great works ii – 2850 jta 12:25-2:05: love letters from the world

Yes, you have all targeted common themes to both these texts: the idea of aging, and what this does to our perception of ourselves; the realization of how our perspective on life changes, from one of innocent happiness in youth to resigned realization as we get older; the need to try to “get back” one’s youth, or one’s former life; the nature of what is real and unreal, which of course is a large part of “Aura”; how one’s fantasy world affects one’s life (both positively and negatively); the core reason for this blur between reality/fantasy (psychological? Metaphysical? Both?); the impermanence of life; the search for true identity and self-realization (is your identity how others perceive you, or how you perceive yourself, even if these seems ridiculous or even psychotic).

We will continue this discussion in class, especially focusing on identity and the relationship between fantasy and reality in Aura.