"Two Paintings by Gustav Klimt"

The Dancer

            Klimt definitely has a specific aesthetic that can be seen in his paintings.  The paintings I viewed, as well as the painting I have chosen to post, have a mosaic-like quality that I find very interesting.  The choppiness of the mosaic-like images juxtaposed with the smooth even colors of red and black really make the image of the dancer stand out to me.  Out of all the paintings I viewed, I was drawn to "The Dancer," possibly because I am somewhat of a dancer (if you count tap and jazz in a local recital). 

            As we discuss art and poetry this week, I have been drawn to the concept of dancing as an art form and the performance of a dance as the words or image that is the expression of artist.  As a dancer, and I use this term very loosely, I can identify with the emotion an artist is trying to convey through their chosen medium.  When I am on stage, I try to convey my emotions through my movements and the expression I share with the audience. 

Birkenwald/ Buchenwald

            It is easy to see why Jorie Graham was inspired by Klimt; I am not an expert, but I think his paintings are beautiful.  I think the mosaic-like quality of the forest presents both a choppy and smooth image that is reflected in Graham's "Two Paintings by Gustav Klimt."  In the poem, the speaker presents an image that describes both the beautiful scene of the landscape and references the horror that occurred there due to the fact this land was a Nazi concentration camp.  She references this horror in lines 14-27 when the speaker states,

            The dead

            would give anything

            I'm sure,

            to step again onto

            the leafrot,

            into the avenue of mottled shadows,

            the speckled

            broken skinds.  The dead

             in their sheer

            open parenthesis, what they

            wouldn't give

            for something to lean on

            that won't give way. 

This speaker is describing how the people who died at this scene would "give anything" to come back if there was something that would save them, possibly because the landscape is so beautiful.  This is a perfect example of a poet being inspired by a painting, and using words to tell a story that is one part of the overall image.  Just by looking at this painting, it is not obvious that such destruction occurred where this beautiful scene is, but Graham's words tell the story behind this image which is an expression of what inspired her. 

Works Cited

Graham, Jorie. "Two Paintings by Gustav Klimt." Contemporary American Poetry. Eds. R. S. Gwynn and April Linder. NY: Penguin Academics, 2005. (394-396). Print.

"One Train May Hide Another"

One characteristic of the New York School poets is their description of unusual objects or subjects one after the other.  I think Kenneth Koch’s poem, “One Train May Hide Another” is a perfect example of this trait.  In the fist line he states, “In a poem, one line may hide another line.”  This is the first description of how one thing may hide another.  Throughout the poem he lifts different kind of things that may hide themselves such how “One evening may hide another,” (29) just as “…In the/ Garden of Eden/ Adam and Eve may hide the real Adam and Eve” (47-49).  Each line introduces a new, unlikely element that does not seem connected to the previous item.  I have read this poem many times, and I am not sure what the meaning behind these juxtapositions it, but the lyrical quality that is reinforced in my mind when I listen to Koch read it creates a calm tone and I enjoy reading it.  I think just like some of the other poems we’ve read for this week their might not be a deeper meaning to unravel, and if there is, I am perfectly happy just reading this poem for enjoyment, rather than picking it apart. 

Go here to listen to the recording yourself!  http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15592

The Weary Blues

Images and music can help readers understand the context in which they text they are reading was created.  The montage of images of the Harlem Renaissance, coupled with  Professor Dr. Allen Dwight Callahan’s recitation of “The Weary Blues” by Langston Hughes and the blues music in the background, helps the reader picture the context in which Hughes was writing about.  This  video paints a picture of what Harlem was like during Hughes’ time which is critical for readers to connect to his poetry.  The music and the way in which Dr. Calahan recites the poem creates a tangible representation of the mood the reader feels when they read the poem to themselves.  I really enjoy learning about the culture of the authors I read as well as the pop culture of the time period in which pieces were written.  I loved watching this movie, and although you have to be cautious when you look at videos on Youtube, this video was really helpful when reading “The Wary Blues.” 

Poe, Whitman, and Dickinson

Poe

As I sit here in the middle of a thunderstorm listening to Christopher Walken, I find myself turning the t.v. on because I am a little scared to be alone.  I have listened to this version, James Earl Jones' version, and even watched the Simpson' version, and I find it so interesting how one poem can be read in so many ways.  Whether you are reading it to yourself, listening to it, or watching it, the language creates such a distinctive, eerie tone it stays with you.  It is an unforgettable poem that is timeless.

Whitman

I just loved watching the "Song of Myself" video.  There is something about the words set to the contrasting contexts that energizes me and makes me think.  Again, this is another timeless poem because the language and ideas can apply to many different kinds of people living in various time periods.  From the video page, I clicked on a link to the PBS sight on Whitman's New York.  It was fun to click on the sights and see New York City through Whitman's eyes.  I could really paint a picture of Whitman's New York, and I loved watching the video a second time and reflecting on what the city is like today. 

Dickinson

That video was simply creepy.  Emily Dickinson is very interesting to me.  This was a small snapshot of basic details of her life, and it made me want to learn more about her experiences and read more of her poetry.