Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
May 31, 2006 12:50 AM Subscribe
Here’s a nice display of the poem as ‘illuminated’ by Blake in different ways. And here’s a draft of the poem (in the lower right-hand section of the sheet). I couldn’t get the movie past my workplace’s firewall, alas.
posted by misteraitch at 3:14 AM on May 31, 2006
posted by misteraitch at 3:14 AM on May 31, 2006
I could not see the movie here at work. Might try to watch it at home. Years ago (1987) Tangerine Dream has released an album Tyger, based on the same poem. I even went to the bookshop to get hold of Songs Of Experience (no internet those days).
posted by RobHoi at 3:27 AM on May 31, 2006
posted by RobHoi at 3:27 AM on May 31, 2006
...and don't forget "The Stars My Destination!"
(I haven't watched the video yet... but that's another said poem inspired artwork)
posted by SmileyChewtrain at 4:05 AM on May 31, 2006
(I haven't watched the video yet... but that's another said poem inspired artwork)
posted by SmileyChewtrain at 4:05 AM on May 31, 2006
Blake was fucked up, and I say that without affection. I learned about him through Thomas Harris' "Red Dragon" and emerged more confused than I began, and not all too sure I cared to learn more. Can someone (succinctly) explain his brilliance to me, aside from starting the rap thing where you mispell other things? He was hardly the first acid-eater, but he was certainly among the most prolific of his age.
posted by Eideteker at 5:51 AM on May 31, 2006
posted by Eideteker at 5:51 AM on May 31, 2006
From the 'mispell other things' line, you're obviously taking the piss, Eideteker. But if you're really in any doubt about Blake's brilliance, get to the nearest library that holds his original manuscripts or prints. They're inextricbly linked to his poetry, but I prefer them: doubt anyone can look at his engravings and not be blown away.
posted by jack_mo at 6:22 AM on May 31, 2006
posted by jack_mo at 6:22 AM on May 31, 2006
While I appreciated the video, I failed to see what it had to do with the Blake poem--other than the letter "y."
the 'about' page explains this. the short was originally made for a Brazilian cultural expo of sorts; the only requirement for submissions is that they "should somehow reference British culture." 'Tyger' was a starting point. if parallel lines and easy connections are necessary for you to appreciate the relationship, perhaps poetry is not your thing.
in other news, that was a super sweet video, and a great excuse to go back to Blake for a while. nice link!
posted by carsonb at 7:05 AM on May 31, 2006
the 'about' page explains this. the short was originally made for a Brazilian cultural expo of sorts; the only requirement for submissions is that they "should somehow reference British culture." 'Tyger' was a starting point. if parallel lines and easy connections are necessary for you to appreciate the relationship, perhaps poetry is not your thing.
in other news, that was a super sweet video, and a great excuse to go back to Blake for a while. nice link!
posted by carsonb at 7:05 AM on May 31, 2006
if parallel lines and easy connections are necessary for you to appreciate the relationship, perhaps poetry is not your thing.
Don't be a jerk. Not getting the connection of the video to the poem doesn't mean you need "parallel lines and easy connections." Be honest now: if this video weren't called "Tyger," would you have made a connection to the poem? Then stop being so snide.
posted by languagehat at 7:12 AM on May 31, 2006
Don't be a jerk. Not getting the connection of the video to the poem doesn't mean you need "parallel lines and easy connections." Be honest now: if this video weren't called "Tyger," would you have made a connection to the poem? Then stop being so snide.
posted by languagehat at 7:12 AM on May 31, 2006
okay, i'll bite on the blake callout.
1. he invented his own style of print making which, long after his death, is considered one of the most revolutionary methods in the history of the craft.
2. he created an entire cosmogeny, fully realized to a level that tolkien admired and which outshines tolkien's own in terms of sheer breadth and depth.
3. he was a social activist of a type not often seen in his time period, in terms of his writing. poems such as tyger, the rose, and london were scathing criticisms of english social structure, political influence and religion. tyger, in particular, is a flat denial of the universal mercy and love that the new testament attributed to God. how could the God that created the lamb also create the tiger's "fearful symmetry?" stuff like that. the rose is, despite being short, a masterful depiction of the social and cultural shame all England shared in the VD epidemics running rampant in london's slums. on and on and on. there weren't people writing that way at the time. it was totally revolutionary, and inevitably ignored during his lifetime with the exception of a few devoted followers.
now, his later cultish stuff isn't my cup of tea, but it creates a vast and complicated parallel to the social and political life of england at the time that is extraordinarily difficult to understand, but which is all the more impressive once you've penetrated it some small amount. again, not my cup of tea, but i find it difficult not to respect it.
posted by shmegegge at 7:28 AM on May 31, 2006
1. he invented his own style of print making which, long after his death, is considered one of the most revolutionary methods in the history of the craft.
2. he created an entire cosmogeny, fully realized to a level that tolkien admired and which outshines tolkien's own in terms of sheer breadth and depth.
3. he was a social activist of a type not often seen in his time period, in terms of his writing. poems such as tyger, the rose, and london were scathing criticisms of english social structure, political influence and religion. tyger, in particular, is a flat denial of the universal mercy and love that the new testament attributed to God. how could the God that created the lamb also create the tiger's "fearful symmetry?" stuff like that. the rose is, despite being short, a masterful depiction of the social and cultural shame all England shared in the VD epidemics running rampant in london's slums. on and on and on. there weren't people writing that way at the time. it was totally revolutionary, and inevitably ignored during his lifetime with the exception of a few devoted followers.
now, his later cultish stuff isn't my cup of tea, but it creates a vast and complicated parallel to the social and political life of england at the time that is extraordinarily difficult to understand, but which is all the more impressive once you've penetrated it some small amount. again, not my cup of tea, but i find it difficult not to respect it.
posted by shmegegge at 7:28 AM on May 31, 2006
fair enough. my apologies to sourwookie for being a jerk. and thanks to languagehat for keeping me in line. peace.
posted by carsonb at 7:32 AM on May 31, 2006
posted by carsonb at 7:32 AM on May 31, 2006
Its always bothered me how "eye" and "symmetry" just don't rhyme.
posted by 6am at 9:22 AM on May 31, 2006
posted by 6am at 9:22 AM on May 31, 2006
I thought the video was excellent; it managed to use photomontage and graffiti-styled characters in a seamless and cohesive way that didn't try my patience. And the tiger was gorgeous.
posted by beerbajay at 12:45 PM on May 31, 2006
posted by beerbajay at 12:45 PM on May 31, 2006
I loved this video--every time I watch it the more interesting things I see. Blake? Perhaps represented by irresistible and unforgiving forces, and definitely by the joy of its creation and existence; "parallel lines" become hugely irrelevant. (No offense meant.)
posted by ancientgower at 4:33 PM on May 31, 2006
posted by ancientgower at 4:33 PM on May 31, 2006
tellurian, thanks for the link. Always loved that evocative poem. As a child I scared-enjoyed the image of the tiger in the forest of the night and as an adult savored the poet's wonder. A couple of weeks ago I stopped by at the Metropolitan Museum and saw Blake's exquisite, powerful paintings. I love his Pity, circa 1797.
posted by nickyskye at 10:30 PM on May 31, 2006
posted by nickyskye at 10:30 PM on May 31, 2006
« Older What does John Solomon have against Harry Reid? | Eco World Challenge Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by sourwookie at 1:19 AM on May 31, 2006