Jarratt and Bernstein.
The Jarrat and Bernstein texts can be analyzed using Aristotle’s “topic of invention,” contraries. It is fascinating to note how literally Aristotle’s definition (A topic of invention in which one considers opposite or incompatible things that are of the same kind) can be applied to this clashing of scholarship and poetry; right down to the style each is written in. Jarratt’s article, which advocates structure and history, is comprised of just that, a technical history. It was difficult to discern her personal agenda because of the thickness of historical/biographical/non-fiction/scientific information. However, in the Bernstein article, his opinion snatches you by the soul and awakens the hints of his passions that reside in the recesses of your psyche.
Each article slightly portrays the most extreme side of its genre- The Rhetorical tradition being monotonous and un-emotional and the Poetic tradition being flowery and hyper-emotional, and without the foundation of reason. Fortunately, at the end of the day we are all fighting the same battle- no matter what style, language, or medium best suits us. Each article paid homage to it's beginnings in antiquity and bolstered a future in technology. When I think about these articles as they pertain to my own life, I wonder what the challenge of maintaining the delicate balance between technical and emotional writing/thinking will mean in my professional development. I worry about this because I have never been any good at creative writing and am not the most emotional person. I am afraid that in my struggle to increase my capacity to write/teach from a scholarly perspective I will lose the capacity for intimacy in my teaching/researching/writing. This is a problem because I want to move my students from the inside out; the same way that I have been moved to study. I know how powerful it is and I cherish the opportunity to be a part of it.
TNA
1 comment:
nice post. very relevant concern. how can a former basketball coach not be a little emotional at times? even phil jackson gets himself tossed out of games on occasion.
i agree with your interpretation of the reading. bernstein's article resonanted more with me because of my affinity for poetic language and creative writing. like you said, in the end we are all fighting the same battle. i think that the un-emotional rhetorical tradition and hyper-emotional poetics compliment each other more than work against each other. i also think that dark side of the moon is a fantastic sonic trip into the heart of what scares the everyday person. "time" is classic.
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