where have all the heroes gone?

geo321 shared this poignant and haunting poem with me and i just had to share it with you all.
dannym3141says...

Can someone please explain to me what the idea is that's trying to be conveyed? From what i took from it, i thought the "meaning" behind the words was a poor one. And that could be because i'm coming from the wrong angle.

enochsays...

>> ^dannym3141:

Can someone please explain to me what the idea is that's trying to be conveyed? From what i took from it, i thought the "meaning" behind the words was a poor one. And that could be because i'm coming from the wrong angle.


might help if you defined the "meaning" that you got from this in order to better help.
poetry is a subjective medium where words are more an emotive than a definitive.

dannym3141says...

>> ^enoch:

>> ^dannym3141:
Can someone please explain to me what the idea is that's trying to be conveyed? From what i took from it, i thought the "meaning" behind the words was a poor one. And that could be because i'm coming from the wrong angle.

might help if you defined the "meaning" that you got from this in order to better help.
poetry is a subjective medium where words are more an emotive than a definitive.


I'd rather someone explain the to me what the idea is that's trying to be conveyed.

oritteroposays...

You could start by reading the original poem Heroes by Suzi Q Smith.

Although there is some truth in Enoch's claim that poetry is subjective, it is also true that (er, most) poems do have themes that almost everybody will agree on and the degree of subjectivity varies somewhat. In some cases though, you can say definitely what the poem is about and be quite sure that people will only disagree to be ornery. This one probably isn't quite that clear cut...

To me, the main theme is the obvious and overt one of our culture of idolising celebrities, movie stars, pop stars, and then hounding them every minute of every day not forgiving them even the slightest indiscretion or giving them any privacy or room to be themselves in their time off.

Since the poem in question is dedicated to Michael Jackson, "slightest indiscretion" doesn't really apply... but if you forget the dedication for a minute and read it more about the public obsession with celebrity and the associated voyeurism of the paparazzi, then the point stands.

Now, as Enoch also asked, is that anything like what you got from it? What did you think? Back to subjectivity, there are no absolute wrong answers here, and even if there were there is no videosift exam at the end of term, but I'd really love to hear your take on it.
>> ^dannym3141:

>> ^enoch:
>> ^dannym3141:
Can someone please explain to me what the idea is that's trying to be conveyed? From what i took from it, i thought the "meaning" behind the words was a poor one. And that could be because i'm coming from the wrong angle.

might help if you defined the "meaning" that you got from this in order to better help.
poetry is a subjective medium where words are more an emotive than a definitive.

I'd rather someone explain the to me what the idea is that's trying to be conveyed.

enochsays...

@oritteropo
right on man.that was excellent.
and ill just add that the poem also accuses us all of destroying the very heroes we once exalted for even failing us in the slightest degree.
it is about consumption of an idea manifested in the idolization of a person..or thing.

oritteroposays...

Thanks

There is another video that dannym has commented on with a similar theme to the poem - http://videosift.com/video/Steve-Coogan-tears-into-The-News-Of-The-World
>> ^enoch:

oritteropo
right on man.that was excellent.
and ill just add that the poem also accuses us all of destroying the very heroes we once exalted for even failing us in the slightest degree.
it is about consumption of an idea manifested in the idolization of a person..or thing.

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