"Exactitude"

As we read Calvino and discussed this particular lecture in class, it seemed to me that while all of his lectures were focused on literature, this one was by far the most focused on the actual language of the literatue. Calvino came up with three specific elements of exactitude and they are as follows: 1)A well-defined and calculated plan by which a text is constructed 2) clear, incisive, memorable images 3) Precise language in word and expression that captures subtleties of throught and imagination. Exactitude has a lot to do with the concept of process for Calvino. This particular element of the literary seems to be two-sided as well, two forces that oppose yet support one-another simultaneously. I think back to Calvino's specific example of fire and the crystal. He believed that both were a very important part of the process of formation. The flame, for Calvino, represented the order ou of the noise, and internal pressure to keep going. The crystal on the other hand is a self-organizing system. The part of exactitude in which it is not the interan being sustained by the external, but rather an internal sort of origin or creativity.

The painting above is my chosen image for Exactitude. I feel that it is safe to say this literary work was thoughout with a clear and consice plan. It also has the elements represented by the crystal and the flame. When this painting is considered. Each individual "frame" could operate as a single work or a single painting if it was removed from the others. In fact, without seeing the original work, one would probably not guess that the work had been cut apart at all. On the other hand, even though the images have the ability to operate as a self-organizing system like the crystal, when seen with the others they are influenced by those images as well. It is as this point they must be the flame and maintain their individual order regardless of the surrounding "noise" of the other images.

I feel that Calvino was getting at an Exactitude of language that operates this way. The words that are spoken or written in literary works are an already pre-established self-organizing system. We know what the words mean, how they are to be constructed in syntax and in grammar. However, this is why exactitude is so important. We do not want to simply use the "crystal" of language with the thought of the "flame". They must work together when a literay work is being created otherwise the process of formation is not complete and has not come full circle.

Literary example: The play "The Importance of being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde.

Personally, I find this play to be absolutely hilarious. The language used in every aspect of this play is intentional, well-thought out, and not impoverished in any way (in my opinion). The cleverness of how the words each character says seems serious within the context of their world, but are simultaneously drenched with humor to the reader astounds me. Wilde absolutely used exactitude in the language he used to create this literary piece.