The imagination's art

Extract

[...] It is the reader who creates the meaning of the story; the idea of having no control and a man trying to stay in control to keep him from losing “everything.” It is these thoughts and analyses of paintings, architecture, and most importantly literature that define these works of art to become something of true beauty. Art and literature are the bridge between the imagination of the writer or painter to that of the reader or viewer. The idea of the imagination being the life one lives is possibly much overstated. [...]

[...] The imagination's art Art is life and life is art. There is no difference, at least not when literature is at hand. Three key elements exist in the realization of a written work of art. There is the author who gives the unintentional start to the creation of literature as an art form. Also there is the reader who brings life to what first appears to be a simple story. The third and most important element of a written work of art is the imagination which is the bases for all literature and, for that matter, art. [...]

[...] In Nadine Gordimer's short story, Life of the Imagination,” there is a character that uses her imagination in just this way, to create the ideal life as an escape. Every child has that imagination of wanting to be a pirate or a princess, but as the mind grows, the imagination becomes less important. Gordimer's main character never seemed to lose that aspect, and she created a life to make up for all that she did not have. Without imaginations, there would be neither the creation of art nor its interpretations and analyses. For decades schools have been analyzing literature and looking for hidden meanings. This [...]