A Crazy World Indeed

The poem "All Watched Over By Machines Of Loving Grace" can be interpreted in many ways. Two views that can be derived from its passages is either a pro-technology view, or an anti-technology view.
     It can be said that the author of the poem had an anti-technology view when his tone is considered to be one of a sarcastic nature. The lines "and the sooner the better" and "right now, please!" can come across as a mockery of the benefits of a technologically advanced society. When nature and the cybernetic world are said to one day coexist, it sounds slightly odd, even oxymoronic, because not only are the two groups complete opposites of one another, but the definition of cybernetics is the mechanical and electrical replacement of human control and functions. Thus, the two would, by nature, oppose one another and prove that their coexistence is near impossible. I feel that the author stated that it is indeed possible to make one think about how ridiculous the notion truly is and encourage their perspective to evolve into an anti-technological view.
     When reading the very same poem, it can become apparent that the author has a pro-technology view if it is assumed that each and every word is genuine, rather than sarcastic, and that the vision of a harmonic bio-electric world is authentic. The lines " where we are free from our labors and joined back to nature, returned to our mammal brothers and sisters, and all watched  over by machines of loving grace" would be the innermost aspirations of the hopeful author and valid evidence of his true intentions of what image he wishes for the world around him to bear. The lines may also convey the message that near impossible relationships are possible, so long as they are wished for and envisioned.
     I think that the anit-technology read is much more convincing, by far, than the pro-technology read. This is purely based upon the degree to which one is capable of analyzing and dissecting said poem, of course. I personally feel that although the author's tone may be translated as hopeful, on a superficial level, it will be revealed as sarcastic and mock the actual question of whether machines and nature could coexist, especially if the latter is to eventually become dominant. It seems that everything that is said through the angle of a pro-technology reader is described in such a way that it falsely invites such a change in life in order to make the ludicrous statements obviously ridiculous.

Casabianca

     Casabianca is a poem, written by Felicia Dorothea Hemens, that is saturated with vivid images of the story that lay behind the words. I felt that three major images that reoccured throughout the poem, and ultimately helped to piece together not only the storyline but the intimate emotions of the characters themselves, are: the boy's form, his shouts for his father, and the flames/ burning deck. The boy's form was an interesting twist early on because I originally began reading the poem under the impression that the main character would be a typical burly, rugged, intimidating lumberjack on a courageous journey. However, the fact that he is announced as a "boy" that was in the midst of a burning wasteland quickly eliminated any chances of a happily ever after. Seeing as to how it is a young boy and not a man helped to inspire sympathy and heartbreak from the reader. It made me personally assume that he was helpless and that he was alone. The fact that this youth constantly called out to his father not for help, but to fulfill his duties to the fullest extent, " Speak father, must I stay?" combined flawlessly to switch the scene from a lost child on the battlefield, to a soldier defending his country with honor. Rather than calling out for help and running for the hills, but asking for his father's permission to leave his post enforces the image of a true brave soul that this boy really is. Lastly, the flames and burning of the land add in the final touch of the overall scheme of things, which is the ultimate sacrifice. "The flame that lit the battle's wreck shone round him o'er the dead" creates a magnificent scene of death and destruction surrounding the main character and amplifies the mood vastly once the young soldier offers his own life as a sacrifice, rather than abandon his responsibilities. The flames brought to life not only the dying land surrounding our hero, but his undying love for his father's authority and command.  All three of these visual components utilized imagery flawlessly and blended superbly into one titanic scene of a boy, shouting for his father, amidst a background of flames.

Reading the "Tone" in my voice

The reason that I chose for this particular title to represent all that my blog stands for is because of the many denotations of the word "Tone". Tone is not only my nickname and short for Antonio, but it is also a musical term that is defined as any sound with reference to it's quality, pitch, strength and source, as well as a literary term defined as a particular quality, way of sounding, modulation, or intonation of the voice as expressive of some meaning, feeling and spirit. These additional meaning relate to my blog in the sense that both relate to one's own interpretation of life and our emotional connection to the environment around us. A major factor of music is the skill of improvisation. This relies heavily not only the talent of the performer, but their inner passion and emotions. I have been a jazz musician for about 8 years of my life and have experienced first-hand the amazing privilege of speaking from your heart through the notes of your instrument.  Also, the tone of a character or their persona portrays their feelings and emotional connection towards a specific topic. The perspective of a person can be interpreted much more accurately through not so much their words, but the manner in which they say the words.  All of these components combine to create a major part of who I am as a person, which is a charismatic, out outgoing extrovert and this will most likely be reflected in my blog posts and writing. My blog will be a window into both who I am and what I believe about the world around us.