Strikes me on a heart/gut level first. Want to get lost in that table, under the water spray, in those children’s lives.
Then it dawns on me that as ’structure’ for a story — at least the vignette/poetry level — that it is an ideal ‘moment in time’ for any young person trying to grasp what it means to build a story from a snap shot.
You already ‘know’ this world, and yet you have but a few seconds of it to go by. The music — certainly the inspiration — seems to be but mist that layers itself gently on your subconscious, allowing the story itself to come to the surface.
I feel as if this is page 78 of some must-be-written story. And I’d love to see what my students would do with the first 77 pages to get there. Or for that matter, the next 77 pages.
Much thanks for the moment to meditate. As a human. And as a teacher.
Christian, google the lyrics (Naked As We Came, Iron and Wine) and it adds a whole new dimension in terms of story. The singer/songwriter was also the director and author of the video.
I personally think this may be the best music video I’ve ever seen, not leastways because you see some new beautiful, half-hidden detail each time through. Watch the goldfish– it can bring tears to your eyes.
I love your idea. Why this little kiss? Why do those big green eyes on the girl seem so calm in response? Why drench a whole table with a hose? If your students do come up with something, send it. (Or heck, maybe I’ll use it for a warmup sometime this year.)
May 15th, 2008 at 6:24 am
Thanks for some wonderful music as I slowly try to wake up this morning
May 15th, 2008 at 6:58 am
Discovered Iron and Wine this week– highly recommended. Profiled on NPR not too long ago:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15459032
August 8th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Strikes me on a heart/gut level first. Want to get lost in that table, under the water spray, in those children’s lives.
Then it dawns on me that as ’structure’ for a story — at least the vignette/poetry level — that it is an ideal ‘moment in time’ for any young person trying to grasp what it means to build a story from a snap shot.
You already ‘know’ this world, and yet you have but a few seconds of it to go by. The music — certainly the inspiration — seems to be but mist that layers itself gently on your subconscious, allowing the story itself to come to the surface.
I feel as if this is page 78 of some must-be-written story. And I’d love to see what my students would do with the first 77 pages to get there. Or for that matter, the next 77 pages.
Much thanks for the moment to meditate. As a human. And as a teacher.
August 8th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Christian, google the lyrics (Naked As We Came, Iron and Wine) and it adds a whole new dimension in terms of story. The singer/songwriter was also the director and author of the video.
I personally think this may be the best music video I’ve ever seen, not leastways because you see some new beautiful, half-hidden detail each time through. Watch the goldfish– it can bring tears to your eyes.
I love your idea. Why this little kiss? Why do those big green eyes on the girl seem so calm in response? Why drench a whole table with a hose? If your students do come up with something, send it. (Or heck, maybe I’ll use it for a warmup sometime this year.)