Shall I Compare Thee to Rihanna???
"How could someone so talented be so blind, so arrogant, so bigoted?" Foster, How to Read Literature Like a Professor; Chapter 25, page 233.
Foster made this statement in regard to Ezra Pound. According to Foster, Pound's work, The Cantos, includes "...some very ugly views of Jewish culture and Jewish people (233)." Foster used the extreme Anti-semitism of this work to suggest that while the reader should not read with his or her own eyes, the work can ask too much of the reader at times. In addition to the quote I chose to examine, Foster went on to say, "the more time I spend with [Ezra Pound], the more I am astonished by his capacity for folly. It's unfortunate that genius was harnessed to someone who may not have worn it well (233)." Upon reading this passage, I was immediately reminded of the unfortunate circumstances that have befallen Rihanna. I am sure everyone is aware of the incident that occurred between Rihanna and Chris Brown, so I will not include the details here. But the point of similarity in this case is the view of Rihanna's response to the situation. Because Rihanna is famous, society and the media expected her to leave Brown and be a role model to women worldwide. According to current statistics, 1 in 3 young women have experienced violence in a relationship (http://www.acadv.org/dating.html). But what society and the media need to remember is that Rihanna is merely famous for being a talented singer, but beyond that she is just like any other young girl. Such is the case with Foster being shocked at Ezra Pound's folly; we may not agree with his views, but we should not hold him to higher standards than any other human being because he is a talented writer. And what human being does not exhibit folly in some sense or manner? Similar to Rihanna, Pound is very talented, but beyond that talent he is just like you and I.
Do you think Pound's talent is inconsistent with these views? Do you agree that society's view of Rihanna's response is similar to Foster's view of Pound's beliefs? Or should a talented writer not invest in such ideas, and be a role model to readers? Sould writers be held to higher standards when it comes to folly?
http://jerz.setonhill.edu/EL267/2009/03/foster_how_to_read_literature_5/
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Alyssa Sanow on Shall I Compare Thee to Rihanna???: I agree with Rosalind that oft
Alicia Campbell on Shall I Compare Thee to Rihanna???: I am pretty sure Ezra Pound is
Aja Hannah on Shall I Compare Thee to Rihanna???: I agree. And I like your good
Alicia Campbell on Shall I Compare Thee to Rihanna???: That is a good point: that how
Rosalind Blair on Shall I Compare Thee to Rihanna???: I do not necessarily think tha
I do not necessarily think that Pound's talent is inconsistent with these views. Although I see that point that Foster is making, a writer could be the most talented author in the world- yet not everyone will agree with the opinions that he or she has. The topic someone writes about is not always what makes them great. It is how they are able to put those thoughts into ideads on paper. I think that your connection between Rihanna and Foster's view on Pound is accurate. In general, societly holds famous individuals to a higher standard because they are in the public eye. Sometimes people have to take risks to do or say what they feel is right. And although it may be controversial, or inncorrect, it is their right...
That is a good point: that how a writer puts his ideas on paper is what makes him great. Rihanna's response to her bout with abuse and Pound's views of Jewish culture and peoples could come from any one of us. Many people encounter abuse and have prejudice views, they simply are not in the lime light. Since Rihanna and Pound are well known, we expect them to represent what we, society, deem acceptable, but it is not our place to expect this, nor is it their place to meet these expectations.
I agree. And I like your good connection between the two. I actually had put the Rihanna situation away in my head. (I heard that she's stopped seeing him, but that could be a rumor.)
Unlike Pound though, I think Rihanna has a better chance of taking the right path. I know little of Pound or The Cantos story, but I feel that Rihanna has support and advice from many people on a (what is now) public situation whereas Pound's folly was more private. Pound is also a character and Rihanna is a real person. Pound's fate is set for him.
Is this right? That is all I gathered from the text, but I could have misinterpreted it wrong.
I am pretty sure Ezra Pound is an author that Foster was criticizing because of the extreme Anti-semitism views that were set forth in his work, The Cantos. Foster suggested that because Pound is a talented writer, he should not house such beliefs, but, like Rihanna, Pound is only human. While we would like such public figures to use their fame to "do the right thing", we cannot always expect this.
I agree with Rosalind that often people who choose the rewards of a public life must also deal with the consequences. Quite often, these consequences involve being held to a higher standard than everyone else. This is a shame, but it also gives celebrities (movie stars, authors, singers) the opportunity to set a standard and encourage the "average person" not living in the limelight to do the right thing.
I think it is also important that such downfalls, I guess you can call them that, remind "normal" people of the humanity of celebrities. Despite fame and fortune, celebrities are just like the rest of us. They put on their pants the same way we do, and at the end of the day, they are not exempt from the sruggles that any one of us may encounter.