Michael Dransfield: A poet you can feel, but never truly understand.
During a time of great change, both ideally and physically, in Australian history, a young man by the name of Michael Dransfield made his presence known in the highly evolving scene of poetry. Dransfield was an eccentric character, to say the least, and was recognized for his masterful ability of truly capturing the essence of many of life’s situations. Regardless of the “heaviness” or the difficulties of the subject matter being portrayed throughout his poetry, Dransfield was mentally equipped to fully encompass any life experience and dawn light on some of its “eternal truths” in the world. Although he tragically died of a heroin overdose in 1973 (he was 24 years old), Dransfield made a lasting impression on Australian poetry; never to be forgotten and to be forever considered “one of the foremost poets of the ’68 generation of counter-cultural dreamers” (Chan, 2002).
Throughout his brief existence on this earth, Dransfield was able to produce an extensive body of work that ranged from the human act of “loving” to the dreadful experience of having a drug overdose. His work is “framed within the literary construct of the ‘Generation of ’68’” because it undeniably challenged the “literary status quo” during that period of time, and he “overwhelmed it with sheer talent” (Kinsella, 2002). Dransfield was innovative, unique, and was seen as somewhat a “global poet, and something of a prophet” (Kinsella, 2002). He existed during a time where poets were more inclined to avoid any mention of what they really did ( in the drug using sense), taking refuge in the socially accepted subject of football, rather than confronting the challenges associated with drug use. Dransfield had no such inhibitions, he was the “quintessential drug poet” in Australian literary history, and it was through his drug usage—both the beauty and the destruction of it—that Dransfield was able to fully let his talent and generosity shine for all to see. He blazed the new trails for all those that were to follow him, and successfully created a place for the “authentic experience” in the realm of poetry.
It is a shame that it took such a personal tragedy “for [Dransfield] to engage so definitively with the experience of addiction…in such an astonishingly short time” (Armand, 1997). His work can only be marveled at and admired for its “richly cosmopolitan tone, its urgent sense of possibility, its sheer ‘cannibal energy’, and its persistent attempt to resolve difficult emotional problems” (Armand, 1997).
‘Sometimes Gladness’, a collection of poems by Bruce Dawe presents various references to Australian culture; although these can often be overlooked by the reader, due to more prominent themes relating to the human experience, which engages and preoccupies the reader instead. ‘Drifters’ and the ‘Reverie of a Swimmer’ can be easily recognised as Australian, however, these poems amongst others like ‘Homecoming’, ‘Enter Without so much as Knocking’ and ‘LifeCycle’ also aim to address and engage a larger audience to consider universal issues like grief, isolation and loss. Lastly, a distinct Australian poem would only be expected to explore issues relating to the country’s individual culture or issues, though Dawe chooses to represent many prevalent
Poetry’s role is evaluated according to what extent it mirrors, shapes and is reshaped by historical events. In the mid-19th century, some critics viewed poetry as “an expression of the poet’s personality, a manifestation of the poet’s intuition and of the social and historical context which shaped him” ( Preminger, Warnke, Hardison 511). Analysis of the historical, social, political and cultural events at a certain time helps the reader fully grasp a given work. The historical approach is necessary in order for given allusions to be situated in their social, political and cultural background. In order to escape intentional fallacy, a poet should relate his work to universal
Donald Bruce Dawe (AO) was a one of the most influential Australian poets of all time whom challenged readers with his strong moralistic messages throughout his work. During Dawe’s childhood, he moved throughout Melbourne while his father sought employment. He worked as a postman, lecturer, teacher, and was enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force, all as well as being a successful writer and poet. His life experiences are prevalent in his writing, where his moralistic and powerful views encourage deep interpretation and reevaluation. Dawe’s poem “Enter Without So Much As Knocking” challenges the themes of materialism and consumerism in a cynical manner. The piece draws focus to society’s conformity to such things, and our ideas as to what is important. “Drifters,” another of Dawe’s works, focuses on transience of life, looking at a family who constantly move around and struggle with the uncertainty of their future. “The Raped Girl’s Father,” one of Dawe’s stronger poems, powerfully argues society’s view of rape and specifically rape victims. The piece draws attention to the vulnerability that victims have as a result of judgment from those around them.
With reference to three poems studied so far discuss how Larkin presents the theme of illusion and reality.
Weir and Kesey explore the struggle for independence through how the setting changes as the plots of the two texts progress. In Dead Poet Society
Satel tells us, “While theoretically anyone can become an addict, it is more likely the fate of some” (1). Amongst those in that category are women who were
David Sheff’s memoir, Beautiful Boy, revolves around addiction, the people affected by addiction, and the results of addiction. When we think of the word addiction, we usually associate it with drugs or alcohol. By definition, addiction is an unusually great interest in something or a need to do or have something (“Addiction”). All throughout the memoir, we are forced to decide if David Sheff is a worried father who is fearful that his son, Nic Sheff’s, addiction will kill him or if he is addicted to his son’s addiction. Although many parents would be worried that their son is an addict, David Sheff goes above and beyond to become involved in his son’s life and relationship with methamphetamine, making him an addict to his son’s addiction.
Religion is not just a collaboration of spiritual ideas and writings from ancient books. Religion has become more than just that within our modern society. Some have went as far as to say that religion is the ultimate drive; that guides our human emotions, our actions, and even to some our very own existence. Though religion can be considered a broad topic, there are rooted ideas and concepts that almost all spiritual beliefs entail. Any person with some religious drive will ultimately face their own inner resistance at one point or another, and will be forced to overcome the profane world in which they live to understand the more spiritual and sacred life they choose to lead. These revelations within ones spiritual journey allow personal transformations to occur; resulting in greater religious understandings within their own lives.
Have you ever heard, “You only have one chance to make a first impression?” Now, whether you choose to be yourself or you choose to be who you thought someone wanted you to be, a conscientious decision was made. Presenting who we would like others to believe we are is self-presentation (Gilovich, Keltner, & Nisbett, 2011). Now answer another question for me, under the correct circumstances, do you think that everyone has the ability to lie about information or details about themselves?
Unlike writers such as Edgar Allen Poe, Longfellow’s poems were “overly optimistic and sentimental” (Kinsella 256). He stood out amongst any other writer of his time. While most authors wrote dark, gothic works and stories, Longfellow’s were happy, positive and encouraging due to his wonderful childhood. He was inspired by his hometown, Portland, the sea, poets like Sir Walter Scott and Samuel Rogers, literature and music were all inspirations to him (Arvin 8/9). These parts of his childhood along with the new, exciting ideas of Romanticism are what shaped Longfellow’s style of writing. This is what drew in his audience because his poems were relatable and were written from the heart. Even though Longfellow went through some hard times with the loss of two wives and suffering from vertigo and peritonitis, he never allowed these complications affect his writing or his calmness (Kunitz 5). His control over his mind and body helped create some of the most beloved p...
I believe that throughout this investigation, the heart rate of the people of the people I will be experimenting on will speed up and rise to a very fast pace. I also think that although the heart rate is bound to increase, the pulse will eventually reach its maximum acceleration and stay steady after a long period of exercising. I do not believe that will be the result in my experiment for a main reason that the longest period of time people will be exercising in is 2.5 minutes, which is not long enough to get the heart rate at its maximum speed of acceleration.
Best Buy opened it’s doors in 1966 by the name of “Sound of Music”, it wasn’t until 1986 that it proceeded to change it’s name to what it is recognized today. Best Buy is the top retailer in the nation’s (USA) consumer electronic retail industry. What makes Best Buy unique is that they sell electronics and appliances used for home and office, they provide customer service and business support through their Geek Squad Technical Support System, and they offer major tech brands and their products such as Apple and Windows in house. According to The New York Times, the computer and electronics industry consists of companies engaged in the retailing of computers and peripherals, consumer electronics and other technology products. The industry includes household appliances, audio and video equipment, consumer software, digital cameras, cell phones and components and other electronic goods.” Like many top leaders, Best Buy has not been immune to issues in regards to maintaining its status in the market. Some of the issues the company faces include, loss in stock value, loosing the retention of it’s customers, and being out-competed by e-commerce companies in the same industry such as, Amazon. All of this can be classified as a marketing problem Best Buy faces.
Rothenberg, Jerome and Pierre Joris, eds. Poems for the Millennium: The University of California Book of Modern and Postmodern Poetry, Vol. 2. Berkeley: University of California, 1998.
Counselors and researchers differ in their opinions regarding the use of self-disclosure. Some consider it a means to establishing a more effective relationship with patients, especially those from “diverse backgrounds or alternate lifestyles”(Nyman p.269) While others view counselor self-disclosure as having “potentially hazardous patient outcomes” (Nyman p.270). They argue self- disclosure by the counselor “can burden the client with too much information and have a negative effect on the self exploration of the client”(Nyman, p. 270). They also claim counselor self-disclosure may have the potential to cause the client to lose his perceived sense of safety and trust in the counselor and in an extreme case, result in iatrogenesis by causing the client to recall a traumatic situation suffered in the past and ”jeopardize the counseling outcome” (Nyman, p. 270).
According to the journal “These differences in identifying therapist self-disclosures may be of importance in the evaluation of their impact on treatment. For example, theoretical concerns about therapist self-discloser have emphasized the risk of shifting the focus of therapy away from the client. However when therapist self-disclose, are in direct response to comparable client disclosers the presumed risk of alerting the focus of treatment is likely to reduced”.