Monday, November 28, 2011
The Problem of Describing Trees
There are some actions that are hard to describe with words. Some actions can only be described by showing them in a video or with pictures. This is the same with colors. How can one describe what the color blue looks like? Sure the author can use objects of that color as an example, but when a certain shade of blue is desired only a picture can do. For example, when Robert Hass pictures the trees dancing he has trouble putting all the motions he sees into words. He keeps correcting himself because words can't change the way videos can. Videos or pictures can show much more than words can describe.
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I really liked how you described your point by using colors. I also admire how all of your writing is so personal and it really keeps the readers attention. Have you thought about why Robert Haas does not know what the tree is doing for sure? The reason I ask is because of the transition he makes from dancing to capitalization which are two very different things. You might want to take a look at Cameron K's blogger. His piece is very personalized like yours and he questions the limits of words as well.
ReplyDeleteDid you check out Hass' poem "The Problem of Describing Color"? Try this link:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foyKYl_2uuw