William Butler Yeats and Flickr an ethnographic approach prepared by Arthur Hall as coursework for the MSc in E-learning at the University of Edinburgh

W B Yeats: four poses

Introduction to Yeats In the picture that follows there are two seats On the left one, imagine if you will, Yeats himself seated On the right one, all that Yeats carried intellectually as background to his poetic work piled upon that seat The cultures, traditions and myths of Ireland, Greece, Rome and the Byzantine empire The horror of the potato blight and the consequent mass emigration, living in the folk memory His concept of poetry; to be sung as by the bards of antiquity; his founding of the Abbey Theatre in Dublin An Ireland struggling to free itself from the Cromwellian yolk – by violence if necessary His own confused Anglo-Irish roots and his strange, imposing appearance

In the picture that follows there are two seats

On the left one, imagine if you will, Yeats himself seated

On the right one, all that Yeats carried intellectually as background to his poetic work piled upon that seat

The cultures, traditions and myths of Ireland, Greece, Rome and the Byzantine empire

The horror of the potato blight and the consequent mass emigration, living in the folk memory

His concept of poetry; to be sung as by the bards of antiquity; his founding of the Abbey Theatre in Dublin

An Ireland struggling to free itself from the Cromwellian yolk – by violence if necessary

His own confused Anglo-Irish roots and his strange, imposing appearance

...and now to flickr photos and Yeats‘ poetry http://www.flickr.com/groups/literaryreference/discuss/72157594169912321 / http://www.poetry-archive.com/y/yeats_w_b.html

http://www.flickr.com/groups/literaryreference/discuss/72157594169912321 /

http://www.poetry-archive.com/y/yeats_w_b.html

Introduction The approach I adopted was to link three concepts in this small project: Firstly, my study of Yeats with my 13th class for the German Abitur Secondly, to look at the interplay between the visual and poetic text Finally, to offer my basic comments as my first ethnographic attempt

The approach I adopted was to link three concepts in this small project:

Firstly, my study of Yeats with my 13th class for the German Abitur

Secondly, to look at the interplay between the visual and poetic text

Finally, to offer my basic comments as my first ethnographic attempt

to start the ball rolling; from mquest - 41 months ago http://www.flickr.com/photos/mquest/sets/72157594401381511 Choose your companions from the best; Who draws a bucket with the rest soon topples down the hill.

Choose your companions from the best; Who draws a bucket with the rest soon topples down the hill.

highlighted by the picture The closeness of childhood companions The intensity they bring to their friendship The unconsciousness of the significance of this instinctive choice Rapt attention The predominance of the foreground in childhood friendships The ability to shut out peripheral vision

The closeness of childhood companions

The intensity they bring to their friendship

The unconsciousness of the significance of this instinctive choice

Rapt attention

The predominance of the foreground in childhood friendships

The ability to shut out peripheral vision

not touched by the picture Think alone; don‘t follow the crowd Think where this may lead Pride comes before a fall

Think alone; don‘t follow the crowd

Think where this may lead

Pride comes before a fall

mquest again; also 41 months ago O but there is wisdom In what the sages said; But stretch that body for a while And lay down that head Till I have told the sages Where man is comforted.

O but there is wisdom In what the sages said; But stretch that body for a while And lay down that head Till I have told the sages Where man is comforted.

highlighted by the picture Focuses on physical warmth and proximity Relaxes the body Shows closeness in loving relationships The isolation from others within a relationship

Focuses on physical warmth and proximity

Relaxes the body

Shows closeness in loving relationships

The isolation from others within a relationship

not touched by the picture The wisdom of sages The laying down of the head

The wisdom of sages

The laying down of the head

mquest again; once again 41 months ago No expectation fails there, No pleasing habit ends, No man grows old, no girl grows cold, But friends walk by friends.

No expectation fails there, No pleasing habit ends, No man grows old, no girl grows cold, But friends walk by friends.

highlighted by the picture Pre-pubescent simplicity Lack of expectation Daily continuity No coquetry Friends not taken for granted

Pre-pubescent simplicity

Lack of expectation

Daily continuity

No coquetry

Friends not taken for granted

not touched by the picture The unendingness of pleasing habits No growing old

The unendingness of pleasing habits

No growing old

Örgdög Peter; 5 months ago http://www.flickr.com/photos/pityke/ I have spread my dreams under your feet Tread softly because you tread on my dreams

I have spread my dreams under your feet Tread softly because you tread on my dreams

highlighted by the picture The blurred nature of dreams Leaves spread like a carpet beneath people I (represented by nature) have spread my dreams Figurative for leaves?

The blurred nature of dreams

Leaves spread like a carpet beneath people

I (represented by nature) have spread my dreams

Figurative for leaves?

not touched by the picture Treading softly

Treading softly

mquest; once again 41 months ago People who lean on logic and philosophy and rational exposition end by starving the best part of the mind.

People who lean on logic and philosophy and rational exposition end by starving the best part of the mind.

highlighted by the picture Science representing logic and philosophy? Rational exposition represented by a concrete invention?

Science representing logic and philosophy?

Rational exposition represented by a concrete invention?

not touched by the picture People Reliance on logic and philosophy Starving the best part of the mind

People

Reliance on logic and philosophy

Starving the best part of the mind

Bluepeony; 41 months ago http://www.flickr.com/photos/bluepeony/ A young man in the dark am I, But a wild old man in the light, That can make a cat laugh, or Can tough by mother wit Things hid in their marrow bones From time long passed away. from The Wild Old Wicked Man

A young man in the dark am I, But a wild old man in the light, That can make a cat laugh, or Can tough by mother wit Things hid in their marrow bones From time long passed away. from The Wild Old Wicked Man

highlighted by the picture Youthful feeling Wild man Elderly guitarist – exercise of ‘mother wit‘ Time passing between the two figures

Youthful feeling

Wild man

Elderly guitarist – exercise of ‘mother wit‘

Time passing between the two figures

not touched by the picture Making a cat laugh Hid in their marrow bones

Making a cat laugh

Hid in their marrow bones

Lynn Morag; 41 months ago http://www.flickr.com/photos/lynnmorag/ 'Put off that mask of burning gold With emerald eyes.' 'O no, my dear, you make so bold "To find if hearts be wild and wise, And yet not cold.' 'I would but find what's there to find, Love or deceit.' 'It was the mask engaged your mind, And after set your heart to beat, Not what's behind.' 'But lest you are my enemy, I must enquire.' 'O no, my dear, let all that be; What matter, so there is but fire In you, in me?'"

'Put off that mask of burning gold With emerald eyes.' 'O no, my dear, you make so bold "To find if hearts be wild and wise, And yet not cold.' 'I would but find what's there to find, Love or deceit.' 'It was the mask engaged your mind, And after set your heart to beat, Not what's behind.' 'But lest you are my enemy, I must enquire.' 'O no, my dear, let all that be; What matter, so there is but fire In you, in me?'"

highlighted by the picture Mask of burning gold What‘s behind the mask Mask (masquerade) hides the unknown friend or enemy

Mask of burning gold

What‘s behind the mask

Mask (masquerade) hides the unknown

friend or enemy

not touched by the picture The underlying dialogue Love or deceit Fire in you or me

The underlying dialogue

Love or deceit

Fire in you or me

Lynn Morag; also 41 months ago "These are the clouds about the fallen sun, The majesty that shuts his burning eye: The weak lay hand on what the strong has done, Till that be tumbled that was lifted high And discord follow upon unison, And all things at one common level lie. And therefore, friend, if your great race were run And these things came, So much the more thereby Have you made greatness your companion, Although it be for children that you sigh: These are the clouds about the fallen sun, The majesty that shuts his burning eye."

"These are the clouds about the fallen sun, The majesty that shuts his burning eye: The weak lay hand on what the strong has done, Till that be tumbled that was lifted high And discord follow upon unison, And all things at one common level lie. And therefore, friend, if your great race were run And these things came, So much the more thereby Have you made greatness your companion, Although it be for children that you sigh: These are the clouds about the fallen sun, The majesty that shuts his burning eye."

highlighted by the picture The reversal of up and down / high and low through reflection All things at one common level Clouds about the sun Majesty that shuts the burning eye

The reversal of up and down / high and low through reflection

All things at one common level

Clouds about the sun

Majesty that shuts the

burning eye

not touched by the picture The weak and the strong Discord Greatness as companion Sighing for children

The weak and the strong

Discord

Greatness as companion

Sighing for children

Lynn Morag; still 41 months ago "I will arise and go now, for always night and day I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore; While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements gray, I hear it in the deep heart's core."

"I will arise and go now, for always night and day I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore; While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements gray, I hear it in the deep heart's core."

highlighted by the picture Lake water lapping Low sounds by the shore Person out of view standing Image of deep heart‘s core

Lake water lapping

Low sounds by the shore

Person out of view standing

Image of deep heart‘s core

not touched by the picture Getting up and going Grey pavements

Getting up and going

Grey pavements

dnzwoman; 41 months ago http://www.flickr.com/photos/78179407@N00/ "What they undertook to do They brought to pass; All things hang like a drop of dew Upon a blade of grass."

"What they undertook to do They brought to pass; All things hang like a drop of dew Upon a blade of grass."

highlighted by the picture Hanging like a frop of dew Blade of grass

Hanging like a frop of dew

Blade of grass

not touched by the picture What was undertaken What happened

What was undertaken

What happened

Up the Banner; also posted 41 months ago http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikal/sets/405914/ Easter, 1916 Poem lyrics of Easter, 1916 I have met them at close of day Coming with vivid faces From counter or desk among grey Eighteenth-century houses. I have passed with a nod of the head Or polite meaningless words, Or have lingered awhile and said Polite meaningless words, And thought before I had done Of a mocking tale or a gibe To please a companion Around the fire at the club, Being certain that they and I But lived where motley is worn: All changed, changed utterly: A terrible beauty is born.

Easter, 1916 Poem lyrics of Easter, 1916

I have met them at close of day Coming with vivid faces From counter or desk among grey Eighteenth-century houses. I have passed with a nod of the head Or polite meaningless words, Or have lingered awhile and said Polite meaningless words, And thought before I had done Of a mocking tale or a gibe To please a companion Around the fire at the club, Being certain that they and I But lived where motley is worn: All changed, changed utterly: A terrible beauty is born.

highlighted by the picture Vivid face thought The greyness The meaningless of words A terrible beauty created

Vivid face

thought

The greyness

The meaningless of words

A terrible beauty created

not touched by the picture Counter, desk and houses Nod of the head Meaningless words Group of people Fire at the club and motley

Counter, desk and houses

Nod of the head

Meaningless words

Group of people

Fire at the club and motley

Musicmuse_ca; 41 months ago http://www.flickr.com/photos/42304632@N00/ The Wheel Through winter-time we call on spring, And through the spring on summer call And when abounding hedges ring Declare that winter's best of all; And after that there s nothing good Because the spring-time has not come -- Nor know that what disturbs our blood Is but its longing for the tomb.

The Wheel Through winter-time we call on spring, And through the spring on summer call And when abounding hedges ring Declare that winter's best of all; And after that there s nothing good Because the spring-time has not come -- Nor know that what disturbs our blood Is but its longing for the tomb.

highlighted by the picture The wheel of time Echoes of Leonardo da Vinci The cycle of the seasons The limitations of mortality The feeling of age

The wheel of time

Echoes of Leonardo da Vinci

The cycle of the seasons

The limitations of mortality

The feeling of age

not touched by the picture The spring time that will not come The disturbance of longing for the tomb

The spring time that will not come

The disturbance of longing for the tomb

Legends2k; 5 months ago http://www.flickr.com/photos/legends2k/ That is no country for old men. The young In one another’s arms, birds in the trees —Those dying generations—at their song, The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas, Fish, flesh, or fowl, commend all summer long Whatever is begotten, born, and dies. Caught in that sensual music all neglect Monuments of unageing intellect. ~ Sailing To Byzantium

That is no country for old men. The young In one another’s arms, birds in the trees —Those dying generations—at their song, The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas, Fish, flesh, or fowl, commend all summer long Whatever is begotten, born, and dies. Caught in that sensual music all neglect Monuments of unageing intellect. ~ Sailing To Byzantium

highlighted by the picture No country for the old Dying generations Commendation of the created, born and death

No country for the old

Dying generations

Commendation of the created, born and death

not touched by the picture Young in one another‘s arms Birds in trees Salmon falls, mackerel crowded seas Sensual music Monuments of unageing intellect

Young in one another‘s arms

Birds in trees

Salmon falls, mackerel crowded seas

Sensual music

Monuments of unageing intellect

Marcin; 41 months ago: “ A great idea Mike.“ http://www.flickr.com/photos/sankos/ "tread softly because you tread on my dreams" (He wishes for the cloths of heaven)

"tread softly because you tread on my dreams" (He wishes for the cloths of heaven)

highlighted by the picture Foot and treading dreams

Foot and treading

dreams

not touched by the picture It‘s all there!

It‘s all there!

mquest; once more 41 months ago The Meditation Of The Old Fisherman YOU waves, though you dance by my feet like children at play, Though you glow and you glance, though you purr and you dart; In the Junes that were warmer than these are, the waves were more gay, When I was a boy with never a crack in my heart. The herring are not in the tides as they were of old; My sorrow! for many a creak gave the creel in the-cart That carried the take to Sligo town to be sold, When I was a boy with never a crack in my heart. And ah, you proud maiden, you are not so fair when his oar Is heard on the water, as they were, the proud and apart, Who paced in the eve by the nets on the pebbly shore, When I was a boy with never a crack in my heart.

The Meditation Of The Old Fisherman YOU waves, though you dance by my feet like children at play, Though you glow and you glance, though you purr and you dart; In the Junes that were warmer than these are, the waves were more gay, When I was a boy with never a crack in my heart. The herring are not in the tides as they were of old; My sorrow! for many a creak gave the creel in the-cart That carried the take to Sligo town to be sold, When I was a boy with never a crack in my heart. And ah, you proud maiden, you are not so fair when his oar Is heard on the water, as they were, the proud and apart, Who paced in the eve by the nets on the pebbly shore, When I was a boy with never a crack in my heart.

highlighted by the picture When I was a boy with never a crack in my heart

When I was a boy with never a crack in my heart

not touched by the picture Waves Children at play The tides The cart Sligo Maiden Nets on the pebbly shore

Waves

Children at play

The tides

The cart

Sligo

Maiden

Nets on the pebbly shore

...and finally my flickr offering today Dance there upon the shore; What need have you to care For wind or water's roar? William Butler Yeats To a Child Dancing in the Wind

Dance there upon the shore; What need have you to care For wind or water's roar?

William Butler Yeats To a Child Dancing in the Wind

highlighted by the picture The innocence of childhood symbolized by a cloudless sky Child dancing Breakers in the wind Sea and shore

The innocence of childhood symbolized by a cloudless sky

Child dancing

Breakers in the wind

Sea and shore

The last stanza of Yeats‘ ‘Under Ben Bulben‘ Under bare Ben Bulben’s head In Drumcliff churchyard Yeats is laid. An ancestor was rector there Long years ago, a church stands near, By the road an ancient cross. No marble, no conventional phrase; On limestone quarried near the spot By his command these words are cut: Cast a cold eye On life, on death. Horseman, pass by!

Under bare Ben Bulben’s head In Drumcliff churchyard Yeats is laid. An ancestor was rector there Long years ago, a church stands near, By the road an ancient cross.

No marble, no conventional phrase; On limestone quarried near the spot By his command these words are cut:

Cast a cold eye On life, on death. Horseman, pass by!

Yeats‘ own epitaph