Why wrong can be right

Marvelous marble and out-of-the-box grammar

One of the famous works by the Italian sculptor Bernini is his David. Unlike Michelangelo's perfect yet static Renaissance David in Florence, Bernini's Baroque masterpiece in the Borghese Gallery in Rome is all action, showing the young shepherd taking aim at Goliath and about to release the stone from his slingshot. It is like looking at a coiled spring in human form. Bernini's art perfectly captures that intense, decisive moment. The sculpture radiates near-palpable energy, making you completely forget that you're looking at a piece of marble instead of at a man of flesh and blood.

The Borghese Gallary is a beautiful place. I used to organise my school's annual trip to Rome, a week of submerging senior students in all the incredible art, architecture, history, culture and delicious food that the eternal city has to offer. Of course, the Borghese Gallery was also on the menu, with Bernini's David as one of its many highlights. Didactically, it was always my favourite: asking students to figure out what wasn't right. Just looking at it, they couldn't tell. It wasn't until they assumed the same stance as David that they understood Bernini's genius.

You should try this at home. Especially those who play tennis or racketball will immediately feel what isn't right: David has the wrong foot in front! Bernini applies a counter-pose stance and takes it to the next level, making the cold marble come alive and instilling it with action, suspense, emotion and drama. Going against the natural stance may feel strange when imitating it, but is a stroke of sheer artistic genius by Bernini because visually it works.

Sometimes, what is officially right may not be the most effective way to present a subject or explain a problem. Conversely, what is so-called wrong can nail it, revealing an underlying concept as if unveiling a hidden truth. In education, as in art, deviating from the standard ways of expressing and explaining essential concepts, is often highly effective. It also solves problems that arise from sticking to the traditional methods of established grammar. After all, if those were crystal clear, why would so many students still find English grammar challenging?

Let's just focus on what works. Grammar should help, not hinder.

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