Blogging Around

In response to Bill's Best Of Week post:

Bill, I find your observation quite insightful and agree with your statements on Conrad's choice of perspective. Racism is a very prominent theme in the book and the choice of a white man as a narrator gives a very specific viewpoint on it that adds to the story.

In response to Taylor's Best Of Week post:

Taylor, I agree with your opinions on voice in terms of writing stories. Consistency seems to enhance character development by giving a steady, more natural feel. Cathedral was a great example of this.

Best of Week: Connotations of Cathedral

Titles may be so much shorter than the stories they head, but their effects on readers exist nonetheless. In class, a discussion group compiled an extensive list of connotations of the word "cathedral." While some were far-fetched, many made perfect sense and showed themes represented in the story itself.

Although readers may not consciously crank out a bunch of related themes when reading titles, reading a story would still be different without knowing the title. It doesn't necessarily define what the piece of writing is about, but it seems to subtly guide the thinking process behind the reading.

The connotations of "cathedral" themselves were not the best of the week; the idea that they mattered was.

Best of Today: The Horror

When trying to interpret a dense book by myself, I find that I often miss the most important points and connections. Listening to people mull over the text in class is tedious, but pays off in the end when new interpretations are shared.

Something that I completely missed while reading the book was the connection between Kurtz's Intended and his last words. The idea that 'the horror!' was a reference to the fiancee shows a very interesting level of the book; I'm glad that it was a topic of discussion today.

Reading Heart of Darkness is difficult, analyzing it is near traumatic. Having a group of other minds to approach it with (along with two teachers packing previous experience with the novel) is immensely helpful.

Connection: Heart of Darkness and Sigmund Freud

An aspect of Heart of Darkness that really sticks out is Kurtz's descent to savagery. An extended stay in the forests in mad pursuit of ivory seemed to do interesting things to the agent's mentality; the doctor met by Marlow would be intrigued. Severed heads acting as decoration? Rock on. Caring more about elephant tusks than your own health? Cheers.

Freud comes in naturally with the (arguably) mad agent: the repression of internal, base drives that are often considered ammoral or frowned upon. Kurtz's transformation demonstrates the tearing down of the wall that holds back these drives, called the 'id' by Freud. This raises new aspects of the novel: What is it about the Congo that causes these changes? What role does 'civilized' society play in the caging of the 'id'?

Marlow views Kurtz in a very mixed, ambiguous manner. Disgust, exaltation, respect, fear... They all seem to be expressed in his narrating. Is this how 'normal' people view those who have released inner animal urges? Perhaps an experience like that raises such a complex blend of emotions that he simply doesn't know how to react. Would you?

Metacognition: 1st Semester

Academically, sophomore year has seemed to have gone more or less as I planned so far. The daily routine has settled in, the natural flow of things has started up. One word comes to mind when I think of English class this year: different. We've tackled stuff ranging from Shakespeare to philosophy, fictional memoirs to acting. Variety seems to be the driving force behind our studies. Throughout these months, I feel that I've learned some things about my writing that never really would've popped up otherwise: I need to maintain focus when working on essays, my paragraphs don't transition well, etc.

Currently I'm reading Eric Clapton's autobiography. My initial expectations: "The guy's not a writer, he's a blues guitar god. This book will be a good story written in a mediocre manner." I was wrong. While he is no Charles Dickens, he writes with an honesty and reflective attitude that bares his soul for all to see. What allows such linguistic skills to manifest themselves? To be a good writer, one needs creativity and the ability to harness it. I find that I'm severely lacking in both departments.

That being said, perhaps this school year will provide ample opportunities to improve. Gradewise, English this year has been harder. That's a good sign. Only through struggle do we become stronger. Let it be noted that by no means am I saying last year was too easy; that would be arrogant and false.

A discussion this year that stuck with me fairly well was held during our examination of Sophie's World. It concerned some pretty heavy material involving God, the creation of the universe, and Luc waking from his eternal slumber to contribute his knowledge on the topic. Certain subjects that come up during English discussions resonate well with me simply because I've pondered them on my own before. I really like this aspect of our class.

Soon we will enter the second half of the school year. Things to expect: essays, active reading, and... poetry? Things to work on: writing, speaking in addition to listening during discussions. See you on the other side.

Blogging Around II - Merrick and Bill

In response to Bill's Post About King Lear and the Erosion of Mountains:

"Bill, I really like these analogies you've made between the characters of Lear and the natural forces that wear away at mountains. I know what you mean when you talk about using comparisons to better understand literature; I think that even if they don't realize it, everyone employs this method when they read."

In response to Merrick's Post About A One-Handed Basketball Player Winning A DI Scholarship:

"Merrick, this is a great post and I particularly liked the theme of work ethic and its significance. I agree that in many things, including but not exclusive to athletics, hard work is something that is universally necessary and will pave the way to achieving your goals. Something my coach has told us countless times is that "there's no shame in giving it all you've got and falling short." Some people are born with talent, some people aren't. You can't control that, but what you can control is what work you put in."

iMedia: Canon Rock

Christmas is getting closer and closer. Maybe not too close, but close enough. Anyway, this song reminds me of wintertime and Santa Claus, nevermind the fact that it's really not affiliated with Christmas at all, so I decided it would serve well for this post.

This particular version of Pachelbel's Canon is quite different from more traditional performances and recordings in that it's played on an electric guitar. Now if you just turned your nose up in disgust and/or sighed with a disappointed face, bear with me a little longer. The song isn't completely butchered; in fact I view it as an opportunity for two different time eras to meet each other through the greatest medium possible: art. Music, to be specific.

Can I be a truly unbiased listener when comparing this version to others? Probably not, the reason being that this recording was the first Canon that I ever heard. Nevertheless, I'll put my opinion out there that this performance is just as good as any made by some grand symphony orchestra or virtuoso pianist.

If you search "canon rock" on YouTube, lots of performances will pop up. This one is the shining star among them all. Not too heavy, not too mellow, not too long, not too short. You can listen intensely, you can listen easily. There's really no way of describing it, the piece is just beautiful. It also really lets you compare more classical, traditional styles of music with modern forms. It starts off with a soothing orchestral introduction, then slowly builds into the guitar driven body.

The combination of modern and traditional elements of music really in this piece really is what makes it interesting. I feel that it illustrates the connections that exist between all types of music; to me, musical genres simply represent differing methods of expression. I may not like all these methods, but I must be humble enough to admit that they are methods of expression.

Music has changed dramatically throughout the passage of its development. Change is not always universal; conflict is always created. What Canon Rock tries to accomplish is to tie together two differing styles of expression, two phases of music's long life. I respect that.

Canon Rock

For comparison - another, more traditional version, just as beautiful: Canon Non-Rock