Monday, April 24, 2017
Freebie
Thanks for putting up with me the past 2 years. I'll be making headlines soon so you'll hear about me.
Sunday, April 2, 2017
Witty Whitman
Step 1:
After one look through the notebook, I can see that Whitman was no calligrapher. Even still, he put many of his ideas into writing. Although Whitman was an American poet, it seems that he writes in Spanish as well as English. He writes about a "Ship of Libertad," translated from Spanish means "Ship of Liberty." Based on this observation, and given his context, I think liberty may be a popular theme in his writing; nonetheless, I am interested to see how and why Spanish words pertain to his area of focus. Another thing that stands out to me is the amount of things that he crosses out in his notebook. This may reflect his indecisive nature, as well as his constantly wondering mind. Lastly, the portraits and doodles stand out to me because I did not think Whitman was much of the artistic type. To me, these portraits appear as though they are none other than Whitman himself. His intent in these drawings may have been an emphasis on his exploring of the self. The last image, however, is particularly disturbing in that it depicts a man with a heart for a body, and an arrow going through it. Because his writing was centered around the Civil War, this may symbolize the death of the union.
Step 2:
The notes help provide a better understanding of Whitman's intentions in his journal. Although he never met the President, Abraham Lincoln was a large source of inspiration for Whitman's writing. In his journal, Whitman writes an ongoing imaginary dialogue with the President, explaining his grief as well as the President's. Whitman found the Civil War to be a case of history repeating itself: to him and many others of his time it was the second American Revolution. Comparing the two wars reflects Whitman's predilection for history and his attention to time. While it is not explained why in the article, Whitman's use of "libertad" may once again be him making a historical reference (this time comparing to revolutions that were taking place in Latin America around the same time). Lastly, I've come to learn that Whitman was, in fact, no artist. Although the portraits in his notebook are of him, historians believe that Whitman had others draw him. Even still, I think this suggests that Whitman was very interested in exploring the themes that existed within himself. For a man who tried so hard to put the world around him into words, he found it hard to conceptualize himself. In this case, images may have provided him more satisfaction than words could. The last image, however, I believe is a creation of his own. It is less refined than the other sketches and makes an implication about the state of the union; the sun is setting on the United States.
After one look through the notebook, I can see that Whitman was no calligrapher. Even still, he put many of his ideas into writing. Although Whitman was an American poet, it seems that he writes in Spanish as well as English. He writes about a "Ship of Libertad," translated from Spanish means "Ship of Liberty." Based on this observation, and given his context, I think liberty may be a popular theme in his writing; nonetheless, I am interested to see how and why Spanish words pertain to his area of focus. Another thing that stands out to me is the amount of things that he crosses out in his notebook. This may reflect his indecisive nature, as well as his constantly wondering mind. Lastly, the portraits and doodles stand out to me because I did not think Whitman was much of the artistic type. To me, these portraits appear as though they are none other than Whitman himself. His intent in these drawings may have been an emphasis on his exploring of the self. The last image, however, is particularly disturbing in that it depicts a man with a heart for a body, and an arrow going through it. Because his writing was centered around the Civil War, this may symbolize the death of the union.
Step 2:
The notes help provide a better understanding of Whitman's intentions in his journal. Although he never met the President, Abraham Lincoln was a large source of inspiration for Whitman's writing. In his journal, Whitman writes an ongoing imaginary dialogue with the President, explaining his grief as well as the President's. Whitman found the Civil War to be a case of history repeating itself: to him and many others of his time it was the second American Revolution. Comparing the two wars reflects Whitman's predilection for history and his attention to time. While it is not explained why in the article, Whitman's use of "libertad" may once again be him making a historical reference (this time comparing to revolutions that were taking place in Latin America around the same time). Lastly, I've come to learn that Whitman was, in fact, no artist. Although the portraits in his notebook are of him, historians believe that Whitman had others draw him. Even still, I think this suggests that Whitman was very interested in exploring the themes that existed within himself. For a man who tried so hard to put the world around him into words, he found it hard to conceptualize himself. In this case, images may have provided him more satisfaction than words could. The last image, however, I believe is a creation of his own. It is less refined than the other sketches and makes an implication about the state of the union; the sun is setting on the United States.
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