-
Posts
-
I’m amazed how popular poetry is on here and I have to wonder why. One of the wonderful things about language is its ability to convey precise meaning in a succinct and often pithy manner and yet poems seem to exist to obscure meaning or make it ambiguous leaving the reader wondering what the writer is going on about. Also what constitutes ‘good’ poetry? I’ve read some poetry that’s commonly regarded as brilliant, but personally find it…uninspiring.
So can anyone explain the allure of poetry? Is it the appealing idea that writing poetry suggests a sensitive, ‘windswept and interesting’ author? What is it that make you write an ambiguous poem with obscured meaning when you could just say what you mean.
Surely part of the attraction of all art, whether it be visual, auditory or written, is to convey some of what the artist is feeling and to also leave a large part to the personal interpretation of each individual viewing/hearing/reading that piece of art?
Art will touch each person in different ways, evoking different emotions, memories and responses, or even just leaving you cold. Just because a piece of art in whatever form leave you cold, that doesn’t make it bad, it just means it isn’t right for you.
I see. But if personal interpretation is what its all about then what’s the point of somebody carefully crafting a poem about the death of their favourite cat only to have a reader interpret it as meaning the decline in Western moral standards or something? The role of the author becomes meaningless unless what the author wants conveying is conveyed! We could interpret anything in anyway by that token and it becomes worthless.
I wasn’t suggesting that any poetry was ‘bad’ in any way, jen_jen
personnaly speaking poetry isn’t always for others to appreciate but for a way to express oneself
@shihogiri wrote:
I see. But if personal interpretation is what its all about then what’s the point of somebody carefully crafting a poem about the death of their favourite cat only to have a reader interpret it as meaning the decline in Western moral standards or something? The role of the author becomes meaningless unless what the author wants conveying is conveyed! We could interpret anything in anyway by that token and it becomes worthless.
I wasn’t suggesting that any poetry was ‘bad’ in any way, jen_jen
Isnt that the beauty of us funny ‘lil’ human beings tho? if you give 3 people something to read then each will put their own interpretation on it, much like sending emails which are actually emotionless most the time but are interpreted with different accents on the words, the written word in general in emotionless, its pure individuality of the person reading that puts the meaning and the interpretation on it.
whether or not what the author wants conveying is understood, its never worthless, the written word is never worthless.
Understanding Poetry
Quote
” Perhaps the most challenging material you will have to read in college is poetry. While the message of some poems may be fairly simple–“Enjoy your youth while it lasts,” for instance–the way poets put words together often makes this message elusive. Writers don’t write this way just to annoy you; rather, their sophisticated vocabulary and complex syntax help them to write with precision, to tease out the subtleties of nature and the human mind, and to create certain effects. When you read a poem, you should begin by trying to figure what the poet is saying on the surface: the content of the poem. When you can summarize this content in a few sentences, examine the way the poet conveys this content; in other words, analyze the poem’s form. Finally, determine how the content and form work together to create the poem’s meaning. Think of a poem as an equation: form + content = meaning. The term for analyzing a poem in this way is “explication.” “
Unquote.
I just love poetry!
@shihogiri wrote:
I’m amazed how popular poetry is on here and I have to wonder why. I I I,.. wonder why, as I feel it’s not my thing.
One of the wonderful things about language is its ability to convey precise meaning in a succinct and often pithy manner and yet poems seem to exist to obscure meaning or make it ambiguous leaving the reader wondering what the writer is going on about. You make me wanna shout. Also what constitutes ‘good’ poetry? Dylan Thomas, pavaroti, who was a tenor too, just like me and yoo.. But he got paid, but not laid, as he was too f a t.. That That. But he’s dead now.. I’ve read some poetry that’s commonly regarded as brilliant, fantastic, epic, superb, but it needs to be kerbed. Am I really disturbed? but personally find it…uninspiring. I aint denying. I’ll tell the truth. I’m that kind of sleuth.So can anyone explain the allure of poetry? And why I go on about it being boring, when I am rhyming my words, point scoring. Is it the appealing idea that writing poetry suggests, it’s best, a sensitive, ‘windswept mind blowing, thrill showing and interesting’ author? What is it that make (Missed out the “S”) you write an ambiguous poem with obscured meaning when you could just say what you mean via text – Or E-Mail, or show it with a hug, when you have that Love Bug.
We’ll pass it on to the complaints team, they need a good laugh! :?
Twinkle twinkle little bat
How I wonder what your at
Up above the world so high
Like a tea tray in the sky:D
what nonsense
why analise poetry at all? you either like the poem or you dont? one of my favourite poems is from a film called ‘carve her name with pride’ it was used as a coded message
and yet, i love a variety of styles and poets.
The Life That I Have
The life that I have
Is all that I have
And the life that I have
Is yoursThe love that I have
Of the life that I have
Is yours and yours and yours.A sleep I shall have
A rest I shall have
Yet death will be but a pause
For the peace of my years
In the long green grass
Will be yours and yours and yours.Leo Marks
Get involved in this discussion! Log in or register now to have your say!