If you try to get in that position, you will see that it's more likely that his hands are holding his head, or rather, to make more sense of it, that his head is in his hands. This way, my elbows did stick up, whereas with "hands clasped below resting head" -- in that position the elbows don't stick up as much. Why not just say it? Because VN likes unexpected visual images, and wants readers to think this through. The elbows are a visual detail, a kind of punctum. And yes, the text brings elbows seen sticking up in the air ("elbows raised") into a picture we haven't realized, as the unconscious might do also.
Barrie Karp
On Fri, May 2, 2008 at 8:49 AM, Anthony Stadlen <
STADLEN@aol.com> wrote:
"Across
the narrow yard where the rain tinkled in the dark against some battered ash
cans, windows were blandly alight and in one of the a black-trousered man with
his bare elbows raised could be seen lying supine on an untidy
bed."
I have wondered about this, too. Could he have his hands clasped below his
resting head? But then why not say so?
Anthony Stadlen
--
Barrie Karp, Ph.D. (philosophy)
Tel. 212-662-2439
NYC
Faculty Member, Lang College, since 1988
Faculty Member, New School, since 1982
Faculty Member, School of Visual Arts, ......Humanities & Sciences Dept., since 1982
Faculty Member, various NYC colleges & universities, since 1970
artist, independent scholar, educator
barriekarp@gmail.com
barriekarp@earthlink.net (preferred)
karpb@newschool.edu
www.barriekarp.com (paintings -- updated 10/292007)
9 recent art works at my Saatchi Your Page site: http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/yourgallery/artist_profile//38521.html
Click on each image to enlarge. New images posted regularly.
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