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John Cox is a painter, cartoonist, and illustrator for hire. For information about purchasing existing work or commissioning new work, contact him by e-mail at john555cox [at] hotmail.com.
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This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on August 1, 2011 12:08 AM.
The previous post in this blog was Book Cover Illustration Idea.
The next post in this blog is Children's Book Cover Illustration Idea.
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Comments (12)
So poets are limited?
Posted by GarandFan | August 1, 2011 12:26 AM
Posted on August 1, 2011 00:26
HEY G
It's an odd quote that seems to sink itself. Poets relate to romantic fantasy and not impersonal technology?
You could interpret this quote a dozen ways.
Posted by John Cox | August 1, 2011 12:41 AM
Posted on August 1, 2011 00:41
I'm guessing the knight would prefer a button to his sword right about now.
Posted by Craniac | August 1, 2011 9:59 AM
Posted on August 1, 2011 09:59
First Atomic Strike Force
Into the air the secret rose,
Where they're going, nobody knows.
Tomorrow they'll return again,
But we'll never know where they've been.
Don't ask us about results or such,
Unless you want to get in Dutch
But take it from one who is sure of the score,
The 509th is winning the war.
When the other Groups are ready to go,
We have a program of the whole damned show.
And when Halsey's 5th shells Nippon's shore,
Why, shucks, we hear about it the day before.
MacArthur and Doolittle give out in advance,
But with this new bunch we haven't a chance.
We should have been home a month or more,
For the 509th is winning the war.
Anonymous
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/6430373
Also:
Man Who Dropped Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima Dies at 92
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,307252,00.html
Posted by Gwangi | August 1, 2011 12:01 PM
Posted on August 1, 2011 12:01
Auden obviously never read Kipling.
Posted by GarandFan | August 1, 2011 1:16 PM
Posted on August 1, 2011 13:16
Trying to do some detective work, and it appears the Auden quote comes from a March 1958 "Camera 3" show with interviewer James McAndrew with WH Auden.
"About Writing", a book by Samuel R Delany has a reference to the interview pp 305-306 (Google books).
Apparently, the interviewer was attempting to get Auden to validate the interviewer's thesis that "the historical purpose of the poet has been to provide images of heroes for the nation."
Auden explains that pressing a button to drop a bomb is far different than Achilles fighting a one on one combat with Hector. which is origin of the quote.
Auden was completely misunderstood, although I'm not sure exactly what Auden meant. As John said, it could be interpreted a dozen ways.
I don't think it was necessarily intended as anti-technology or a misunderstanding of it, I think it was intended to disagree with the interviewer about his view of the role of the poet and move onto something related to poetry.
By the way, is the epic fight between Obi Wan Kenobi vs. Darth Vader in Star Wars (the original) any less than the Achilles vs. Hector battle because it uses technology?
Posted by Dr. Bob | August 1, 2011 9:28 PM
Posted on August 1, 2011 21:28
Too bad this isn't a "Say What".
"You look mighty tasty in that glaze of tin. Prepare to be flame broiled".
Sorry, couldn't resist
Posted by Dr. Bob | August 1, 2011 9:30 PM
Posted on August 1, 2011 21:30
I'm fairly certain that Auden meant that [given his paradigm of being a stuffed-shirt romantic] it wouldn't be possible to write such a poem because of the complete impersonality (impersonalness?) of a person pushing a button to destroy legions of people--having never been engaged with them in any way.
He was wrong, of course. Isolation is as valid a concept as relatedness.
GF:
We're all limited. Herbert Simon said it well when he put forth the principle of bounded rationality.
Posted by Terwiliger | August 1, 2011 10:11 PM
Posted on August 1, 2011 22:11
You can't fight in here, this is the war room
Posted by Guillermo | August 1, 2011 11:36 PM
Posted on August 1, 2011 23:36
"bounded rationality"
Simon might also have called it "reality". S.I. Hayakawa could have had a lot of fun with it.
Posted by GarandFan | August 2, 2011 12:22 AM
Posted on August 2, 2011 00:22
I like your pics...great
steph
Posted by cadeau naissance | August 2, 2011 11:42 AM
Posted on August 2, 2011 11:42
I just wanted to comment & say that I was very impressed with the design on your blog & also your writing skills.. happy holidays!
Posted by penis enlargement pills | August 3, 2011 4:04 AM
Posted on August 3, 2011 04:04