This blog is in respect to the two assigned readings from Edward Said (top) and Joseph Brodsky (bottom).My opinion will also be mentioned, for my goal is to make my blog have a voice and allow the reader to understand what I am trying to convey.
HERE'S WHAT YA GOTTA KNOW.
These two publishers have somewhat opposing views on the topic of EXILE.
Quick outline:
Said: A born Palestinian, hated by his own and the Arabs as well. This man is the walking form of exile. His voice is heard and respected, and he continues to embark in the journey of exile research and teaching. Here are some of his reflections on this topic:
"Exile is STRANGELY compelling to think about but terrible to experience."
"To see a poet in exile-as opposed to reading the poetry of exile-is to see
exile's antinomies embodied and endured with a unique intensity."
NOTE: definition of antinomies: a contradiction between two statements, both apparently obtained by correct reasoning.
(Hmmm....) (?)
And just before it can get any more vague, here is Brodsky's view on exile.
Brodsky:
"Whatever the proper name for these people... one thing is absolutely clear: they make it very difficult to talk about the plight of the writer in exile with a straight face."
"Since there is not much on which to rest our hopes for a better world... we must maintain that literature is the only form of moral insurance a society has... because human diversity is literature’s raison d’être."
NOTE: raison d'être: French for 'reason for being'.
If you were to ask me, I would say that one of Said's arguments would be summarized around the idea that in order to get the best understanding of exile, you must see this character verbalize their sentiment. Merely reading will not offer you the effect in its entirety. Exile is something that is experienced, a continues voyage, a treaty for danger. take his story for example, unable to fit into any one society, his escape is to focus his life solely on this one theme.
Now for Brodsky...
Personally, this guy breaks it down a little more. He provides us with examples of exiles, showing us that if you're not one yourself, it is most likely you're sitting next to one. He is a realist. He says everything in this world goes to waste, but literature remains. Therefore, it is essential to carefully craft exile in history in a way that future generations will be able to savor what it meant for us.
This class is here to teach me what exile is all about, and in my opinion, this course challenges every way of thinking. First, I am not accustomed to posting blogs. Secondly, this term is highly ambiguous to me, and lastly, many renown philosophers and poets have an extended definition that I must slowly adjust to and fully understand.
And sloowwlyy but surely, I am trying to encapsulate my own definition in my head.
Everytime I grasp a new concept of the term exile, my confusion far surpasses any prior knowledge.
Still, I am faced with a challenge to present to you what I have gotten from this. The instructor told us there is no set definition. It is limitless, never ending, and deep.
Quite frankly, I find it a bit frustrating trying to revolve around one central topic regarding exile, but I can promise you there will be some progress in the next few blogs in which I will refer to exile as if it were my good ol' pal. In the meantime, I am trying to figure this out with you. For one, I hope to have accomplished a voice in my blog. :)
SO IN A NUTSHELL.... (don't we all love this part)
Exile is a complicated/complex/intricate threadlike webbed structure of scrambled thoughts and mixed feelings.
Initially, if you asked me about exile I would most likely draw a blank and all that would come to mind was this image:
... And if you were to ask me now, this is what pops up:
(...to be continued)
Until next time.
Yours Truly,
AA
