Civic Vision Response

Tracy K. Smith in her Civic Vision interview makes many connections between poetry and even just literature in general and how it can influence and/or change other people’s lives for the better by opening their eyes and perspectives in their day-to-day lives. She says, “They make you think associatively and trust that the tangential connection is valid. That is part of what helps us move from our own point of view into another.” I agree with this statement because reading others perspectives on topics through literature and art helps expose you to something you may not even have ever thought of before, and so doing so helps you become more conscious of other issues that you may not realize, but that does happen. In reality, we see so many horrible acts of injustice happening, but most of the time don’t act on making a difference until it begins affecting us or others we know so reading material that goes over these ideas can change your perception on a matter. Later in the interview, she also uncovers the idea that historical material has a deeper connection to the reality that exists now. I deeply agree with this idea because many historical figures have written some form of literature that shows their way of living and now in the present, you may notice that the topics they once covered before are also happening now as well, so you can take previous knowledge to learn and make connections to the world now.