"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." (Philippians 4:6)
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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)"

16 June, 2022

My Joycean Journey

Quite a few years ago, on June 17th, yes, the day after Bloomsday, I intended to attend a conference held on the IADT campus in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland. Since I wasn't scheduled to present until the 19th, I thought I'd drive myself for the first day's activities. After carefully surveying maps and consulting Mapquest, I sat myself in the driver's seat and decided to drive myself. Since I'm left-handed, driving on the left side of the road comes naturally to me. I was set to go. FOUR HOURS later, I drove into the parking lot of IADT. The following days, I relied on the bus. 

Below is a photo I took whilst I was lost: 
Day After Bloomsday: 
My Own Odyssey in Dun Laoghaire

I pass by Davy Byrne's pub 
And think, “I must go there for a pint.”
It’s just off Grafton Street, ye know. 
And there’s the Ormond Hotel (Sirens chapter) 
But I must get on the M-50 to Dun Laoghaire.
It’s now 9:30. 

I get off the M-50 and drive along the highway,
I go through a town and find another highway.
Water is to my left. So beautiful! 
I take a picture and miss my turn.
So I ask for directions from a lovely garda. 
“Oh, I know exactly where ye want to go. 
I used to pick mushrooms there 
when I was a boy. Shame what they’ve done
To that land now. A real shame. It’ll take you
No time at all to get there.”
I follow his directions to the T…
And end up at the Martello tower.
The Coast Guard tell me I’m almost there.
10:30 I missed the first panels.

I drive around Sandycove 
And around Sandycove
And around Sandycove 
And around.... well, you get the picture...
I see cliffs in the distance. I want to jump….
End up back in City Center Dublin!
I pass the Gardai station again
in Dun Laoghaire... and keep driving
Eventually,
I see a little red pub: Dunpheys Pub
1:00 (I’ve missed Lunch.) 

I beg them to tell me where IADT is. 
“I’ve heard there’s a blue, boxy building,” sigh I. 
One kind gentleman says to another,
“Oh, I know where that is. 
Tom’s son goes there. 
Here, let me draw you a map.”
He proceeds to draw each traffic light, 
And tells me which lane to drive in.
I make it! Just in time for the 2:00 panel. 

When I return to my hotel room,
An email awaits me from my friend,
“Jeanne,” he says, “You MUST go to 
Davy Byrne’s pub, the Martello Tower,
(Opening Ithaca chapter-
where Buck Mulligan descends the stairwell.) 
Sandycove, the cliffs of Killiney… 
That’s real Joyce country.” 
I smile as my keys click the reply… 
Been there, done that. 

© Jeanne I. Lakatos 


Media Arts Building, IADT, Dun Laoghaire, Ireland, where mushrooms once grew.

11 June, 2022

BLISS is my word

Quite a few years ago, one of my professors asked our class to choose a word from Spenser's The Faerie Queene that particularly intrigued us. I chose the word, bliss. I have resurrected a poem that explains my perspective of this word, for I had a blessed week and thought it would be appropriate to post this today.




Bliss

In the O.E.D. resides the little word,
Bliss
So many entries for this little word:
bless, blessed and even bleche!
Heavenly gifts juxtaposed
with human expression.
Humans have this responsibility
to emulate higher levels of existence
to elevate human consciousness,
for each of us has been blessed
with gifts that enhance the living
presence surrounding us
moving humanity forward
in peaceful bliss.

My bliss originates in the glorious* way
we human beings speak to one another.
I scrutinize my fellow humans,
make mental notes of their paralanguage,
spiritual linguistics
where the core of truth generates
the coexistence of 
benevolence and deceit, dissonance!
Sometimes, this confuses me…Bleche!
so I retreat
to my place, the voice within, the Glor
where music of eternal, natural peace
and soothing sound waves of passion
form consonant harmonies,
my personal bliss.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos    

*Glor: the Irish Gaeilge word for voice, sound

09 June, 2022

Prayer of St. Columba of Ireland

 

          
               

               The Prayer of St. Columba

Be a bright flame before me, O God

a guiding star above me.

Be a smooth path below me,

a kindly shepherd behind me

today, tonight, and for ever.

Alone with none but you, my God

I journey on my way;

what need I fear when you are near,

O Lord of night and day?

More secure am I within your hand

than if a multitude did round me stand.

Amen.