The subject for today was the Courtesan.
I really hate the comparison of the courtesan to Anna Nichole Smith. I've had the displeasure of seeing a couple of episodes of her reality show, and some negitive things seemed to shine through. I hate to speak ill of the dead, but too bad. I hate writing this blog but I have to do it.
Anna Nichole Smith was a truly shallow, concieted, ill mannered, ill cultured and just plain stupid person. It wasn't an act for the show. From what I saw, she completly misunderstood her surroundings.
Thats not what a courtesan is to me.
A geisha to me is the pinticle of what a courtesan should be. Cultured, mannered, intelegent. Wise in the fact that she is aware of her surroundings, and subtlely capable of manipulation.
This whole fasination with Anna Nichole kind of makes me sick. She doesn't deserve, in my opinion, the masses wailing at her demise.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Feb 7th
Today we talked about how tradegy was "all in the family" and how that related to Antigone. That does remind me alot about Dune, and Star Wars(The old trilogy, not the crappy new ones), where elements of those stories seem more tragic specifically becasue family members are in conflict.
We are obligated to read a page of Steiner and try to do a close reading. My close reading was of page 149 in Antigones, which involves the methods in which women in literature strive for political power. In regards to older literatures, women have limited choices: Either act like a man and traverse the political spectrum as a sort of imitation, manipulate a man, or gain power through some sort of magic or mystisism. An example of a woman traversing politics like a man would be Joan of Arc, examples of women manipulating men can be found in Julius Caesar, and Shakespeare's Macbeth or really any sort of witch like characters who control men through magic validate the supernatural angle.
The idea here, is that Antigone, by referancing the "gods below" as reason for burying her brother is a claim to the supernatural as reasons for doing a deed that, beacuse of the orders of Creon, is political in nature.
We are obligated to read a page of Steiner and try to do a close reading. My close reading was of page 149 in Antigones, which involves the methods in which women in literature strive for political power. In regards to older literatures, women have limited choices: Either act like a man and traverse the political spectrum as a sort of imitation, manipulate a man, or gain power through some sort of magic or mystisism. An example of a woman traversing politics like a man would be Joan of Arc, examples of women manipulating men can be found in Julius Caesar, and Shakespeare's Macbeth or really any sort of witch like characters who control men through magic validate the supernatural angle.
The idea here, is that Antigone, by referancing the "gods below" as reason for burying her brother is a claim to the supernatural as reasons for doing a deed that, beacuse of the orders of Creon, is political in nature.
Feb 2nd
Today we learned that insignificant facts can be incerdibly important.
Prof. Sexson used Cassie's birthday and place (Grand Junction, Col. Feb 2nd 1987 at 7:00 am)
as something made important, since it apparently is the Aztec New Year as well as James Joyce's birthday. June 16th is "Bloomsday", and that reminded me of what Prof. Myers told us in our British Lit class about how hard it is to get a beer in Ireland that day beacuse of all the celebrations.
We also talked about how every day is really a holiday, or Holy Day.
The Prof. has a theory on the Mysteries of Eleusis, on what was shown, said and done. he believes what was shown was a stalk of grain.
Prof. Sexson used Cassie's birthday and place (Grand Junction, Col. Feb 2nd 1987 at 7:00 am)
as something made important, since it apparently is the Aztec New Year as well as James Joyce's birthday. June 16th is "Bloomsday", and that reminded me of what Prof. Myers told us in our British Lit class about how hard it is to get a beer in Ireland that day beacuse of all the celebrations.
We also talked about how every day is really a holiday, or Holy Day.
The Prof. has a theory on the Mysteries of Eleusis, on what was shown, said and done. he believes what was shown was a stalk of grain.
Jan 31st
Todays class "The Ordinary made into the Extrodanary"
We talked today about the Archatype of the White Goddess. The idea of the woman split into three diffrent identities: The Mother, the Daughter, and the Old Crone.
My theory is everything in literature can be disected into three parts. Remember the riddle? Whats on 4 legs in the morning, 2 legs in the afternoon, and three legs in the evening? Pretty sure I've misquoted a little, but the answer is of course man. Crawling as a baby, walking as an adult, and using a cane to get around in old age.
Isn't that all nice and tidy? The human experiance in three parts?
We can disect men into three parts without much thought, the son, the father, and the wise old man.
My main problem is even though just about anything in the human experiance can be divided into three parts, thats not reality. Language might be the way in which we express reality, but contains blind spots to which we cannot compensate.
We talked today about the Archatype of the White Goddess. The idea of the woman split into three diffrent identities: The Mother, the Daughter, and the Old Crone.
My theory is everything in literature can be disected into three parts. Remember the riddle? Whats on 4 legs in the morning, 2 legs in the afternoon, and three legs in the evening? Pretty sure I've misquoted a little, but the answer is of course man. Crawling as a baby, walking as an adult, and using a cane to get around in old age.
Isn't that all nice and tidy? The human experiance in three parts?
We can disect men into three parts without much thought, the son, the father, and the wise old man.
My main problem is even though just about anything in the human experiance can be divided into three parts, thats not reality. Language might be the way in which we express reality, but contains blind spots to which we cannot compensate.
Lack of Posting
Well, I haven't been posting so far this semester, and seeing how all these posts are due tomorrow, today is the day to put them up.
I have been keeping a journal, and class notes, but since I have to rely on MSU's computer labs for an internet connection, keeping an e-journal apart from my own network at home is rather problematic.
I fully realize that chances are the only person who will bother to read this blog this late in the game is Prof. Michael Sexson. I'm actually glad if thats the case. I burnt out on fantasy and mythology in middle school, which was around alomst a decade and a half ago. In all honesty I don't feel like I have anything to add that would be benificial to our discussions.
The primary reason, of course, is Science Fiction.
Every story we discuss, every idea that comes out of the classroom I simply have to think for a moment and I know a science fiction story that better illustrates the situation.
I have to admit, there is a lot of science fiction that is truly bad. Pointless stories, space action with no philosopy, stories of alien menaces from afar that have no true relevence to society or the individual.
But there is so much that is good. So much that is relivant today. What story in mythology explains the oil problems of today? Tell me what metaphor explains what hydrolic despotism means?
I haven't read every story. Maybe there is a myth that can directly relate to oil. But I have my doubts.
If you want a science fiction story about the oil problems of the 20th and 21st century, look no further than Dune. Spice is an allegory for oil. It's found in the deserts, it's controlled by outside factions, its absolutely critical for the functioning of an empire.
Dune scares me, becasue ever since I read it in high school it becomes more, and more, and even more relevent.
I have been keeping a journal, and class notes, but since I have to rely on MSU's computer labs for an internet connection, keeping an e-journal apart from my own network at home is rather problematic.
I fully realize that chances are the only person who will bother to read this blog this late in the game is Prof. Michael Sexson. I'm actually glad if thats the case. I burnt out on fantasy and mythology in middle school, which was around alomst a decade and a half ago. In all honesty I don't feel like I have anything to add that would be benificial to our discussions.
The primary reason, of course, is Science Fiction.
Every story we discuss, every idea that comes out of the classroom I simply have to think for a moment and I know a science fiction story that better illustrates the situation.
I have to admit, there is a lot of science fiction that is truly bad. Pointless stories, space action with no philosopy, stories of alien menaces from afar that have no true relevence to society or the individual.
But there is so much that is good. So much that is relivant today. What story in mythology explains the oil problems of today? Tell me what metaphor explains what hydrolic despotism means?
I haven't read every story. Maybe there is a myth that can directly relate to oil. But I have my doubts.
If you want a science fiction story about the oil problems of the 20th and 21st century, look no further than Dune. Spice is an allegory for oil. It's found in the deserts, it's controlled by outside factions, its absolutely critical for the functioning of an empire.
Dune scares me, becasue ever since I read it in high school it becomes more, and more, and even more relevent.
Monday, January 29, 2007
This is my blog for English 213 "Classical Foundations of Literature" with Dr. Michael Sexson.
Right now the foul demons of procrastination are in epic struggle with the muses for what gets posted on here.
Looking forward to the class. I do have one challenging dilemma though, to Dr. Sexson's assertion that "All that is past possesses our present." I'd agree that up until 50 years or so ago, maybe 70, that every theme created was inevitably linked to themes from the past. But something really big began to happen in the 20th century.
The conception of the digital era.
It's changed everything, and I was born at a time when that change was occurring. For instance, when my sister, four years older than myself, went to Helena Middle School there were no computers for her to use, to learn from, or to simply get used to. When I attended that same school we had a computer lab, terminals for general use. This technological revolution has impacted every aspect of our lives, from the ways in which we purchase items, to the ways in which we communicate, and to some extent to the way we live our lives. This blog, required by the class, would be proof enough of that.
So, my question is this: Where in the past was this radical change predicted, alluded to, or conceptualized? This is not a rhetorical question, and if anyone out there can construct a viable argument for it, I'd certainly like to learn it.
But, as of right now, I'm sure the Greeks before the common era didn't think of it.
Why would this be important to me? Do you realize for the first time in human history information is indestructible? Do you realize that copies of a work are spawned through the Internet completely independent of the original? (Stand Alone Complex)
The human condition has been changed in a way that could not of been predicted. Therefore, stories "Literature" if you will is being generated without any connection to the "classics." Things are happening that have never happened before.
If someone could prove me wrong, or provide a dialogue in opposition to this view, please feel free to post.
Right now the foul demons of procrastination are in epic struggle with the muses for what gets posted on here.
Looking forward to the class. I do have one challenging dilemma though, to Dr. Sexson's assertion that "All that is past possesses our present." I'd agree that up until 50 years or so ago, maybe 70, that every theme created was inevitably linked to themes from the past. But something really big began to happen in the 20th century.
The conception of the digital era.
It's changed everything, and I was born at a time when that change was occurring. For instance, when my sister, four years older than myself, went to Helena Middle School there were no computers for her to use, to learn from, or to simply get used to. When I attended that same school we had a computer lab, terminals for general use. This technological revolution has impacted every aspect of our lives, from the ways in which we purchase items, to the ways in which we communicate, and to some extent to the way we live our lives. This blog, required by the class, would be proof enough of that.
So, my question is this: Where in the past was this radical change predicted, alluded to, or conceptualized? This is not a rhetorical question, and if anyone out there can construct a viable argument for it, I'd certainly like to learn it.
But, as of right now, I'm sure the Greeks before the common era didn't think of it.
Why would this be important to me? Do you realize for the first time in human history information is indestructible? Do you realize that copies of a work are spawned through the Internet completely independent of the original? (Stand Alone Complex)
The human condition has been changed in a way that could not of been predicted. Therefore, stories "Literature" if you will is being generated without any connection to the "classics." Things are happening that have never happened before.
If someone could prove me wrong, or provide a dialogue in opposition to this view, please feel free to post.
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