Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Audubon" by Anne Carson is a captivating exploration of the intersection between art, nature, and the manipulation of reality. Through the lens of John James Audubon, the famed ornithologist and painter known for his detailed and vivid illustrations of birds, Carson delves into themes of creation, representation, and the paradoxical pursuit of authenticity through destruction. The poem reflects on Audubon's innovative yet controversial methods, his perception of light and truth, and the broader implications of his legacy.

Audubon's technique of drawing birds was revolutionary for its time. He sought to capture the essence and dynamism of birds in their natural habitats. However, Carson highlights a stark irony at the core of Audubon's process: "which meant he shot the birds and took them home to stuff and paint them." This line unveils the paradox of Audubon's quest for verisimilitude—his true-to-life renderings were born from the death of his subjects. By killing and preserving the birds, he aimed to achieve a level of detail and realism unattainable through observation alone.

Carson critiques the conventional taxidermy of Audubon's era, which he found lacking in lifelikeness and dynamism. In his quest for a more authentic representation, Audubon constructed flexible armatures to position the birds in naturalistic poses, a technique that allowed him to infuse a sense of life and motion into his artworks. This approach, while innovative, underscores the lengths to which Audubon went to control and manipulate his subjects, bending nature to his artistic will.

The poem then shifts to explore the impact of Audubon's art on the viewer. Carson describes how Audubon's colors and lighting penetrate the observer's consciousness, offering an intensity of experience that is both compelling and overwhelming. This immersive quality of his work challenges the viewer's perception, blurring the line between representation and reality. Yet, Carson notes a dissonance: "There is nothing to see. You can look at these true shapes all day and not see the bird." This paradox suggests that in Audubon's meticulous representations, the essence of the bird—its life, spirit, and autonomy—is lost.

Carson contrasts Audubon's absence of darkness and shadow with the peaceful, shadow-filled landscapes of Hokusai, another master of depicting nature. This juxtaposition highlights the divergent approaches to capturing the natural world: Audubon's relentless pursuit of light and clarity versus Hokusai's embrace of ambiguity and interplay between light and shadow. The hypothetical scenario of Hokusai adopting Audubon's methods with lions is a striking image that underscores the violence and artificiality lurking beneath Audubon's quest for purity and precision.

The poem concludes by reflecting on Audubon's self-fashioning and the reception of his work. Audubon's declaration, "We are what we make ourselves," speaks to his belief in the power of self-creation and determination. Yet, Carson hints at the performative aspect of Audubon's identity, as he presented himself in Europe as the quintessential "noble rustic American" naturalist. His success, particularly with the more accessible octavo edition of "Birds of America," was built on the allure of "true American facts" and the exoticism of the New World, yet tinged with the frenzy and ecstasy born from his controversial methods.

"Audubon" by Anne Carson is a profound meditation on the complexities of artistic creation, the ethical dimensions of representing nature, and the elusive nature of truth. Through the figure of Audubon, Carson invites readers to question the costs of our pursuits for knowledge and beauty, and to consider the shadows that inevitably accompany the light of discovery.

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