Great Readings!!by Gussie (no login)This was my favorite class this semester. I enjoyed all of our texts and their unique wisdoms. I agree with you, Melanie. Cruddy was my favorite too. I mean, hands down, the best. A touching story of Roberta's disillusionment, but so funny! Even several of the illustrations were humorous. Hmm...was Roberta truly disillusioned? She never seemed surprised by what she learned; she just went along with it. Accepted the wisdom, accepted the violence. Undoubtedly, my other favorite novel was The God of Small Things. Ammu and Velutha's story was absolutely beautiful. TGOST absolutely kicked me in the pants. Anyway, just a few reflections. Gussie |
I am back!!by Melanie (no login)Our internet service is fixed! Okay, here are my favorite books in descending order from most favorite to least: 1. CRUDDY!!!! 2. The Hours 3. The God of Small Things 4. The Alchemist 5. Outside History 6. Selu 7. How I Learned to Drive 8. Refuge The Slam poetry was also my favorite poems that we read. I will miss this class. I hope everyone had as good a time as I did. Good Luck on the final and all of your other finals!! Love, Mel:) |
Untitledby Holly (Login oldirtybuff)No one is posting! HELLO! Just checking to see how everyone is doing with Cruddy. I'd like to hear some thoughts on what everyone thinks of the illustrations. I'm not exactly sure why she uses them. I think it is mainly to help tell the story. But why else? |
i think it is fixedby Melanie (no login)The bulletin board is fixed on my computer is anyone else still having propblems? Also great reading session today, those absent really missed out. There was such a broad mix of types of poetry that I think we prove poetry can really serve all functions from political to romantic to art for arts sake!! That is what makes it such a grand form of expression. timeless in its form. mel:) |
poetry readingby PD (no login)I agree on the poetry reading. I was especially pleased to see so many original poems being read. Good job all around! That was one of those assignments I wasn't quite sure how would turn out. I was inspired! |
poetry readingsby Holly (no login)I am truly sorry I missed out on the readings (although this message is a little out of date). My uncle is doing extremely poorly as he battles with cancer. How is everyone doing with Cruddy? |
Cruddyby Gussie (no login)I really enjoyed Cruddy. I read it in about 3 days. Roberta's journey with her father was so exciting. When Little Debbie "bit" Uncle Lemuel, I cheered. How are you doing with the novel? Do you like it? Gussie |
Thursday's classby Gussie (no login)Tuesday's class (Nov. 14) was incredible. Everyone's readings were very moving. Right after class, I wrote a bit about it. I was also inspired! Did anyone go to D.C. on Nov. 19th for the poetry readings? Gussie |
?by Holly (no login)Is something wrong with the bulletin board? |
The Freeway and the Great Salt Lakeby Gussie (no login)I was suddenly struck by the idea of geography in Cervantes. (not just Cervantes, but all of our readings) Even though many of our authors dealt with similar themes, each work was somewhat regionalized. For example, the desert of Utah affected TTW's novel. In Cervantes, the red geraniums and the temperate climate are very important foundations of her poetry. I'm not yet sure how to develop this thought. Any ideas? Gussie |
Geographyby PD (no login)Maybe to extend Gussie's thought--what does geography have to do with homeplace? |
geography as reflection of personalityby Melanie (no login)MAny people argue that your surroundings dictate your personality. We are socialized through culture and culture is determined by environment. For example Eskimos have about 26 different words for snow. They are around it so much they need to know exactly what type of snow, etc. Dr. Dwyer's posting addresses the fundamental question of the class. Why do these writers find their geographic surroundings such an important way to express their own internal emotions? Some would say that it is because our environment is just as much a developmental factor over our personality as our own mothers in raising us. DOes a freeway next door mean we will feel the need to protect our own space, will we need to travel, will we need to fight cancer because of it? Will its pollution determine the length ( or shortness) of our life? To me Geography is the "overlooked" God that controls an enormous chunk of our lives. Geography is our homeplace both internally and externally, how we interpret that is our creativity. mel |
Untitledby Steve (no login)I would love to think that a person is capable of traveling anywhere and feeling at "home." It would be wonderful to live in Thailand and be instantly accepted. However, Melony is right - a good deal of home is encased within the geography that you grew up in. I'm sure that if I grew up in an urban setting (instead of Suburbia, USA) my entire mindset on life would be different. I also believe that if I followed some of my high school friends to a big university, I would have dropped out of school (like them) a few years ago. An individual's current location is directly related to his/her personality. Without a physical world around someone, there would be no ability to interact with the world, thus no personality. |
Expanding on class discussionby Melanie (no login)Of course, as a blossoming sociologist I am obsessed with ideas surrounding culture, society etc. I am reading my ethnic and race relations book and thinking about our wonderful discussion today. I am also thinking about the idea of the discrepancy between the ideal world and the real world. And I think that in America we build up the idea of being an individual as an important value, yet, we shun those who are different. Where does this come from? Any ideas? Is it just in our nature to fear something unlike ourselves. I do not think so, but where could this fear come from? And if the whole capitalist ideal is built on the individual, why are most successful capitalists white males? We sing about celebrating diversity, but there should be a disclaimer to all of these little quips saying "as long as it is not in my neighborhood." As an individual I hope I can break through the wall between the real world and bring back some of the ideal. And the idea of assimilation is the ultimate in America's contradiction how can it be good to force people into one culture, its like forcing everyone into the same mind, and how boring is that. Dear God we need a timer on this thing. I will shut up now. mel |
bridging the disciplinesby PD (no login)Melanie-- I so agree with your reflections. Individuality to a point--and of course, it's the point that the majority has established. I think Cervantes does a good job at getting at the divide bwteen the rel and the ideal. And in terms of writing, she really struggles--wanting to write poems for the sake of beauty, but seeing the racism and hate in her face and feeling compelled to do something. What does the group think about this issue? Should poetry be kept for creation of something beautiful--so that people can escape for that moment of reading (like Laura Brown!). Or should poetry be more political? |
Untitledby Steve (no login)Poetry should exist as a medium with which an individual can most directly express their mind. |
Poetryby Gussie (no login)People should use poetry as an outlet. Poetry can express political views, reflections of experiences, anger, frustration, beauty or any other thing that the writer wishes. Poetry can be about anything, and that is part of the reason I am attracted to it. When I pick up a new author, I don't quite know what to expect. Every writer attacks different topics with different style and language. I'm just afraid that if we only want poetry for beauty's sake, we will shut out writers like Cervantes and Hart Crane. But the thing is, no matter what Laura Brown reads, she will escape. Even if she (Laura Brown) reads about the woman next door, she will be out of her house and all of her entrapments. Poetry doesn't need to be beautiful so that I can escape. T.S. Eliot's "The Hollow Men" creates a desert landscape and expresses desperation. And every time I read it, I escape (and enjoy every second). Gussie |
Untitledby Steve (no login)The idea of individuality seems to be a facet of modern life. I can't think of another time in history where there has been such a fear to conform. I think that the traditional idea of society is based around just that - a society. A group of persons cannot exist if everyone is individualized. Thus, they need to share certain characteristics. The problem that seems to arise sometimes is that the wrong characteristics are used to develop a society. Does that make any sense? If personality traits were used to establish cultural guidelines, would there be as much conflict between subcultures? That definitly makes no sense, does it? It's hard to say how the world should be without being able to actually see it happen. For instance, Communism is a great idea, but doesn't quite cut it in reality. -Steve My first time posting here!! How'd I do??? |
response to steveby melanie (no login)you are very clear. in society personality comes nearly last in importance. wealth power looks and many other superficial traits are what our society deems important. I wish we could nave a meritocracy, that is, those in power are there because they are decent human beings and actually deserve it. |
responseby Gussie (no login)great posting, and yes, I get it. I agree with you, groups are more interesting when there is a common thread of interet. If everyone were radically different and could not agree on anything, we would all live as hermits. Gussie |
fear to conform...by Jeremy J. Johnson (no login)I kind of feel like that society/culture is less afraid than ever to conform. While outwardly perhaps there is more rebellion against the norms and categories, the effect of mass communication, and increased subtlety in propoganda, I see all people fitting into broad/indistinguishable groups on the macro-level. For me I see the need to establish only two categories of people. The 99.9% that suck, and the .1% that don't. Yet. |
Untitledby Holly (no login)Are you a part of the 1% who don't suck? |
Thoughts About Cervantesby Gussie (no login)Cervantes certainly is an interesting poet. I am especially intrigued by "Beneath the Shadow of the Freeway." Like TTW, Cervantes refers to different birds. She refers to seagulls, but she refers to mockingbirds in three different sections. I'm not quite sure what to make of the mockingbirds. She says that: "In California in the summer, / mockingbirds sing all night. / Grandma says they are singing for their nesting wives." Perhaps the birds remind the poet of her history and the history of her family's women. But Grant Lee Phillips (another poet from California) wrote a song titled "Mockingbirds." Like the poem, the song is about a difficult relationship. I'm just not sure. What do you all think about the mockingbirds? What do they mean? Gussie |
Mockingbirdsby Holly (no login)Well, mockingbirds are small, dainty, and defenseless. They protect their young, and perhaps the speaker is making a connection between the grandmother and the mockingbird? Just a thought! |
Hellooooo!!!!by Melanie (no login)Is anyone out there? There hasn't been a message posted for days. I guess this is the mid-semester slump. I wa just wondering how Tuesday's class discussion went and if anyone was having trouble with their papers. PLease write sumptin!! :-] mel |
I'm here!by Holly (no login)I was wondering why no one had written anything either. I know that we have finished class discussion on The Hours, but I would like to bring up the issue of sexuality. I do believe that it exists in the novel, but I'm not exactly sure why it is there, at least with Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Woolf. What purpose do those kisses serve? We would have gotten the same idea that they were unhappy had they not kissed other women. I'm just curious as to why some of you think he included this in the novel. I feel that it was unnecessary. |
response to Hollyby Melanie (no login)I thought a lot about this as well since I wrote my paper on the issue of sexuality. You are quite right, the fact that Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Woolf are both unhappy is more than obvious without these kisses. But, and this is my sociology coming into play, humans are extremely influenced by their own personal situations. What I mean is that for our species, it is about 99.9 percent impossible to be completely value free in other areas in one's life. Even scientists are prone to letting personal preference or values come into play in their research. I am going somewhere with this. Cunningham, being gay himself probaly knows how it feels to want something that is not a social norm. He has most likely had experiences similar to that of the ladies and they influenced him very much. Steven is right in that Cunningham downplayed this facet of the women's lives, but it is present, subtle, but distinctly present. So I think both sides are right. And it is literature and we readers are allowed to read whatever we like out of it. Difference of opinion is what keeps life fresh!! Anyway I hope this makes sense if not please respond and tell me to shut my noodle head up! luv mel:-} |
Responseby Holly (no login)No, I think you have some valid points. I think what Cunningham was trying to show us was that these women were unhappy in their daily lives and struggled to find a moment where they felt content and at "home." The women could have been kissing male, female, dog, cat, and the effect would have been the same. He was simply showing us that these women longed to find themselves, to do something that wasn't the "norm." Thanks for your insight Mel! :) Holly |
A Responseby Gussie (no login)Holly and Melanie, I feel that the kisses were necessary. In Mrs. Woolf's case, she kissed her sister to be naughty. She was slightly rebellious. I did not read any issues of sexuality into the kiss. Now Mrs. Brown's kiss was charged. I think her kiss allowed her to express herself. I feel that Cunningham downplayed the issue of sexuality. But it was certainly a strong undercurrent throughout the novel. Perhaps Cunningham preferred to explore issues other than sexuality. But Melanie, I really think that the sociological connections are especially interesting with this novel. Overall, I haven't quite made up my mind about Laura Brown's kiss. What does everyone else think? Gussie |
Responseby Holly (no login)Gussie, I think that Laura Brown's kiss was a bit unnecessary, but it didn't take away from the value of the novel at all. However, she wasn't content in her life because of her loss of her sense of self, not because she had homosexual feelings. And I'm not sure that kissing a woman made her find her sense of self. Although, this is not to say that the kiss was anything homosexual at all. I believe that perhaps she longed for something different in her life and thus reached for a woman. As I write this, I find my head being bombarded with millions of thoughts and I find it impossible to organize them all. As for Cunningham downplaying the homosexuality in the novel, I disagree. I don't think he shoves it in our faces, but I definitely think it's a large issue that is not subtle, but is at the forefront of the entire novel. Any thoughts? Holly |
Watch it guys!by Melanie (no login)Holy cow!! You all must watch Mrs. Dalloway. I read The Hours before watching the movie and now I am basically rereading it. Cunningham is amazing with his connections and intricacies, but I would have missed many of them if i hadn't seen Mrs. D. I cannot wait to discuss this book. It is like The Sixth Sense. Dr. Dwyer I need to talk to you but not over this in case not everyone has finished! Gussie, how are you doing with it? : ) mel |
responseby Gussie (no login)Melanie, I am really enjoying the novel. I do not feel as though it is something I HAVE to read for class. I save the reading for a treat after I have finished the rest of my work. Also, as I continue to read, I am intrigued by which details Cunningham chose to use and how he uses them. Septimus from Mrs. Dalloway haunts me. His torment before his suicide, and his experience in World War I. Which character did you find most interesting? Gussie |
Charactersby MElanie (no login)In the movie I really was intrigued by Clarissa's best friend Lucy,I believe that was her name. I like the way that Cunningham brings that idea of a "forbidden kiss" into each story. In the movie that scene was so simple and sweet. Yet its signifigance in terms of friendship and boundaries is greatly present in The Hours. In the book my favorite character was Richard because to me he represents all that is passionate. His writing, his illness, and his death were all so dramatic which I love in good fiction. There are other reasons but I shall not go into them here, perhaps in class. Love Mel |
characters in the movie Mrs. D...by Jeremy J. Johnson (no login)Even before he speared himself on the pointed gate, I loved the character of the mentally unstable war veteran. I think the actor who played that part did an excellent job, and the facial expressions match/corroborate the internal struggles of the character. However, I had difficulty with the tie (or lack of tie) back to Clarissa. I guess I just wanted more of a tie. More of a connection. What a great last line before jumping out a window... |
Response to Melanie and Gussieby PD (no login)Hi Melanie and Gussi-- So glad you are enjoying The Hours. I agree--it's a treat for me to read as well! It's interesting that Septimus has intrigued you, Gussie--and he's not even in the novel!! That's the amazing thing about Cunningham--you find yourself on this slippery slope between fiction and the real--between the text of The Hours and the text of Mrs. Dalloway (or the subtext). Sometimes I had to pause and remember where I was--some of the dislocation that Clarissa Vaughan refers to when she decribing her home in the village. Hey--where is everyone else on the bulletin board??? Let's hear from you!!!! |
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