He unrolled the scroll of air, extended it, bent it into mobius strips: he furled the line a thousand new ways, as if he were inventing a script and writing it in one infinitely recurving utterance until I thought the bounds of beauty must break. (Pg. 163)Dillard marveled at the impermanence of Rahm's work as if this fleeting element made his art an even greater treasure, just as Rahm's life itself was fleeting an impermanent. Dillard concludes her essay pondering, "What are we here for?" (Pg. 164) Ending the essay, Dillard quotes Teilhard de Chardin, "The world is filled, and filled with the Absolute. To see this is to be made free." (Pg. 165) By viewing both Rahm's life and profession as a stunt pilot through this lens, it is evident that because he pushed his body and mind to the very edge of their limits, that he was fee. Death in itself is also absolute.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Reflections on "The Stunt Pilot" by Annie Dillard
Annie Dillard's essay "The Stunt Pilot" chronicles the reputation of Dave Rahm as a stunt pilot and as an intelligent geologist. Rahm was world renowned for his flying skills. It is clear in Dillard's essay that it takes a certain kind of person to be a stunt pilot, enduring negative G's and feeling as though you are being turned inside out. Dillard has a respect for Rahm's ability as a stunt pilot and deems it as an art form within itself, comparing his flights to the art of writing and painting. Dillard recalls her experience flying with Rahm in part as being quite magical, "Through the layer of air between the curving planet and its held, thick clouds." (Pg. 159) At the same time, doing a barrel roll in a single engine Cessna is a very jarring experience and de-romanticizes the role of a stunt pilot to a certain degree for Dillard. Inherent in this line of work is the knowledge of mortal danger every time a pilot enters a plane to perform art in the sky. "'You know your going to die at this some day'...privately he counted on skewing the curve." (Pg. 161) It seems that Rahm knew with a certain degree of acceptance that he would inevitably die by his art. After his death, Dillard recalls Rahm's flying over her house, describing it as:
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I thought parts of this story were interesting and Annie used nice word choice, but overall I didn't like it. I thought it was too slow and almost too descriptive.
ReplyDeleteI mostly agree with the last poster, Anne Dillard's writing style lends itself to being excessively descriptive at times. This can make her essays, from a readability standpoint, a slogging affair; like you're walking on a journey with an indeterminate destination. However, with "The Stunt Pilot" I found myself simultaneously immersed and lost in Dillard's dense tapestry of descriptive details. I also felt that the essay would have a periodic payoff for me. As an athlete whose best days are behind him, I struggle to make sense of my body's fragility and former superiority. What was I running from all those years? Where was I running to? Is this (the now, my present) a destination? I don't know if this is the "absolute" that Dillard writes about in her conclusion, but reading her words made me look out my window, searching into my past for an answer that seem just on the tip of tongue but remained elusive. ML
DeleteI also agree that the story, while very descriptive, wasn't very captivating. It seemed to purely be about the descriptive aspect rather than the actual story. I did, however, love her unique use of metaphors, similes and perspectives throughout.
Deletei also have to agree with you guys it was a bit to slow moving for me but it described that single event well, i did enjoy Annie's way of using figurative language to show her point of the beauty of the plane motions
Delete~Saraleea
Contrary to the opinion expressed by the previous commentator, I felt the story to be IMMENSELY captivating, and when I say felt, I literally mean FELT; it was like my soul was being pulled through every ariel acrobatic along with Dave Rahm. As to what was "the flipping point", I don't know that I can explain myself without creating an obvious and confusing paradox, but I'll try.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the point was that there wasn't one. Annie Dillard spent so much time describing Rahm's flight, but there was one part that I loved. "Rahm's plane shed a ribbon in space, a ribbon whose end unraveled in memory while its beginning unfurled as surprise." It lasts for so little time, and yet in that second it means so much. Again, the part with the swallow. It was completely insignificant; one must wonder why she included it at all. Part of the point I feel Annie Dillard is trying to make is that something does not have to be life-changing to matter. Think about it; if the narrator had never seen Rahm fly, never been in the plane with him and appreciated what he endured to perform his stunts, she would have cared significantly less that he died. The so-called "insignificant" are, in fact, vital to our very existence, because without them, the "significant" will cease to be so.
-SB
I disagree that the story was captivating because the amount of description made it hard to follow the story and focus on it. I think Annie Dillard is trying to convey that no matter what we do and how dangerous it is, there's always a risk of dying.
DeleteI disagree with the previous disagreement... which is to say that I agree with commentator SB on many of their interpretations. I especially agree with that of feeling captivated through the descriptive language. At points, I also felt like I was there living and feeling it as I read. I also agree with the statement SB made in regard to the significance of insignificance making significance more significant. (say that 5 times fast) I liked the way the author digressed because it added more to her purpose and the intended interpretation she wanted her audience to have. SB's interpretation seems rather clever to me and well thought through and analyzed.
Delete~SSL
I agree with the first reply. To me, the short story was extraordinarily descriptive, to the point where it was difficult to follow. However, I feel as if Dillard is trying to convey that the creativity of a person is their whole being. Though Dillard describes Rahm as seeming awfully stoic and nearly uncaring when it came to flying, we know he enjoyed it, because, after all, why would he participate in that art when he knew (and excepted) the ever-present possibility of it being what brings the end of his days? His art consumed him, and he died in efforts to continue it. Because of this, that is why I see it as "the flipping point." MC
DeleteI understand where the previous commentator is coming from, but I disagree. I enjoyed Annie Dillard's writing style, her words popped out form the pages and invigorated all my senses. As for WTFP, I believe Annie Dillard was conveying to the reader that passion (or hobbies) cannot be defined. Passion is unexplainable, due to it's complexity and entanglement with human emotions; and the possibility of its corresponding involvement with the universe. Meaning that a passion for a hobby derives from a given "gift" or talent; simply, a person was just born to be that way, like the stunt pilot Dave Rahm. As Teilhard de Chardin wrote "Purity does not lie in separation from but in deeper penetration into the universe". I agree with SB, the seemingly "insignificant" are merely a threshold for the vitality of our very existence.
ReplyDelete-LH
I meant to say that I agree with the previous commentator LOL.
ReplyDelete-LH
Now after all that agreement with SB, there must be disagreement to maintain the balance of the universe. In reply to SB's thought of what the flipping point was, "Maybe the point was that there wasn't one."... I fervently disagree. I must disagree with this because I am a firm believer in absolutely everything having a point even if it isn't an especially satisfying one or if it isn't driven by rational thought. Maybe especially then because then you know it's driven by impulse and emotion rather than the cold and calculated part of said person's mind... I digress...
ReplyDeleteThe author made her flipping point in her reflective statements that she placed throughout her writing in conclusion to her own reminiscing and then tied them all together at the end of the piece in one big, fat, termination ramble.
The point was that Rahm knew that he was going to eventually die doing the aerobatics, but he did them anyways because he was doing what he loved. He was creating something that struck wonder and the aura of magic into people, and to make others feel such a way without ever getting to experience that art yourself has a this selfless and ineffable satisfaction linked to it. He was willing to feel disoriented and battered and to give up a large sum of his life in order to instill awe and amazement in other people.
My POO is that art is selfless and fatal to the dedicated.
~SSL (sorry for the novel, but there were things that had to be said.)
And also I just realized that indirectly brought up the Nurture vs. Nature argument...
ReplyDelete-LH
But what causes that person to want to commit to an extreme level of selflessness, and specifically just for the sole enjoyment of other people? Shouldn't there be some selfish reasons, such as, enjoyment and pleasure? For example I enjoy running but it is an immensely painful sport, and I cant articulate the reasons why I run to other people, I just love to run. Oh and SSL you are super brilliant, that was a good point!
ReplyDelete-LH
In the piece Heather D wrote, I felt like I was swimming in a sink hole of description. Although, at some points, the captivating language did draw me in, the majority of it was too much. I also agree with SSL. There defiantly is a "flipping point." I share the strong belief that everything has a point to it, whether it be small or large. The "flipping point" I believe was also made extremely clear. Do what you love. We all know the risks, but we take them every day, the same way that Rahm endangers his life in a plane, we endanger ours just driving to school. Life is always risky so why not live this dangerous life by doing what you love.? As for my position of opinion; you cant live in fear of what might not happen. HM
ReplyDeleteI'm going to go out on a limb and say that the point and POO of this essay are very closely related, if not one in the same. My reasoning for this is that I believe the point behind this essay is to teach the reader to not let anything stop them from doing something, even if it may kill them. This story and lesson is something that touched Dillard and inspired her to write this. This is most obvious when Dillard explains the death of Rahm. To me, there wasn't much of a tone shift when Rahm died, it all seemed to flow together. Dillard also remembers a time she saw Rahm flying right after she explains his death. This indicates that Rahm's death isn't as big of a deal as the fact that he died doing something he loved.
ReplyDeleteI will agree that this essay could be over descriptive at times. It was very engaging, but sometimes the amount of figurative language would take me out of where the story was and where it was going. The language itself was interesting, there just seemed to be too much of it at some points in the essay.
-JP
DeleteI agree with what SB has said about the story being captivating. The use of such incredible detail in the story was impressive to me, because she tied the details in so well, that you almost didn't notice they were there, but yet you get this vibrant colorful image blasted into your head. Her narrative of Dave Rahms life, and love for flight, takes a look into why humans do the things they do, even if they know they may die doing it. Towards the end of the story, she brings up death, on more than one occasion. Pointing out that the pilots are fully aware that they will die, but continue flying regardless. She also addresses in detail of how Rahm, was not only a pilot, but an artist. He lived not for the feeling gained while flying, but for the knowing of how he captivated, moved, inspired, and amazed people with what he was capable of inside the machine that gave him his tongue. This to Rahm, was "worth the final smash-up."
ReplyDelete~AH
Well everyone brought up some very interesting point's of opinions. I agree with AH in terms of her detail in the story was impressive, but personally I did not think that "The Stunt Pilot" Was very captivating. She used a great amount of description which did allow the reader to see with her eyes, however, as mentioned in earlier comments, the amount of description was so abundent that it lost my interest and got lost several times. That being the case however, if you are capable of focusing on such description and not getting bored with it, the story was written rather beautifully. As for the WTFP, I agree with LH. I think she meant to show that passion can be undefined. To add to that, I also think she meant to say that passion does not die. Even though the piolt died, his passion was so strong it carried on. The passion mad such an influence on Annie Dillard, that it lived in her as opposed to fading to dust.
ReplyDelete-BP