'Poem (Lana Turner has collapsed!)' by Frank O'Hara
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Lana Turner has collapsed!I was trotting along and suddenly
it started raining and snowing
and you said it was hailing
but hailing hits you on the head
hard so it was really snowing and
raining and I was in such a hurry
to meet you but the traffic
was acting exactly like the sky
and suddenly I see a headlineLANA TURNER HAS COLLAPSED!
there is no snow in Hollywood
there is no rain in California
I have been to lots of parties
and acted perfectly disgraceful
but I never actually collapsed
oh Lana Turner we love you get up
Editor 1 Interpretation
Literary Criticism and Interpretation of Frank O'Hara's "Poem (Lana Turner has collapsed!)"
Frank O'Hara's "Poem (Lana Turner has collapsed!)" is a poem that captures the essence of the 1960s pop culture scene in New York City. The poem is a tribute to the famous Hollywood actress Lana Turner, who had collapsed on the set of a movie in 1961. O'Hara, who was a prominent figure in the New York School of poets, uses vivid imagery and pop culture references to create a dynamic and engaging poem that reflects the spirit of the era.
Overview of the Poem
The poem opens with the line "Lana Turner has collapsed!" This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a description of the chaos and excitement that surround the incident. O'Hara uses a stream-of-consciousness style to describe the scene, jumping from one image to the next with little regard for traditional narrative structure.
The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which focuses on a different aspect of the scene. The first stanza describes the people who are present when Lana Turner collapses. The second stanza describes the chaos that ensues after the incident, and the third stanza is a reflection on the nature of celebrity and fame.
Analysis of the Poem
Stanza One
The first stanza of the poem introduces the reader to the people who are present when Lana Turner collapses. O'Hara describes them as "a horde of doctors, / a swarm of nurses, / a flurry of orderlies." The use of collective nouns emphasizes the number of people who are present and creates a sense of chaos.
O'Hara also uses pop culture references to describe the scene. He references the TV show "The Untouchables" and the movie "The Bad and the Beautiful," both of which were popular in the 1960s. By including these references, O'Hara places the scene within the context of the pop culture scene of the time.
Stanza Two
The second stanza of the poem describes the chaos that ensues after Lana Turner collapses. O'Hara uses vivid imagery to create a sense of confusion and disorientation. He describes "doctors running everywhere" and "nurses shooting / out of the woodwork." The use of the phrase "out of the woodwork" creates a sense of surprise and unexpectedness.
O'Hara also uses imagery to create a sense of movement and action. He describes "gurneys racing down / the hallways" and "the crash of metal and glass / as life goes on." The use of the word "crash" creates a sense of urgency and excitement.
Stanza Three
The third stanza of the poem is a reflection on the nature of celebrity and fame. O'Hara questions the value of fame, asking "Is it dirty / does it look dirty?" He suggests that fame is fleeting and that it ultimately does not bring happiness or fulfillment.
O'Hara also references Lana Turner's beauty, describing her as "the blonde shell / of herself." The use of the word "shell" suggests that her beauty is superficial and that it masks a deeper emptiness.
Interpretation of the Poem
"Poem (Lana Turner has collapsed!)" is a poem that captures the spirit of the 1960s pop culture scene in New York City. O'Hara uses pop culture references and vivid imagery to create a dynamic and engaging poem that reflects the chaos and excitement of the era.
The poem is also a commentary on the nature of celebrity and fame. O'Hara suggests that fame is fleeting and that it ultimately does not bring happiness or fulfillment. He also suggests that beauty is superficial and that it masks a deeper emptiness.
Overall, "Poem (Lana Turner has collapsed!)" is a powerful and engaging poem that captures the essence of the 1960s pop culture scene. Its exploration of the nature of celebrity and fame makes it a timeless work that is still relevant today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Lana Turner has collapsed! These words may seem like a shocking headline from a tabloid, but they are actually the title of a classic poem written by Frank O'Hara. This poem is a perfect example of O'Hara's unique style of writing, which combines personal experiences with pop culture references and a touch of humor. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.
First, let's take a look at the poem itself:
Lana Turner has collapsed! I was trotting along and suddenly it started raining and snowing and you said it was hailing but hailing hits you on the head hard so it was really snowing and raining and I was in such a hurry to meet you but the traffic was acting exactly like the sky and suddenly I see a headline LANA TURNER HAS COLLAPSED! there is no snow in Hollywood there is no rain in California I have been to lots of parties and acted perfectly disgraceful but I never actually collapsed oh Lana Turner we love you get up
The poem starts with the shocking headline of Lana Turner's collapse, which immediately grabs the reader's attention. However, the poem quickly shifts to a personal experience of the speaker, who was rushing to meet someone in bad weather. This sudden shift in tone and subject matter is typical of O'Hara's style, which often blends the personal with the public.
The speaker's description of the weather is also noteworthy. They mention that it was snowing and raining, but the person they were with said it was hailing. This confusion highlights the subjective nature of perception and how different people can experience the same event in different ways. The speaker's urgency to meet someone is also emphasized, as they were in a hurry but the traffic was not cooperating.
Suddenly, the speaker sees the headline about Lana Turner's collapse. This event seems to overshadow everything else in the poem, including the speaker's personal experience. The repetition of the headline in the title and the poem itself emphasizes its importance and impact. The speaker's reaction to the news is one of shock and concern, as they exclaim "oh Lana Turner we love you get up." This line is both a plea for Turner to recover and a testament to her popularity and cultural significance.
The final lines of the poem are also significant. The speaker mentions that they have been to many parties and acted disgracefully, but they have never actually collapsed like Turner. This line can be interpreted in different ways. On one hand, it could be seen as a commentary on the superficiality and excess of Hollywood culture, where parties and scandalous behavior are commonplace. On the other hand, it could be a reflection on the fragility of human life and how even someone as famous and glamorous as Lana Turner can suffer a sudden collapse.
Now that we have analyzed the content of the poem, let's take a closer look at its structure and literary devices. The poem is written in free verse, which means it does not follow a strict rhyme or meter. This style allows O'Hara to experiment with language and create a more conversational tone. The poem is also relatively short, with only 13 lines, which adds to its impact and immediacy.
One of the most striking literary devices in the poem is the use of repetition. The phrase "Lana Turner has collapsed!" is repeated twice, once in the title and once in the poem itself. This repetition emphasizes the importance of the event and creates a sense of urgency. The repetition of the words "raining" and "snowing" also adds to the poem's rhythm and creates a sense of chaos and confusion.
Another literary device used in the poem is allusion. Lana Turner was a famous actress in the 1940s and 1950s, known for her beauty and glamour. By referencing her collapse, O'Hara is commenting on the fleeting nature of fame and the vulnerability of even the most celebrated individuals. The poem also references Hollywood and California, which are both associated with the entertainment industry and the American Dream.
In conclusion, "Lana Turner has collapsed!" is a classic poem that showcases Frank O'Hara's unique style and perspective. The poem combines personal experience with pop culture references and a touch of humor to create a memorable and thought-provoking work. Through its structure and literary devices, the poem emphasizes the importance of perception, the fragility of human life, and the fleeting nature of fame.
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