Today's class was a reading of one page of TS Eliot's The Wasteland. It was designed to question whether you can analyse a poem or piece of writing in the same way as we read the exhibition last week.
Our class debated what we got out of the reading - I could visualise the area Eliot was talking about, as it referred to industrial parts of the Thames, and I had had to inspect an area of the river wall when I worked at Shadwell. We debated when we thought it had been written, and how that impacted on the description. I had picked up on descriptions of city gentlemen and the sound of horns and motors every now and then, and thought it was written in the 1930s. Actually it was immediately post WW1, as he was referring to the river mud in relation to the trenches in which he had fought. I am still not sure whether he was writing about the Thames in London, the trenches of WW1 or whether he is moving between the two of them.
Other people picked up on the time of day, and seasons (which had completely passed me by). Other students mentioned varied realities - City directors compared to nymphs. Our international students (speaking English as a second language) found it unintelligible - unsurprising, given how difficult the native English speakers found it!
Danielle said the poem was nearly not published - the publishers demanded Eliot put explanatory notes in, to explain what he meant, in order for them to publish it. The notes explain some of the cultural setting, often about classical references, but do not add much understanding.
We debated what was contemporary? Was it this poem? Not to me. Is contemporary 20th century, your lifetime, or now. General consensus was your lifetime - but this depends on how old you are. I think it is within the last 30 years.
Danielle likened reading one page of a poem to one image in an exhibition. Seen separately it gives a different reading to being seen as part of a group or narrative. Also I accept that 'hard reading' is part of being a student. So therefore I should accept 'hard looking' being another aspect of being a student. Hard looking needs an activity to facilitate understanding.
Conceptual blending - means to suspend critical thinking while combining concepts.
Research - essential for the creation of new insights for self and others. This is not easy! (Just as well, as I am struggling with my self portrait - it is making me feel really uncomfortable!).
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