Greetings! So it is thus a formal interaction may begin, although it may not be normal for it to occur. Perhaps the reader may concur? It appears as though we have a rhyme! Perhaps it may be the right time?
Without further ado, I would like to announce that there will on occasion be a post dedicated to pondering about the phenomenology of the human-environment relationship. But what on Earth does that mean (pun intended)? Let’s begin with understanding what phenomenology is generally about.
Phenomenology concerns the analysis of phenomena as directly experienced and to the greatest extent as is possible without perceived biases and prejudices.1 Accordingly, the aim of phenomenology is not merely to obtain objective knowledge but it is also about developing objective perceptions of phenomena. In other words, it is about analyzing our experiences as subjects with the aim of discerning their possible meaning(s).2 For example, and for the sake of simplicity, let’s engage in an activity where we consider the color white, which is the background color of the page that this article is situated on. This may open avenues for exploration about what and who we are. In turn, this will or at least should lead to greater knowledge of self. Here are some questions that may be worth exploring in relation to this color. Note that these are just a sample and they do not implicate a correct answer; i.e., they are simply there to act as a guide.
- When I look at this color, do I feel any emotion(s), and if so then what is it or what are they and why?
- When I look at this color, is there something that it makes me think about, and if so then what is it and why?
- Does this color interest me in any way, and if so then why?
If this activity and its questions seem trivial to the reader then that is without question acceptable! However, no matter what our perceptions may be, it is important to be cognizant of the reason(s) that underpin them. This is because it frees us from not knowing what it is that (de)motivates us in life. Then again, we may as well ask why is this is also important? If we do not know ourselves, we will struggle to thrive as we will not know what it is that we want, and how what we want must correspond with the fact that our environment (i.e., the sum total of our surroundings) is constantly in a state of change even though it may not necessarily be perceptible through our senses alone.
Now, we may ask what this has to do with poetry? Before proceeding, however, we must establish what poetry is. In general, poetry is a subject that is as old as history, and it comes in different forms. These are all interrelated and inextricably linked to the way in which we express ourselves, that is, our language. Poetry serves to stimulate our heart (i.e., emotion) and mind (i.e., cognition) through the use of language. The purpose of this is to convey something of meaning and in a way that is artistic as opposed to merely utilitarian. What does this mean? As per the Society of Classical Poetry:
Poetry is typically the use of any language in a structured way that unifies word sounds (using most typically rhyming, but also alliteration, assonance, anaphora, etc.) or contains a regular rhythm (using meter, which broadly includes counting of stresses, syllables, Chinese characters, etc.) while conveying a specific theme (often using literary devices such as similes, metaphors, personification, allegory, irony, satire, etc.).4
Having established what phenomenology and poetry are, we can begin to discern a relationship between these subjects. This relationship becomes clearer to see when we allow ourselves to “see” beyond what is perceptible through our primary senses (e.g., auditory, visual, olfactory, gustatory, tactile, etc.). By metaphor, we allow ourselves to become immersed in a realm that is challenging to describe with words alone. Yet, it can help us to feel and imagine in ways that we may not be able to accomplish through experience during the course of lives. Without further ado, I present my own interpretation of what poetry is, and can be, depending upon how we perceive it.
Poetry is a form of wizardry that sets in motion an emotion of awe, enabling one to thaw the ice between themselves and the all, giving way for wisdom to expand and enthrall.
Max Barker
To be continued!
References
1 Please see the following link for more information: https://www.britannica.com/topic/phenomenology.
2 Please see the following link for more information of phenomenology and its development both as a field of knowledge and movement: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/phenomenology/.
3 https://www.britannica.com/art/poetry
4 https://classicalpoets.org/poetry/