You know you are contributing part of culture when you have your own cartoon and theme song, several hundred years after you star in a big-ass book.
check it out for a laugh: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4tFzD13hmc&feature=related
Henry Louis gates
This is me...
Don Quixote
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Don Quixote
First Part, Chapter VI, pg. 52
"'I would shed [tears] myself,' said the priest when he heard the name, 'if I had sent sucha book to be burned, because its author was one of the famous poets on only of Spain but of the world, and he had great success in translating some fables by Ovid."
I guess I touched upon this in my last passage, but who the author is seems to be of great importance to the priest. Authors are often made into something marketable, whether they fit it or not. Authors who have had success are expected to maintain it: Steven King, anyone? I can only recall a few things he's written, but I would expect certain things of his novels. What about Dan Brown...anything besides a history/thriller would throw me off, and maybe I wouldn't like it because it conflicted with what I wanted. But to stay on track. The Author's name alone, whether any information is known or not, influences readers.
"'I would shed [tears] myself,' said the priest when he heard the name, 'if I had sent sucha book to be burned, because its author was one of the famous poets on only of Spain but of the world, and he had great success in translating some fables by Ovid."
I guess I touched upon this in my last passage, but who the author is seems to be of great importance to the priest. Authors are often made into something marketable, whether they fit it or not. Authors who have had success are expected to maintain it: Steven King, anyone? I can only recall a few things he's written, but I would expect certain things of his novels. What about Dan Brown...anything besides a history/thriller would throw me off, and maybe I wouldn't like it because it conflicted with what I wanted. But to stay on track. The Author's name alone, whether any information is known or not, influences readers.
Don Quixote
First Part, Chapter VI, pg 51
"'By the orders I recieved,' said the priest, 'since Apollo was Apollo, and the muses muses, and the poets poets, no book as amusing or nonsensical has ever been written, and since, in its way, it is the best and most unusual book of its kind that has seen the light of day, anyone who has not read it can assume that he has never read anything entertaining. Giv it to me, friend, for I value finding it more than if I were given a cassock of rich Florentine cloth.'"
This passage gives credit to the classical myths and authors...which is still done today. (Anyone read Homer's Odyssey lately?) This is part of the European tradition of literature, and adorns the hightest spot on our chart as Myth. But in this passage the priest/critic is also praising entertaintment, which he seemed to discourage earlier in the chapter. Is it a different case because he finds it entertaining? It seems that this chapter is painting the critic as being influenced chiefly by his or her personal taste...and I wonder if it is possible to escape opinion when reviewing any piece.
"'By the orders I recieved,' said the priest, 'since Apollo was Apollo, and the muses muses, and the poets poets, no book as amusing or nonsensical has ever been written, and since, in its way, it is the best and most unusual book of its kind that has seen the light of day, anyone who has not read it can assume that he has never read anything entertaining. Giv it to me, friend, for I value finding it more than if I were given a cassock of rich Florentine cloth.'"
This passage gives credit to the classical myths and authors...which is still done today. (Anyone read Homer's Odyssey lately?) This is part of the European tradition of literature, and adorns the hightest spot on our chart as Myth. But in this passage the priest/critic is also praising entertaintment, which he seemed to discourage earlier in the chapter. Is it a different case because he finds it entertaining? It seems that this chapter is painting the critic as being influenced chiefly by his or her personal taste...and I wonder if it is possible to escape opinion when reviewing any piece.
Don Quixote
First Part, Chapter VI, pg. 47
"'The author of that book,' said the priest, 'was the same one who composed Garden of Flowers, and the truth is I can't decide which of the two is more true, or should I say, less false; all I can say is that this one goes to the corral, because it is silly and arrogant.'"
I know we've talked about chapter six in reference to censorship, but I wanted to look at it again. I found the scene very comical, whereas censorship usually irks me to no end. But it is also declaring a larger Truth about literature, that it should be more true, less silly and arrogant. But the priest is imposing a value on Don Quixote's books. It is a tragedy that many fine books get lost in the mean time.
"'The author of that book,' said the priest, 'was the same one who composed Garden of Flowers, and the truth is I can't decide which of the two is more true, or should I say, less false; all I can say is that this one goes to the corral, because it is silly and arrogant.'"
I know we've talked about chapter six in reference to censorship, but I wanted to look at it again. I found the scene very comical, whereas censorship usually irks me to no end. But it is also declaring a larger Truth about literature, that it should be more true, less silly and arrogant. But the priest is imposing a value on Don Quixote's books. It is a tragedy that many fine books get lost in the mean time.
Don Quixote
First Part, Chapter V, pg. 43
"'I know who I am' replied Don Quixote, 'and I know I can be not only those I have mentioned but the Twelve Peers of France as well, and even all the nine paragons of Fame, for my deeds will surpass all those they performed , together or singly.'"
As for me, I wish I had the confidence of Don Quixote. I liked the sound of this passage, first of all, then I read the footnotes, telling me of the knights to whom Don Quixote compared himself. The farmer is correcting Don Quixote's identity, but really, only an individual can know one's self. This part gave his character a lucidity for me, depth to the Don surrounded in madness. Even if there seems to be no distinction between himself and the fictional (I think) knights that appeared in The Song of Roland. This is another example of Don Quixote making his own reality, which is seen as insane by his family, by everyone. For me, that's the best part of this novel; I root for him, although he's a little crazy, because few else do.
"'I know who I am' replied Don Quixote, 'and I know I can be not only those I have mentioned but the Twelve Peers of France as well, and even all the nine paragons of Fame, for my deeds will surpass all those they performed , together or singly.'"
As for me, I wish I had the confidence of Don Quixote. I liked the sound of this passage, first of all, then I read the footnotes, telling me of the knights to whom Don Quixote compared himself. The farmer is correcting Don Quixote's identity, but really, only an individual can know one's self. This part gave his character a lucidity for me, depth to the Don surrounded in madness. Even if there seems to be no distinction between himself and the fictional (I think) knights that appeared in The Song of Roland. This is another example of Don Quixote making his own reality, which is seen as insane by his family, by everyone. For me, that's the best part of this novel; I root for him, although he's a little crazy, because few else do.
Don Quixote
Part I, Chap V, pg. 41
"and his madness made him recall that of Valdovinos and the Marquis of Mantua, when Carloto left him wounded in the highlands, a history know to children, acknowleged by youths, celerated, and even believed by the old, and despite all this, no truer than the miracles of Mohammed."
This passage reminded me of the idea of innocence that we often talk about in class, that children can understand something and believe it and not be hindered by what is real. The valliant Don Quixote has the same child-like innocence, but because he believes the stories, they are real to him. That's why he begins to recite the ballad of the "wounded Knight of the Wood". But by reciting the ballad, and being a wounded knight, he becomes the original "wounded Knight". By participating in the fictional histories of his knights he is making the fantasy real.
"and his madness made him recall that of Valdovinos and the Marquis of Mantua, when Carloto left him wounded in the highlands, a history know to children, acknowleged by youths, celerated, and even believed by the old, and despite all this, no truer than the miracles of Mohammed."
This passage reminded me of the idea of innocence that we often talk about in class, that children can understand something and believe it and not be hindered by what is real. The valliant Don Quixote has the same child-like innocence, but because he believes the stories, they are real to him. That's why he begins to recite the ballad of the "wounded Knight of the Wood". But by reciting the ballad, and being a wounded knight, he becomes the original "wounded Knight". By participating in the fictional histories of his knights he is making the fantasy real.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Melody
Are there different kinds of the sublime? Because my Song of the Moment, the song that I've been listening to over and over lately, well, I still don't know all of the words. So silly question: is poetry really about the words? Essentially, poems need words, but the emotion that is brings out in you is what makes any piece a personal touchstone. I might have chosen my first touchstone, the dream-banter from Romeo and Juliet, because of the way it sounds in the Baz Lurhman movie. I understand Chris' touchstone, because sound, melody, rhythm can reach the sublime, maybe easier, than any words can. The right words can trigger those emotions, but music is almost easier because it requires no translation, it speakes directly to the sublime.
Some musc that are Touchstones:
Seven Year Ache, by Roseanne Cash
Panch and Lefty, by Willie Nelson and Merle Haggerd
"The poets tell how Pancho fell
And Lefty's living, in cheep motels
The deserts quiet, and Clevland's cold
So the story end's we're told
Pancho needs your prayers it's true
But save a few for Lefty too
He only did what he had to do
And now he's growing old"
And writing the words, I know that I can't possibly translate the real poetry that is in the quiver of Merle Haggerd's voice in addition to his words.
Also, the Classical Techno Remix of the matrix theme song...but I think I love it for the piano solo.
Clapton's Layla, for the music part, though, more than any lyrics.
Some musc that are Touchstones:
Seven Year Ache, by Roseanne Cash
Panch and Lefty, by Willie Nelson and Merle Haggerd
"The poets tell how Pancho fell
And Lefty's living, in cheep motels
The deserts quiet, and Clevland's cold
So the story end's we're told
Pancho needs your prayers it's true
But save a few for Lefty too
He only did what he had to do
And now he's growing old"
And writing the words, I know that I can't possibly translate the real poetry that is in the quiver of Merle Haggerd's voice in addition to his words.
Also, the Classical Techno Remix of the matrix theme song...but I think I love it for the piano solo.
Clapton's Layla, for the music part, though, more than any lyrics.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
