If everyone is right, is everyone wrong?

So there's something I have to get off my chest.

I get that you don't like to analyze what you read. I really do, but let me say that if you don't like to think about what you are reading, maybe you should consider switching majors (again). This is Literary Studies, not Story Time. How can you expect to study something without analysis?

I get that you didn't like anything you read in high school. I really do, but preference shouldn't exclude you from analyzing texts. Life and literature isn't about reading only what you like. The classics are chosen for a reason. Yes, you might not agree (we'll get into that in the next paragraph) but, hell what are we supposed to teach? Texts that have been acknowledged for centuries, by generations or texts that top the New York Best Seller this month? Both have their place in literature but, the texts that have stood the test of time, I feel have a valid place to be in our learning institutions.

Now.......let's get into the big issue. You say, "I find every point valid, why do we have to prove anything?" THIS STATEMENT ALONE SHOULD GET YOU KICKED OUT OF LIT. STUDIES, IF NOT THE UNIVERSITY! Oh my goodness. Isn't pulling evidence to support your viewpoint the crux of what we do???? The very reason I got into Lit Studies is because I enjoy arguing (As you can probably tell). Going back to my first point, if you aren't analyzing what you are reading, then you don't have a viewpoint do you? So let's imagine you read Moby Dick. Let's say you actually think about it. Is it about whaling? Is it about society? Is it about Christianity? Is it about male homosocial bonds (I had to throw that in)? When you say that every point is valid, then why can't the literal reading be good enough? Nothing more. Why can't I think that it's about the sea being a metaphor for a whorehouse? Or the state of mental institutions? Or the plight of the New Hampshire muskrat? You want to know why......because some viewpoints are not valid. Just because YOU think that every viewpoint is valid, 1. doesn't mean that they all are, 2. doesn't mean we should accept it. Before I accept something, before I even want to entertain the thought, I want textual evidence. I want you to explain why you think this way, what clues brought you to this treasure trove of ideas?

Now, my final point. What the hell do you think you are going to do as a college professor if you do not like to analyze what you read, if your reading only comes from a specific genre, if you believe every viewpoint is valid and therefore doesn't need to be argued? To me that means that I can read a book, show up to your class, talk about how the purple elephants that are in the dream sequence are cute, and then walk out with an A. That sounds fantastic to the college student side of me right now who's working her tail off to graduate with honors, but seriously. What service is that doing to literature and to your students, of whom you say you want to change their lives?

Wow, I feel better.

Sorry, I know this was not very nice but, I don't tolerate belligerent ignorance well.

The Postman Always Rings Twice

Big thanks to the Postal Service for getting most of my books here!

Luckily my reading for tonight's class was only a few pages. Luckily that was one of the books that came in today.

I'll be playing a little bit of catch up, but I feel much better.

We are already to Wednesday! It seems like the week has flown by. I've written a few drafts of blogs, but nothing really jumped out as worthy. So I'll just ramble a bit today, call it a blog, and be done.

I had stated earlier that LAST weekend was my last planned weekend of fun. Lo and behold, gentle reader (s), a new plan has sprung up. Some friends are getting together for a night on the town to celebrate a birthday. I hope that the fun will culminate in Deep Ellum to see this awesome band play.

Then Sunday, oh Sunday. The Bears will be playing the Packers. My favorite bar is hosting a watching party but, since I'll be rooting for the Packers (and they will be rooting for the Bears) I don't think I'll be in attendance. I will blog about my post season allegiance switch (from Seahawks to Packers) some other time.

So does that make it enough to successfully call this a blog entry? I hope so, because I'm done.

Love's Labour's Lost.

Love's Labour's Lost:

Play on words--weight, lead, $, one word, horse/ass, alliteration,
Letters
Mask
Hidden Identity--Changing of Identity
Eavesdropping
Scholarship vs Study
Man vs Woman
Beginning commitment was altruistic (except Berowne)
End commitment was selfish (at the direction of a woman)
Play within a play?
Banter between women and man. Berowne and Rosaline

Wishing and hoping isn't getting me far

So it's the second week of school and my books are somewhere in the Postal Service matrix. It's my own fault, I didn't order them until the first day of school.

Self-sabotage. I know I'm a self-saboteur but, this is the first time when I've watched it completely develop. I hope I get back into school mode soon. Wanting and creating are two different things.
I keep telling myself ok, now it's time to get serious about this semester....not so much.

This weekend was my last planned weekend of fun. Let's hope that I can regain some focus. Last semester I had these feelings but, they were out of stress, fear, sadness, inadequacy. Now, I know I can do this, I just don't want to. I guess life spins situations around so you can experience the same thing in different ways?

Bonus points if you know why I posted this pic with this post........

I miss palm trees and pavement

em PHA sis on the wrong syl LAB le

Interstitial.

I just like the way that words sounds.

Have you ever noticed the rhythm/tempo/meter/cadence of a word? I think I'm drawn to four syllable words. High, low, high, low.

Have you ever noticed the fluid motion of typing? When I get into "the paper writing zone", when the thoughts are coming together and flowing out my finger tips, it feels like I am riding a wave.

I know I'm crazy........

How do you experience words? Cooking? Driving? Breathing? How do you make universal experiences become personal experiences?

Today is good

Today is good. Yes, it is.

Back to life, Back to reality

When you read my post title, did you sing that song? Man that was a good song. The video, however, is a blast from a scary key-tar, dreadlock pony tail, past reality.

So yesterday was my first day back to my reality of working from 8-5, then school from 5:30-9:45. Luckily, we got out a little bit early.

In my True Stories class, we discussed the apparent oxymoron of the phrase "True Stories." The word "true" suggests honesty, while the word "story" suggests fiction/untruth. We turned to Salman Rushdie's description of "magical realism", again another oxymoron.

He reflects on a question of a magic carpet. Obviously, a magic carpet isn't real but, once you reflect on how a person would interact with the magic carpet (how would it feel, would the carpet be sturdy enough to hold your weight, "would it ungulate in the wind", how far could you go, where would you go, how fast would be too fast, would it be cold) it transcends the superficial appearance of magic and enters into the human condition which is real.

The magical is a vehicle to get into realism.

So why then do we need something magical to usher us (or to fly us) into our own reality? What does untruth offer us that we can't access from the truth?

Interesting.....What do you think?

Back to School..

So this is my last weekend of freedom before I head back to school. EVERY other school is off until the 18th except UTD. That is a major bummer. Yet, I would like to reflect upon my short stint at having fun. Happy hour, old boys, new boys, friends moving back to Dallas, long lost friends, failed attempts to meet friends, STARBUCKS boys, family dinners, yoga, holidays, more boys, bachelorette party, dinner with JJO, movies, drinks with friends, more boys, hanging out with my brothers (kiddo was gone most of vacation).

How can I look forward to school? My dates with dead men won't be as much fun.

Eyes on the prize.....not the package. Sorry, that was just funny.

Musings for the New Year.

In my last post I talked about looking forward to the future.

Today, I read "What does aparigrapha (part of the yamas in the Yoga Sutras) mean to you?"

My first thought was: Non-hoarding.

Of course there's physical hoarding (shopping, collecting, even hoarding someone's time) but, then I began to think about metaphysical hoarding.

We humans seem to hoard emotions, feelings, sensations even when it is a detriment. Sometimes we just can't let go. Addiction comes in many forms and on many levels. External stimulants/motivators come in many forms: Good Grades, Love, Alcohol, Nicotine, Food, Sex, etc.

So I think aparigrapha means not letting these external stimulants define your being.

What will you let go of in 2011?