BLAST, World War I, and Tonal Shifts
From The Waste Land Wiki
(→Frequency of the Word War in BLAST) |
(→Close Reading) |
||
| Line 44: | Line 44: | ||
==Close Reading== | ==Close Reading== | ||
===Volume 1=== | ===Volume 1=== | ||
| − | The first article in this volume is titled ''Long Live the Vortex!'' This article discusses the ideas and beliefs of the vorticists and the goal of ''BLAST.'' They say that they "need the unconsciousness of humanity - their stupidity, animalism, and dreams" for art to flourish. The article also describes ''BLAST'' as an "avenue for vivid and violent ideas that could reach the Public in no other way." | + | The first article in this volume is titled ''Long Live the Vortex!'' This article discusses the ideas and beliefs of the vorticists and the goal of ''BLAST.'' They say that they "need the unconsciousness of humanity - their stupidity, animalism, and dreams" for art to flourish. The article also describes ''BLAST'' as an "avenue for vivid and violent ideas that could reach the Public in no other way." The article then calls out education for destroying creativity and rebukes people for their snobbery over money and wealth, making the point "art is nothing to do with the coat you wear." ''Long Live the Vortex!'' ends with a mix of different ideas and a sort of blast against all people. An example of the strangeness of the ending ramble is the line "Elephants are VERY BIG. Motor cars go quickly." |
===Volume 2=== | ===Volume 2=== | ||
| − | The first article in this volume is titled ''Editorial.'' This article discusses the current events of artwork in England, the outbreak of WWI in Europe, and the stance of ''BLAST'' on WWI. | + | The first article in this volume is titled ''Editorial.'' This article discusses the current events of artwork in England, the outbreak of WWI in Europe, and the stance of ''BLAST'' on WWI. The article begins by explaining the need for art to return to Europe after WWI and how England can help through its abundance of art and culture. The editorial mentions the sales of works by Nietzsche, Flaubert, Boccacio, and Paul de Koch. From these four authors, Nietzsche is the only German writer, and he is known more for his philosophical works and cultural critiques than his poetry. The rest of the editorial is spent describing the war as a war between art. The article explains that "Germany has stood for the old Poetry, for Romance" while the rest of Europe has moved to newer art. |
===Comparison=== | ===Comparison=== | ||
