Petrarch... I see you will be out of town and lacking internet connections for the holiday. Enjoy! When you return perhaps you can get around to a discussion concerning Chaucer )I know your specialty is Renaissance literature). I've been recently perusing a book by Terry Jones (a medievalist of Monty Python fame) and several academics entitled, "Who Murdered Chaucer?" It makes no supposition or claim to fact... but throws out some interesting questions and possibilities concerning Chaucer's demise. The central thesis is that Chaucer met his end during the upheaval that ensued involving the usurping of the throne by Henry IV. It intriguingly points out the virtual silence concerning Chaucer's death... in spite of his stature... as well as the near disappearance of his work from circulation following his death... in spite of his reputation. I personally had long wondered about how Chaucer has no real immediate heir... unlike Dante/Petrarch/Boccaccio... or even Spenser later. If you have read the book... any thoughts? If not... I'll throw a few points your way and perhaps we might discuss. Anyway... enjoy the holiday! (Which you hopefully will have done by the time you read this.)
Ah, Japanese! I was guessing Chinese because a friend of mine in college tried to teach me a little Chinese calligraphy at one point and I thought I remembered her saying there was a more flowing cursive-like sort of script as well as the more block letter look, but then her English was none too good and my Chinese non-existent, so I may have been confused and she was talking about Japanese scripts. Anyway, thanks for the bit of history on Japanese calligraphy. I've always really admired Japanese art. The AI in Chicago has a great collection of Japanese woodblock prints that they circulate regularly, and I could spend all day in that room. However, I know almost nothing about most Eastern Art in terms of the history, the techniques, or the names of major artists, styles and movements. One of the courses I really wish I had had time to take as undergrad is a good survey of Eastern Art. Instead I'll just have to pick things up as they come for now and sit down to do some serious reading up on the subject one day when I have more time for extra study...or hang around here and let your posts do the teaching for me. Incidently, I have been getting into watching some Japanese cinema lately, and came across a little gem of the silent era called "The Dragon Painter" that, while produced in the U.S., was made with a nearly all Japanese cast and director. The lead/director is Sessue Hayakawa (most famous later for playing the Japanese general in The Bridge on the River Kwai) and it's quite a charming little tale about art and love and inspiration. I think you might enjoy given your current interests in Eastern art and culture and it's easily available on Netflix. For 1919, it's also a beautifully filmed piece with some great early footage of Yosemite National Park (which, since it hadn't been as intensively photographed as today, was no doubt a plausible stand in then for the mountains of Japan where the story is set).
Hi St. Luke's. Like the layout around here. Great background. What language is that? I was going to guess Arabic at first, but then I didn't think that was usually written vertically, so now I'm guessing Chinese? Is it a particular poem or other text you like, or purely decorative calligraphy? Either way, everything ties together nicely.
No friends yet Petrarch? The lonely academic? Of course in a little over a week I'll have no time for friends as I have to face the lil' buggers again.
