Introduction
Exploring the etymology of the word “land”
The word ‘land’, derived from Middle English, also cognates with German and Dutch ‘Länder’ first meant the parts of earth surface that is not covered by water. Moreover, it was used to define ‘earth, ground and soil’, which was synonymous to the home region of a person’s territory marked by political boundaries. Since the 17th century, which was when the word ‘land’ had first started being used, the word has evolved to welcome a variation of interpretations that are still used today.
Over time, as the word ‘land’ spread across many countries and integrated itself into new languages, interpretations of the word changed and expanded. Land wasn’t only being used to describe the earth’s surface and owned property, it was soon being used to emphasise one’s earnings/rewards, highlight a country’s power and size, it was used to describe our ‘destroyed earth’, a feeling of being in a ‘state away from reality, etc. Therefore, there are different connotations in the variations of the meaning- either positive or negative.
For one, in the movie ‘La La Land’, the word is used to describe a magical state of being. This, however, can’t be in a positive or negative connotation. As someone can be in ‘la la land’ if they’re relatively unaware/oblivious and disconnected from reality or it can be used to describe a beautiful and wonderful place, that has aspects that are so perfect that they can’t be real. Conversely, T.S Eliot’s poem, The Waste Land has been used to describe a barren and destroyed earth, with unfilled desires and broken dreams. Therefore, using ‘land’ in a relatively negative way.
Therefore, as conveyed by these variation of texts spanning several centuries and countries, ‘land’ has been interpreted in many different ways as time has progressed, the definition evolving.
This anthology will explore these variety of interpretations of rain, in analyzing the following texts:
- “The Wasteland” by T. S Eliot
- “This Land is Your Land” by Woodie Guthrie
- “The Mountaintops” by Martin Luther King
- “La La Land” directed by Damien Chazelle
- Acts 31:20–21 in Deuteronomy (Bible)
