special blogpost interpretation

For my interpretation I decided to chose “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings: A Tale for Children” by Garcia Marquez for a two reasons. The first reason would be that the entire story from beginning to end held my interest. The second reason I chose this piece of literature is because it affected me in a variety of ways; it influenced me to really reflect and challenge myself among other things. Marquez’s work is also well written painting intriguing images and containing a plot that can make the reader continue to reflect after finishing the literature.

A synopsis of any kind would take away from the intelligence of the literature but I will do my best. The story begins by setting a very gloomy and dark scene, the world was dark and stench filled on a “sea and sky” bound beach. A character by the name of Pelayo was ridding his house of dead crabs when he came across a very old man with enormous wings who was collapsed upon the sand of the beach. After trying to speak to him he responded in “an incomprehensible dialect with a strong sailor’s voice” they put him up in their chicken coop. As soon as word got out it seemed that the whole city was outside the chicken coop watching the old man with wings like he was some sort of carnival attraction. Then the local priest arrived, Father Gonzaga, who said that the man is not an angel because he is too worn down and doesn’t “understand the language of God”, which is apparently Latin. As the story continued it seemed more and more people kept coming to see the old man; people even came for healing by rubbing with the feathers of the man. The crowds became so many that Pelayo’s wife Elisenda began to charge admission to see the captive man. The crowd finally begins to dwindle when a spider woman came to town apart of a carnival attraction. She gained popularity and people soon forgot their oddly performing miracle angel. The owners of the house used the money they received from their attraction to upgrade their property: a mansion, gardens everything except the chicken coop that contained the forgotten angel. The angel stays with the family in the coop for several years when the weather finally caused the chicken coop to collapse. From then on he wondered around the house and property much to the annoyance of Elisenda. The angel’s health seemed to continue withering when he actually began to gain strength and new feathers. He attempted and failed to fly until he finally flies off into the horizon becoming an “imaginary dot” over the sea. Instead of regretting or missing the angel she feels relieved of the annoyance. This concludes the story.

At first this story may come across odd or weird that contains no true meaning, but after one dives into the literature and rereads the piece many meanings and ideas can become apparent. An interpretation of the meaning of, “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” would be that our world and culture is not very accepting of ideas of people who are different or weak. Sometime’s when people come up with new ideas or a different view than what has been held before our world can be all too ignorant and immediately turn them away and shun them away from our culture which in a way locks down people’s differences and creativity that God has blessed all of us with. This can be seen in the story where the angel was different; no one had seen anything like him before so they observed him. The world observed him, but observed through a cage protecting themselves from his different ways. Peleyo and Elisenda milked money out of him like he was a sideshow creature. This can be seen all throughout our world today, where creative and different people are noticed and people are genuinely interested, but instead of letting a person who is different be themselves they lock them in restrictions and world views and get what they can out of the person, whether it is money or fame as soon as the world grows tired that different person is casted aside, becoming old news. An example of this in our long history of out casting new or different people can be seen in the trial of Socrates the great philosopher. Socrates had many different ideas that challenged the society and their views that would eventually bring upon a change within the society. Though he can be seen in history as a great mind and contributor to society, when he was alive he wasn’t accepted. Instead he was tried for polluting the minds of the youth with false doctrine and ideas that were against the government and he was put to death.

Unlike Socrates the angel was eventually able to fly away into the horizon and be himself without any restrictions; hopefully we can learn from this story. We can learn that when new people or ideas come along we shouldn’t restrict them with our own simpleton views but let people be themselves and they as the different can make a difference. Jesus Christ was seen as different because of his ideas that challenged the society to a new level and he was crucified. I am not saying that we crucify people with new ideas because they’re different but in a way we crucify their ideas. It is time that we grow and open our minds and know what we believe in but at the same time do not punish people for a different view because for all we know that different person can have an idea that could change the society and world.

A Very Old Man with ENormous WIngs

"My old Man w/Wings"

I painted this image because number one, I had painting supplies left over from the first time we painted and I wanted to use them again. The second reason I painted this is because, this piece of literature seemed to flood my mind full of images and I had to pour at least one of them out.

This painting was an abstract view of the image I had in my mind of the fallen angel. He had great ability and experience but was chained down by the ignorant ways of our world. So many times our world has great visionaries and leaders but because of our preconceived views and opinions we constrict people of their fullest abilities. The Old man with wings was captured and made a show and couldn't reach his fullest ability until he was allowed to walk around and try to fly. I believe once we are set free from our "chicken coups" we will be able to find our full potential; we shouldn't worry about what may not be normal but instead discover what we were born to do... and FLY.

Polk Art Museum Adventure

I found the trip to the Polk Art Museum very interesting and quite entertaining; it was also slightly educational. I must admit that I felt a little odd reading my poems in the museum, but I followed the assignment. I loved the art showcased in the museum; I honestly expected there to be a little more exhibits but I enjoyed what they had. This was not my first art museum to visit; a couple of years ago I went to one in Atlanta GA which was huge, which might be the reason why I expected more art at the Polk Art Museum. Though I expected more I thoroughly enjoyed the artwork; I was able to truly observe the time, thought and passion the artists put into their work.

I loved most of the artwork I think my favorite out of it all was the 3d stuff. I thought all of the artwork was excellent; I mean who can truly judge art work as bad art? Who are we to judge? An artist has no boundary or guideline he or she can put his passion and thoughts into art, which can be a positive element to society. In the museum I heard a young couple say, "This picture the worst one here." Hearing that frustrated me; someone poured their time, thoughts and passion into that painting but an ignorant couple refused to see the beauty.

As I was observing the art; I tried asking myself, "what was this artist thinking?"....honestly most of the time I had no idea, but personally I believe that is a positive aspect of art.. sometimes there is no need for a reason... it is just art.

Relating to Reading Transformation

I really related a lot personally to the reading assigned, "Reading For Transformation through Poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins." There were many ideas and topics that the author discussed that really related to me personally.

He really started right off relating to me by talking about the fact that something may sound great but not have the clearest meaning for one to grasp. I find myself read poetry and notice the magnificent word usage within the poem but still have no idea what the poet was talking about or explaining. His use of lectio devina for poetry made me wonder why I had never used it before when reading poetry. I remember using it for literature in class once or twice but since then it completely slipped my mind. Maybe it's because I just accepted the idea of me not being able to find out the true meaning of the poetry, but truly if I dug deeper and possibly used lectio devina as a tool and not just a devotional I could unlock all sorts or ideas and meanings within poetry that I have never discovered.

The author brought up another process to use in reading that was very familiar to me personally. It was the process of discovering the world of the text, the world behind the text and before the text. As the author mentioned many preachers use this method when preparing messaged; as a college student preparing to be a minister I personally have used this method when preparing my messages or when I am breaking down the meaning and context of the scripture.

I very much enjoyed the author's breakdown of how knowing the world's of the text help bring us closer to the true meanings of the text and poetry. How much more awesome will the readings of poetry be? If we can truly breakdown the text we can truly learn the poets meanings.

Darkness....

At first I somewhat struggled with this reading assignment; I did not struggle with the "reading level" or writing quality, but instead the theories and ideas. There were many ideas that I agreed with but there were also a few ideas that I did not completely agree with. Which in my mind is fine, I believe that we as people of the world do not have to agree on everything because if we did, we would all be robots.. which would be somewhat interesting but extremely BORING.

One of the ideas that I agreed with was that "darkness" is everywhere in life. I couldn't agree more with that statement. Everywhere we look there is darkness, darkness in our homes, in the streets, in the media, it is even in our lives. I also believe darkness can bring out good. It can bring out the good in people who decide to grow from and stand against darkness in a very saddening world.

I also believe that like hinted at in the reading, poetry and darkness are very much tied together. I believe literature in general is tied into darkness. I believe literature can provide an image of a place without darkness that people can find refuge; I also believe it can provide situations of darkness where the audience can relate so that they feel as if they can make it through the dark and pain. Literature and darkness in my mind are almost one in one.

The one idea I was not completely into at first was wrestling with despair with God, but the more I pondered and reflected somewhat agree.

"Darkness"... what a startling word. When I think about that word many images come to mind. Images such as war, gangs, drugs, sin, hell, evil just come to my mind. Like previously stated I believe darkness plagues our world, but we as vessels of Christ should be light to our dark world. We should be able to show love and life of Christ that can hopefully help and brighten people's lives when they are struggling through times of darkness.