So our goal for this class is to attempt to redeem time from insignificance. I'm not yet sure what all such a task may entail; however, I believe time to be fluid. Somehow, all we learn and do is connected. This has already proven true in this class. I always love when classes manage to connect to one another, whether during the same semester or across the ravines of time. Guess what? Not even 20 pages into Ted Hughes' work...BINGO...class connection, time redeemed. Hughes discusses the use and development of "memory theaters" during Shakespeare's time. Well, for anyone who has taken Sexon's Oral Traditions course, this term should ring a whole cacophony of bells.
Hughes first mentions the memory theaters in relation to Bruno and the "mnemotechnics of medieval theologians" (8). Hermetics used symbols arranged on mental maps to represent all knowledge and aid their memories. In Oral Traditions, we examined the development and unique natures of memory theaters. Of course, we were also required to develop and use our own maps to aid our memories. Hughes discusses memory theaters mostly to outline some basic history of philosophy and learning during Shakespeare's time. However, he also points out that Fludd modeled his own memory theater after Shakespeare's famous Globe Theater (10).
The image on the left depicts a larger image of Fludd's Globe memory theater. The image on the right shows a clear image of the circle drawn on the ceiling of the first picture (a key part of the memory theater).
My own memory theaters are now dusty and out of use. However, if I'm going to be memorizing Shakespeare, I'm sure I will revive a few theaters to help me memorize passages of this brilliant writer. It is time to connect the classes and use one technique to aid another. Thus redeeming some sort of lost time.
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