Magic Realism Collage: "Lioness in Paradise"

In order to fully comprehend this assignment, I decided I would first find a definition of Magical Realism. According to Wikipedia.com, “magical realism is an artistic genre in which elements appear in an otherwise realistic setting or a ‘marvelous reality.’” Key elements of magical realism include fantastic elements, which may be intrinsically plausible but never explained. Symbols and imagery are used extensively in order to exhibit the richness of sensory details. It presents multiple standpoints and an internal narration on shared relationships and memories. Emotions and human sexuality as a social construct are often developed in great detail. Finally, the magical reality is accepted and the logic is not questioned and are often left open-ended (wikipedia.com). According to information provided in the readings on ANGEL, I found that magical realism is a style used by many artists including Frida Kahlo in her Wounded Deer and to have various meaning.

Frida Kahlo’s works embodied biographical details for her life, including her Wounded Deer. “Her works frequently reveal an incendiary subtext, whether they are questioning power relationships between developed and developing nations, testing the role of women within a patriarchal society, or attempting to reconcile the global histories and religions of East and West.” In this assignment we were asked to combine various components to form a similar artwork to that of Frida’s Wounded Deer. These components consisted or a self-portrait combined with an animal in an environment in which it could survive. These realistic elements combine to form an unrealistic, “marvelous” reality necessary to have magical realism. Frida’s deer with pierced arrows relates to “her suffering due to her failing health and turbulent relationship, but is also a summation of a worldview in which different cultures and belief systems combine. She inscribed the word ‘carma’ referring to reincarnation. The arrows allude to Christian images of St. Sebastian and the deer symbolizes an alter-ego and the right foot-Kahlo’s injured limb” (Tate).

For this project I thought of a variety of different animals that I could relate myself to, but none as perfect as the lion. I called my portrait “Lioness in Paradise.” Not only am I proud to be a Nittany Lion and like to sleep more than the average person (lions are inactive for 20 hours a day), but also, they are so darn cute. Lions have two types of social organization. They tend to travel in groups usually consisting of their family or they are nomads, either singly or in pairs, while they enjoy good fellowship by showing affection. I’d find myself to be live my life independently while remaining close to my family similar to the social organization of the lions. Lions represent strength and courage. I like to think that every step I take in life involves strength, courage, and confidence. The lioness is more agile and faster and does the pride’s hunting. This represents my belief that women are just as capable if not more able than men. Finally, according to animal symbolism a lion represents just laws and fairness. I find this quite fitting for my personality and my life ambitions because I want to go to law school and become a lawyer to argue for justice.

The background environment included a fairy tale night setting with water, palm trees, and a bright moon. It was isolated and intended to be peaceful and relaxing to compensate for all the hard work the lioness does for her family. I chose this environment because not only do I love tropical settings, but also I always love to go to place to relax alone, and take in the beauty and serenity. Essentially it was PARADISE.

The magical realism and unrealistic aspects of this artwork can be very beneficial to women. It allows them to dream. They can dream of themselves in ideal situations or even just relaxing situations where they feel most comfortable. They can be themselves while not being themselves at all (i.e a lion in paradise). They are able to depict themselves as doing whatever they want with no fear of being objectified or looked strangely upon for acting outside the norm. Magical realism is used here to describe oneself in an unrealistic scene with realistic tendencies and like Frida Kahlo, it demonstrates much more that the picture initially depicts.

Modern Tate. Frida Kahlo.
http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/kahlo/roomguide.shtm

Animal Symbolism. San Diego Academy.
http://www.writedesignonline.com/assignments/masks/animalsymbolism.htm

Reflection for My Modernist Poetry

(SEE POEMS IN PREVIOUS ENTRY)

I didn't even know where to start when i began to write my poetry. It was hard to make a connection between what Stein was writing and what it was that she was describing. I start off by looking at what Modernist Poetry really is. I found that it is characterized by two features, free verse and move away from the Romantic idea of an unproblematic poetic "self" directly addressing an equally unproblematic reader or audience.

Once i chose my title's for each of the three specified areas, the word just started to come out. Whether it makes sense to a reader, i am not sure, but it was a new level of writing, and an understanding within myself, that i was not aware i had. I found it easier to use free verse, the various styles of poetry, because there was no concentrations on meter or rhyme but still has recognizable characteristics of poetry.

The experiments were even more fun to me. Who knows if i was even doing any of this correctly, but i gave it a shot, and i had fun doing it. For my first part of my poem, OBJECTS, i decided to re-write it backwards line for line from the end to the beginning. I found that even completely distorted and re-arranged, the poem still has meaning and makes sense. Second, for the FOOD part, i decided to cut the poem into pieced and use the first and last work to create a new section for the poem. Not only was this fun, and an interesting new way to look at the poem, but it to still made sense at the end. It really does show how words, and what they actually mean, can still resemble what it aims at describing, even after cutting and piecing they previous in a random manner. In fact, after these two experiments, i found i was kind of strange in a creepy way that it all still worked out. Finally, for the ROOM section of the poem, i decided to take a poem by Katherine Mansfield entitled "Camomile Tea" and re-write my poem between each of her lines. This was the only experiment that did not come out as smooth as the other, although it too had meaning that made sense to me, the writer. (maybe wouldn't make sense to the reader).

As i concluded with the poem writing and experiments i learned more about myself and about the art of poem writing. I have never really been a great poet before, nor do i think i have the potential to become a great poet, but an activity such as this allows me to realize how words have many different meanings and evoke many different emotions. To one person a word may mean something totally different, and i think that is the beauty of it. Not all poems have to mean the exact same thing to everyone. Own interpretations and opinions are just as influential.

MY MODERNIST POETRY

OBJECT

Shoelaces

Twirling through the abyss into a sole of dirt and darkness. Some don’t know, and others know all. Crisscross, crisscross, crisscrosses of color overtaking other’s boundaries.
Worn, torn, with so many memories and so many miles ahead, a savior of pain originates.

Experiment: Backwards
Originates pain of savior ahead so many and with torn and worn memories.
Boundaries of other’s overtaking color of crisscrosses, crisscrosses, crisscross.
All know others know don’t some.
Darkness and dirt of sole into a abyss through the twirling.

FOOD

Layers of Lasagna

Down the curving, concrete yellow road. Layering of pastors creature both solid and liquid. Red is Yellow, Yellow becomes red. Then there is light. It finally goes limp but the remainder still dashes away. Comfort.

Experiment: New Poem with First and Last word
Down Concrete
Yellow Layering
Of Solid

And Red
Is Yellow
Becomes Then

There IT
Finally Limp
But still

Dashes Comfort

ROOM

Kitchen

Many personalities come and go, but none seem to stay. Cravings, mice, and sounds; always an extension of happiness that no one can explain, like peanut butter or a hug. What was once desired, is unwanted and unappreciated. Tick Tock, tick tock, hand after hand, It doesn’t matter. The only surprise is no surprise.

Experiment: Insert into another Poem
“Camomile Tea” by Katherine Mansfield

Outside the sky is light with stars;
Many personalities come and go, but none seem to stay,
There's a hollow roaring from the sea.
Cravings, mice, and sounds;
And, alas! for the little almond flowers,
Always an extension of happiness that no one can explain, like peanut butter or a hug
The wind is shaking the almond tree.
Tick tock, tick tock, hand after hand, it doesn’t matter,
The only surprise is no surprise.