In a brief response to your comments, Dr. Hartman, not all of the Crash Course videos are John's, although he does a lot of them (namely U.S. history, world history, and literature, so far); his brother Hank does the biology, chemistry, ecology, and psychology (this should be the video he did over Freud, actually) videos on that channel. They usually go a subject at a time, but they're still really interesting for supplement and getting an introduction into whatever they're discussing! This second video over "Things Fall Apart" was posted yesterday, in case you're interested, too, although I haven't watched it yet.
I thought "Chocolat" was really interesting this week, though, and it was kind of handy for trying to brush up on my French. The one thing I'm still curious about after our discussion in class was the significance of the riddles that Protée; I didn't quite understand the answers to them, either, although I definitely thought that it was an interesting aspect of his and France's relationship. Also, just a note - I've just realized that it's odd how Protée's name has the second, feminine e; in addition, I think his name is actually really interesting too, because it's the French name for the Greek god Proteus. Maybe this could almost tie in to how France's palm couldn't be read, in a weird sort of way, because Proteus was supposedly able to foretell the future.
I also started thinking about this after class, but I was wondering what the story would have been like if Aimée and Protée had actually done something, and who would be shamed more - whether Protée would be condemned for being involved with a white woman, whether Aimée would have gotten off the hook like the slave masters did or not, or both. Part of me wonders how much culture would have changed, in regards to that sort of thing, or if it would have changed at all.
4-18-14 - Response 12
As far as the idea has developed, my plan for my final project involves using Twitter; I would like to create individual Twitter accounts for the narrator of "The Yellow Wallpaper," Nora from "A Doll's House," and Gretchen from "Faust," and then live tweet (to an extent, the timestamps would most likely be just whenever I'm working on the project, not the actual span of time in their stories) the events that happen in each of their stories in character. Interwoven throughout those, I'd like to include other sorts of tweets that might highlight aspects of the characters that add to their plots - Gretchen perhaps tweeting part of a passage from the Bible, or Nora tweeting a picture of something she wants to buy - but within a modern context to show how some of the issues that they were facing as women can still be seen today, just in a different form. I'd like to use Twitter because it's much easier to share than making a fake Facebook account for each of the characters, but also because it allows for a bit of highlighting into modern criticism of social media and women, the idea of "an annoying Facebook girl," as an example. I think it might be an interesting juxtaposition, and I hope that it could help show the state of feminism and the situation of women today based on what it used to be, as well as providing a potentially deeper look into each of the women's personalities. If this proposal doesn't work, I have a backup idea just in case!
Also, ironically enough, this Crash Course video popped up in my YouTube subscription box yesterday, and I thought it'd be fun to share! Well, as fun as talking about "Things Fall Apart" can be, given the nature of the story. It doesn't cover every issue or plot piece just yet, as it's only the first part of the videos centered around Achebe's work, but John does talk about some of the things we mentioned in class this week. Again, ironically, in one of my English classes this week, we had peer review for our research papers, and one of my review group member's was writing over "Heart of Darkness," so I recommended he check out what Achebe had to say about it.
Rachel, are the Crash Course videos all by John Green? I'll have to watch that when I'm not responding to paper topics. I really like your project idea. If you wanted to comment on any of the stories, you could have people re-tweet to tweet at the characters, right? (I don't use twitter.) I just hope Torvald doesn't have twitter. -MH
4-11-14 - Response 11
I really enjoyed Blake and Huy's presentation this week over "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," and I especially appreciated the authorial context of Eliot; I read this poem in my English 230 class this semester (so Peter and I both already had copies outside of the textbook, ironically enough), but we read it strictly to analyze it in comparison to another poem, so no research was really done on Eliot beforehand, and I think it's interesting how that knowledge can affect how we read the poem, or any work, really.. I liked the Freudian/psychoanalytic look at the poem, as well, as that definitely provided me with another perspective of the poem - and I definitely added the things we mentioned in class to my already existing notes on the poem.
I also enjoyed Rebekah and Andy's presentation over modern art this week, and I think it was a great opening to being able to see Dafna Kaffeman's work, which I may be more or less obsessed with right now. When we were discussing what art is on Monday, although we all admitted that modern art is certainly more than just painting, I think we still sort of focused on this idea of one medium - simply photography, simply sculpture, what have you, and it was amazing to see how Dafna used different mediums in each piece - specifically the glass combined with the embroidery. The context was so poignant as well, especially as she explained her artistic choices; this was incredibly eye opening, because I feel as if with art, sometimes it's difficult to really grasp what the artist may have wanted, and getting to see her was simply amazing.
I didn't get to mention it in class, but as we were discussing modern art, I really wanted to bring up the Art Assignment, which really touches on modern art in these different mediums in a really interesting way; it's hosted by Sarah Urist Green (with help from John), who used to be the curator of the art museum down in Indy, and it truly provides a new perspective on what art can be and what it is - I highly recommend watching it!
4-4-14 - NO RESPONSE (essay due Monday)
3-28-14 - Response 10
Since discussing what Marlowe said to Kurtz's Intended came up at the very end of class, I was thinking about it all the way to my next class; while I stand by what I said (that the heart of darkness was perhaps in Africa after all and that maybe, considering this, before living there Kurtz's last words really would have been for his Intended and not the horror), I was thinking a lot about the role of women in Kurtz's life. I don't think that it was that his Intended was the womanly influence he needed in his life - because if that was all it took to keep men good, the world would probably be a much better place considering how many leaders are married and such, because his African mistress seemed to do nothing for him in regards to keeping him, simply, good. At least in comparison to how he ended up.
This week, I was also thinking a lot about the idea of an Oedipus complex, despite the fact that we didn't get to discuss it; "Oedipus Rex" is actually one of my favorite plays, though, so the term always makes me slightly angry - it was not that Oedipus had the complex, since it was all his fate's fault (depending on how you look it) and he didn't know that Laius and Jocasta were his mother and father as those you have an Oedipus complex do. I'm assuming that Freud was really just using the general idea for ease, but it still kind of bothers me.
Freud in general sort of bothered me - I'm not saying that I don't find his ideas fascinating, but I wish they could be backed up by hard science, or some sort of research. Especially with his dream examples, he really just seemed to go with whatever supported his ideas, rather than doing any sorts of experiments (which would have been impossible, I'm sure). Freud really reminds me of Jean Ralphio in this clip from "Parks and Recreation" (with the reassociating), as I felt that was what he was doing with his interpretations of the dreams, trying to get the answer that best fit his ideas. Also, ironically enough, this popped up on my Facebook today after class - I guess it knew what we were talking about today!
3-21-14 - Response 9
From this week, one of my favorite things that we covered was undoubtedly "The White Man's Burden" by Rudyard Kipling. We discussed it last semester in my History 150 class briefly, but you don't normally get to examine the actual text of poems in most history classes, and mine was no exception. I think that it's interesting, though, how the Kipling's poem is paired with pieces directed towards the imperialism that was occurring in Africa at the time, while one of the subtitles of the poem is "The United States and The Philippine Islands." I've checked a few sources and according to them, Kipling could have written it as a plea for the United States to take up the burden as the European nations had done. I also think that the poem itself is interesting in regards to Kipling - as versed as he was in Indian culture, reading through the poem, part of me desperately wanted for the text to be satirical.
The opinion towards imperialism in general, though, is fascinating - and not necessarily in a good way, of course (because as impressive as Leopold having the entire Congo under his direct control rather than his country's is, it's far from enchanting). In my group today, the part of "Heart of Darkness" that Casey brought up prompted her to ask what the world would be like if instead of trying to reform these "barbaric" civilizations, the Europeans had accepted these cultures as different and praised them and learned from them. I know this came up a bit last semester in 202, as well, when we were discussing the Spaniards/other Europeans and the Native Americans, and it really makes you wonder why they didn't think that - or if some did, why there are so few accounts that we all have access to, in comparison to the number of other texts.
3-14-14 - NO RESPONSE (spring break)
3-7-14 - Response 8
One of my favorite ideas from this week was definitely the idea that Blake brought up about "The Yellow Wallpaper." I hadn't even thought about the idea that maybe it wasn't actually wallpaper at all, and I'm kind of in love with this idea that it was a mirror (or reflective surface and herself, really) all along. Part of me wishes that Charlotte Perkins Gilman was still alive so I could ask her about it - I think it would have been a totally fascinating take on what was driving the narrator so insane. The video from the presentation really put what was going on into perspective, though, because I think her crawling over her husband didn't quite sink in while as I was reading as it did when I was watching it happen. I really got the sort of stereotypical gothic sense from that, and part of me couldn't help but find the fact that he fainted funny - in a sadistic sort of sense, but it was almost nice to see that after he had been the one in control, she finally had an effect on him, even if it was just making him collapse.
I also really enjoyed "The Revolver" as well as "The Woman's Bible." I got another sadistic chuckle out of the fact that the revolver wasn't loaded at all, but really, this entire week, my brain was just infuriated at the patriarchy, past and present. In "The Woman's Bible," though, I was actually taken back to my senior year of high school, because we read part of Genesis as part of our unit on myths, and we talked about how Eve got a much harsher punishment than Adam, it seemed like. Childbirth is going to be painful for every woman, but nowadays, and even when Stanton wrote the piece, men weren't all necessarily confined to the pain of working the earth. This idea might be able to be formed into some semblance of an argument concerning how much women really had to deal with in this time, I'm not quite sure, but it could be an interesting thought.
2-28-14 - Response 7
Before presenting today and hearing other people's opinions, I read "A Doll's House" and was basically Team Nora all the way, to put it simply. I was amazed at what she did at the ending - because, even nowadays, it seems rare to have a main female character not end up with the main guy. Of course, Nora was with Torvald at the beginning, but I thought it was almost refreshing to see her not depend on him at the end and go off on her own. After class, though, I think I might agree with the idea that Nora should have at least given Torvald a bit more of a chance, because her actions really seem drastic looking back on them. I can see where the critics of "A Doll's House" were coming from, and I wish I could have seen more development somehow with Nora to hint that the ending was a possibility, because it seemed so abrupt. I don't think that it was necessarily out of character, but she seemed so quintessentially nineteenth century that it can kind of throw you off.
I was also really interested in Mrs. Linde in Ibsen's play. In my English 230 class, we recently learned about femme sole and femme covert (in reference to "Much Ado About Nothing"), and Mrs. Linde immediately reminded me of the term femme sole. I couldn't believe, though, that she didn't even consider the fact that maybe Nora had tried to get the loan herself (lottery? Unlikely. Dr. Rank? A bit more plausible, but it wouldn't have been my second guess), but I realize that that's probably my twenty-first century mindset rather than her nineteenth century mind. Now, it seems so obvious - of course she could have gotten the loan herself, but the fact that she actually couldn't legally kind of makes me want to scream at the patriarchy, past and present.
2-21-14 - Response 6
Throughout reading "The Death of Ivan Ilych," I just really wanted to know what exactly his illness was. The fact that that question was unanswered really kind of bothered me, but I don't know if there could have been any logical explanation for what was wrong with him at all. Regardless of this, though, I still don't understand why Ivan went and got married in the first place, but I think he definitely recognized that as well, with his epiphany. Nowadays, not always going along with societal expectations for the sake of your happiness seems like common sense, but I part of me wants to know how much of what Ivan did was just part of his character and how much was just the time period that the story took place in - or if his character as a whole was really just a reflection of the time. We already touched on the fact that he's representative of the bourgeois in class, so maybe it really is that. When we were asked about the meaning of life, though, the first thing that came to mind was the term "ultimate concern." Thinking about this, I feel like even though Ivan had his epiphany, he didn't really have his own ultimate concern, except for maybe his own happiness.
In addition to Tolstoy, I really enjoyed getting a chance to read the Communist Manifesto. In various history classes over the years, it's always been that piece that's simply talked about, rarely read. I also thought it was really interesting how different Marx's ideas seemed than the communism we have now in China and in Russia - it's amazing how far things like that can deviate, especially when there aren't really any set rules or ideas about how it should be done. I have to wonder, too, what Marx would think of it now, if he could see where his ideas have gone.
2-14-14 - NO RESPONSE (essay due)
2-7-14 - Response 5
Before today, I'd actually heard the song with Gretchen at the spinning wheel during one of my voice lessons before, but I'd never actually known the story behind it like I do now. Like with "Tartuffe" last semester, knowing the story behind the song really changed the meaning of it for me, although I'd never really understood it anyway, considering it was in German. Hearing it sung made her words in that section of "Faust" really come to life, and I could really hear and imagine the emotion when I read over them again after that. The first thing that came to mind, though, when we started listening to it, was the memory of my voice lessons instructor at the time saying that the accompaniment was hell to play, and that really makes sense after reading "Faust." Ah, the irony!
I really loved all of the music in general, though, and I could have sworn that I'd heard the "Romeo and Juliet" theme before somewhere else, but I couldn't think of where. The part on the webpage that compared romantic music to a movie soundtrack really put it into perspective for me, especially as someone who has at least five movie soundtracks currently on her iPod and phone. That description of the music was really just spot on, and I couldn't have thought of a better way to describe it. I also really loved the set sort of pattern for romantic lyric poetry, and it made each of the poems much easier to understand. That emotional development reminded me of the music, as well, with the growth and conclusion that each piece - whether literary or musical - reached.
Also, here is the clip that inspired the idea for my first essay (although the quality is unfortunately bad; regardless, it's a very moving scene and I can't wait to try and apply the concept to either Jacobs or Whitman, but I'm still torn.)
1-31-14 - Response 4
I think the part of "Faust" that interested me the most was Gretchen's story; I really enjoyed - and I swear I'm not sadistic when I say this - being able to see how this deal affected someone else other than Faust, because that's the way it always goes, isn't it? Someone always gets hurt, you play with fire and someone gets burnt, and in this case, Mephistopheles is basically the fire. I still think that the fact that Mephistopheles' jewels ended up in the Church is hysterical, and it almost compliments his own humor that's seen throughout. I also really loved when the voice called down that Gretchen was saved - reading it almost gave me chills, I liked it so much, and it fascinates me that the ending of that part mirrors Faust eventually being dragged into Hell. What completely baffled me about Gretchen's part of "Faust," though, was undoubtedly the fact that Faust didn't even acknowledge the fact that she'd killed their child and that he was the father of it at all. I mean - even Edward Cullen stayed with Bella (regardless of the fact that they were married, unlike Faust and Gretchen) and their kid was literally killing her, and he didn't leave her.
I also enjoyed talking about the different examples of romantic heroes in class today, and while I'd heard the term Byronic hero before, it was really interesting to actually identify these traits in other, more familiar characters. Before this, I always thought of a romantic hero as more of a Prince Charming type than the Beast, but I loved seeing the connection that all of the characters on the board had in common, this brooding, dark quality that seemed to be present in all of them. Not to mention the Faustian desire that each of them had to some extent - and if I can relate Disney to something, I'm automatically interested, and connecting the Beast with the term really helped me understand it more than I had before.
1-24-14 - Response 3
The more I thought about Faust's moaning (at least, that's really what it felt like to me, because he wasn't even trying to get out of his room and away from his books, even if he couldn't achieve following the sun), the more he reminded me of Ariel from "The Little Mermaid." I almost started picturing him singing "Part of Your World," except instead of Faust being surrounded by gadgets and gizmos aplenty, he's surrounded by books, and he definitely doesn't want to be where the people are. This then got me thinking, still focusing on the comparison between "Faust" and the Disney movie - would this make Mephistopheles Ursula? In a way, yes, considering that Faust made a deal with him (one that benefits only one party in the beginning, and only then the other after the turning point, whether that's the sunset on the third day or Faust's death), but there was one similarity that hit me. What really changes the way we might look at Faust or Ariel, or any hero, is how they make the deal - neither of them approached who they made the deal with - Faust was of course approached by Mephistopheles himself, while Ariel was approached by Flotsam and Jetsam rather than Ursula. There's something about being presented with the deal though that I think makes them more heroic, at least to some extent - if either of them had asked Mephistopheles or Ursula for help on their own, and if they'd found them on their own, it would have almost taken the villainous edge out of those two. By being approached, instead, they show that there's still room for them to potentially go back on the deal, and that they're not seeking out opportunities to get what they want, which makes them seem more good, in a way.
I really loved the Harry Potter analogy from class, too, though, but I found myself relating a bit more to Wagner than to Faust. While I would probably give anything to be Harry Potter or be in his world like Faust would, I think that Wagner makes more sense, realistically - reading about it is almost as good, especially considering it's impossible in this world - but I have to wonder if Faust will think similarly after his deal with Mephistopheles, though.
1-17-14 - Response 2
After reading Jacobs' narrative, it made complete sense why people thought it was fiction at first - there's a certain connotation that comes with autobiographical works and the way that they read, I feel like, and her narrative didn't fit within that connotation that I had been expecting. I actually really enjoyed reading it because of this, I think. I got more invested in it for some reason, and I think, as well, that this contributed to people thinking it was fiction - it's much more difficult to get swept up into retellings of real life events, at least in most cases. Regardless of whether people weren't sure if it was true or not, it got them talking about Jacobs' narrative, I'm sure - and if it hadn't happened to her, it very well could have happened to someone else. Her story really amazed me, though - especially when it came to being in hiding for seven years. Seven years! I can't even imagine what that must have been like, and it seems like such an impressive number, but I don't think she would have thought so, as concerned as she undoubtedly was about the possibility of being found.
I was surprisingly invested in "Song of Myself" as well, though I have to initially credit that to my eagerness to actually read the poem after it was a big plot point in one of John Green's novels. I was previously unaware that Whitman was really the first to write in free verse, but that was probably one of my favorite things that I learned from his section. I also really loved the different perspective on freedom that it provided, as well as the different perspective that "The Grand Inquisitor". "The Grand Inquisitor" was especially interesting because the story with Jesus and the inquisitor took place in a different time than when it was being written, and I have to wonder how different the definition for freedom really was during those times.
1-10-14 - Response 1
As far as a brief introduction goes, I'm Rachel Lauve, pronounced like "love", but I get all sorts of pronunciation variations. I'm from a small town on the Kansas City side of Missouri (about forty minutes or so from the city, really only notable for our top show choir, which I was lucky enough to be apart of), but I moved to Zionsville recently and I'm still unfamiliar with Indiana geography, unfortunately. I had a fantastic English teacher my senior year of high school who influenced me to major in secondary English education, but I've always loved reading and writing and couldn't imagine my life without them. My favorite band is Bastille, my favorite T.V. show is Doctor Who (but I'm also obsessed with The Big Bang Theory), my favorite author is John Green, and I absolutely love Disney movies. A fun fact, of sorts, is that I'm currently teaching myself how to play the ukulele, but that's enough about me - time for some reflection on Frederick Douglass.
One of my favorite parts of the Douglass' narrative was the section where he talked about the songs that the slaves used to sing, and it was probably one of the sections I found myself relating to most, just because I've heard some of them before, and they really are so meaningful. We sang some of those types of spirituals in choir throughout the years, but I can't imagine what it would have been like to listen to them with Douglass' state of mind. I thought that that section was perhaps one of the most emotional in the narrative, at least as far as his reaction goes - it also humanizes him again, showing that he has actual, human emotions, and I think it also says something about slavery as a whole - "boiling over with the bitterest anguish" is quite an image. Another part that jumped out at me in the narrative was the idea that freedom is a right, highlighted when Douglass says to the white boys, "You will be free as soon as you are twenty-one, but I am a slave for life! Have not I as good a right to be free as you have?"
In a brief response to your comments, Dr. Hartman, not all of the Crash Course videos are John's, although he does a lot of them (namely U.S. history, world history, and literature, so far); his brother Hank does the biology, chemistry, ecology, and psychology (this should be the video he did over Freud, actually) videos on that channel. They usually go a subject at a time, but they're still really interesting for supplement and getting an introduction into whatever they're discussing! This second video over "Things Fall Apart" was posted yesterday, in case you're interested, too, although I haven't watched it yet.
I thought "Chocolat" was really interesting this week, though, and it was kind of handy for trying to brush up on my French. The one thing I'm still curious about after our discussion in class was the significance of the riddles that Protée; I didn't quite understand the answers to them, either, although I definitely thought that it was an interesting aspect of his and France's relationship. Also, just a note - I've just realized that it's odd how Protée's name has the second, feminine e; in addition, I think his name is actually really interesting too, because it's the French name for the Greek god Proteus. Maybe this could almost tie in to how France's palm couldn't be read, in a weird sort of way, because Proteus was supposedly able to foretell the future.
I also started thinking about this after class, but I was wondering what the story would have been like if Aimée and Protée had actually done something, and who would be shamed more - whether Protée would be condemned for being involved with a white woman, whether Aimée would have gotten off the hook like the slave masters did or not, or both. Part of me wonders how much culture would have changed, in regards to that sort of thing, or if it would have changed at all.
4-18-14 - Response 12
As far as the idea has developed, my plan for my final project involves using Twitter; I would like to create individual Twitter accounts for the narrator of "The Yellow Wallpaper," Nora from "A Doll's House," and Gretchen from "Faust," and then live tweet (to an extent, the timestamps would most likely be just whenever I'm working on the project, not the actual span of time in their stories) the events that happen in each of their stories in character. Interwoven throughout those, I'd like to include other sorts of tweets that might highlight aspects of the characters that add to their plots - Gretchen perhaps tweeting part of a passage from the Bible, or Nora tweeting a picture of something she wants to buy - but within a modern context to show how some of the issues that they were facing as women can still be seen today, just in a different form. I'd like to use Twitter because it's much easier to share than making a fake Facebook account for each of the characters, but also because it allows for a bit of highlighting into modern criticism of social media and women, the idea of "an annoying Facebook girl," as an example. I think it might be an interesting juxtaposition, and I hope that it could help show the state of feminism and the situation of women today based on what it used to be, as well as providing a potentially deeper look into each of the women's personalities. If this proposal doesn't work, I have a backup idea just in case!
Also, ironically enough, this Crash Course video popped up in my YouTube subscription box yesterday, and I thought it'd be fun to share! Well, as fun as talking about "Things Fall Apart" can be, given the nature of the story. It doesn't cover every issue or plot piece just yet, as it's only the first part of the videos centered around Achebe's work, but John does talk about some of the things we mentioned in class this week. Again, ironically, in one of my English classes this week, we had peer review for our research papers, and one of my review group member's was writing over "Heart of Darkness," so I recommended he check out what Achebe had to say about it.
Rachel, are the Crash Course videos all by John Green? I'll have to watch that when I'm not responding to paper topics. I really like your project idea. If you wanted to comment on any of the stories, you could have people re-tweet to tweet at the characters, right? (I don't use twitter.) I just hope Torvald doesn't have twitter. -MH
4-11-14 - Response 11
I really enjoyed Blake and Huy's presentation this week over "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," and I especially appreciated the authorial context of Eliot; I read this poem in my English 230 class this semester (so Peter and I both already had copies outside of the textbook, ironically enough), but we read it strictly to analyze it in comparison to another poem, so no research was really done on Eliot beforehand, and I think it's interesting how that knowledge can affect how we read the poem, or any work, really.. I liked the Freudian/psychoanalytic look at the poem, as well, as that definitely provided me with another perspective of the poem - and I definitely added the things we mentioned in class to my already existing notes on the poem.
I also enjoyed Rebekah and Andy's presentation over modern art this week, and I think it was a great opening to being able to see Dafna Kaffeman's work, which I may be more or less obsessed with right now. When we were discussing what art is on Monday, although we all admitted that modern art is certainly more than just painting, I think we still sort of focused on this idea of one medium - simply photography, simply sculpture, what have you, and it was amazing to see how Dafna used different mediums in each piece - specifically the glass combined with the embroidery. The context was so poignant as well, especially as she explained her artistic choices; this was incredibly eye opening, because I feel as if with art, sometimes it's difficult to really grasp what the artist may have wanted, and getting to see her was simply amazing.
I didn't get to mention it in class, but as we were discussing modern art, I really wanted to bring up the Art Assignment, which really touches on modern art in these different mediums in a really interesting way; it's hosted by Sarah Urist Green (with help from John), who used to be the curator of the art museum down in Indy, and it truly provides a new perspective on what art can be and what it is - I highly recommend watching it!
4-4-14 - NO RESPONSE (essay due Monday)
3-28-14 - Response 10
Since discussing what Marlowe said to Kurtz's Intended came up at the very end of class, I was thinking about it all the way to my next class; while I stand by what I said (that the heart of darkness was perhaps in Africa after all and that maybe, considering this, before living there Kurtz's last words really would have been for his Intended and not the horror), I was thinking a lot about the role of women in Kurtz's life. I don't think that it was that his Intended was the womanly influence he needed in his life - because if that was all it took to keep men good, the world would probably be a much better place considering how many leaders are married and such, because his African mistress seemed to do nothing for him in regards to keeping him, simply, good. At least in comparison to how he ended up.
This week, I was also thinking a lot about the idea of an Oedipus complex, despite the fact that we didn't get to discuss it; "Oedipus Rex" is actually one of my favorite plays, though, so the term always makes me slightly angry - it was not that Oedipus had the complex, since it was all his fate's fault (depending on how you look it) and he didn't know that Laius and Jocasta were his mother and father as those you have an Oedipus complex do. I'm assuming that Freud was really just using the general idea for ease, but it still kind of bothers me.
Freud in general sort of bothered me - I'm not saying that I don't find his ideas fascinating, but I wish they could be backed up by hard science, or some sort of research. Especially with his dream examples, he really just seemed to go with whatever supported his ideas, rather than doing any sorts of experiments (which would have been impossible, I'm sure). Freud really reminds me of Jean Ralphio in this clip from "Parks and Recreation" (with the reassociating), as I felt that was what he was doing with his interpretations of the dreams, trying to get the answer that best fit his ideas. Also, ironically enough, this popped up on my Facebook today after class - I guess it knew what we were talking about today!
3-21-14 - Response 9
From this week, one of my favorite things that we covered was undoubtedly "The White Man's Burden" by Rudyard Kipling. We discussed it last semester in my History 150 class briefly, but you don't normally get to examine the actual text of poems in most history classes, and mine was no exception. I think that it's interesting, though, how the Kipling's poem is paired with pieces directed towards the imperialism that was occurring in Africa at the time, while one of the subtitles of the poem is "The United States and The Philippine Islands." I've checked a few sources and according to them, Kipling could have written it as a plea for the United States to take up the burden as the European nations had done. I also think that the poem itself is interesting in regards to Kipling - as versed as he was in Indian culture, reading through the poem, part of me desperately wanted for the text to be satirical.
The opinion towards imperialism in general, though, is fascinating - and not necessarily in a good way, of course (because as impressive as Leopold having the entire Congo under his direct control rather than his country's is, it's far from enchanting). In my group today, the part of "Heart of Darkness" that Casey brought up prompted her to ask what the world would be like if instead of trying to reform these "barbaric" civilizations, the Europeans had accepted these cultures as different and praised them and learned from them. I know this came up a bit last semester in 202, as well, when we were discussing the Spaniards/other Europeans and the Native Americans, and it really makes you wonder why they didn't think that - or if some did, why there are so few accounts that we all have access to, in comparison to the number of other texts.
3-14-14 - NO RESPONSE (spring break)
3-7-14 - Response 8
One of my favorite ideas from this week was definitely the idea that Blake brought up about "The Yellow Wallpaper." I hadn't even thought about the idea that maybe it wasn't actually wallpaper at all, and I'm kind of in love with this idea that it was a mirror (or reflective surface and herself, really) all along. Part of me wishes that Charlotte Perkins Gilman was still alive so I could ask her about it - I think it would have been a totally fascinating take on what was driving the narrator so insane. The video from the presentation really put what was going on into perspective, though, because I think her crawling over her husband didn't quite sink in while as I was reading as it did when I was watching it happen. I really got the sort of stereotypical gothic sense from that, and part of me couldn't help but find the fact that he fainted funny - in a sadistic sort of sense, but it was almost nice to see that after he had been the one in control, she finally had an effect on him, even if it was just making him collapse.
I also really enjoyed "The Revolver" as well as "The Woman's Bible." I got another sadistic chuckle out of the fact that the revolver wasn't loaded at all, but really, this entire week, my brain was just infuriated at the patriarchy, past and present. In "The Woman's Bible," though, I was actually taken back to my senior year of high school, because we read part of Genesis as part of our unit on myths, and we talked about how Eve got a much harsher punishment than Adam, it seemed like. Childbirth is going to be painful for every woman, but nowadays, and even when Stanton wrote the piece, men weren't all necessarily confined to the pain of working the earth. This idea might be able to be formed into some semblance of an argument concerning how much women really had to deal with in this time, I'm not quite sure, but it could be an interesting thought.
2-28-14 - Response 7
Before presenting today and hearing other people's opinions, I read "A Doll's House" and was basically Team Nora all the way, to put it simply. I was amazed at what she did at the ending - because, even nowadays, it seems rare to have a main female character not end up with the main guy. Of course, Nora was with Torvald at the beginning, but I thought it was almost refreshing to see her not depend on him at the end and go off on her own. After class, though, I think I might agree with the idea that Nora should have at least given Torvald a bit more of a chance, because her actions really seem drastic looking back on them. I can see where the critics of "A Doll's House" were coming from, and I wish I could have seen more development somehow with Nora to hint that the ending was a possibility, because it seemed so abrupt. I don't think that it was necessarily out of character, but she seemed so quintessentially nineteenth century that it can kind of throw you off.
I was also really interested in Mrs. Linde in Ibsen's play. In my English 230 class, we recently learned about femme sole and femme covert (in reference to "Much Ado About Nothing"), and Mrs. Linde immediately reminded me of the term femme sole. I couldn't believe, though, that she didn't even consider the fact that maybe Nora had tried to get the loan herself (lottery? Unlikely. Dr. Rank? A bit more plausible, but it wouldn't have been my second guess), but I realize that that's probably my twenty-first century mindset rather than her nineteenth century mind. Now, it seems so obvious - of course she could have gotten the loan herself, but the fact that she actually couldn't legally kind of makes me want to scream at the patriarchy, past and present.
2-21-14 - Response 6
Throughout reading "The Death of Ivan Ilych," I just really wanted to know what exactly his illness was. The fact that that question was unanswered really kind of bothered me, but I don't know if there could have been any logical explanation for what was wrong with him at all. Regardless of this, though, I still don't understand why Ivan went and got married in the first place, but I think he definitely recognized that as well, with his epiphany. Nowadays, not always going along with societal expectations for the sake of your happiness seems like common sense, but I part of me wants to know how much of what Ivan did was just part of his character and how much was just the time period that the story took place in - or if his character as a whole was really just a reflection of the time. We already touched on the fact that he's representative of the bourgeois in class, so maybe it really is that. When we were asked about the meaning of life, though, the first thing that came to mind was the term "ultimate concern." Thinking about this, I feel like even though Ivan had his epiphany, he didn't really have his own ultimate concern, except for maybe his own happiness.
In addition to Tolstoy, I really enjoyed getting a chance to read the Communist Manifesto. In various history classes over the years, it's always been that piece that's simply talked about, rarely read. I also thought it was really interesting how different Marx's ideas seemed than the communism we have now in China and in Russia - it's amazing how far things like that can deviate, especially when there aren't really any set rules or ideas about how it should be done. I have to wonder, too, what Marx would think of it now, if he could see where his ideas have gone.
2-14-14 - NO RESPONSE (essay due)
2-7-14 - Response 5
Before today, I'd actually heard the song with Gretchen at the spinning wheel during one of my voice lessons before, but I'd never actually known the story behind it like I do now. Like with "Tartuffe" last semester, knowing the story behind the song really changed the meaning of it for me, although I'd never really understood it anyway, considering it was in German. Hearing it sung made her words in that section of "Faust" really come to life, and I could really hear and imagine the emotion when I read over them again after that. The first thing that came to mind, though, when we started listening to it, was the memory of my voice lessons instructor at the time saying that the accompaniment was hell to play, and that really makes sense after reading "Faust." Ah, the irony!
I really loved all of the music in general, though, and I could have sworn that I'd heard the "Romeo and Juliet" theme before somewhere else, but I couldn't think of where. The part on the webpage that compared romantic music to a movie soundtrack really put it into perspective for me, especially as someone who has at least five movie soundtracks currently on her iPod and phone. That description of the music was really just spot on, and I couldn't have thought of a better way to describe it. I also really loved the set sort of pattern for romantic lyric poetry, and it made each of the poems much easier to understand. That emotional development reminded me of the music, as well, with the growth and conclusion that each piece - whether literary or musical - reached.
Also, here is the clip that inspired the idea for my first essay (although the quality is unfortunately bad; regardless, it's a very moving scene and I can't wait to try and apply the concept to either Jacobs or Whitman, but I'm still torn.)
1-31-14 - Response 4
I think the part of "Faust" that interested me the most was Gretchen's story; I really enjoyed - and I swear I'm not sadistic when I say this - being able to see how this deal affected someone else other than Faust, because that's the way it always goes, isn't it? Someone always gets hurt, you play with fire and someone gets burnt, and in this case, Mephistopheles is basically the fire. I still think that the fact that Mephistopheles' jewels ended up in the Church is hysterical, and it almost compliments his own humor that's seen throughout. I also really loved when the voice called down that Gretchen was saved - reading it almost gave me chills, I liked it so much, and it fascinates me that the ending of that part mirrors Faust eventually being dragged into Hell. What completely baffled me about Gretchen's part of "Faust," though, was undoubtedly the fact that Faust didn't even acknowledge the fact that she'd killed their child and that he was the father of it at all. I mean - even Edward Cullen stayed with Bella (regardless of the fact that they were married, unlike Faust and Gretchen) and their kid was literally killing her, and he didn't leave her.
I also enjoyed talking about the different examples of romantic heroes in class today, and while I'd heard the term Byronic hero before, it was really interesting to actually identify these traits in other, more familiar characters. Before this, I always thought of a romantic hero as more of a Prince Charming type than the Beast, but I loved seeing the connection that all of the characters on the board had in common, this brooding, dark quality that seemed to be present in all of them. Not to mention the Faustian desire that each of them had to some extent - and if I can relate Disney to something, I'm automatically interested, and connecting the Beast with the term really helped me understand it more than I had before.
1-24-14 - Response 3
The more I thought about Faust's moaning (at least, that's really what it felt like to me, because he wasn't even trying to get out of his room and away from his books, even if he couldn't achieve following the sun), the more he reminded me of Ariel from "The Little Mermaid." I almost started picturing him singing "Part of Your World," except instead of Faust being surrounded by gadgets and gizmos aplenty, he's surrounded by books, and he definitely doesn't want to be where the people are. This then got me thinking, still focusing on the comparison between "Faust" and the Disney movie - would this make Mephistopheles Ursula? In a way, yes, considering that Faust made a deal with him (one that benefits only one party in the beginning, and only then the other after the turning point, whether that's the sunset on the third day or Faust's death), but there was one similarity that hit me. What really changes the way we might look at Faust or Ariel, or any hero, is how they make the deal - neither of them approached who they made the deal with - Faust was of course approached by Mephistopheles himself, while Ariel was approached by Flotsam and Jetsam rather than Ursula. There's something about being presented with the deal though that I think makes them more heroic, at least to some extent - if either of them had asked Mephistopheles or Ursula for help on their own, and if they'd found them on their own, it would have almost taken the villainous edge out of those two. By being approached, instead, they show that there's still room for them to potentially go back on the deal, and that they're not seeking out opportunities to get what they want, which makes them seem more good, in a way.
I really loved the Harry Potter analogy from class, too, though, but I found myself relating a bit more to Wagner than to Faust. While I would probably give anything to be Harry Potter or be in his world like Faust would, I think that Wagner makes more sense, realistically - reading about it is almost as good, especially considering it's impossible in this world - but I have to wonder if Faust will think similarly after his deal with Mephistopheles, though.
1-17-14 - Response 2
After reading Jacobs' narrative, it made complete sense why people thought it was fiction at first - there's a certain connotation that comes with autobiographical works and the way that they read, I feel like, and her narrative didn't fit within that connotation that I had been expecting. I actually really enjoyed reading it because of this, I think. I got more invested in it for some reason, and I think, as well, that this contributed to people thinking it was fiction - it's much more difficult to get swept up into retellings of real life events, at least in most cases. Regardless of whether people weren't sure if it was true or not, it got them talking about Jacobs' narrative, I'm sure - and if it hadn't happened to her, it very well could have happened to someone else. Her story really amazed me, though - especially when it came to being in hiding for seven years. Seven years! I can't even imagine what that must have been like, and it seems like such an impressive number, but I don't think she would have thought so, as concerned as she undoubtedly was about the possibility of being found.
I was surprisingly invested in "Song of Myself" as well, though I have to initially credit that to my eagerness to actually read the poem after it was a big plot point in one of John Green's novels. I was previously unaware that Whitman was really the first to write in free verse, but that was probably one of my favorite things that I learned from his section. I also really loved the different perspective on freedom that it provided, as well as the different perspective that "The Grand Inquisitor". "The Grand Inquisitor" was especially interesting because the story with Jesus and the inquisitor took place in a different time than when it was being written, and I have to wonder how different the definition for freedom really was during those times.
1-10-14 - Response 1
As far as a brief introduction goes, I'm Rachel Lauve, pronounced like "love", but I get all sorts of pronunciation variations. I'm from a small town on the Kansas City side of Missouri (about forty minutes or so from the city, really only notable for our top show choir, which I was lucky enough to be apart of), but I moved to Zionsville recently and I'm still unfamiliar with Indiana geography, unfortunately. I had a fantastic English teacher my senior year of high school who influenced me to major in secondary English education, but I've always loved reading and writing and couldn't imagine my life without them. My favorite band is Bastille, my favorite T.V. show is Doctor Who (but I'm also obsessed with The Big Bang Theory), my favorite author is John Green, and I absolutely love Disney movies. A fun fact, of sorts, is that I'm currently teaching myself how to play the ukulele, but that's enough about me - time for some reflection on Frederick Douglass.
One of my favorite parts of the Douglass' narrative was the section where he talked about the songs that the slaves used to sing, and it was probably one of the sections I found myself relating to most, just because I've heard some of them before, and they really are so meaningful. We sang some of those types of spirituals in choir throughout the years, but I can't imagine what it would have been like to listen to them with Douglass' state of mind. I thought that that section was perhaps one of the most emotional in the narrative, at least as far as his reaction goes - it also humanizes him again, showing that he has actual, human emotions, and I think it also says something about slavery as a whole - "boiling over with the bitterest anguish" is quite an image. Another part that jumped out at me in the narrative was the idea that freedom is a right, highlighted when Douglass says to the white boys, "You will be free as soon as you are twenty-one, but I am a slave for life! Have not I as good a right to be free as you have?"
202 Responses (Fall 2013)