An Essay in Pictures: Making Meaning of Image

In her aptly title chapter, “Imagery,” renowned American poet, Mary Oliver, does well to explain figurative language, enlightening her readers with examples of metaphor, personification, allusion, and images found in poems from the likes of Elizabeth Bishop, Walt Whitman, and more. Oliver pays close attention to the idea of the image itself, that thing which becomes the centerpiece of a poem or some other piece of literature, opening up a window of opportunity for the writer to describe in full detail what lies before him in the natural world or in the world of his imagination. With some conscious consideration for detail, the writer’s world becomes an essay.

That said, I would like you to choose one video from those listed below, which are included in the presentation given in class, and interpret them in an essay of at least three paragraphs.

Son Lux's "Break": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUSBXsd8NkQ

El-P's "Stepfather Factory": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Acgr18qpcPM

Talkdemonic's "Duality of Deathening": http://www.talkdemonic.com/new%20video.html

Aesop Rock's "None Shall Pass": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1u43KDiWD0

Mike Finnegan's "i1100": http://www.blackwingsdesign.com/folio/art_3.htm

Radiohead's "All I Need" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdrCalO5BDs

Ross Ching's "Eclectic": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwlkFRtOxMI&feature=related

Ross Ching's "Eclectic 2.0": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izXpNLjgAtM


The images in the video you choose should hopefully inspire in you a sense of metaphor. The question you should ask yourselves as you view the video of your choosing is: What do the images flooding my mind from the video represent?

And so the directions are as follows:

• Watch the video. Listen to the music.
  
• Pay close attention to the details of the images presented in the video and the music that is interfused with those images, lyrics included (if the song has lyrics).
  
• Jot down as you view the film your basic impressions of the images and the music. What mood does it create? What emotions are expressed through the interfusion of music and image?
  
• Once you (we) are finished viewing the video, write an interpretive essay in which you explain the deeper meaning of the video, giving a analysis/synopsis of its images, and an explanation of the various lyrics, if there are any. Be sure to describe the music you hear as well.

This is assignment is due on the blog or hard copy by Thursday, December 18, 2008.