On the Discussion Questions that I distributed today, I ask you to think about the following question: "Is Christine de Pisan aware of the importance of her authorship? How?"
In your opinion, what is the importance of an author recognizing his/her contribution and/or responsibility to writing in general?
7 comments:
I think Christine de Pisan was at least partially aware of her authorship. She knew that she had something to say that was different from other writings around and she wanted to get that out there. She probably did not realize the importance of her authorship at the time she was writing (as few authors do), all I can see is that she had something to say and she said it in the best way she knew how.
In my opinion, it is very important for an author to know the importance of their contributions. If an influential writer decides to do something ridiculous, he or she has got to know that their fanbase is going to know and probably follow anything the author has to say. Writings can really change the world, so it's important that authors consider their possible impacts on society now and in the future.
Is is possible to acknowledge one's contribution to writing while still remaining humble? - Doc Gray
I agree with Courtney and think that Christine de Pisan must have been aware of her authorship becuase she knew that she had a statement to make. She had opinions that were strong in a time when women did not have a voice. I don't think that she could have realized the impact that her writings had on the world at that time because she didn't know how popular her writings would be.
I think that one could still remain humble while acknowledging their contributions to writing becuase you don't have to be conceited.
I do think that it is very important to understand the influence that writing can have on others becuase words are powerful and could greatly alter the course of someone's life.
In reference to Dr. Gray's comment, I think it is possible to acknowledge one's contribution to writing and to society and remain humble. By chosing to write for a public audience, an author must acknowledge that they have something to say to society (thus being aware, at least to some extent, of the importance and relevance of their contribution). However, the knowledge that your ideas could useful and relevant to society doesn't lead automatically to pride. Sometimes I suppose it does cause a loss of humility, but more often I would imagine that the author feels a sense of self awareness over actual pride.
Very often, I think, authors who know their writing will be important do succumb to pride. But the ones who truly do it for the sake of the writing retain some humility. Christine de Pisan some humility by attributing her fortune in love to God or the gods (it's plural, but I think it's used as singular formal). I would be willing to bet that she would feel the same way about her ability to write and the chance to have her writings heard.
A writer has to recognize the importance of their work in order to take the work seriously (or not, depending on the case). If they are writing to make a change in society, then they have to be aware of the biases of the audience and have to forsee how the audience will react. You have to know whether to mock or insult, provoke thought or cause scandal. Or just make them laugh.
I think that Christine de Pisan ultimately knew that she was going to have an impact through her writings. I think it is possible to acknowledge one's contribution and still be humble. I don't know that I think the contributions made through writings can be judged based on pride or humility. Writings impact society time and time again. Although the writers are important, what they say is what grabs the attention of those conservatives and radicals. I doubt this is making any sense, I just think the focus should be on what is being written rather than who is writing it, at least to some degree. I think that is what a great deal of authors want.
Christine de Pisan appears to be aware of her authorship because she conveys a message to her readers in an uncommon manner during her era. As Akwhite rightly states, women did not have a voice during that period, so she must have been aware of the necessity and significance of her contribution as she wrote.
It is important for an author to realize the importance of their contribution as it guides in their writings. The more they feel they are going to make a difference, the stronger the incentive to make a difference.
Post a Comment