EN280 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Bear Family Records, Haida Gwaii, Unilineality
Document Summary
Great position of power, yet vulnerable at the same time. Two of the finest poets to have ever lived in north america. Blind, crippled- lots of time tot think through the myths. Language not written, oral- spoken and heard. Arises in and from a well established literary culture- follows a generally known series of conventions, standards, familiar forms, norms- well-known to both artist and audience. Characters and episodes are so familiar to the audience the literary artist need to sketch them fleetingly, mention them briefly (sometimes by gesture or attribute- not even by name) Individual artist always makes some original contribution to established narrative forms/conventions- a demanding tradition. Material culture (poles, blankets, boxes) deploy same conventions. A pantheon- an assemblage of gods (important people) Subtle, reserved, economical- power cloaked in extraordinary reserve, reticence, humility (this is the classical character) Don"t confess" emotions overtly- express them through character and events. Bill reid: the spirit of haida gwaii .
