From: LouisFors <LouisFors@aol.com>
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Date: Tue, 3 Mar 1998 18:47:10 EST
To: emweb@fmgmt.mgmt.utoronto.ca
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Subject: Cognitive approaches to poetry
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In a message dated 98-03-03 14:15:15 EST Mike wrote:

> 	Being interested in Cognition, I often wonder what unconscious 
>  activities are taking place when literature is created. I always try to 
>  keep my awareness of any projections or counter projections which might 
>  be going on. It probably is true that ED had a primary vision when she 
>  wrote hers poems, but it is fun to speculate on what unconscious factors 
>  might have gone into the creation.
>  	Margaret Freeman once said that one can never know what someone 
>  was thinking when he/she wrote. With the growth of Cognitive science, I 
>  was priveleged to see Dr. Freeman change this perspective (Margaret - I 
>  hope I haven't taken this too far out of context!).

Mike:

The thread on cognitive approaches to metaphor a while back was fascinating,
and quite accessible to those of us who were not steeped in psychology.  The
sites that Margaret recommended made perfect sense.  (Why haven't we figured
this out a  long time ago, I thought.)  I wonder if you (or Margaret Freeman,
or anybody else) could say a bit more about the implications of cognitive
science for studying poetry or mental processes involved in creating poetry,
or, I suppose, any other art form?  

It may be too much to ask for in email.  On the other hand there may be
shorthand ways of explaining what's going on.  And there may be Web sites that
are useful for the inquisitive.

Thanks,

Louis Forsdale