meiwita’s Blog

I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness…

…who were expelled from the academies for crazy & publishing obscene odes on the windows of the skull,…

…who threw their watches off the roof to cast their ballot for Eternity outside of Time,…

…who in humorless protest overturned only one symbolic pingpong table…

In the poem “Howl” by Allen Ginsberg, the poet repetitively shows the motif of “madness”.
The madness in the poem consists of two impressions- the crazy/insane and the anger/rage.
Ginsberg reflects the throwing of the watches as something only done by crazy people; however, the watch is actually representing time constrain. In our daily life, our activities are frequently controlled by the time. Throwing the time means to live freely; not thinking of what’s right or what’s wrong and what should be done or what should not be done. Thus, being creative. This creativity, however, requires individuals to throw away facts that have been implanted this madness phase. Another madness is to prove your rightness about the creativity produced. Protesting show the type of madness in which can make changes to a person’s mind– contribute to acceptance to what previously considered crazy or insane. Through this poem, it is shown how creative madness requires one’s endurance to receive critiques at the beginning and requires the madness of protesting for what should be received–the acceptance of being different.

The idea of “loyalty” is rather difficult to define and it is often tragic. The reason of loyalty being tragic is because loyalty can be positive yet also negative. It is positive when, for instance, a friend is accused wrong but he/she is actually right and you believe them to be right and support them; whereas, it is negative when believing a friend to be right despite knowing that he/she is wrong. In the play “A View from the Bridge”, Miller shows both sides of loyalty through Eddie’s character and the community’s. And from them, we can see how loyalty turns out to be tragic.

Ever since Marco and Rodolpho enter Eddie’s house, loyalty has became a major focus in the play. Despite the fact that Marco and Rodolpho are staying in America illegally, nobody but Eddie dare to report them to the law officer. At the beginning, Eddie mentions how he would never report them to the law since Marco and Rodolpho are part of his family (Beatrice’s cousins are practically his cousins too); from this scene, we know how Eddie is loyal towards his family despite the fact that is not a right thing to do by law means. However, later in the play, Eddie appears to be jealous towards Rodolpho for taking Catherine’s attention away from him and he decides to report them. Although he becomes the good guy in the eyes of the American’s law, his betrayal towards his own family is unacceptable in the community. Eddie’s incestuous love towards Cathy makes loyalty become a difficult value in the play.

Additionally, loyalty is important to the blue-collar, ethnic community that Miller portrays in his play because the community dictates the family norms and value that should be followed. In this case, the norm is to protect own family. This is supported by the fact that the community doesn’t report Marco and Rodolpho as an illegal immigrant. Also, the community looks down on Eddie when he reports his own “family” to the law officer. The mix of American culture and Italian culture are creating a conflict in the play. For Miller, loyalty is a complicated issue in 1950s because he encounters the problem of to be American or not to be American. To be American means that he has to named name of the communist sympathizer; following the American law. Whereas, not to be American is to go against the law. However, Miller is against naming names of the innocence and he reflects this value through the community in the play that protect the unlawful act of Marco and Rodolpho staying in America illegally.

In my perspective, Hemingway portrays the husband as being sensitive yet ignorant; and loyal yet irresponsible. This is represented through the husband whose wife is being in labor. Firstly, the husband seem to be worried when his wife was having a hard time giving birth to a baby; “he was smoking a pipe”. Generally, people who smoke are because they feel anxious about something; they feel that something is not right which results in them smoking; smoking offers peacefulness at heart. However, he is also shown as ignorant as his smoke create stinky smell in the room which is not good for his wife, of course. Not only smokes are not good for pregnant women, but it will also be harmful to the baby’s health. His ignorance is further supported by the fact that he wasn’t staying beside his wife when his wife seems to be in pain; screaming. He was staying in the upper bank instead. His act of ignorance, however, is different compared to Nick’s father. His ignorance is not concerning about his scream, but more to the wife’s needs of her husband’s presence.

Additionally, his loyalty is represented through his death at the end of the story. Again, this is merely based on my observation. There’s this idea that man can’t live without his woman. Usually in a family, when a wife died, the husband will soon follow her; however, when the husband died, the wife will still be able to live without her husband. “Ought to have a look at the proud father. They’re usually the worst sufferers in these little affairs”. My approach to this story is that the husband can’t bear the pain of hearing his wife screaming and in pain that he decided to kill himself; he feels helpless towards his wife which may result in him feeling like he is failed being a husband. “His hand came away wet”; this “wet” may actually be caused by the husband’s tear. But again, I may be wrong. However, perhaps he’s showing his love and loyalty towards his wife in a wrong way. Killing himself is showing his irresponsibility towards his wife as well as his future child.

In regards of whether or not the “Indian Camp” depict Native Americans as being somehow primitive and/or authentic, I’m not so sure about it. However, this labor does seeem to be quite a hard task to do; perhaps they don’t have an advance equipment like today’s people in big cities have. They are doing it in a traditional way which somewhat reflects their persistence in not wanting to be influenced by the modern society.

This painting is created by Marchel Duchamp with the title “Nude Descending a Staircase, No.2″. It is located in Gallery I- French Paintings and Sculpture. This creation of his rises up a controversial issue among many critics. It is suggested that Duchamp approach a new style of painting technique which other painting have never achieved before. This technique is a combination of two different styles: cubism and futurism; which now commonly known as DADAISM. The painting itself depicts the mechanistic motion of a nude, with superimposed facets, similar to motion pictures. It shows elements of both the fragmentation and synthesis of the Cubists, and the movement and dynamism of the Futurists. He first submitted that painting in 1913 and scandalized the whole American-Art. Because of this painting and the other 4 paintings he created, he was able to make a trip to US in 1915. The answer to the question why we called this as a controversy painting is because of the word “nude”. At the time when the painting was established, people still think the word ‘nude’ as a taboo word. However, in today’s society, nude is understood differently. It is in fact considered as an art. As a result of him breaking the boundaries of what considered as the normal art, the culture of art eventually changes; and hence, his painting influences modernism into the cultural of art.

This sculpture ‘Mademoiselle Pogany” is made by one of the most innovative and influential artists of the early twentieth century named Constantin Brancusi. It is located in Gallery H – French Paintings and Sculpture. The reason why this sculpture is called innovative is because Brancusi created sculptures in which the natural forms were reduced to their most basic, geometric shapes. The title itself actually represents Mademoiselle Margit Pogany who Brancusi met while he was studying in Paris. The reason why this is a significant modernism is because the sculpture meant to look like a real figure of a person; and not in abstract. Again, however, he breaks the law of art which then creates this great piece of art which integrates an abstract and traditional sculpting. Despite the fact that it looks “completely out of proportion”, people can still recognize the model as Mademoiselle Pogany and were amazed by this sculpture he created.

Both of these arts- the painting created by Duchamp and the sculpture created by Brancusi–involve modernism. As stated in the motherblog, “ modernists are not so much interested in the thing represented, as representing how we perceive the thing, modernists challenge readers and viewers [in interpreting the meaning behind their arts]”. In this case, Duchamp and Brancusi represent their art in their own “defamiliarized” style; they don’t represent their image in a straightforward manner, but in fact in a rather complex manner in which eventually lead to the actual meaning or image of it. At a first glance, it may seem to be difficult to picture what their art actually represent; however, as we look at it deeper, the meaning or the actual image of the painting as well as the sculpture will eventually appear clearer. Thus, modernists certainly has made the audience work and think of what their painting and/or sculpture actually represents with their high imagination and creativity in producing the what-so-called “anomalous” art.

In the story “The Yellow Wallpaper”, the narrator happened to be suffering from depression which leads to her insane mind. The narrator has a hobby of writing and she wanted to be a writer; however, her husband (John)-who also acted as her doctor, prohibited her from doing anything that has to do with thinking. She was constantly patronized by her husband and she hardly has the freedom to do things that she liked. John’s practical and narrow-minded mind limited him from understanding his own wife; thus, he’s ignorant. Although the narrator was told to bedrest and was kept out from social community, she couldn’t help not to write and explore her own mind. She frequently examined the yellow paper that stuck in her bedroom wall and pictured that there is a silhouette of a woman hiding behind the bar -”creeping”, wanted to get out. However, the image that she saw is indirectly representing herself; locked/”controlled” and wanted to get out to obtain “freedom”. At the end of the story, the narrator was no longer constrained by her husband who’s always been so controlling. However, her victory also leads to her own defeat; she finally lost her sanity.

I chose this poem because I think that the meaning behind this poem is very related to our every day’s life. Truth is often should be told indirectly because when it is told straightforwardly, truth can often be painful.

Tell all the Truth but tell it slant –

When Dickinson says, “Tell all the Truth but tell it slant”, she is indicating that the whole truth should be told, but not as it is- “slanted”

Success in Circuit lies

In my interpretation, “Success in Circuit lies” means that the the circle of lies can sometimes be a good thing -”success”. Telling a bunch of “lies” (which is not exactly a lie, but more like a different story which will gradually lead to the primary meaning of the truth, may lead to a better “success” or better feeling. But again, I’m confused with the lies here. I wonder if it actually indicates the other meaning of lies and not telling lies.

Too bright for our infirm Delight

Relating to the stanza above, when truth is told as it is, often we can’t handle the truth. It is “too bright” – too much for our fragile heart to manage. Or perhaps the telling whole truth can often be confusing and therefore, we should tell the truth in parts.

The Truth’s superb surprise

I believe that this part of the poem means that truth can be shocking or perhaps not understandable.

As Lightning to the Children eased

“Lightning” often refers to something that children are scared of. However, I’m not quite sure the meaning of Lightning that Dickinson is referring to. Perhaps this means, like when telling a children about something BIG or complex… truth is like a lightning-scary?

With explanation kind

Continuing from the above stanza, we should tell the truth with simplicity and in a comforting or nicer way; just like when telling a children about something BIG.

The Truth must dazzle gradually

“The Truth must dazzle gradually”…I believe that this stanza is saying that truth will reveal itself as time goes by.

Or every man be blind –

if the truth is not told in a different manner… “every man be blind“… This perhaps can be said as shocking experience; it can make people angry, depressed or perhaps misunderstood.

I think Dickinson’s poem is amazing. How she uses the symbol of ‘light’ to describe truth was really unimagineable. Her poem was quite confusing because it is like her diary which she kept only for herself; and only for her to understand. And what astonished me more was that many of the ‘little’ words that I thought weren’t important were actually significant; not only in this poem but also for many other poems that she wrote.

For me, the flood tide refers to the past and the future and the up and down’s of life. These are common situation that every man should go through; and I believe that this is what referred as “the two distances that must be crossed”. The crossing in the Whitman’s poem, however, has something to do with both -the real crossing over to Brooklyn and crossing over differences within people.

The “I” that watches the tide “face to face” is the physical crossing over the bridge. Whitman mentions about observing the passing nature during his journey. He believes that what other people are experiencing, he also experiences it -such as becoming a passive observer of the nature.

Secondly, the “I vs crowd” is about himself and the people who are in the same ferry with him. In the beginning, there was a sense of detachment of him with the crowd. Though they appeared to be similar-”the usual costumes”- yet it seems like he’s not part of them that they are curious about him.

Later in the poem, however, Whitman feels more like a part of the crowd. He realizes that others are going through the same destiny as he does. All will eventually reach the same place as he will; and All is seeing the same passing nature as he sees. Crossing over generation, races, gender or perhaps nationality is a “necessary film [that] envelopes all”; hence, everyone is the same. We can see the changes in the tone throughout his poem- dark to optimistic.

My apology for the late blog.

What I like about this project is that we get to choose an image which reflects the phrase in the poem. It was surprising how a phrase can be reflected with so many different pictures.=)

The thing that I don’t like about this assignment, perhaps when I uploaded my image. The image didn’t show up at the spot that I wanted it to be. And when I moved things around, I was afraid I might delete some other people’s images. The pictures was overlapping the text too; making it hard to read. I think other than that, everything was perfectly fine.

I never had to read a poem before, so interpreting Whitman’s poem was quite challenging for me. This assignment is certainly very helpful towards my understanding of the poem. I get to look on other people’s blog by just clicking the image displayed. I think it’s very efficient!

“What is the grass?”

The reason why I chose this picture is because I think this picture symbolizes

equality between each individual. In the poem “Song of Myself”, the narrator was confused and unable to define “What is the grass?” when asked by a child.

“How could I answer the child? . . . . I do not know what it is any more than he.

I guess it must be the flag of my disposition, out of hopeful green stuff woven.

Or I guess it is the handkerchief of the Lord,
A scented gift and remembrancer designedly dropped,
Bearing the owner’s name someway in the corners, that we may see and remark, and say Whos?”

I believe the reason of his inability to answer this question is because man has become passive towards nature; they tend not to ask questions and merely accept things that seems to be acceptable in most society. However, another points that this image show us is that grass grows at places that are seen and unseen; they are everywhere. The grass symbolizes the equality of every man on earth.

“And I know that the hand of God is the elderhand of my own,

And I know that the spirit of God is the eldest brother of my own,
And that all the men ever born are also my brothers . . . . and the women my sisters and lovers,
And that a kelson of the creation is love…”

Moreover, when man dies, our bodies will all eventually come back to the ground. The image of the grass also symbolizes a graveyard for man. We are all equal as we die; no rich, no poor.

I believe that everything on earth is mortal; except for nature.

We need to study nature to study ourselves; we need to study books to understand the past. However, like what Professor Hanley has mentioned during the class discussion “when a book doesn’t inspire or moves the reader, it is merely words on a page.” In the essay, Emerson mentions that people are relying too much on books; they “abuse book”. However, Emerson urges us to be a man thinking- man in action, and not “the bookworm”. He wants us to create, to experience and to explore the world ourselves; not merely “imitating” books or other people’s experience.

“Colleges and books only copy the language which the field and the work-yard made” (8).

How I interpret the quote above is that students are living in a repetitive kind of lifestyle. They are studying what they are told to study, and read what they are told to read. They are simply imitating the routine that has been going on for years; the routine that the crowd or most people do. I believe that Emerson is trying to point out that there must be much more out there to learn than the one that has been previously written by other people. Like the famous saying ” always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else”; thus, we should create and not imitate.