruel and destructive as if we are hearing about it for the first time. Rudy also describes his pride as "clawing out of his mouth" which gives Pride the persona of a self-minded demon. His repeated "if I could" and "you wanna know how I got these scars" statements keep bringing the poem back to where it started, in order to remind everyone what the purpose of the poem is. Rudy also alludes to Jesus dying on a cross, wars and white flags, even the Holocaust. By doing so, he expands the poem's potential and empowers it. Perhaps most impressive of all is his presentation. Rudy was not restrained at all. He was passionate, natural as if he had just been heartbroken right then and there. I could even see spit coming out of his mouth, which showed me that he was lost in his emotions with no consideration for what his audience might think.
As a poet, I'd say his purpose would first be to relieve himself of his inner thoughts. Otherwise, he might implode. I would argue that if he were a real poet, everything that he writes is first for himself; everything else is secondary. This is a piece driven by emotion/pathos so there may be little acknowledgment of an audience. After all, heartbreak has no time for debates. It's just a time for coping and venting. Poetry such as this, has little room for reconstruction. Most likely how it falls and how it spills onto paper is how it should be. For him to go back and logically/technically arrange the pieces of the poem would only show insincerity and betrayal of his own self.
This spoken word poem was written and performed by Rudy Francisco. The poem is about his ex-girlfriend and essentially their strained, destroyed relationship. Rudy shows his confliction through this poem by saying that he hates her and he loves her one after another. Rudy uses an extremely wide range of rhetorical elements. He uses metaphors, similes, puns, hyperbole, personification, allusion, digression, and even anaphora. His metaphors and simile put his state of heartbreak and nostalgia into a new, presentable, light. Heartbreak isn't anything no one hasn't already heard of before, but through his "gas chamber" and "hour glass" metaphors, he makes heartbreak sound freshly cruel and destructive as if we are hearing about it for the first time. Rudy also describes his pride as "clawing out of his mouth" which gives Pride the persona of a self-minded demon. His repeated "if I could" and "you wanna know how I got these scars" statements keep bringing the poem back to where it started, in order to remind everyone what the purpose of the poem is. Rudy also alludes to Jesus dying on a cross, wars and white flags, even the Holocaust. By doing so, he expands the poem's potential and empowers it. Perhaps most impressive of all is his presentation. Rudy was not restrained at all. He was passionate, natural as if he had just been heartbroken right then and there. I could even see spit coming out of his mouth, which showed me that he was lost in his emotions with no consideration for what his audience might think.
As a poet, I'd say his purpose would first be to relieve himself of his inner thoughts. Otherwise, he might implode. I would argue that if he were a real poet, everything that he writes is first for himself; everything else is secondary. This is a piece driven by emotion/pathos so there may be little acknowledgment of an audience. After all, heartbreak has no time for debates. It's just a time for coping and venting. Poetry such as this, has little room for reconstruction. Most likely how it falls and how it spills onto paper is how it should be. For him to go back and logically/technically arrange the pieces of the poem would only show insincerity and betrayal of his own self.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
AOW #21
http://pacificvs.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/picture-21.png
This political cartoon was created by Benjamin Franklin during the American Revolution. It was a call for the American colonies to unite in an effort to defeat Great Britain. Franklin communicated his message through the symbolic image of a snake divided into eight pieces. Below the snake were the words in caps, "JOIN, or DIE." This physically represented the idea that if colonies did not come together, they would perish under the British regime. It also suggested the idea that all the pieces, or colonies, were needed in order for America to stand a chance. Another interesting and effective memory that Ben Franklin pulled from was a common superstition that was held during that time: if the parts of a snake were put back together before sunset, the snake would come back to life.
The context of the cartoon was the approaching American Revolution. Britain had limited the rights of its American colonies, angering many colonists. Policies such as the various tax acts made colonists want to separate from Britain. However, there was no single government that the colonies had; therefore, cooperation was difficult.
The purpose of the cartoon was obviously to unite the colonies. Benjamin Franklin knew the importance of union in order to defeat Britain, which is why he would present his Albany Plan that same year. While the colonies never were united in the way in which some would have hoped, it was enough to keep Americans from working against one another.
This political cartoon was created by Benjamin Franklin during the American Revolution. It was a call for the American colonies to unite in an effort to defeat Great Britain. Franklin communicated his message through the symbolic image of a snake divided into eight pieces. Below the snake were the words in caps, "JOIN, or DIE." This physically represented the idea that if colonies did not come together, they would perish under the British regime. It also suggested the idea that all the pieces, or colonies, were needed in order for America to stand a chance. Another interesting and effective memory that Ben Franklin pulled from was a common superstition that was held during that time: if the parts of a snake were put back together before sunset, the snake would come back to life.
The context of the cartoon was the approaching American Revolution. Britain had limited the rights of its American colonies, angering many colonists. Policies such as the various tax acts made colonists want to separate from Britain. However, there was no single government that the colonies had; therefore, cooperation was difficult.
The purpose of the cartoon was obviously to unite the colonies. Benjamin Franklin knew the importance of union in order to defeat Britain, which is why he would present his Albany Plan that same year. While the colonies never were united in the way in which some would have hoped, it was enough to keep Americans from working against one another.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
IRB: Everything is Illuminated
Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
Roughly 270 pages (split into 90 page sections)
I chose this book because I have read small excerpts from it before, and based on what I have read it seems like a very interesting and passionate book. I don't read novels often but I decided I would give this a try since it seems somewhat like a memoir as well. I presume it will be a "life" book, which I enjoy. I also have hopes that I can take away something genuine from this book. I don't feel like books often have that effect on me anymore. And perhaps this one will find application into my own life; that would be the best case scenario.
Roughly 270 pages (split into 90 page sections)
I chose this book because I have read small excerpts from it before, and based on what I have read it seems like a very interesting and passionate book. I don't read novels often but I decided I would give this a try since it seems somewhat like a memoir as well. I presume it will be a "life" book, which I enjoy. I also have hopes that I can take away something genuine from this book. I don't feel like books often have that effect on me anymore. And perhaps this one will find application into my own life; that would be the best case scenario.
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