Considering in detail 1 or 2 poems, discuss ways in which
Harrison questions the society in which we live.
Flying down to Rio, is "A Ballard of Beverly Hills". The poem exploits American society through the voice of the 'harshly critical' Tony Harrison. Through its use of language, tone and imagery Harrison criticises the inequality in society, and the problems/issues caused from it.
"Big mouth of the horn of plenty horny horny Hollywood" is the opening lines of the poem. Immediately, Harrison uses 'sexuality' as an alternate description for Hollywood. I would argue that Harrison uses pornographic images "big mouth" to explicitly criticise the Hollywood lifestyle, and the social reputation it has made as a result.
"monitored each nook and cranny of this closed circuit paradise". Here, Harrison presents Hollywood as being a closed circuit, artificially driven 'paradise'. Its artificiality gives it an unreal, false status, and therefore a social disadvantage. Harrison then juxtaposes this idea with "so no slight unsightly sting blemishes the flesh of stars". Harrison connotes the flesh of stars being valued and important contrasted with those of ordinary people. A harshly critical tone is used, in which Harrison questions the importance of the stars, and why they are more important than those of 'ordinary people'.
Harrison questions the society in which we live.
Flying down to Rio, is "A Ballard of Beverly Hills". The poem exploits American society through the voice of the 'harshly critical' Tony Harrison. Through its use of language, tone and imagery Harrison criticises the inequality in society, and the problems/issues caused from it.
"Big mouth of the horn of plenty horny horny Hollywood" is the opening lines of the poem. Immediately, Harrison uses 'sexuality' as an alternate description for Hollywood. I would argue that Harrison uses pornographic images "big mouth" to explicitly criticise the Hollywood lifestyle, and the social reputation it has made as a result.
"monitored each nook and cranny of this closed circuit paradise". Here, Harrison presents Hollywood as being a closed circuit, artificially driven 'paradise'. Its artificiality gives it an unreal, false status, and therefore a social disadvantage. Harrison then juxtaposes this idea with "so no slight unsightly sting blemishes the flesh of stars". Harrison connotes the flesh of stars being valued and important contrasted with those of ordinary people. A harshly critical tone is used, in which Harrison questions the importance of the stars, and why they are more important than those of 'ordinary people'.