So Long, Farwell.

Well this is it. This is my last post as i say goodbye to Intro to Literary Theory, as well as to my fellow bloggers. I cant not deny I am excited for this, who doesn't love summer? Haha but i must say I am sad too. I thoroughly enjoyed this class, and this has by far been my best class I have endured so far throughout my university studies. I found it super intimidating at first, but I'm glad I was up for the challenge. I must agree with todays discussion that theory can most definatly inhibit creativity. And that critical thinking can alter, and take away from our once blinded enjoyment. However, I must argue that I would not have it any other way...

This class has taught me so much, and has made me a better student. For once, I can actually notice such a change. My writing has improved so much, but most importantly my thinking. We tackled some very challenging theories, and had to apply them rather difficultly. I am ever so grateful that for once I am walking out of a class that I feel was worth being compulsory. It is a fantastic feeling. Further more, I think with being a developed ciritcal thinker, you learn to turn the theory on and off. Yes I know if I know if I want to I can tear something up, shred it to pieces and prove a theory (Thanks Pound! :)) But i also know that if I am simply sitting down to watch or read something for enjoyment, I turn it off and do so. For example, Gossip Girl.. da da dummm... haha has to be the worst entertainment ever for its social constructions, mass ideologies, use of media etc etc the list goes on with the flaws of it. However, as a drama on TV i love it. I dont apply its themes to my own life, but i allow myself to sit there and enjoy 60 minutes of gasping in shock, and laughing in humor. I think those who only can see things through theory are lacking critical thinking and being narrow-minded. That's just my own opinion, i think it is a skillful critical thinker to turn it on and off depending on study and entertainment- if not as a skill, then to keep us human and sane from tearing apart everything in our lives.

Thanks so much for a great year everyone!

Goodbye Sex, Hello Sexting?

It is absolutely amazing how networking and the new digital generation has changed the meaning of characteristics within our lives. From privacy, writing, literature, relationships and friendships. All the meanings have changes, to which what meanings are left? What is the meaning of sexting? Okay let me elaborate. My friend has been dating this guy for about a year, however she was "sexting" with her ex-boyfriend. Sexting? Hmm okay well i will try not to offened incase anyone else takes part, personally i dont understand haha. But i'm told its texting back and forth sexual comments or intentions? Okay so her boyfriend found them. And accused her of cheating. Where do we draw the line? It is actual cheating? What do we define as unfaithful now? Clearly it is not just physically touching one another anymore. Does that mean the meaning of adultry must be re-written?

It's Not A Game Anymore...

I admire Scott's efforts to bring excitment and interest into our classroom, really, I've never had a teacher who's done such a good job of it. Linking an Olympic hockey game into Literary Theory? Awesome! So on that note I'm going to run with this topic a little bit. First of all, ROCKS TO BE CANADIAN... now that that's out, what has hockey really become?

My grandfather and I had an interesting conversation about it the other night. It was once a "Canadian" game due to the cold weather in the North, ponds and lakes would freeze over and some dare devil tied metal to some shoes and BAM hockey was born. It was a community event, families and friends. Then it grew to townships. And all of a sudden countries were flying all over the world, being paid millions of dollars to skate with a stick. It's not a game, its an industry. Okay hockey fans, don't hate me too much.

I love sports just as much as the next person, but look around you!!! Look at any "sport". It is no longer a game. It is a huuuuuuge insittuion soaked in social constructions and ideologies! A hockey game= money. Everything from seat tickets, jerseys, hats, mitts, noise makers to the little team jersey's they make for babies! And wherever theres money, theres pride. This huge social construction of pride. Even my dad, loveeees Boston Bruins (has got a basement of items to prove it) and he'll pull pranks on my nieghbor (a Montreal fan) constantly and vice versa! He actually put a toliet seat on his front door! Hahah, its all in "good" fun I'm told, but still there are people who actually live by these games infront of their tv's. Live by something they've NEVER ACTUALLY SEEN yet they live by it? They live by an imaginative world that is not their reality. And its so far gone, so disconnected with reality that if i told my own father this, it would either be tramitizing to crush his so called "reality", or he simply wouldn't understand.

The All American Qauterback becomes the All American Girl!

I actually watch tv hardly ever, however I seem to turn it on at the right time! When I got home from school today, after having had our Boys Don't Cry workshop today I turned on the Oprah show to find the perfect episode! After doing our transgender study of Brandon, I was very excited for today's episode on Oprah. It was a story about a "boy" who was the ideal American son. He was the lead qauterback of a high school football time, and as described his fathers "dream son". However all through his teenage years he knew something wasn't right. Many years later, he made the long-desired decision to have a sex change to a female, now he is known as she, Kimberly. She talks about the hardships of making the decision, and how she felt about the world around her before and after it. Even her own father did not find out the news for atleast A YEAR later. The mother was very supportive, and Kimberly also has had a girlfriend for 10 years that was very supportive through the change. Her girlfriend brought up interesting views that we touched on today. She talked about how growing up she felt difficulties being a more "boyish" girl, and how she did certain things to fit her "gender role" in order to feel accepted. Both talked about gender roles and acceptance, although both talked about how they overcome these obstacles with time. Oprah replies with saying, its important that everyone finds the real them, like these individuals have.
Its truly an interesting interview I encourage any further interested in our transgender study to look up!! Have an awesome reading week!!!

"We" Can Colonize Anyone, Right?

Like many of you I'm sure, this past weekend I had the absolute joy of seeing Avatar. If you haven't had the chance to, I will join with the norm reaction YOU HAVE TO SEE IT!!! It is an amazing film. The colours, imagery and incrediable fantsy charcaters and creatures, remarkable! Even the 3D gives it more bonus points than it needs. But today in class during the discussion of colonialism and Pound's reading about Columbus in the Carribbean, I couldn't help but think of Avatar. For the plot line of the movie, is very much what we are talking about. Humans land on this unknown planet, and for resources, start destroying and killing. These "blue people" are seen as wild animals, savages, when really they have such a unique way of living as one with the forest and the animals. Yet, they are "other" they are "different"- clearly because they are big and blue. They still compose "human" traits like communicating, shelters, families, friends, religion, emotions etc. Yet, they are not like the humans, so its all irrelevant. When their main home is torn down, I won't lie that I shedded a tear. And today in class when Pound read the story about the tribe being slaughtered and wiped out, I felt that same feeling. That serve emotional sympathy, that is so impactual yet, no where near what it could feel to be that "other" and because you are different, you are destroyed. Because I'm a white female. I will never know anything close to what that feels like. To have your home ran sacked and ripped down. To have your children stolen, or murder. All because of your "Difference". These things may no happen today, but it is important to note that it did happen some time ago, when colonialism occured. When these violent, disgusting actions were seen as "control" and taming savages. Watching that movie, and listening to the reading today, made me so upset to picture everything in my life, the way I live day to day, being ripped away from me...

IPHONES SAVE LIVES? Which APP will save yours?

This post is definatly for the iphone fans, or for those who want to redeem themselves from feeling far too attached from their cell phone... because there is hope!!! It was a week or so ago from now, but I was driving to school listen to the radio when they told the story about an iphone saving the life of a man in Haiti!!! He was a reseacher staying in a hotel when the earth quake hit, and was buried beneath rumble. HOWEVER, he had his iphone in his pocket, and happened to have a First Aid app!!! He looked up what to do for his head gash and leg shatter, and followed the directions. The radio did not go into detail of this, however it did say that the app told him he needed to stay concious because of such large wounds. And he set an alarm on his iphone for every 20 minutes... 30 hours later (thanks to great battery power) he was found by rescurers since he was concious to shout out to them! Technology certainly is not always this realiable, but i must say, the iphone proved its loyalty to this man's life- I'm assuming he'll never leave home without it.

Gay is the New Black

After discussing whether or not American's were still racist even with Obama as president, I couldn't help but think of the Tyra show I watched this past Sunday. Now, I know Tyra is not the most academic source for this type of research, however it was a very interesting episode. She had representatives on stage, one side for gays, and once side pretty much homophobic. One of the women who was against homosexuality was actually an American campaigner. It was a servely interesting debates with a lot of tears, and a lot of yelling. The idea was that gays are now the states new target for discrimmination rather than blacks. One woman actually told one of the gay men, "I was born black, you weren't born gay! You can change that, I can't". It was awful how they spoke, "representing" Americans. Futhermore when I boy told his story about his homophobic father trying to BEAT the gay out of him using the Bible, these American representives showed no emotion. They replied, that instead of being gay, they could choose abstience?!?! It was such an eye opener to how narrow minded some people really are about things they do not understand, or are different from them. I know that again, it is the Tyra Show, but I strongly suggest those who are interested to look the episode up online!!!

I AM A CYBORG

I am a cyborg, no doubt about it. My daily routines and even physcially, I fit the profile. I rely so much on technology. If a forget my phone, I'm lost and in a terrible mood all day. My camera recently just broke and I hate it. My laptop just crashed last week (ya I tend to have bad luck) and it drove me insaneeeeee not having it. It's when you take these things away, that you come to realize how much of your life they overshadow. Even physcially, I wear glasses if not contacts. I had braces through all of high school. And to make myself sound even more robotic, I had my jaw broken in 4 places a year ago so I have 2 metal plates and 4 screws in my face hahaha. Ya, I'm a cyborg.

This reading, once thoroughly explained by Scott Pound in class, really is an eye opener. Yes, Donna Haraway is talking in extreme's, but she is not fair off base of reality with much of her idea's. I must note, I wanted to in class but I didn't really find the opportunity to bring it up, for anyone who actually read it I don't know about you but I LOVED the ending. I am a sucker for great, powerful endings, so she got me there. She wrote, "It means both building and destroying machines, identies, categories, relationships, space stars. Though both are bound in the spiral dance- I would rather be a cyborg than a goddess". Absolutely loved this ending. I am still trying to interpret it, but there is just something I love about it. Any comments?

In a Cubby Full of Hate

This might seem a little off topic, but it is something I really wanted to write about. The other day I was working on an essay in a study cubby in the library. It happens more often than not, that I don't want to start writing and sit and stare and "brainstorm". Anyways, doing my "brainstorming" I started staring at the desk. And then at the side walls, and infront, and on the shelf. I knew that there was graffiti on the cubby, there always is, but I started reading what was being said. Not only did people write the most provocative and perverted comments about sex, and women, but there was so much negativity all over this cubby. One would write "Alex was here" and another would respond underneath it "Nobody cares Alex". Another note that inscripts, "Love sucks" with one underneath it saying, "It sure does, never try it". One of "KB & CL 4EVER" in a heart shape with a response underneath it, "Homo's". But the one that struck me the most was in small print, and it said " I am lonely", and beneath it wrote, "You're a fag". This may mean nothing to those who read it, simply graffiti 0f bored students, but it hit me emotionally. Looking at all this I couldn't help but think things over and over. This cubby allowed people to sit and express their deepest feelings of that very second, and atleast 90% were negative. Whether they were hatful, racist, sexist, homophobic, perverted, judgemental or simply lonely and afraid, human weakness was written all over the cubby, sitting right infront of me. Furthermore, if language shapes us here's a prime examlpe of it doing so. These negative comments displayed somehow give us the right to continue to add to them, mainly negatively. To maybe even take these idea's into the real world, that loves who are "lovey dovey" will be called "Homo's", meant as a shameful thing? That those who list the amount of women they have slept with will be high fived by others. And that those who tell someone "I am lonely" will be made fun of and teased, again with a homophobic comment of being a "fag". Some may say I have looked far too in depth of such grafitti but it is an expression of society, or yet how we shape society...?

Homosexual Acts in a Patriarchal World

I had something to add to that, however I felt as though the topic was rather dragged on at the time and our professor wanted to more forth, as did I, and I remembered the blog!!! Excellent for throwing in left over thoughts. Someone brought up the idea that there was homosexuality in the Greek times, so how was it considered patriarchal? Time to throw in my feminist background, women studies is definality paying off. We learned that yes, homosexual activity among men did occur. Men would gather and it would be considered okay for them to be sexually active with one another. HOWEVER this is where I would like to boost what Dr. Pound was getting at today, that it is still patriarchical. For these men did not live with each other. They did not have marraiges between men, and build homes as "homosexual couples". They did not adopt children, and make a "family" from it. No, it was a manly act men performed in their genders privacy. Furthermore they left these meetings and went home to their wives that were kept on the 2nd floor of the house, where other men couldn't sleep with them. Here they were allowed to beat and control their wives and children. It was in the house where they kept their families, and the men were the one's allowed to travel outside the home, doing as they please. To conclude what I've presented, yes, there was homosexual acts in a patriarchical system.

"Language doesn't shape us"

Well guys, we did it! We made it to the half way point. Like all academic years, this one is soaring by. I still remember the first day when I (not very technological) was saying to myself OMG HOW DO I MAKE A BLOG?! Haha embaressing now... anyways! We're half way through some pretty interesting and challenging material. I don't have too many comments to make currently about our english topics, however... in my last cultural geography class my professor did a lecture on Racial Humor. He talked about meaning behind them, how they came about, and he even told some, actually A LOT. Point being, I was slowly drifting into my "not paying attention" zone, staring at whatever could amuse me when he said that the language of jokes is how we express our ethnic emotions and feelings towards one another, and word for word said, "well, its certainly not the other way around. Langauge doesn't shape us" and I was like, "BAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM" you are wrong (atleast according to the post-structuralist knowledge I have) And I have a good laugh about it to myself. I wanted to turn to my fellow classmates and be like "Did you hear that?!" Sadly, it was not possible. But thanks to the good ol' blog, I can still get it back to all of you :) I included this picture with it, for I found it to be very interesting. In my cultural geography, I've learned sooooo much about so many different languages! And when I came across this picture on the net, I had to share it with all you. Take care everyone, enjoy the snow!!!!

Which Thinking Cap Should I Put on Today?

Throughout the term this class has not only allowed me to think outside the box, but compare it's new theories to my other classes. Sometimes, it can be rather confusing though upstairs when being directed in which WAY to think. In my Children's Literature class, its all about looking for symbols and theme's that are connected to the meaning in the story, a very humanist perspective. In my Canadian Literature, I am currently reviewing articles on author's work's that relate them to the biographical meaning of the work and the authors life. This is to support meaning to how the author is linked to the work as an expression of their emotion, fairly humanist as well. And then comes along Intro. to Literary Theory... which certainly requires a new thinking cap. These other classes are the English's I'm used to, very humanist, somewhat very easy logic wise. However this class, not so much. This class seems take the other one's and throw them out the window. It can be challenging, yes, but oddly enough I enjoy this class much more, because it's challenging, and because it's new. You certainly get tired of the same theme's, and the same happy ending in English. These theories reject this, and maybe that's why they came about? Maybe people were too bored with the humanist ways and decided there was more out there? They decided to flip the vision of the world upside down... but here comes my humanism. For I see these theories as the "upside down" version. They will always be second nature to me. No matter how much I study this, I feel like the core part of me will always be humanist. Even looking at the post-structuralist view, I try to apply my humanist one. Post-structuralists would cringe at this, though I will say it anyways; If everything is random and arbitrary then doesn't that link it all together? Anything is everything... so isn't it all in the same realm? Doesn't it all function together? It's hard for me to type out how I am seeing this, I really don't dance through these theories with grace as Scott does. But my main point is that no matter what thinking cap I put on, the Humanist one was always the first, and is always dominant. To throw it away, is merely impossible no matter how much these new theories challenge and excite me. But who know's, one day if I have a child I may put it infront of the mirror and say, "That's you" and smile, thinking nothing of it. Or I may say "That's you" and think, but thats really only an illusion of you...

Beneath the Surface!

When I first made my blog, I was quite self-concious that I did not come up with a good title... until now. Earlier on this week when I was writing my assignment one of my sentances actually wrote, "beneath the surface lies a deeper..." and I looked at it and thought, hmm where did I see that? Haha sure enough it finally clicked that it was my blog title! I was quite happy, dork as it may seem. For I feel like my title very much applys to language, and therefore to life. There are always deeper meaning rather than what is just presented as the surface. It is our jobs as academic students to plunge through this surfaces and find it!!!! I'm hoping that I was capable of doing so in the assignment we just handed in, but you never know I guess. I got the idea that the jar represented conformity of human society, and from there ran with it. It was challenging like all, but never impossible. I'm very interested to see where we go next with all this, and like the last theories interested to see how I apply them through my own perspective. I understand post structuralism, but understanding it and applying it to your own outlook are two completely different things! But I'm always up to give these new perspectives a try!!!! Til my next post on Beneath the Surface!!!! :)

Where to start...

I realized that I have neglected my blog over the last 2 weeks... oops! Haha I have been so very busy between all my classes and after the last assignment, I seemed to put this class on the back burner. However, I did spend much of the weekend trying to plow through this new assignment, though I seemed to come out short. Then all of a sudden I woke up today and somewhat get it! It was amazing how many different perspectives can be taken on a poem! Before yesterday's class, i was dreading writing this essay thinking,"Haven't we talked about this poem ENOUGH" Whereas now, i get why we are using the same poem!Because its amazing! haha it can be molded into so many different things. I just hope I mold it into the "right" kind of thing... mostly not a humanist view. Because I think much of my perspective on literature is very humanist, rather than post struturalist. But like always, I'm up for the challenge!!!

Let's Roll Up Our Sleeves and Deconstruct!!!

The time has come for us to hunch over our laptops, food and caffiene at hand, and write another assignment!!! At least that's my method. My room also gets very clean the few nights before the assignments due... stress relievers we went over in class. I feel as though this assignment might not be so stressful as the last for myself. The last assignment I really didn't grasp the structuralist view when I sat down to write the assignment. Having a clearer understanding of deconstruction I feel far more confident writing this assignment. But still, like anything else, Scott is great at challenging us. I may resent it now, but like after ever other assignment, I do actually learn something. Raising the expectations has definatly makes me work harder, and has even changed my habit of throwing something together the night before expecting to get an A. The struggle i might have is leaving the end of the assignment open ended... I guess that gives me a Humanist characteristic? Becuase I do love my when assignment sums up just right!!! Oh well, I will see how it goes!

FINALLY!

Finally, I understand structuralism. Kind of late I suppose. I was very frustrated leaving class on Tuesday after handing in my assignment. After discussion I felt awful about the product I had handed it because I felt like I had tried so hard to put into a structuralist view that at the time I didn't exactly understand, and I lost sight of the main picture. I guess Scott Pound was right though, my continuous frustration led to me learning something! Sadly, mark wise, I learned it a little too late, but better late than never!!! I realized I grasped this concept today when we were reviewing the topic and I, like another girl in the class, was like, "Whats the difference between structuralism and deconstruction?" That's what did it for me. I closed that gap and the review turned repetitive for me as I was awaiting the meaning of deconstruction. My mood has flipped in this class, because as much as I struggled early in the week with the challenge, I feel as though I did learn something and I have progressed. I can only hope that I progress IN TIME next time, haha so I can do well on my assignment. It's all another challenge for another day!!! :):):)

How Will I Awake the Meaning Behind the Mythical Sleeping Giant?

When we recieved our second assignment regarding the story of the Sleeping Giant, I was very excited! I do not know about any of you, but I personally grew up camping annually with my family at Sibley, and by doing so heard many different stories involving the Giant and Silver Ilet. In fact, I biked and hiked the Giant himself, which I find connects me to the assignment when I've stood on it. Also, Silver Ilet is one of my favourite Thunder Bay tourists spots! (I've enclosed a picture of my friends and I making our annual trip there: hence the gorgeous lake background)On a hot summer day, the water sparkles a miraculous green colour. If you have not been to this local spot, I suggest you do so. For my description really does not justify it's beauty. Now enough of my outdoors rant, the topic is exciting however I feel like it will also be very challenging. Normally I'm used to taking general idea's, and narrowing them down, whereas this assignment is quite opposite. It will be difficult to take a particular idea and expand it on a general level. Though I am up for the challenge. I actually recieved a useful message in my church service last sunday that I'm applying to this, where we talked about how being "comfortable" can be a bad thing. It is when you make yourself "uncomfortable" that you test yourself, and that that is when you achieve success, outside that "comfort" zone. So although the task of this assignment makes me "uncomfortable" it's a great thing!!! That's all for now, see you all in class!!!

Some Jar, In which Field?

I think my highlight of Tuesday's class was definatly the Random Acts of Poetry!!! I loved it!! I think it's awesome that people go out on their own time and do such things! It's displaying a true love for literature, one that I think is completely self rewarding. Further more, the class discussion was also good, however I must say, I feel as though it's a difficult poem to conclude about (Shown in my post title). I mean really, the only way to know for sure is to sit Wallace Steven's down for coffee and ask him, imagine?! That would be pretty cool. But for the mean time, it's really an open ended answer. Maybe that's the beauty of it? Maybe some things are just better left unknown? But then again, being the structured human's we've come to be, we search for endlessly for meanings. I myself like answers, but now and then if I can not find one, I'm content with smiling, appreciating something for what it is, and moving on. I guess what I'm getting at here is that this is the type of poem where each person takes what this wish to from it. Which ever way you spin it, the poem turns into your own mental work, which makes Wallace Steven's look pretty clever. That's all for now!

Am I Homo Seriosus or Homo Rhetoricus?

I hope everyone enjoy todays class as much as myself. I found it to be an interesting lesson, however what was learned was questionable. Yes, I definatly learned something though I may often look like I'm day dreaming away in class, though I feel like a lot of the topic is open ended? Some very logical views were brought up when we were asked to categorize ourselves as either homo seriosus (H.S) or homo rhetoicus (H.R), for as much as a consider myself a H.R, its not to say that I do not fall under the H.S category at all. I took a feminist route of steering away from the H.S group because as a woman why would I put myself in a category that discrimminates myself? And frankly does not apply to me on a GENDER level, little own logical level. However, I do not feel that I entirely fall under H.R on a logical level because I don't consider myself a "bullshitter". Someone in class seperated the two by referring to H.S as "I think therefor I am" and H.R as "I feel therefore I am", I greatly admired this comment in class, though now my opinion on it is that, isn't thinking, and feeling both major contributors to being human? One can not say they act 100% on what they think, because emotions and feelings are incorporated into our thought. Therefore I feel like that two have quite the invisible line between them, yes there are noticeable differences, but really don't people who are "people" apply to both? I'd love to hear some opinions!!!

Battle time: Humanisn vs. Structuralism

The last couple classes have been rather dry in my opinion focusing on what literature is. Because really, literature is what you as your own self belief it to be, or how you apply it in your everyday life. However, I really enjoyed our new discussions between Humanism vs. Structuralism. Personally, I consider myself a humanist. I believe the humanistic view has been present throughout most of my literary student as a student, whereas structuralism only arose in my studies last year when I started deconstructing pieces of literature. In my Women and Gender Studies class last year we actually took a part pieces of literature, in a way that disconnected them from the author. It is taking me a while to get the grip of this theory, but I feel as though this class will help, not update my views exactly, but widen them. Maybe I prefer the humanistic view because it unfies idea's and gives meaning to literature rather than leaving it open ended. Well, the journey of my literary discoveries will continue!!!