“Idyll”
Summary:
A short story told based on the concept of giving and receiving of an encounter between a married woman and a single twenty year old man. The woman struggled feeling comfortable as she hasn’t breast fed for a while, so the man helped her rid the excess weight.
Discussion Questions
- Why do people see kindness as a sign of weakness?
- Is there a maximum capacity for kindness that we can’t exceed?
At the beginning, I thought the story was about two people falling in love. Despite the fact that I found it horrifying and disturbing that the woman offered her breast milk, the scene was beautiful as it expressed the beauty of nature and life. I found this story quite similar to the tale where the daughter breastfeed her father in a prison cell.
“Letters To A Young Artist”
Summary:
Three older artists sent a letter each to a young artist giving him advice and guidance on his art career path and emphasizing on what art is, the purpose of it and what it means to be an artist. From past experiences and knowledge, they talked about the reality of being an artist and gave words of wisdom.
Discussion Questions
- Can someone become an artist even though he or she didn’t intend to be one?
- Are artists born or created?
I found these three letters beneficial to the current stage I’m at. Not knowing what I want to do in life just yet, the words of wisdom and the reality check reminded me of why I am in an art school learning about art and design. “To be an artist, you must love art – and you must respect and find a haven for yourself in your work.” I realized that people, including myself, tend to lose themselves in their work and only focus on the aesthetics side of view. Therefore, it is crucial that we know our likes and dislikes and the trademark in our work.
