The use of the word ambiguity in art, esp. poetry, is to call attention to the multiple interpretations evoked by an image or allusion, phrase, or word. It does not specify vagueness. While the word ambiguity can be properly used to denote vagueness, in poetry it simply means many, as with layers. The arguments below miss that point. WC
--- On Thu, 9/4/08, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: Inspirations and intentions > To: [email protected] > Date: Thursday, September 4, 2008, 8:57 AM > Chris writes: > > " I'm not sure that clarity vs. ambiguity is > relevant to any of this -- if we > accept that clarity is just a momentary failure to > recognize ambiguity" > > Certainly if anyone thinks any work of art, or any > utterance at all, is > "perfectly clear" he is failing to recognize > ambiguity in this sense: He > doesn't > realize no two viewers contemplating the same work will be > entertaining the > exact same notion. > > But Chris appears not to appreciate that both clarity and > ambiguity are a > matter of degree. Every work of art is a composite of many > bits ("No work is > ever > just a single work.") I want many of my bits to be as > clear as I can make > them, and I want other bits to tremble with ambiguity. If > it's important that > viewers realize that Jack was in jail last year, or that > Jill's current > ostensible terminal illness is real and not faked, I'll > work to make those > "facts" > clear. But there are other times -- for example, as a > character utters a > certain > line of dialog -- when I want viewers asking themselves, > "I wonder what he > meant by that. Did he meanb&?" or "Does he > really believe what he just > said?" > > The distinction between the two is not irrelevant to the > notions the writer's > work is occasioning, and his ability to recognize when a > moment demands > clarity and when not is often essential to whether or not > he has the effect he > wants. > > > > ************** > It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find > your travel > deal here. > > (http://information.travel.aol.com/deals?ncid=aoltrv00050000000047)
