I originally chose Robert Kendall's
poem “Faith” because it was two things that I had not seen in our
exploration of Electronic Literature so far; the piece was short and
it had an ending. In my ongoing battle with my unfamiliarity with
electronic literature and my apparent resistance to anything new, I
thought I had wisely grasped at crutches that I could put into place
to help me understand and connect to electronic literature in a
familiar, comforting way, similar to how I would read and understand
a poem found in an anthology. What I have come to realize with this
piece is that Kendall's decision to combine poetry with technology
enhances the poem and its meaning. By using sound effects,
animation, music, and words, Kendall has created a poem that says and
does more than if it were found in an anthology. Also, by putting
the poem out there electronically, Kendall reaches a different
audience than the usual poetry readers.
“Faith” as it might appear in an
anthology:
Faith
Faith logic can't bend this. So...
I edge logic out. Can't the mind press
on around the bend to consummate this vision of the deep “or”?
Maybe. But...
I hedge. Oh red winking neon logic.
No, I just can't make the sunny side of my mind press the black
button, think around the bend of theory to be only this consummate
“o,” this visionary “r” of the deeper world. Yet then...
I step to the idea edge elegantly and
choose ultimately, not just any watered-down walking out but a fine
wine of leave taking, a full bodied forgoing – going – gone upon
the logic lip. No, I just can't make the usual sense anymore so I'll
simply stride out of my mind, press my foot firmly into the black,
all-but-bottomless chasm beyond the brink, around the bend, off the
rocker (yipee!), to leave behind only this consummate poem, this
visionary, incorruptible transcript of the deeper world's One True
Word: Leap
Now...
just to sum up: Faith
The Facts about “Faith”:
- Text's Genre – Animation/kinetic, Audio, Flash, Music, and Poetry
- Robert Kendall describes his piece as a kinetic poem containing 5 states or movements. Each new state is overlaid over the previous one with the new state absorbing the previous one while arguing with its intent or meaning.
- To navigate through this piece is relatively simple. The reader first needs to adjust the volume of his or her speakers as music plays during the poem's presentation. A reader then clicks on the arrow to move to the next state.
The Experience that is “Faith”:
Watch,
listen, read, think, and reflect.
The
first page of the piece announces the piece's title. The title
“Faith: an Expanding Multi-Verse in 5 Movements” is elaborately
created with bold colors of red, blue, green, and gold and reminds me
of the illuminated manuscripts that medieval monks would have
created. The font is equally as elaborate as the colors and looks
similar to calligraphy. The details of the drawing begin to create a
religious impression, an impression that supports the poem's main
idea.
Moving
from the title page to begin the poem (First Movement), the word
faith takes center stage as it is tapped and bombarded by the word
“logic” over and over. Logic bounces off of Faith which seems
unphased. Musical notes sound with every touch of logic, but the
notes are discordant and simplistic. The yellow words for the first
movement roll in from all sides rather illogically and the Movement
ends with the word “so...” beginning the creative decision to
have one Movement melt into another with each Movement building on
the overall argument of Faith. Kendall suggests in the first
movement that faith is stronger and more beautiful than logic because
it is more resilient.
The
Second Movement is more complex than the first. Harp music
accompanies the yellow-orange words that slide onto the page
transforming First Movement's words into a decision made by the poet
to embrace Faith and reject logic. Harps are reminiscent of churches
and angels and ultimately of faith. However, the poet's words words
reveal that declaring one's desire to live a life based on faith is
easier than actually living that life. The poet's words reflect his
struggle to let go of the “mind” and its logical answers to
embrace the unknown “deep.” This is the first of three times the
poet uses the word “consummate.” This first time consummate is
used is as a verb meaning “to complete;” the poet wants to have
faith, but he is afraid of what he has never seen, felt, or
experienced. The desire is there, but it is hesitant and nervous.
Leaving logic behind and living a life based on faith requires
courage and the poet is still struggling with this choice...”or”
…”Maybe”...”But”.
In
the Third Movement, he “hedges.” The yellow and orange words of
the previous two movements are joined by a red color. The words
appear from the sides and blend with the Second Movement's to the
deep, complex, and sonorous sounds of organ notes being played. As
new words appear, they blink and roll and flip onto the page to add
to the meaning of the words themselves. “Red winking neon logic”
blinks a warning; logic is safer and the poet should stop his desire
to live a faith-based life. The word “theory” initially appears
upside down then flips over suggesting faith inspires a new way of
looking at the world and the uncomfortable feeling that may accompany
this approach. This Movement seems to capture the rising tension of
the poet. He can't seem to bring himself to press the “black
button” that will take him to the “consummate” or perfect,
“visionary” “deeper world,” yet faith is what he wants.
The
Forth Movement is the most complex one of the five and is the climax
of the poet's decision making process. The music that accompanies
the words as they move and combine with the Third Movement is a
blending of both harp and organ sounds. The two combine to make
something unique, something not heard so far in the piece. The
colors include the yellow, orange, and red words from the previous
pages, but now some of the words are faded and some employ meaningful
movement. The poet, himself, moves “elegantly” and with
confidence now as he strides towards the “lip” of logic. “Off
the rocker (yippee!)” rocks downward to express a sense of
abandonment as the poet makes his final choice. The words suggest a
free spirited joy and a lack of constraint now that his decision to
live by faith is made. To Kendall faith is “consummate,”
perfect, “visionary,” and “incorruptible” if one is willing
to take the “leap.” The word leap literally leaps off this page
and for a moment dominates the screen.
Now
the Fifth and final Movement attempts to bring closure to the poem,
but not to the possibilities of faith. The forth Movement seems to
drop words to the bottom of the page while musical notes play
playfully in the background. The word Faith that has appeared at the
top of every page floats down to rest on top of the fallen words.
Kendall's leap of faith was cushioned by his faith. The worries and
fears that prevented him from taking the final step are an important
part in the process of choosing to live a life that revolves around
faith because they ask for reflection and a personal awareness, two
components that are not always present in a life controlled by logic.
Logic to Kendal limits choices and does not embrace the
“full-bodied” joy that faith brings to the potential of life.
My
Reaction to “Faith”:
I
thoroughly enjoyed this piece. I experienced the piece over and
over, playing with my approach. The first time I read the piece, I
simply tried to get the sense of it. I barely noticed the sounds and
the word movements. I then let each page play out only to pause and
think about the final words on each page. I wrote down the words of
the Movements to help capture their meaning and to better understand
the connection between the Movements. I played the piece without
music and lost in that experience a bit of my enjoyment of the piece.
Ultimately, I was able to understand and appreciate the layering
effects of color, movement, and sound to the meaning of the piece as
a whole. Kendall truly captures the complexities surrounding the
choice to live by faith. The pitfalls that someone may argue as
risks and dangers become in this poem part of the joy and freshness
that comes with taking a leap of faith.
Sources:
- www.blog.setonhill.edu
- Electronic Book Review (www.electronicbookreview.com)
- Electronic Literature Knowledge Base (elmcip.net/knowledgebase)
- Robert Kendall's Home Page (www.wordcircuits.com/kendall)
Kendall's
Home Page contained several links to articles written by Kendall
himself. I found the articles very interesting because he explored
and answered some of the concerns and questions I have about
electronic literature.
No comments:
Post a Comment