|
Comment 2 of 2, added on June 1st, 2006 at 4:42 AM.
Actually, at a recent lecture I attended by Andrew Motion and, more insightfully, James Booth, professor of English at the University of Hull, he said that this particular poem is an example of what he termed 'Anti-irony.'
This is due to the fact Booth interprets Larkin's voice as one full of admiration and quiet optimism for people in this poem. Larkin's voice conveys a sense of admiration for people striving for the perfection the advertisement industry portrays, but laments the fact that, inevitably, they will never be able to obtain it.
Therefore, although on first evaluation of the poem one might think that the title is merely ironic, on re-evaluation, it appears that, after all, the title appears more apt than previously thought.
A beautiful poem if you choose to interpret it in this light; well, a beautiful poem nonetheless, but it adds a greater sense of poignancy for me.
Walker from United Kingdom
Comment 1 of 2, added on March 30th, 2006 at 9:10 AM.
I think this poem has a great deal of relevance in our modern age and I'm surprised that nobody has commented on it yet. Larkin has highlighted the disparity between the world portrayed in advertising and the world of it's victims who live in poverty. Published in 1962 but we've got pensioners scrimping by, smokers dying, and a young man vomiting in a pub. These are all social problems that have only worsened in the intervening years, as advertising has become ever more prevelant.
Kat from United Kingdom
|
Copyright © 2003-2008 Gunnar Bengtsson, Poetry Connection. All Rights Reserved.
Actually, at a recent lecture I attended by Andrew Motion and, more insightfully, James Booth, professor of English at the University of Hull, he said that this particular poem is an example of what he termed 'Anti-irony.'
This is due to the fact Booth interprets Larkin's voice as one full of admiration and quiet optimism for people in this poem. Larkin's voice conveys a sense of admiration for people striving for the perfection the advertisement industry portrays, but laments the fact that, inevitably, they will never be able to obtain it.
Therefore, although on first evaluation of the poem one might think that the title is merely ironic, on re-evaluation, it appears that, after all, the title appears more apt than previously thought.
A beautiful poem if you choose to interpret it in this light; well, a beautiful poem nonetheless, but it adds a greater sense of poignancy for me.
Walker from United Kingdom