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Lesson Plans


Re: Room being burned

From: Joseph Augusta (jaugusta)
Date: Sun Jan 02 2000 - 05:56:03 PST

EileenAC wrote:
> I work in a good school in a safe neighborhood 15 minutes by car from my >
house. I teach high school art in a tiny room with one sink that is usually
backed > up and I thank my lucky stars every day that I have this job.

That's a description of the human condition I'd hold up against the best of Satre
or Camus any day!

Yesterday Robert Pinsky (US Poet Laureate) gave a lecture on C-Span on the future
of literature, esp. poetry, in our electronic, mass media, age. What I found
interesting was his explanation that the act of experiencing a poem--reading it
aloud--was something that came to life in the body of the reader--the sound,
cadence, rhyme--all appeal to the senses, and only later--sometime years later,
is the meaning of the piece sorted out. First, the experience, then the
interpretation.

This is how Mr. Pinsky feels all of art should be taught. Students should be
guided into experiencing the art form for themselves,in poetry, reading the
piece aloud--in visual art--how? He felt that poetry was quite the opposite of
mass media, since it was one voice, the writer--communicating with one person.
And though the poet may have died long ago, reading the words aloud brings the
writer back to life. Is this true of any other medium?

Best wishes,
Joseph

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