Painting: Rafal Olbinski's Apple Trees
Fallen Apple
She was the fallen apple.
Ripe with ardor,
She dropped from provisional support
and rolled into fertile mire
of fecundity, ignominy.
She’ll not rot in isolation. © Jeanne I. Lakatos
From my first book:
A musical composition contains a specific theme. This theme can then repeat every time a musician performs the piece. However, the theme will elicit variations based on instrumentation, acoustics, and musicians actively attempting to recreate the original sound. A new aurally thematic expression results from this interpretation.
Likewise, a work of art will receive the eyes of multiple viewers. Each person adapts his/her life experience to the interpretation of the rendered artistic theme, thus altering the original thematic construct of the artist. Hence, a theme is in a constant state of evolution, no matter which art form has been presented (Lakatos 20).
How do these representations of themes demonstrate Iconic Realism? In both Olbinski's painting and my poem above, the representation is apples, both artistic expressions reveal the idea of an apple, a healthy fresh fruit, juxtaposed with a more negative depiction of this fruit: fallen. Yet, both expressions illustrate that it's not the apple's doing that leads to the fallen nature and inevitable end; it's the decisions made by the individuals surrounding those apples that bring the audience to an understanding that through righteousness, one can move forward in a more positive direction.
You might consider the music of Billie Holiday and Nina Simone. Billie's " Strange Fruit" and Nina's "Sugar in my Bowl" each employes irony and metaphorical language but their lyrics might also be Iconic Realism too.
ReplyDeleteLionel Bascom
Hey Lionel! You really seem to have a handle on this theory. I've included Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit" on my Playlist here, so others can see how poignant this use of language and interpretation can be, especially when it's combined with the soulful voice of the musical artistry of Ms. Holiday. This song is iconic in the image and message, both of which are set in the horrendously realistic setting of racism. I was amazed how my little poem coincides so well with this themata, too.
ReplyDeleteAnd what is truly amazing is that I traveled over to my LastFM account, entered Billie Holiday's name, and this was the first song to appear.
Nina Simone's "Sugar in my Bowl," although quite alluring, is more metaphoric than a use of iconic realism. Wonderful, nonetheless.
Thanks again, Lionel.
Professor Lakatos:
ReplyDeleteI love Billie... I would like to ask you, how IR may change our perseption of culture in literature?
Dear Anon,
ReplyDeleteYes, Ms. Holiday is exquisite.
Thank you for your question. Authors, poets, artists and musicians have used iconic realism as a means of bringing awareness of a significant cultural dilemma. In this manner, they juxtapose an iconic element with another element, usually the setting, which a community does not normally associate with the icon, in order to create this vivid awareness.
With this in mind, we interpret and respond to this awareness with our individual perceptions of culture, be they aural, visual or tactile. Perhaps, our perceptions of culture may change if this awareness is piqued by experiencing the work of art through the use of iconic realism.
Dear Jeanne,
ReplyDeleteMost enjoyable and the music- wow! There is a lot ponder here my friend . . .
Thanks,
Janelle
Hey Janelle!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind thoughts. I hope you will drop by again and ponder a bit. Have you ever been to the baseball field in Iowa?
Give my regards to Basel!