Textual Poaching

Sonnet 130 (Poached)

My own two eyes are brown like everyone;

Coral is the red tone of my face:

When my art’s displayed I want to run

For fear I have done my work a disgrace.

I have seen much talent praised far and wide,

But I just hope to come across as meek.

In physical I am no rare delight

Now some of my self-doubt will I now leak:

I try in public to speak, but I know

With quivering statements do I sound.

When I enter a room it is no show,

For when I walk, with duck’s feet I move ‘round.

Yet when I see me I know I am rare,

Remembering I don’t need to compare.

-Hadley Holyoak

       This project was probably the one I had the most difficulty with. I am not knowledgeable in the ways of converting and adapting on the inter-web. I felt incompetent when hearing the ideas of others and how they were planning to photoshop this and take clips from that. From this, I decided to focus on my identity as an up and coming artist with flaws and insecurities. Then I chose to take a piece of art from one of the oldest and most well know artists: William Shakespeare. In Shakespeare's infamous Sonnet 130, he creates an image of his mistress by using less than pleasant descriptions. However, even though he admits she does not have many desirable qualities, he declares his pure love for her and all her imperfections. This sonnet has stuck with me since I first heard it a few years back because of its faithfulness to life's realities, how everyone has flaws. In Shakespeare's case, the one you love isn't always going to be considered a 10, but that does not make them any less lovable, and in my case I want to love myself and all my not-so-10-ness. 

      The reading assigned discussed the art and science behind creating. It takes certain steps to create and everything you create is going to be drastically different from something done before you. In our discussion in class I was fascinated by the idea that there is no such thing as originality. Some may argue that in the beginning of time all that was invented was original, but I'd like to argue and say that every idea, innovation and thought came from something else and it all began with a great creator. I even believe that God came from somewhere, some kind of background, so He is not original as well. Stepping away from that theological path, I have found that every type of media I have been exposed to has multiple identifiable sources in which their creation was derived from. Shakespeare is often a source in which many writers, producers, and lyricists pull inspiration from, but even Shakespeare was inspired by those that came before him. 

       When "poaching" this particular sonnet, I sought to maintain the recognizable iambic pentameter found in so many of Shakespeare's pieces. I also kept many of the same rhyming sounds throughout the piece and a similar theme of flaws and imperfections. My work varied from that of Shakespeare's because I did not stick to physical characteristics, but wrote about those traits apparent in my artist self. I began thinking about this project when I heard the recent release of the song "Flaws" by Bastille. The message of this piece is that everyone has flaws and everyone deals with them differently and the specific flaws vary from person to person. Bastille suggests that the best way to face the reality of having such imperfections is to find a support and to put your flaws out in the public, which was my attempt here.

10-27-14