I'm ready!

Class on 5/17/12

So yesterday's class really freaked me out. I wasn't worried or scared about traveling until we had this "talk" about all the formalities, procedures and emergency plans. For the first time, our trip actually felt real to me. I'm not very scared about traveling ever, but to hear all the information regarding emergencies... got me really thinking! However, I am glad we're all well-versed in what to do in case of emergencies.

Although class kind of freaked me out, realizing how close we are to traveling made me very excited. I can't wait until next Monday, but I feel like I have A LOT to do and buy. Anybody want to help? :(

ROME: AT THE PYRAMID OF CESTIUS NEAR THE GRAVES OF SHELLEY AND KEATS (1887)

So... he doesn’t know anything about Cestius and he didn’t mean anything to him, until he died and left the pyramid where two of his friends are buried. In this poem, Cestius and the pyramid were meaningless until then. The poem suggests that his death and bringing of the pyramid was a “kindlier” thing than him being alive, which I guess is sort of harsh, but then again, a lot of monuments, buildings, etc. are named after dead people, or left by people after their death. In class, Dr. Weber mentioned that today most music is poetry, not prose and asked us to think of our favorite song and contemplate if it was poetry or prose. I listen to music constantly and yeah, all of it is poetry. 

Response to film on 5/15/12

Much to my surprise, this film actually intrigued me. Unfortunately, I was extremely tired in class, but just seeing Rome and the people interacting awakened me. I became extremely excited for our trip and found myself smiling during the whole film. I think my favorite part of the film was all the footage of the churches and the Vatican. I’m extremely interested in that part of Rome and the religious aspect of it, as I live religious history, and I can’t wait to see it all myself. The sculptures, the paintings, architecture in the churches and the Vatican… all seem so amazing. Also, I was super hungry in class and the food in the film was making my mouth water. :)

ROME: BUILDING A NEW STREET IN THE ANCIENT QUARTER (April, 1887)

I imagined dead buildings, piles of marble and rock. Obviously, buildings are not living creatures, however for some reason, this poem made them seem as though they were once alive. Reading further into the poem, I realize that it’s more about building something new, something “frail” atop of old ruins. I don’t think the term “frail” was used in a negative way, but just in the sense that it’s new and therefore, not as strong as what the building, or even Rome, once was. 

ROME: ON THE PALATINE

At first, when reading this poem, I was left bewildered. However, after breaking down the stanzas, I slowly started to visualize the ruins of a building, statues and architectural masterpieces in Rome. Although the buildings are now ruins, they are still enchanting and beautiful all the same. With the description of the music playing, the visualization of the ruins became more real.