From Homer to Joyce

Jim and Elaine McCormack here. We are delighted that the lecture went so well.

Below is a summary of the presentations and we welcome your comments.

Linda McKee, Librarian of the Ringling Museum, gave a power point presentation
on the paintings in the Museum related to Homer, highlighting Giovanni Pannini's "Hermes Appears to Calypso" and "Circe Entertaining Odysseus". Linda also showed Sir Edward Bourne Jones haunting painting "The Sirens.'

Linda followed this with a presentation concerning a 1935 edition of "Ulysses" which included drawings by Henri Matisse which was commissioned by George Macy of department store fame. Macy had started an elite book club and felt that "Ulysses" and James Joyce should be known by all - and this was in 1935.
Most people are not aware of this edition and it is unique. Only 250 copies were signed by Matisse and Joyce and one sold at auction in November 2008 for $15,000. Apparently they had a falling out as the Matisse drawings were based on Homer's book and not Joyce's.
Fascinating stuff. We thank Linda for her presentation.

Dr. Richard Londraville, Professor Emeritus of Irish Literature, SUNY, followed with a lecture entitled "Ulysses and That Ulysses." He inroduced many literary terms to document the development of literature that culminated in Joyce = the Horizontal vs. the Vertical and the evolution from the Mythic to the Mimetic with its ironic and complex attributes. "Art For Art's Sake" He also pointed out the difference between the Nacheinander approach- one thing after another or chronological time and the Negeneinander-where many things are happening at the same time (stream of consciousness?).

Dr. Londraville discussed the issue that Joyce wanted to create the "Next Thing" He succeeded with "Ulyssses" but failed with "Finnegan's Wake." He raised the question Did Joyce leave us behind? Did he care? The Pofessor's lecture was somewhat academic but thought provoking.

Jim and Elaine