Camera Obscura

Poetry Revisited

2009-12-14T06:13:00.001-08:00

William Wordsworth – a romantic poet in the highest order—defined poetry as “emotion recalled in tranquility.” However, he is only partly correct. It is evident in his poem “I wandered Lonely as a Cloud” that Wordsworth has found peace within his life, partly from his experiences with the daffodils and partly from writing about it. Thus it is accurate that emotion was recalled in tranquility in poetry. However, this type of poetry only evokes the beautiful and disregards the sublime altogether. Therefore, a more accurate statement would be that “poetry is emotion recalled.”

Because the narrow scope of Wordsworth definition only pertained to his own poetry and not to that of others, perhaps even this definition of poetry is too narrow. Poetry is so many different things to so many different people. From the ominous gloom of Edgar Allen Poe to the structured mastery of William Shakespeare or even the staunch brevity of Ernest Hemingway, I can attest to different styles with different conventions and a multitude of tones. Personally, I write when my mind is clouded and poetry serves to refocus my thoughts. In this aspect, it is definitely not recalled in tranquility.

Structurally, poetry comes in so many forms that it parallels the plethora of choices one can have for fashion. From the rhythmic cadence of iambic pentameter and the block like form of the sonnet to the terseness of a haiku or the unbridled chaos of free verse, poetry can take as many forms as necessary to perform its function. It is in fact the nature of literature, especially poetry, to change in form.

However, poetry is not limited to nor solely composed of emotions recalled. Poetry is a device used to further ideas or abstract thoughts in an imaginative way. And even in some circumstances, poetry can assume the role of describing another form as having a quality of grace or beauty. Thus, poetry can be concluded to not be easily encapsulated into words or defined. In ending, Coleridge said it best: “For poetry is the blossom and the fragrance of all human knowledge, human thoughts, human passions, emotions, language.”

Honeymoon phases

2006-10-02T14:40:00.000-07:00

At the request of my friend steph, this post is dedicated to the curious aspects of the honeymoon phase when starting a new relationship. Disclaimer: Lyd's this has nothing to do with us, muah <3.

As I have an inordinate amount of spare time, which largely consists of some studying mixed-in with the time I spend at the coffee shop musing about little or nothing. My friend Steph is trying to figure out her situation with her current love interest, so I guess that prompted this little post on relationships in general, and honeymoon phases in particular.

So what exactly is the honeymoon phase? Typically found only in longer-term reletionships (this phrase itself is under dispute at times b/c short-term relationships are ALL honeymoon-ish and it's entirety is characterized by a honeymoon-like feeling as opposed to being only a period of time) honeymoon phases are when you are "more in love," "more infatuated," and/or simply "more" of anything in a positive sense.

That might seem confusing, but it makes sense considering that "honeymoon phases" are new and they're exciting. The person, the relationship, it's all new and exciting. During this time, you're more willing to overlook their misgivings and their faults. Each person is more happy during the honeymoon phase b/c that feeling is a really big rush and it can even be like a drug at times. I guess the honeymoon phase ends when you both begin to become more "real," ironically. This isn't to say that you aren't real when you're in the honeymoon stage, but one one is in the act of courtship, one really is on their best behavior and doesn't really let every weird little thing we do out into the world.

Perhaps it's some of these qualities, which contribute to people becoming serial daters or commitment phobics. When a relationship transitions from the honeymoon phase into an interim transitory period and subsequently whatever that couple decides, it can be very difficult and require a large amount of maturity. People can become addicted to the honeymoon phase so much so that they need or want to constantly be meeting and dating new people until that honeymoon phases is over, or even before hand, so that they don't have to deal with this difficulty--OR it could be that they just haven't found someone [or the one] that they feel is worth putting in the effort to make this difficult transition with.

So what is one to make of this? Relationships are messy. The shorter ones tend to be characterized only of good and happy times, typically. If they aren't, then why are people in them? The longer relationships are about more than just happy times and love and such. Long(er) term relationships require much more than just that. Figuring out whether or not that person is something that you are willing to do that with is entirely up to you.

It's really easy to stay with people during the honeymoon phase, but you also don't gain much in terms of finding out who that person really is. Anyone can stay with someone when it's really happy and it's all fun and games. The rewards of going beyond the honeymoon phase do inherently carry more risk, but they also present a greater deal of rewards: namely the possibility of finding the one person that you will love for the rest of your life (if monogomy and marraige are indeed in your vocabulary).

Automotive culture

2006-09-29T13:53:00.001-07:00

It's quite obvious to anyone who's ever been to Southern California that the Los Angeles metro area is dominated by automotive culture and cars galore.

You see a vast diversity of cars from differing makes and models to the inveritable modifications vs. stock; old vs. new; newly-washed vs. dreadfully dirty; ad infinitum. But the greater Los Angeles area wasn't always like this. When it was first being developed, Los Angeles had a vastly more efficient and widespread light rail system. While the particular intentions and long-term goals of those that owned this mass transit public system is largely unknown, there are many conspiracy theorists who surmise that other factors were at work to bring about the vast expanse of super-highways we now begrudgingly take on our daily commutes.

Big detroit automotive companies supposedly bought up and dismantled this light rail system, or so the conspiracy stories go. And now we have tons of cars spread across massive amounts of land, making the introduction of an inexpensive efficient public transportation nearly impossible. The population, unlike many other major metropolitan areas (such as NYC, SF, Houston, DC) is spread out over a very large area and is only dense in particular areas. Either way, cars are most likely here to stay for quite some while and it may be much longer before any creative new mass transportation systems come into place. Until then, enjoy every small car, every large car, every pretty car, every ugly car, and especially every car that's in between.

Brushing your teeth

2006-09-29T00:48:00.000-07:00

There's something strange about brushing your teeth. By strange, I don't mean mystical or magical, but certainly there's something strange about brushing your teeth. It's almost 1AM now and I was brushing my teeth and I came to realize the power (for the lack of a better word) of actually brushing one's teeth. It can be tedious at times and some times even a nuisance. But all things considered, there's something very interesting about the ritual of brushing one's teeth.

Consider say for example when one brushes their teeth. Typically, it's the first thing you do when you wake up and it's also the last thing you do before going to bed-- with the exception of late-night blogging, post-brushing/pre-sleeping. It starts off your day with a clean mouth and more importantly with a clean slate and it ends your day by cleaning away the drudge and slime of the waking life. Before I get ahead of myself, yes I know that some people brush after meals or snacks, but for the most part, a vast majority of people aren't nearly that anal retentive.

Now on to where one brushes their teeth. While most people usually brush over a sink, whether or not the faucet is left running or not, I used to brush my teeth while showering. Yes, I know it might sound strange. But I heard some curious statistic in my youth that reported that brushing one's teeth in the shower saved a great deal of time-- roughly 2 minutes per brushing per day, adding up to roughly 6 months or so during a lifetime. And, while I have only sporadically brushed my teeth in the shower as of late (probably as a result from moving from my apartment back to my parent's house), I came to the decision today that the six months of time I would save, simply aren't worth it.

I want to reclaim the power that is brushing my teeth, more specifically, over a sink. A shower is a wonderful thing, don't get me wrong. It has it's own strange qualities, which I will probably attempt to discuss later on.

But for now, I'm going to bask in the curious glory of having brushed my teeth.

Release

2005-10-27T02:59:00.000-07:00

Today i stumbled upon a life which i have forgotten: that is, I've forgotten a part of me. I used to write, and a lot at that. I used to take pictures and enjoy driving around alone and with friends looking for things to photograph. I used to muse-- about anything and about nothing at all. Life was vibrant, and the marrow was always there for the taking. I miss that simplicity.

Life is no longer carefree, it is much more serious. Being a senior means worrying about a myriad of inconsequential (to life as a whole, that is) acronyms. Before taking this L.S.A.T., you have to worry about having a G.P.A. and making sure you stay off of A.P. and especially trying to stay away from those nasty, often debilitating V.D.'s. And what is this all for? For another pair of letters, a B.A. For some people this could be a B.S. and eventually a J.D. For now, I'm taking a break from doing my research paper, and studying for midterms, and I'm reclaiming a part of myself that seems to have been lost in all this nonsense.

I used to be an avid blogger several years ago. I had a "melodramatic" site throughout high school and I enjoyed the catharsis of writing my personal thoughts and receiving feedback from a "voyeuristic" sort of sense. I'm a little (read, marginally) wiser, perhaps a little more prudent, and a little more cautious than my former self, but I still admire the boy who wrote a lot and took pictures a lot.