(Photo of Croagh Patrick, Ireland) "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." (Psalm 145:18)
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Introduction:

My photo
Current: Danbury, CT, United States
Welcome! A few years ago, I discovered an application that artists employ in their works to bring cultural awareness to their audiences. Having discerned this semiotic theory that applies to literature, music, art, film, and the media, I have devoted the blog, "Theory of Iconic Realism" to explore this theory. The link to the publisher of my book is below. If you or your university would like a copy of this book for your library or if you would like to review it for a scholarly journal, please contact the Edwin Mellen Press at the link listed below. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Announcements

I will present or have presented research on Sydney Owenson (Lady Morgan) or my semiotic theory of iconic realism at the following location(s):

2023-2024: I will be researching and writing my third book on iconic realism.

April 2022: American Conference for Irish Studies, virtual event: (This paper did not discuss Sydney Owenson.) "It’s in the Air: James Joyce’s Demonstration of Cognitive Dissonance through Iconic Realism in His Novel, Ulysses"

October, 2021: Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT: "Sydney Owenson’s use of sociolinguistics and iconic realism to defend marginalized communities in 19th century Ireland"

March, 2021: Lenoir-Rhyne University, Hickory, North Carolina: "Sydney Owenson (Lady Morgan): A Nineteenth Century Advocate for Positive Change through Creative Vision"

October, 2019: Elms College, Chicopee, Massachusetts: "A Declaration of Independence: Dissolving Sociolinguistic Borders in the Literature of Sydney Owenson (Lady Morgan)"

05 March, 2024

Upon Viewing the Bog Bodies Exhibit at the National Museum of Ireland

On one of my research trips to Ireland, I visited the National Museum and viewed an exhibit of Bog Bodies. These were individuals who had been discovered buried for centuries within the bogs throughout the country. I was struck by my own emotions as I viewed these remains. At one point, I just wanted to place a warm blanket over their leathered remains and wish them a safe journey to be with our Lord. 

I took this photo of the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin, 
whilst sitting on a bench just outside the National Library.

Upon Viewing the Bog Bodies of Ireland
Inside
the exquisitely sculpted rotunda,
behind exhibits of gold and amber adornments,
exposed in tombs of plexiglass,
lay remains of people
who once held hands,
smiled gently to their loved ones,
kissed softly on moonlit nights.

Centuries pass,

and as her silent witness meets theirs,
she senses a tear's warmth
and whispers a prayer
that their spirits are far away
and at peace.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

22 February, 2024

My Hands, a poem

Below is a poem with the theme of my use of hands, 
which some may think is archaic in this current era of technology:



My Hands

Turning 
weathered pages of a centuries old book,
my fingers touch a piece of history
for this page was once turned by gloved fingertips
of a lady sitting by candlelight on a blue velvet chair
her cotton dress, flowing around covered ankles.
Strumming 
the strings of a vibrating harp, melodic echoes, soothe
the mind of my precious dog who lives to protect me
love me, comfort me. It's the least I can do for her.
Kneading 
dough that clings to each finger until I apply 
one more dash of flour to create 
the soft ball that will miraculously rise
to form into the sweet, aromatic sustenance of life: 
bread, feeding my family and friends.
Threading 
a needle with just the right length and colour 
of waxed cotton,
slowly I turn remnant pieces of cloth
into a quilted memory to comfort 
through the warmth of artistry and pragmatism.
Digging 
into rich, brown soil I plant a seed
water, nurture, protect until one day it grows
into a savory food, the source of my love's smile.
Holding 
an extended hand, I feel the presence
of a life force, strength, our fingertips, touching
then brushing the tear from a child's eye
warm today, cold tomorrow
fond memory of the gentleness.
Praying
palm against palm, I sing a song
of praise.
Humbly, 
I give thanks to my Lord
knowing His Love as undying, strengthening,
guiding my every step as I fulfill His Purpose for me.
Loving 
from hand to heart.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

14 February, 2024

Heart and Consciousness



In her book, Patriotic Sketches of Ireland, Sydney Owenson observes:
 Political philosophy is an extension of the mind’s eye to the whole great scale of civil society, and demonstrating the close-linked dependencies of its remotest parts, affords to the benevolence of the human heart, and the comprehension of the human understanding, a social system, gratifying to the feelings of the one, and ennobling to the faculties of the other. (33)

The human heart and 'comprehension of understanding,' which I will identify as consciousness, are two distinct entities, for the heart, aside from its organic characteristics, contains the essence of human emotions. In contrast, comprehension of understanding involves the assimilation of intelligence and critical analysis as they interact with the psycho-physiological structure in a wondrous flow of human experience. I reflect on this concept in the following poem:

Flow I

Passion creates verve
whose song desires voice;
now boldly sing
radiate stillness
encircle fear: enflame!
This fervor flows
with molten resonance
angled benevolence
evolution through revolution,
illumined by 
the intricacy of simplicity 
adorned
transformed
with interlacing
flow.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

05 February, 2024

A Sonnet: Four Soles, Soulful Foursome

The photo below is one on which I've based my sonnet, written in a Spenserian Sonnet format.

For fun, click onto: Billy Collins former United States Poet Laureate, to read his satirical view of sonnets, cleverly entitled, "Sonnet."


Four Soles,  Soulful Foursome
Idyllically, they travel with an aim
and quickly learn that truth rests in a friend, 
for surely, they’ll discover life’s no game. 
A splendid road will definitely bend. 

These traveling souls of four know not of end, 
for they rely on trusting gifts of love: 
one pulls with strength, one’s job is to attend 
two brothers with one mind, blessed from above 

with dreams conjoined like wings that lift the dove. 
Four souls of spirit and vitality
advance with might and shared awareness of
their vision for determined liberty.
A humble vessel pulled by four strong soles,
transporting dreams, fulfilling simple goals.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos 

27 January, 2024

Sydney Owenson (Lady Morgan): 19th Century Awareness of Cultural Change

           

From pages 17-18 of my book: 

    Revolutionary philosophy of the sixteenth through nineteenth centuries provides momentum for the transformation of consciousness, circuitous pathways of innovation and circularity within societal parameters, creating awareness of cultural change, often through literary articulation. 

     During the long eighteenth century, Sydney Owenson constructs her national tales by configuring lexical combinations of Irish, English and European colloquialisms, drawing upon the historical and philosophical perceptions of René Descartes, John Locke, and Immanuel Kant to transform her romantic tales into narratives of political inquiry. 


     Her voice maintains a necessary fortitude in terms of her feminine perspective, placing Irish ideology into the center of English culture at the onset of the Ascendancy, while she illustrates foresight in challenging the political stance of the United Kingdom in the early decades of the nineteenth century.


Ha' Penny Bridge, Dublin, Ireland

18 January, 2024

Winter Sky

This lovely photo by Tunc Tesel exemplifies my poem below: 

Winter Sky
Brisk night air,
unfettered firmament:
the stars whisper
ancient secrets
in this ancient sky,
touching a distant dawn. 

© Jeanne I. Lakatos