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Notes from Summer Conversational Series 2014

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Notes from Summer Conversational Series 2014 Anne‐Laure Francois on May Alcott Artist and Little Woman ‐ line from Beverly Clark Chapter 3, LW, first two sentences: Enthusiasm and inspiration are both fleeting, and not to be seen as a divine receptacle. Was art divinely inspired? Amy would not have been socially acceptable had she not given up her artistic ambition. Louisa and May: 8 years apart ‐ meaning and baggage in those 8 years before May's birth. May's birth was ushering in a brighter period for the Alcott family (Caroline Ticknor) ‐ she was a renewed hope May too young to have suffered from Fruitlands and did not "endure" Bronson's excessive attention May was a spoiled child who was warmly affectionate and appreciated beauty but her letters reveal a sense of entitlement. Quoted from Ticknor ‐ jealous that she didn't get a letter from Father. Their relationship in adulthood was one of companionship. May had instruction before Louisa became wealthy but the money ratcheted it up ‐ artistic sisterhood aka "Diana and Persis." May's cheerful demeanor helped lift the dark clouds after Lizzie died. Beverly Clark ‐ the woman as artist and how it related to domesticity. The potential for genius (the passion) versus practical talent serving the needs of the community ‐ Jo and Amy go this latter route for it is more acceptable. Amy devotes herself to saving Laurie and starting a family May used her book (Studying Art Abroad) to invite other women artists into an artistic sisterhood. She wanted to mentor students (how like Bronson, wishing to share her knowledge ‐ my thought ‐ goes along with the fact that she lived like Bronson as well, living off of Louisa's money. But May had a grateful spirit.) May more like Bronson than we ever imagined! In teaching her art students, she set up the classroom much like Bronson set up the Temple School, with intent, to stimulate her students to artistic creativity. She was generous in sharing and likely invoked an infectious joy in sharing her passion. Daniel Chester French her most famous protege. Wrote the intro to Ticknor's bio. Studying Art Abroad is businesslike, pragmatic. Traveling abroad gives you the best perspective for assessing your life and abilities‐ May's conclusion. Book based on her personal experience but did her research and cited anonymous sources to bolster her conclusions. May included no illustrations so as to not impose her own subjectivity on the book nor did she want to distract. The book promotes the idea that talent can be cultured, studied, mastered through hard work and instruction ‐ a practical plan. Dismisses pure inspiration alone, promotes hard work. Sees genius as fleeting, just as inspiration is. May defends "trivialities" such as clothes in order to do what you need to do. Clear and sharp insights regarding fashion in European cities. Although the book is aimed towards women art students, she did not include it in the title so that men could feel free to read and follow it. Compared different schools. She wanted a sisterhood of artists to create their own school (again how like Bronson). The book inspires and has a very positive tone. Groundbreaking. Only 37 copies remain; unknown how many copies were made. Did receive national attention and is noted by art historians. There was an increase of women students afterwards although we don't know if it's directly related. May welcomed the money the book would generate. May's enthusiasm and generosity were both infectious. She empowered others. I have to read this book! May exhibited the same marketing genius that Louisa exhibited. "Live in Paris; sell in London" May painted Turners but also painted her "potboilers" (superficial art that easily sold) In order to be taken seriously as a woman artist, one must focus and work hard, taking oneself seriously. May could be contradictory, at times reverting back to the conventional. She did not necessarily feel qualified to write about art despite all of her experience and success. Self‐doubt and a thirst for improvement both important for growth and success. May was able to create vignettes through words. May could have been a good writer. She painted pictures with her words. She outlines her sentences the way she composes pictures; impressionistic, visual. Good sensory detail. Is that why I seem to be able to paint pictures with words too, because I am primarily visual? Amy is the one character who embraced romantic genius. Our Madonna (poem by Louisa for May) Flowing rhythm, musical quality, cheerfulness; follows the stages of May's life. Last 3 stances move from linear to mythical, from pagan to Christian. Domestic bliss not the ultimate goal ‐ aspiring to divine presence (thus the use of the word "Madonna"); becomes a mediator Amy ‐ from goose in part one to butterfly in part two ‐ became perfect, a sentimental convention In copying Turner, May encountered the sublime. Cathlin Davis ‐ The Difference Between Talent and Genius "Is is talent or genius?" Part One: how Louisa represented talent in her stories Alcott refers to people having genius versus being a genius ‐ refers mostly to the fine arts, a little bit about writing. Little Women Laurie and Amy ‐ talent comes with ambition with the goal being genius ‐ Amy wanted to be great or nothing. Laurie wanted to excel at music to make Jo love him. While both of them realize they don't have genius, they do not give up their art. Their talent enriches lives and connect relationships with others. They counsel the children if they don't have genius. Using talent properly can bring comfort to others (think of Nat in Little Men playing after John Brooks' death and how the heart that he put into the music comforted those around him). Alcott ‐ talent gives you a profession, a means of earning a living ‐ connection between art and pragmatic life Talent is especially important for the poor in this context. Rose in Bloom‐ book's theme is finding one's talent Rose's talent is helping people (think Lizzie ‐ in Louisa's mind, Lizzie had a talent for helping others) Talent does not always have to be artistic ‐ this is important because often the quiet, retiring people have great talent in their ability to comfort and help people, and they are dismissed. Then you have Charlie who has talent but has no ambition ‐ he works at nothing. Genius takes effort and it can be wasted ‐ you have to be trained and you have to practice to achieve genius. Phoebe ‐ once you receive genius it then comes easily ‐ she was a trained singer ‐ the training brings one to the point of genius if they have that in them. Phoebe chooses love over career and ends up singing for smaller audiences. Mac ‐ wants to study love and science ‐ Rose thinks he's a genius ‐ description of Mac's poetry is a wonderful description by Louisa of art and genius. Genius has simplicity and conscious power, the skill to tell nature's deepest secret, and it contains truth and virtue. Ambition without love will never attain genius Psyche's Art (Proverb Stories, PDF on Nook) A group of girls are taking art lessons with the goal of becoming famous. They believe Psyche a genius but she doesn't want the title for fear of being spoiled. She recognizes genius and asks Paul to describe it (see handout). Louisa has a great appreciation for beauty and believes it is brought forth only with truth ‐ it must be authentic. Desire is not enough. Psyche finds it difficult to balance housework with art (which Louisa dealt with too) but once she deals with the needs with her family members, she is able to pour herself into her art. THIS STORY RELATES TO LOUISA AND LIZZIE. Connection with others is essential to genius. Simple grace and truth enabled Psyche to draw out her genius. She had sculpted her younger sister May (a Lizzie‐like character) who had recently died and was able to pour herself into it, much like Louisa poured herself into her dying/death scenes. Psyche achieves balance in her life between her art and home life ‐ would May Alcott have achieved it? Paul's road to genius is truth. A Bright Idea from Aunt Jo's Scrap‐bag Volume 5 ‐ look online for it story of someone (Clara) with talent who does not wish to use it ‐ she makes hats and knows what looks good on people. Even though she was trained in the fashionable life, she was able to make a living through her talent. In Alcott's view, talent can be enough. Diana and Persis Unfinished story ‐ based on May's life ‐ she is Persis ‐ Persis says that genius moves on its won whereas talent needs courage and patience ‐ it can become discouraged with too many obstacles. Trying too hard is a sign of talent whereas genius flows out of you. Accuracy as well as passion ‐ Genius * * * * * * * * * * * * Art must be a representation of life ‐ honest emotion must be present. The above examples spell this out. Life creates the best stories. What about Louisa? SHE HAD TALENT: She knew she could make a living at art She needs support She comforts others She could get discouraged DID SHE HAVE GENIUS? There was (and still can be) no respect for writing for children. In the post Harry Potter world, this view has changed (at least for Harry Potter). It's considered a fall‐back position. The true test of a child's book being brilliant is that adults appreciate it too. Alcott felt her children's books were "moral pap for the young." The ability to instruct and entertain is genius.
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