Generalization, Miniaturization and the case of Italo Calvino - Essay Example

Section/# Generalization, Miniaturization and the case of Italo Calvino An undeniable aspect of human nature is the perennial desire to categorize by each and every possible fact or piece of information. Anyways, the classification of facts and knowledge has assisted humanity in the creation of many complex forms of science and the understanding of otherwise complex issues. However, it should also be noted that the desire to classify and categorize objects, people, places, and things has oftentimes been detrimental to the overall understanding that could otherwise be related. Within the current era, the proclivity to categorize and generalize has often been referred to in terms of stereotyping. This simplistic and grossly exaggerated identification of the world leave individuals to faulty assumptions that do not help to exhibit will reveal the underlying complexities that might be otherwise exhibited. Although many names for stereotyping exist, one of the most effective representations of this miniaturization and exaggeration is represented by Susan Stewart in the following quote: “A cultural products, the product of an eye performing certain operation, manipulating, and attending in certain ways to, the physical world… There’s a world clearly limited in space but frozen and thereby particularized and generalized in time – particularized in that the miniature concentrates upon the single instance and not on the abstract rule, but generalized in that it comes to transcend, to stand for, a spectrum of other instances” (Stewart, 1). Through an understanding of this particular quote, the following analysis will seek to provide the reader with a more in-depth discussion of the way in which Valdrada, one of the cities within Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities, is represented. It is the hope of this author that such a level of analysis will not only be beneficial in seeking to identify the correlation between the above quote and the manner by which Calvino describes and defines a given city; but that it will also be beneficial in seeking to underscore the human nature inherent in over-generalization and miniaturization of observable space, culture, and/or reality. With the nexus of focus on Valdrada concentric upon the “eyes”, Calvino goes to great lengths to illustrate just what Marco Polo “saw” within the place and how he understood/interpreted this. Whereas Marco Polo was of a relatively high social class and his level of education was above that of the average individual during Renaissance Italy, Calvino illustrates that he was not inclined to attempt to use the scientific method; instead, Polo relates complex and instrinsicly nuanced facets of Valdrada in a matter of fact way. This matter of fact detail and the pedagogical nature in which he discusses these aspects lends the reader to engage with these facets of Valdrada as nothing short of fact. Yet, by comparing the quote of Susan Stewart, provided in the introduction, the reader is cautioned as to the ramifications of not objectively considering what details might be overlooked within such a cursory approach. The visual representation that is reflected within Calvino’s section on Valdrada denotes, among many other things, the following: “The ancients built Valdrada on the shores of a lake, with houses all verandas one above the other, and high streets whose railed parapets look out over the water. Thus the traveler, arriving, sees two cities: one erect above the lake, and the other reflected, upside down” (Calvino 123). Within this literary statement of fact, the reader is represented with a picturesque landscape that can easily be miniaturized to reflect a greater understanding for the region and people in question. Yet, even though the above quote is evocative of beauty and wealth, the reader can reasonably consider the fact that only one certain aspect of the city is herein described. Even as Polo (Calvino) goes on to describe the architectural beauty and splendor that Valdrada reflects, no mention is made to the socio economics of the less fortunate. Common knowledge must reflect the fact that even though the wealthy inhabit luxurious accommodations with verandas overlooking pristine lakes, this cannot be the case for all individuals; namely the working class. Yet, rather than at least mentioning their plight within the broader identification of Valdrada, Polo instead references the fact that a “second city” is manifested in the reflection of these beautiful sights from the lake’s mirror-like surface. Naturally, although eloquently written, this is not illustrative of the way in which elements of society are clearly left out of Polo’s (Calvino’s) definition. Whereas it was no doubt possible the author to differentiate this particular’s unique, a far easier to get buys the discussion and reflect this city as a simplistic combination of various understandings. Essentially, such a limited generalized miniature does not do justice to the deeper meanings and social norms that could otherwise have been defined. Although holding this particular piece of literature to a level of rigor that is generally required within academic research may not necessarily be fair, it does provide a note of warning to the would-be author or analyst that deeper nuances and more effective analysis is required in order for effective interpretation to be drawn. At the expense of attempting to be poetic concerning the reality that is reflected in Valdrada, the author instead loses focus of what actually defines this place as compared to the other cities that had been analyzed. Partly to the author’s credit, the generalization and fixation on appearance is in keeping with the fact that Valdrada is examined through the lens of the visual appeal or the understanding that is provided from the eyes. As such, seeking to present each and every nuance of societal behavior would not have likely been possible within such a construct. In much the same way that the next which has been analyzed is guilty of overgeneralization and miniaturizing an understanding of events, places, people, society, and culture, it is also necessary to consider the danger of generalization or miniaturizing that is taking place within this particular analysis. For instance, even though the text that has been analyzed is of course guilty of generalization and ultimately does not leverage will level of understanding in seeking to explain certain situations or events, it also flies in the face of many of the things that Susan Stewart indicated” that was provided within the introduction. For instance, at one point within the description of Valdrada, the author notes the following: “At times the mirror increases a things value, at times denies it. Not everything that seems valuable above the mirror maintains its force when mirrored. The twin cities are not equal, because nothing that exists or happens in Valdrada is symmetrical: every face and gesture is answered, from the mirror, by a face and gesture inverted, point by point” (Calvina 121). Quite obviously, this is a clear and apparent deviation from Stuart’s ideas concerning miniaturization and the means by which generalization is usually promoted. Accordingly, the recognition of the fact that the mirror of Valdrada represents unique truths that might not otherwise be reflected in the examination that has thus far been conducted essentially demands the reader to pause and consider the artistic license of the aforementioned statement. The fact of the matter is that even though the author uses artistic license to generalize, he is not inherently locked into this process and has the intellectual curiosity and honesty to expand the focus point beyond it. Says the author, “The two Valdradas live for each other, their eyes interlocked; but there is no love between them” (Calvino 129). Though cryptic in meaning, the reader can infer that the generalization that has thus far been provided is ultimately done as a means of shocking the reader as to the true nature that the generalities ultimately reflect. Rather than determining that these is unworthy for future research, it is the opinion of this particular author that quite the opposite should in fact be true. Ultimately, Susan Stewarts quote is indicative not only of the way in which certain authors, scholars, thinkers, and other individuals engage with key topics, the way in which broader humanity seeks to really simplistic messages rather than broad and nuanced level of meaning. The desire for categorize Asian and simplicity is component aspect of the way in which human nature is exhibited and one that has only recently come to light as a highly negative way in which a great deal of information and complexity is oftentimes lost. The desire to be descriptive and to provide the reader, listener, or audience with something interesting oftentimes discourages the storyteller or analyst from discussing the greater truths of a situation and being more specific with respect to the way in which the world is represented. Nevertheless, being aware of this construct and knowing that it exists is a necessarily skill the an informed individual must retain if they are to recognize the fact that not each and every piece of information should be taken literally as a perfect exemplification of the way in which a given place, people, society, culture, or group behave and are exhibited. Works Cited Calvino, Italo. Invisible Cities. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1974. Print. Stewart, Susan. Xxx, yyy, zzz Read More