ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: need help

Cadzao — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 12:47:25 GMT

Thank you Avangi for the helpful explanation.

Cadzao

Re: need help

Avangi — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 05:30:58 GMT

Cadzao
1. What does "sense of direction" mean?

The tree grows in two directions. Klee compares the artist's processing of the stream of life's
experiences (visual and other) to the downward growth of the tree's root system. This system depends on the artist's sense of direction (organization, as CJ says) for its structure.

Then the sap flows upward from the roots, through the artist/trunk to create the crown. (He takes some liberties with nature here.)

A vital point is that the crown is not created in the image of the root system. As the sap/energy/experience flows upward through the artist/trunk, his creative genius works its magic. The crown derives from the root system, but is a new creation.

- A.

Re: need help

Cadzao — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 04:20:13 GMT

Thank you CaliJim for your help.

Cadzao

Re: need help

CalifJim — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:50:59 GMT

Cadzao
His sense of direction has brought order

Here I would explain sense of direction as the ability to organize materials with a view toward creating some artistic expression with a particular goal.

Cadzao
he molds his vision into his work

He works with his materials to accomplish the artistic goal he envisions.

Cadzao
As, in full view of the world, the crown of the tree unfolds and spreads in time and in space, so with his work.

The artist's work comes into existence in the same way that a tree is seen to grow. The components seem to unfold and spread as the artist makes progress creating his work of art, or as the tree grows larger.

need help

Cadzao — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:32:45 GMT

"May I use a simile, the simile of the tree? The artist has studied this world of variety and has, we may suppose, unobtrusively found his way in. His sense of direction has brought order into the passing stream of image and experience. This sense of direction in nature and life, this branching and spreading array, I shall compare with the root of the tree.

"From the root the sap flows to the artist, flows through him, flows to his eye.

"Thus he stands as the trunk of the tree.

"Battered and stirred by the strength of the flow, he mold his vision into his work.

"As, in full view of the world, the crown of the tree unfolds and spreads in time and in space, so with his work.

"Nobody would affirm that the tree grows its crown in the image of it roots. Between above and below can be no mirrored reflection. It is obvious that different functions expanding in different elements must produce vital divergences."

(Paul Klee, On Modern Art, translated by Paul Findlay)

1. What does "sense of direction" mean?

2. What does Klee mean by the two blue sentences?

Please help me to answer those questions.

Thank you.

Cadzao