Subtle Connections That Surprise
Posted by Daria Davis on 5/14/2009
As I watch the printer spit out the 14th copy of my Up research packet, I’m struck by the ways the season’s theme of imagination is apparent in the pages accumulating in the copy room. As Steppenwolf investigates notions of imagination in its 08-09 season, I’ve found that thematic focus has permeated my world of library books and online sleuthing.
During my nine months at Steppenwolf (as Literary Apprentice) I’ve revisited some of the same subjects through the new lens of each show, and though the perspective is different, there are fascinating intersections. Sometimes these thematic links are obvious, but on other occasions there are subtle connections that surprise me.
As I was reading about Tarot for my Up packet I discovered the same engraving of the devil from an early set of playing cards that I had been enamored with during my research for The Seafarer. Revisiting the history of playing cards I researched for The Seafarer, I’ve come to understand from the perspective of Up that the Tarot is an offshoot of the same rich traditions that cultivated the 52 card playing deck.
This insight was followed by a continuation of my reading about alchemy and the contemporary notions of science and magic in Jacobean England, both of which played a large role in my research for The Tempest. The alchemists, it turns out, were part of a larger network of 16th century science practitioners who first ushered the Tarot into its occult meaning, helping to build its mystical narrative.
I’m leaving my Steppenwolf apprenticeship with a wealth of information that appears disparate but is actually all tied to a central theme. I think I’m still lacking the right lens to see how all these pieces fit together but I have a suspicion that the theme of imagination will play a role.