Page 7 - Spectrum Volume 14 Issue 8 (1)

2021 | Spectrum | Volume 14 Number 9 7

The Greatest Poets:

What Makes Them So Great?

AARYAN G SHARMA
Shakespeare is still
Poetry is language at its most
distilled and most impactful. relevant because his works
It’s fun to make and delightful
to read. Poets are blooming all show us how to be human,
over the world but very few Rainforest in Assam
of them make it to fame. And and throw light on timeless
when they do, they often rise to themes of humanity.
be some of the most influential Old practices are being
writers. Moreover, there’s been
an abundance of extremely Re-Embraced as humans
powerful poets that shaped the Works of poets like Homer for advising on how to deal
literature of their time—all the and Chaucer have significant with pain and loss, as well as go back towards nature
while making history for their historical importance. Homer’s write exceptionally romantic
works. But what makes these Odyssey and Iliad were the poetry. Shakespeare is still of simply wasting electricity
poets stand out from the rest of only real evidence of the Trojan relevant because his works TYRA MINNAL VINAY and water. They have begun to
them: how they write or what War for many years. The ruins show us how to be human, and
In light of the current state reuse more sustainable building
they write? of the city of Troy were only throw light on timeless themes of our planet, humans have material such as bamboo for
recently discovered. Up until of humanity. begun to realise their folly. construction. People are opting
then, people assumed that the These poets can take readers Although their realisation has not to paint their houses as
city and the Trojan War were places and into worlds they’ve been excruciatingly slow, it’s paint includes loads of planet
creations of Homer’s mind. never imagined. They are often better late than never. The harmful substances—including
Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales tortured souls or great thinkers current pandemic has caused toxic metals, planet-damaging
still gives historians a chance who allow readers a new view us to take a good hard look at solvents, carcinogenic additives,
to see what life was like for a of the world which they never our lifestyles and has made us Volatile Organic Compounds
slew of different people in the would have imagined. These (VOCs) which are harmful to
Middle Ages. see how harmful it has been to
great poets provide a brand the environment. our health and also contribute
Ovid happens to be one of of emotional connection to to global warming. People are
the first relationship writers. the written word that only a As we did about a century ago also actively looking for organic
Sketch of the Roman poet Ovid The Roman poet was known few can. and rapidly advanced towards products that are grown without
the future (at the cost of our
the use of harmful chemicals
environment), we are now or growing them themselves.
actively going back to our roots. People have begun to wear
The “His and Her” of Medical Diagnosis We have begun to re-embrace materials such as cotton, wool,
practices that have existed
for centuries, for example, and khadi. Clothing containing
synthetic materials such as
DIKSHA AVIRAL twentieth century, women with from the pervasive notion that the sustainable and environmentally polyester and nylon leads to
a wide array of ailments were female body was similar to the friendly architecture. People are microplastic pollution. Often
The roots of patriarchy declared to have an umbrella male body in all respects except now going back and looking this pollution is released into
stretch deeper into the psyche diagnosis of hysteria. Hysteria for the added reproductive parts. for settlements that are not the environment through loads
of humanity than any of us was believed to be caused by Even after this was debunked, entirely devoid of nature. They of laundry. It is important to
realize. Scientists are only an excess of emotions. Thus, women were mostly excluded are taking steps to make use of remember that even the smallest
now beginning to understand even women sick with severe from medical studies because more architectural techniques of steps help and small conscious
the extent to which misogyny conditions threatening their it was generally agreed that the to naturally cool their houses changes are going to better the
might be harming women, lives were prescribed nothing variations in the female body and conserve water instead environment!
and medical diagnosis is also more than the treatment of a due to “hormonal cycles” might
complicit in this transgression. “lifestyle change”. This prejudice complicate the results. This
is prevalent, consciously or led to widespread ignorance
Historically, diseases affecting Reporting for Spectrum
women and the harm they cause unconsciously, to this day. of what certain diseases look
like in women.
have been either undermined Up until recently, men were
or thoroughly misunderstood. often used as the standard for This ignorance, paired with • Contributing reports should be confined to a
For instance, up until the mid- medical research. This resulted the deep-rooted prejudices maximum of 250 words and must be written
against women, often leads
medical professionals to by students only.
wrongly assume that women • Accompanying pictures must have captions.
are exaggerating or being “too
emotional” while describing Pictures without caption will not be published
their symptoms, resulting in • Request for coverage in Spectrum by its
an under or misdiagnosis of
severe conditions. editorial team must be made well in advance

Fortunately, there is an with an accompanying note and the invitation
increasing awareness of the to sridhark@srmist.edu.in
differences between the male and
the female body. Nevertheless, • Coverage of a certain event or receipt of
we need to stay vigilant and an article does not guarantee publication.
Women are often underdiagnosed mainly due educate ourselves about these
to the stereotype that women have a lower tolerance differences and what they would -Editor
of pain and discomfort.
entail. It might just save a life.