Since I had the entire day off I decided to read as many apologies as possible. The presentations were fantastic and pairing that with the actual papers was fascinating, inspiring, and apocalyptic. Nice job everyone. I know I missed some classmates; however I was incredibly impressed with the amount and quality of work that was completed this semester. If you think about everyone’s blog as a composite pile of all the thoughts, ideas, emotions, homework and assignments, passion and art put into this class – lead by the one and only Dr. Sexson – the result is impressive to say the least.
We had one peer who was taking this class with English as her second language! And because Jiwon has that bilingual edge she’s a step ahead of us monolingual folk, myself included unfortunately, for now. The crisis of literature in Korea, where students are avoiding literature for more ‘practical’ degrees, is unfortunate. I commend Jiwon for taking the different path, especially in a different country. Her idea of reading for fun and literature as modes of self-perception is interesting. Whether literature provides the glasses or perceptions of someone else’s life, a fictional character, a war, a desire or other emotion, literature is a way of examining the most intimate aspects of life.
“Will that money really make them truly happy?” Good question Dustin, and I agree that all the money in the world isn’t going to satisfy people, they’ll always need more until they discover the enchantment of literature. You’ll make a great English teacher – make sure you share the story about asking out ladies as Don Quixote did with your students.
Our resident film major Claire showed-up the entire class with her reading speed through the first half of DQ. And ironically she is taking her time finishing it, as am I; to read that Don Quixote and Sancho Panza’s adventures come to an end sounds devastating, but there will be a new beginning, as always. Claire and Kyle both proclaim their love of stories. Kyle is right when he says that with each new technology all we are doing is creating new ways to tell stories. I can’t wait to see some of Claire’s films.
I thoroughly enjoyed George Lukacs’, err, Lisa’s thoughts on Keats’ chambers. I almost want to feel sorry for those other students who are stuck in the chamber of maiden, almost; and at the same time it’s somewhat exciting to think of us English majors as fugitive prototypes that those maiden-chamber students only wish they could be. Lisa even compares lit to drugs and that we are addicts, “Only English majors can accept the fact that, yes, we can become “high on literature”.” Though that type of reputation isn’t as common as it should be, it is certainly true.
Judson has an excellent intro to his paper, “There exists something in the mental engagement with literature. It’s not coherent or overtly recognizable.” He’s on to something here, something many poets have discussed, ‘it’ in W.S. Idea poem. Judson’s analysis of ‘abstract reason’ and literary allusion’ is insightful and intricate. Read it. I really enjoyed Chris’ crazy story about the crazy ones, hairy stairs. We all have the power to create, with our minds and our words. Chris also mentions literature’s ability to give perceptions of reality.
I cannot sympathize with Heather since my parents were actually kind of excited I became an English major. Yet Heather is the strong one for not retreating and pursuing her passion as far as possible. Her passage about how some people ‘have become as close to a robot as a human can become,’ is powerful. Why people want to get up every day and do the same job over and over, abide by all rules, regulations, schedules, propaganda, and politics, makes no sense to me. Indulging in literature and art is a way to escape from this monotonous world we call reality. Everyone’s reality is as real as their dreams and the books they read and write. It’s all real, and unfortunate that some people don’t realize that.
Joan and Kayla have incredibly natural and fascinating writing styles. Joan says she ‘tangents a lot’ and ‘words drain into Kayla’s soul.’ Kayla’s apology is sublime; I would classify it as a Poetic Essay as we classify Shelley’s Defense as poetic too. Joan may tangent a lot but they are smooth, natural, and effective tangents, not to mention entertaining listening to her debate her daemon. She said it is pointless to defend lit but probably only because she hates being forced to read and write. I was the same for a long time and then I realized, as reading and writing became passions, that being forced to read and write as homework is a lot better than math problems. Joan also has a passage that explains the ‘it’ well. When she writes about the Japanese theory of Kotodama where words have a power, or dust consciousness of sorts, that releases into the world as a physical force that affects everything upon being spoken or written it is anagogy at its finest.
Kevin and I literally stumbled into each other on Bronco face at 7 in the morning last Friday. We exchanged high-fives and laughs about how we were both going to tell the other we went skiing. ‘Channeling the Barman Poet’ was my favorite title out of all the apologies. I can relate, thought I’d probably change Barman to Linecook. “We specialize in the extraction of knowledge from language.” I couldn’t have said it better myself. Kevin also introduced us to Stanley Fish, someone who I also now have high admiration for. At first the idea that the humanities provide no use whatsoever is disheartening; but when you think about that in the terms of music, appreciating it for what it is and not what it means, and then all art, including literature, poetry, even film in the same terms than the humanities can be nothing other than their own good, for greater, better and everything in-between.
Ahh Sancho, you should wear that sombrero more often Sarah! I too have found myself arguing with fellow friends and collegiate peers who don’t understand the value of literature. It’s fun to tweak with their thoughts, get them to realize literature’s importance in terms of music. Whether you’re an English major or not the passion and aesthetic qualities of literature rival the enchantment of the aurora borealis.
Jake gets my vote for best organization in the paper. Literature, one, teaches us how to think, think so well I think it frightens some people. Two, the study of literature develops good communication skills. And three, literature provides insight into human conditions, conditions that stem from emotions. Literature is invaluable.
Rosanna and Gabby created their own literature for their term paper. If you were unfortunate enough to miss them I feel sorry for you. Gabby’s story was great, it satirized the sciences and meandered through caves, exploring light bulbs and touchstones and dreams. Rosanna’s poem “ The Defense of Little Hood Goodie” deserves 3rd, 4th, and 5th rereads. The intertextuality she plays with is far beyond impressive, intricate and creative. It has a gorgeous flow to it, rhythm that picks up at the end, “Where all meaning is slaughtered / And remains the empty possibility / Of hope.”
Maggie, I am also from Colorado, Aurora – hmm – outside of Denver. My family only lived there for a year. My brother was born in Steamboat and then we moved to Bozeman when I was three. So, sadly, I don’t remember and miss it as much as you. The lonely mountains of Montana have become my sanctuary. Yet I think you word the use of literature as “not only a highly educational experience but a spiritual journey as well,” very nicely. The touchstones we discussed in class were interesting and revealed intimate aspects of each student, whether they realized it or not. Maggie’s apology is full of excellent quotes including, “What a valuable education I can get if I only read!” and that with literature we’ll ‘never cease from exploration.' Oh and Maggie should write a book titled Soap Bubble Galaxies.
And to William Blake, or Carly as the class knows her, I too share a bit of your envy of DQ, as I’m sure most of the class does. His ability to live books to their fullest extent is a quality often only found in dreams. But remember what L.C. wrote: Life, what is it but a dream? Though you wouldn’t acknowledge it Carly, you have fulfilled your obligation to sing your own praises, and done so as impressively and eloquently as your hero the man of La Mancha himself Sir Don Quixote, in a well-written apology for literature.
To those students I didn’t mention, it is perhaps because I couldn’t find your apology or I found something else in your blog to read. For instance Jessi has outstanding coverage of the critic presentations, use her blog for reference. It may also be that my fingers are merely tired form all these writing binges Dr. Sexson inspires. But no matter. Through literature we have been acquainted and got to know each other, perhaps better than many of our non-literature friends know us. In a way literature is a secret society of people who recognize its anagogic power that ‘floats, though unseen amongst us.’ Literature encourages people to celebrate life at the circumference where more people, perceptions, and natures can fit than at the tiny center. We are a society that flounders through adventures and life with uncertainty about its purpose and we are happy about it.
