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The Bard of Conservatism
Posted by ehvogel on June 27, 2010
I ran across a reference to “Bard” a few days ago. We all know how it it relates to Shakespeare, but I find that it applies equally to Sarah Palin on many different levels.
…the term “bard”…acquired generic meanings of an epic author/singer/narrator, …or any poets, especially famous ones. For example, William Shakespeare is known as The Bard.
William Shakespeare composed multiple narratives (plays) that helped describe and define the culture of his time. His plays are considered classics by anyone that studies them. They still entertain us today in countless theaters and give us insight into the culture to which they relate.
Sarah Palin has traversed a similar path. She defines the rugged individualism of Alaskan life and uses its metaphors to describe the American experience. We relate to her because of our own experiences, which allows us to embrace she and her experience as our own.
She speaks the language of the “commoner”, which Shakespeare perfected in his works, to the chagrin of his fellow playwrights. Sarah is no different, coming under assault by the bastions of elitism, which I can’t begin to link.
Sarah spoke a simple truth in her remarks at CSU-Stanislaus. She spoke of conviction and patriotism, as defined by our history, but mandated by education. Her remarks spoke of a simple refrain: teach them what happened, not what the scholars say it means.
We are bound by tradition, in our families, our communities and our sense of country. We ask only to be heard and respected by what we have lived by and what we believe our future should be. We are born into a conservative lifestyle, and we hear the call of the Bard of Conservatism, and we like what she says.
Cross-posted on Generational Dysfunction
Joy said
I like what ehvogel says and how he passionately relates that to Sarah Palin and just how visceral her persona and her message is among so many millions of Americans. But I think he stretches the imagination/analogy just a wee bit too far when he compares her to The Bard (who else, Shakespeare!).
Sarah can stand on her own – but in a totally different way and in a totally different milieu. Shakespeare was a master of allegory, nuance, characterization, poetry, speech patterns – all manner of actually “sophisticated” training & preparation, but probably as much of an innate talent as anything else. (In that regard, perhaps, the comparison is perhaps more fair and a bit closer to the truth – i.e., Palin has some very unique and very special “innate” qualities – qualities that one is probably born with, not so much “studied.”)
The only problem with the analogy is that is presumes too much on the part of Palin and compares apples & oranges. We admire and are drawn to Shakespeare and his many talents, but for far different reeasons than we admire and are drawn to Palin. In fact, it’s almost embarrassing to be comparing the two – not that Shakespeare is, in the larger picture of life, more important; it’s just that the comparison is not made on any sort of level playing field. Just my opinion, of course…
ehvogel said
We need more time for the analogy to manifest itself, but I intended a use of the term “Bard” in a much more general way, not just as it relates to Shakespeare. The comparison is drawn to test the meaning of the word and to suggest its use for something and someone else, like Sarah.