Nature of the ball -- in multivocal poetic improvisation

Improvisation in Multivocal Poetic Discourse (Part #7)

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The ball is clearly, and naturally, a primary focus of attention in ball games. Given the implication for intercourse of various kinds, there is obviously a need to identify some of the associations of "ball", as it may be understood metaphorically in common usage, especially as a symbol.

If the ball is understood as corresponding to the focal significance of discourse -- the point in play -- its potentially complex nature merits the most careful attention with respect to its relevance to communication,. Of greater complexity is the situation when there are several points in play -- perhaps many. The ball as a whole, as with the point of a discourse, may then call for recognition as a potentially elusive configuration or nexus of points. The points identified on an agenda may then imply a larger point -- with the ball then to be understood as a kind of "meta-point". European discussion of the Brexit option has been framed as "existential", for example.

Metaphor: Well-known examples are of relevance to discourse. However in discourse, considerable focus is placed on the "point" being made, whether singly or understood as "bullet points" in Powerpoint-style presentations. As metaphors, the two may be juxtaposed.

"Ball"	"Point"
the "ball in the court" of the other "catching the ball" "running with the ball" "dropping the ball" "controlling the ball" "ball in play" and "ball out of play" getting the ball "into the goal"	"making a point" "clarifying a point" "sticking to the point" "missing the point" "understanding the point" "scoring a point" "taking my point"

Symbolism: Recognized as a sphere, the ball offers further associations of significance to:

• the sun, as a central focal symbol for many cultures. As noted by Wikipedia, solar symbols can have significance in psychoanalysis, semiotics, astrology, religion, mythology, mysticism, divination, heraldry, and vexillology, among other fields.
• the integrity implied by global, globalization and globality -- in contrast to a "flat earth" understanding -- and inviting provocative exploration (Globallooning -- Strategic Inflation of Expectations and Inconsequential Drift: Global, Glo-Bull, Glow-Ball, Glow-Bawl, 2009).
• mirroring psychological integrity (Psychosocial Implication of Without Within: enjoying going solar for oneself, 2013)

Mathematics: In mathematics, especially geometry and topology, the sphere is a focus of considerable study in relation to other forms into which it may be variously transformed.

Animation of "degeneration" of a torus into a sphere (Reproduced from Wikipedia)

As the distance to the axis of revolution decreases, the ring torus becomes a horn torus, then a spindle torus, and finally degenerates into a sphere

Notably in the light of metaphorical use of "point" and "line" in dialogue, other implications are explored separately (Metaphorical Geometry in Quest of Globality -- in response to global governance challenges, 2009).

Biological reproduction: In biology, and the reproductive symbolism explored by psychoanalysis, the ball is ambiguously associated with both:

• the semen disseminated by the male from the testicles -- with their connotations of strength (cojones)
• the ovum born by the female, namely the target for delivery of the semen

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