Life Writing

UMass Boston Blog by Patricia Polednia

About Scaffolds, Delft and Red Shoes

Another week has passed with readings about essays. I have to admit that I still cannot really understand why the D’Agata readings are supposed to be essays. My confusion might be related to the very broad and vague definition of the term essay. According to Adorno, the essay does not obey and rules of theory and conceptual method. It consists of the intellectual experience of the author and his personal memory, and has a high level of abstraction as well as a wide field of subjects to write about.  In contrast to Adorno’s explanation what an essay is not, Huxley distinctly states what he thinks an essay is: “[…] the essay is a literary device foe saying almost everything about almost anything. By tradition, almost by definition, the essay is a short piece, and is therefore impossible to give all things full play within the limits of a single essay.” (Huxley: 88). This is the first definition which resembles my idea of what an essay should look like. He also goes a step further and divides the essay into three poles: the personal (autobiographical), objective (factual) and universal (abstract). To distinguish these three types and therefore the purpose of writing the essay makes sense to me. It’s also rational to claim that “the most richly satisfying essay” (Huxley: 90) is a mixture of all three poles. I can work with that.

In my opinion, the essays from D’Agata’s anthology experiment with the open form of the essay, in order to express the author’s emotions connected to a certain event of his or her past. The language is very poetic and the writing seems more like a piece of art than an essay. The purpose of these writings is to express one topic or idea in many different formal concepts; starting from one point (usually the title) and elaborating on the idea to anything the author associates with that topic. Goldbarth writes about Delft and everyone and everything he relates with the city, in this case Antonie van Leeuwenhoek and Jan Vermeer (as well as fleas, sex and the plague). Griffin writes about red shoes her grandmother gave to her, which turns out to be a lie. Intertwined with the memory of her past is the discourse about gender differences, sexuality and child abuse; everything the author experienced in her childhood. Mitchell, for example, chooses numbered paragraphs to tell her story about scaffolds, but she quickly evolves her subjects to the idea of falling of a building, and later to the Mount Vesuvius discourse. Besides talking about her journey through Italy, she talks about the creative process of producing art and the power of dreaming and imagination. All these subjects doesn’t seem to relate to each other at first, but you could clearly see Mitchells chain of thoughts while reading the story. Her essay is a travel journal, consisting of her personal memories (observation of scaffold in Italy), reference to historical facts (volcano eruption) and high amount of abstract ideas, relating in the broad sense with the main idea of scaffolding.

While writing this blog post, I just realize that this is exactly what Huxley said. But you get so much information and details in these essays (fiction, truth, memory) that I am starting to wonder if it is really the best to mix all three poles, for the sake of the reader’s comprehension.

14 Comments

  1. I enjoyed this essay so much that I completely forgot about my assignment. I am graduating this year and I need help with capstone project to summarize. But I’m afraid I can’t do it on my own. So it is better if qualified professionals help me in this matter.

  2. The hosting of these sessions and discussions highlights the unique role of the Risk Institute in bringing together industry leaders, academics and highly respected practitioners in an ongoing dialogue to improve the understanding and evolution of risk management.
    This is an interesting topic and I included it in my doctoral research proposal. Experts of the resource research proposal online provided individual service at each stage of preparation of the doctoral research.

  3. Michael A. Lake

    October 23, 2023 at 8:37 am

    Patricia’s exploration of the essay form, particularly through the lens of Adorno and Huxley, is thought-provoking. The way she dissects the writings from D’Agata’s anthology, emphasizing their poetic nature and the blend of fiction, truth, and memory, resonates deeply with me. On a related note, I’ve been working on a programming research paper about the digital evolution of literary forms. I’ve been considering using https://writemyessays.com/capstone-paper.html for some expert insights. Has anyone here tried their services? And for fellow literature enthusiasts, how do you perceive the boundaries of the essay form in the digital age?

  4. Essay ghostwriting http://www.baydue.com refers to the practice of hiring someone else, often a professional writer, to write an essay on your behalf. These services promise well-researched, impeccably written essays tailored to the student’s needs. While the allure of easing academic stress is evident, the ethical implications cannot be ignored.

  5. meeloun education

    December 7, 2023 at 8:33 am

    了解管理学网课代修 http://www.northessay.com/product/humanities/18.html 服务的写手团队,看看他们是否有专业的写手,并确保写手有相关领域的经验和资质。

  6. While exploring the quaint city of Delft, I couldn’t help but notice the intricate scaffolding that lines the canals, a testament to the city’s constant growth and renewal. It reminds me of the importance of structure and collaboration in all our endeavors, including our efforts to protect the environment. Like the bold red shoes that caught my eye at the local market, standing out against the backdrop of traditional Delft blue pottery, we need to take bold steps in technology. The concept of Going Green with Tech: Eco-friendly E-waste Recycling Methods is one such development towards sustainability. It’s not just about recycling; It’s about rethinking our approach to technology. From the way we design our devices to the end of their life cycle, every step must be designed with the environment in mind. Let’s take inspiration from Delft’s harmonious mix of old and new and apply it to your tech, turning e-waste into opportunities for innovation and a greener future.

  7. At Tutorstiq we are passionate about helping students achieve their academic goals. Our experienced tutors provide personalized support to help students overcome challenges and develop the skills they need to succeed.

  8. Assignmentmavens reviews are your trusted partner for premium essay writing services. Our expert team is dedicated to enhancing your academic journey by providing customized, plagiarism-free essays tailored to your requirements. We pride ourselves on punctuality and confidentiality, ensuring your academic success is both seamless and stress-free. With AssignmentMavens, you can confidently tackle your essay challenges and excel in your studies.

  9. sewa mobil banyuwangi

    June 16, 2024 at 4:13 am

    sewa mobil banyuwangi. Sewa mobil banyuwangi

  10. EduHelpersNow provides reliable online services to help college students with their academics. Get your content organized, edited and formatted as per your academic demands at affordable rates. https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/eduhelpersnow-tips-to-become-an-outstanding-writer/255638784

  11. All experts at essaybeam are uniquely qualified to provide perfect solutions for your writing, editing and proofreading problems. You can count on us to ensure quality and timely deliveries as we progress.

  12. Challenge yourself with many levels of difficulty in Friday Night Funkin.

  13. 虽然很多代写机构声称可以提供高质量的学术论文,但实际情况往往与宣传大相径庭。一些代写机构雇佣的代写人员并非真正的学术专家,他们可能没有深入研究过相关领域,甚至连基本的论文格式和引用规范都无法掌握。这些代写的论文通常质量低劣,缺乏原创性和学术深度,容易被导师或学校的查重系统识别为抄袭。更为严重的是,由于代写 http://australiaway.org/a/assignmentdaixie/ 人员与学生之间缺乏直接沟通,很多代写的内容往往与学生所学习的课程内容不符,甚至完全脱节。这不仅会导致论文不及格,还会引发导师对学生学术能力的质疑,影响到学生在学校中的学术声誉。

  14. What a captivating read! The connection between Delft and red shoes beautifully illustrates how objects can carry deep meanings. It’s a reminder of the stories we hold dear. For anyone struggling with their own narratives, online buy assignments can provide great support. Thanks for sharing such insightful reflections!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

*

© 2024 Life Writing

Theme by Anders NorenUp ↑

Skip to toolbar