Very modern way of approaching a classical poet. Bakhtin talks extensively about the role of the material bodily lower stratum in comedic works from the classical to renaissance period. This type of marketplace poo-poo pee-pee humour was better understood by the ancients whereas today we relegate their content to the base, vile, and lacking in "art." Hipponax read through the eyes of Rabelais took on a substantially different narrative than someone who fails to understand the humour.
It always fascinates me how many classic works, if read and interpreted raw, are shocking to modern sensibilities! Pasolini is a prime example, often loathed by mainstream society, and indeed his murder has ties to right-wing extremism; Italy in his time couldn't take his presentation of the classics unexpurgated.
How great that an older post here gets rediscovered! Thank you, Nate. I'll have to visit Hipponax again through Bakhtin's Rabelais.
Heyo! Thanks for the reply - while I have your attention - do you have any recommendations for other people to read in the history of popular laughter? I have Bocaccio, Rabelais, Petronius, Apuleius etc. Would love your take.
Martial, I'd say. Some of Archilocus takes that sort of turn. Sophron's mimes, if you can find them...
Commedia dell'arte opens a whole field for this digging.
Joking, not joking: Theodora's supposed performances, as described by Procopius' Secret History. Keep me posted about what you think along these lines...
What a wonderful piece! I'm so honored to have been included. I'm rarely mentioned in critical work of this level. Usually the criticism is scribbled on tile.
I hope you are still on for Thursday's podcast. Let me know. Poetry and Politics Part II.
Canis Ictus
PS: I have Chris Mason's et al translation around here somewhere. It's extremely good and utile. But what always fascinated me was when faced with a living Hipponax in me, he and David chose to lead me on rather than give me a promised reading. They must have known as a living Hipponax it would only confirm that bitterness. I suppose it's safer to embrace the bones of Hipponax than the flesh of the Dog. Jack Foley, who knows my work better than anyone else, called Canis Ictus in Exslium a 'revenge epic' and he was not wrong.
What a wonderful piece! I'm so honored to have been included. I'm rarely mentioned in critical work of this level. Usually the criticism is scribbled on tile.
I hope you are still on for Thursday's podcast. Let me know. Poetry and Politics Part II.
Canis Ictus
PS: I have Chris Mason's et al translation around here somewhere. It's extremely good and utile. But what always fascinated me was when faced with a living Hipponax in me, he and David chose to lead me on rather than give me a promised reading. They must have known as a living Hipponax it would only confirm that bitterness. I suppose it's safer to embrace the bones of Hipponax than the flesh of the Dog. Jack Foley, who knows my work better than anyone else, called Canis Ictus in Exslium a 'revenge epic' and he was not wrong.
Very modern way of approaching a classical poet. Bakhtin talks extensively about the role of the material bodily lower stratum in comedic works from the classical to renaissance period. This type of marketplace poo-poo pee-pee humour was better understood by the ancients whereas today we relegate their content to the base, vile, and lacking in "art." Hipponax read through the eyes of Rabelais took on a substantially different narrative than someone who fails to understand the humour.
It always fascinates me how many classic works, if read and interpreted raw, are shocking to modern sensibilities! Pasolini is a prime example, often loathed by mainstream society, and indeed his murder has ties to right-wing extremism; Italy in his time couldn't take his presentation of the classics unexpurgated.
How great that an older post here gets rediscovered! Thank you, Nate. I'll have to visit Hipponax again through Bakhtin's Rabelais.
Heyo! Thanks for the reply - while I have your attention - do you have any recommendations for other people to read in the history of popular laughter? I have Bocaccio, Rabelais, Petronius, Apuleius etc. Would love your take.
Martial, I'd say. Some of Archilocus takes that sort of turn. Sophron's mimes, if you can find them...
Commedia dell'arte opens a whole field for this digging.
Joking, not joking: Theodora's supposed performances, as described by Procopius' Secret History. Keep me posted about what you think along these lines...
Magus,
What a wonderful piece! I'm so honored to have been included. I'm rarely mentioned in critical work of this level. Usually the criticism is scribbled on tile.
I hope you are still on for Thursday's podcast. Let me know. Poetry and Politics Part II.
Canis Ictus
PS: I have Chris Mason's et al translation around here somewhere. It's extremely good and utile. But what always fascinated me was when faced with a living Hipponax in me, he and David chose to lead me on rather than give me a promised reading. They must have known as a living Hipponax it would only confirm that bitterness. I suppose it's safer to embrace the bones of Hipponax than the flesh of the Dog. Jack Foley, who knows my work better than anyone else, called Canis Ictus in Exslium a 'revenge epic' and he was not wrong.
Happy Valentine's Day, Carlo!
Magus,
What a wonderful piece! I'm so honored to have been included. I'm rarely mentioned in critical work of this level. Usually the criticism is scribbled on tile.
I hope you are still on for Thursday's podcast. Let me know. Poetry and Politics Part II.
Canis Ictus
PS: I have Chris Mason's et al translation around here somewhere. It's extremely good and utile. But what always fascinated me was when faced with a living Hipponax in me, he and David chose to lead me on rather than give me a promised reading. They must have known as a living Hipponax it would only confirm that bitterness. I suppose it's safer to embrace the bones of Hipponax than the flesh of the Dog. Jack Foley, who knows my work better than anyone else, called Canis Ictus in Exslium a 'revenge epic' and he was not wrong.