Abstract Dada

picasso's nude green leaves and bust

I read Camila P's blog titled the Cities. The first thing that I agree on is: Calvino's religious attachment can be seen in his choice of titles such as Isidora.

I hadn't noticed the significance of the titles and her blog gave birth to that particular interest. The names of the cities are each particular and special. They can each lead you towards different theories of what they are really meant to represent. 

The emperor decides to give emblems to the Cities only based on Marco Polo's description of them. Is that a representation of the amount of trust we should give the author? In my head I could imagine the items I would give to each city and Camila's blog made it clearer.

"Asthe book continues it is evident how the cities have nothing to do with eachother, they are completely isolated and non relatable" Camila Palacios

When I first read this phrase written by Camila I agreed but after reading the book more I came to a different conclusion. The cities are described in a way in which they are completely different yet the sentiment they evoke is the same. Just like memories or dreams they capture the way the thought made you feel, but are inaccurate every time you go back to them.

I decided to ask my close friends about this, Mariana Marquez told me to read her blog Calvino's Imagination that had her discoveries on this particular subject. When I did I could relate with the confusion she describes. At the end of the blog she explains what she read on the summary of the book, this was it:

Soon it becomes clear that each of these fantastic places is really the same place"

Completely opposite to Camila's theory. I found myself completely confused in trying to find a logical explanation to that. What I concluded is that it is not meant to be logical. 

I made a connection between Dada art and the book. Dada was a short movement in art, which was "rebellious". The artists made works full of meaning yet they lacked grace and logic. The movement mocked classical art. The argument for their works is that ANYTHING can be art even a toilet.

Marcel Duchamp - Fountain (signed as R. Mutt)

 Although I don't think the book lacks grace I do think that it is rebellious, full of symbolic meaning and illogic.