Heres a virtual movie of WH Auden reading his much loved poem "Musee des Beaux Arts"
W.H. Auden's best known poem 'Musee des Beaux Arts' is about the reaction of people to the suffering of other ...
Heres a virtual movie of WH Auden reading his much loved poem "Musee des Beaux Arts"
W.H. Auden's best known poem 'Musee des Beaux Arts' is about the reaction of people to the suffering of other persons and the relation of art to human response to suffering. The poem makes a reference to the mythological character Icarus who falls to the ocean after the wax wings made by his father Daedalus melt, and who subsequently drowns. 'Musee des Beaux Arts' and its portrayal of human apathy to suffering, the physical universe and redemptive death are evaluated.
Jim Clark All rights are reserved on this video recording copyright Jim Clark 2008
Musee des Beaux Arts W.H. Auden About suffering they were never wrong, The Old Masters; how well, they understood Its human position; how it takes place While someone else is eating or opening a window or just walking dully along; How, when the aged are reverently, passionately waiting For the miraculous birth, there always must be Children who did not specially want it to happen, skating On a pond at the edge of the wood: They never forgot That even the dreadful martyrdom must run its course Anyhow in a corner, some untidy spot Where the dogs go on with their doggy life and the torturer's horse Scratches its innocent behind on a tree. In Breughel's Icarus, for instance: how everything turns away Quite leisurely from the disaster; the ploughman may Have heard the splash, the forsaken cry, But for him it was not an important failure; the sun shone As it had to on the white legs disappearing into the green Water; and the expensive delicate ship that must have seen Something amazing, a boy falling out of the sky, had somewhere to get to and sailed calmly on.
Like to rate videos and let people know what you think?
Automatically share your ratings, favorites, and more on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Reader with YouTube Autoshare.
Autoshare makes certain YouTube activities public on the services you choose. Select only the services you are comfortable with - like Facebook, Twitter, or Google Reader - to let your friends know what you like on YouTube. You can turn Autoshare off at any time.
Like to share videos with friends?
Automatically share your ratings, favorites, and more on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Reader with YouTube Autoshare.
Autoshare makes certain YouTube activities public on the services you choose. Select only the services you are comfortable with - like Facebook, Twitter, or Google Reader - to let your friends know what you like on YouTube. You can turn Autoshare off at any time.
The inspiration for this poem probably came after visting the Museum of Fine Arts in Brussels, Belgium as it is there that this famous painting is on exhibit.
Autoshare makes certain YouTube activities public on the services you choose. Select only the services you are comfortable with - like Facebook, Twitter, or Google Reader - to let your friends know what you like on YouTube. You can turn Autoshare off at any time.