“I Don’t Get Any Respect!”
23/05/2007 11:04 PM
We had our first formal class time
last night, and our topic was Emily Dickinson. An endlessly
fascinating personality, Dickinson created unbelievably deep and
provoking poems. If there’s one poet whose work you could describe
as “tight,” hers would be it—she packs huge ideas into short,
seemingly simple verses. Honestly, readers from any background can
enjoy her poetry. Even her life is particularly memorable. The
story about how she would often lower a basket of homemade goodies
out her window for the schoolchildren to enjoy after school is
especially remarkable. She exuded selfless acts of kindness and I
believe she discovered a great deal of joy in that.
I also believe every generation has its Emily Dickinsons. These are the great artists who go unappreciated and unrecognized during their lifetimes, and by some whim they are rediscovered after they are dead. (Melville, anyone?) Additionally, each generation has those revolutionary minds that just don’t catch on in time for a cultural rebirth and drift off into the foggy twilight of obscurity. In order to avoid this, we must contemplate the lives of people like Emily Dickinson.
Everyone can learn a lesson of persistence from Dickinson. When our work is turned down or snubbed, we can’t lose faith. Like the eminent film director Cecil B. DeMille, we must be determined self-promoters. In other words, we should each be our own biggest fans, because if we don’t believe in our art, how can anyone else? Nathaniel Hawthorne once said the most important job of an artist is to believe in his work more than anyone else. If only Emily Dickinson and Hawthorne had crossed paths!
On the other hand, her poetry was ahead of its time. The finest poets of her time were telling her to fix her rhyme scheme and tack on other alterations. Almost like she could see into the future, Dickinson let these criticisms go in one ear and out the other, dedicated to her own style. I admire Dickinson for sticking to her guns. Another lesson we can take from this American poet is the importance of going against the grain and aiming to revolutionize one’s art.
So as I stretch out the cobwebs in my leg muscles from sitting on that lovely hardwood floor, you should take a moment and reflect on what it is you do. Listen to Frank Sinatra and do it your way!
I also believe every generation has its Emily Dickinsons. These are the great artists who go unappreciated and unrecognized during their lifetimes, and by some whim they are rediscovered after they are dead. (Melville, anyone?) Additionally, each generation has those revolutionary minds that just don’t catch on in time for a cultural rebirth and drift off into the foggy twilight of obscurity. In order to avoid this, we must contemplate the lives of people like Emily Dickinson.
Everyone can learn a lesson of persistence from Dickinson. When our work is turned down or snubbed, we can’t lose faith. Like the eminent film director Cecil B. DeMille, we must be determined self-promoters. In other words, we should each be our own biggest fans, because if we don’t believe in our art, how can anyone else? Nathaniel Hawthorne once said the most important job of an artist is to believe in his work more than anyone else. If only Emily Dickinson and Hawthorne had crossed paths!
On the other hand, her poetry was ahead of its time. The finest poets of her time were telling her to fix her rhyme scheme and tack on other alterations. Almost like she could see into the future, Dickinson let these criticisms go in one ear and out the other, dedicated to her own style. I admire Dickinson for sticking to her guns. Another lesson we can take from this American poet is the importance of going against the grain and aiming to revolutionize one’s art.
So as I stretch out the cobwebs in my leg muscles from sitting on that lovely hardwood floor, you should take a moment and reflect on what it is you do. Listen to Frank Sinatra and do it your way!