Songs of Experience

The animated film (below ) by Alex Robinson transposes William Blake’s 1794 poem London over images of an imagined contemporary London. The Blake poem references the effects of an oppressive society on people and nature. The piece is taken from Blake’s “Songs of Experience” and reflects the artist’s literary social criticism of  the imposition of laws which restricted the freedom of individuals. 

I wander thro’ each charter’d street,
Near where the charter’d Thames does flow.
And mark in every face I meet
Marks of weakness, marks of woe.

In every cry of every Man,
In every Infants cry of fear,
In every voice: in every ban,
The mind-forg’d manacles I hear

How the Chimney-sweepers cry
Every blackning Church appalls,
And the hapless Soldiers sigh
Runs in blood down Palace walls

But most thro’ midnight streets I hear
How the youthful Harlots curse
Blasts the new-born Infants tear
And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse

NB: If you receive TBTP via email, you may need to click on the short url to see the video. 

This entry was posted in Art, Books, Europe, Film, Writing and tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink.

1 Response to Songs of Experience

  1. margaret21 says:

    What a brilliant video. Thanks.

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