Comments

I've been trying to comment a dozen times, but every time I click [Post Comment] the comment evaporates. (If anyone knows how to fix this, please let me know!) So here are my comments:

1. A Secret- Lil' G

Secrets... that's a really interesting way to look at how/why we interact with words and images. But I think enlightenment and sense of belonging are not always essential to appreciating a painting or a poem. Sometimes, they leave me completely confused (Rothko's color field paintings, for instance) but that doesn't prevent me from enjoying those works. I think a painting does offer more than words because it's immediate. Whereas we have to process and at least try to understand a written work, we tend to react more immediately to a painting based on its aesthetic cues. Between creating an image for writing and vise versa, I don't really prefer either one; I think we do both at the same time. Writers/poets don't share the entire secret and we often times have to fill in the gaps ourselves (i.e. create a story, or at least, narrative details). Similarly, I think we "create an image" when we look at one. For instance, people see different things in a cloud (carrot, rocket, fish, etc.). Even if the image is a more concrete painting, I think we notice different things and essentially see a different painting based on our biases/interests/preferences/etc.

2. Video to Text Comparison - Kyra

Wow! It's vastly different from what I thought it would be. I read the text version with a different pace and understanding of the tone. But one of the major differences between the two that most struck me was volume. Unless it's a movie script, writers don't tell us how to read their text, but volume in the performance really added to the meaning of the poem. There's a difference between "What do you want?" and "What do you want?". Similarly, performance italicized parts of the poem and highlighted the poet's attitude, which due to this poem's subject matter, was especially important to understand. The performance didn't necessarily change the meaning of the poem, but did add to my interpretation of it because it was more direct.

Although this doesn't really fall within the scope of your paper, I thought it might be interesting to consider an additional category. In addition to poem vs. poem + performance there's poem + music (i.e. hip-hop/rap) which is pretty distinctive from the other two.

Here's an example of poem + music:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACg8T5eliTE&feature=related
(words being around 1:15)

Not every song has a "poetic" feel to it but what makes a poem a poem is like discussing the definition of "painterly" so we'll save that for later :p.

And lyrics (or the poem):

All causes and all effects.
No college shit necessary to acknowledge it.
Some call it love and some call it sex. Opposites.
Call it what you want, but with one touch and you’re gone, so call in sick.

Human politics, from whispered hushes and distant crushes.
Mental fits breakin’ pencil tips and inkin’ brushes.
Simple rushes.
God makes man, and this is the devil’s finishing touches.

From dukes to duchesses and kings to queens.
From dust to dust, this is the sinful theme.
The scene for crack fiends and gun-packin’ teens
High on vaccines, magazines and saccharine.

From dukes to duchesses and kings to queens.
From dust to dust, this is the sinful theme.
The scene for crack fiends and gun-packin’ teens
High on vaccines, magazines and saccharine.
Lovescream.