Re: Sequels (was Re: Universitatlity)

Hi Jim,

Of course, the likelihood of being around a long time cannot be the only
criteria for beauty or for something not being a waste of time or for determining
what is and isn't "crap." There are certainly other important questions that
might be asked.

Do I think Steely Dan is likely to be around much fifty years from now? Five
hundred? Of course not. Hell, they're barely around now. But that doesn't
stop me from listening to and loving the work, from being moved by it, from
being provoked by it, by being urged to think by it, by getting simple and
complex pleasure from it. From finding it beautiful, even. From enjoying it. And,
for me at least, that's never a waste of time.

This coming semester, in a class that also includes work by Plath and
Ferlinghetti and Ginsberg and Corso and Brautigan and Kerouac, I'll be teaching
"Hejira" and "Court and Spark" and "Desire" and "Blood on the Tracks" and "Small
Change" and "Foreign Affairs." Do I think Joni and Bob and Tom (or even
Lawrence or Gregory or Richard) will have the shelf life of Homer or Willy? Nah.

But do I think there are clear reasons why I can share them with the students
and produce meaningful moments and produce emotional and intellectual and
passionate and thoughtful responses and do I think they can be the spark for a
valuable sixteen weeks in the lives of about fifty young Honors kids who have a
genuine curiosity and an excitement about learning? Absolutely.

The heart wants what it wants, said someone once defending his new choice of
a significant other. And GGM is right about subjective pleasures. But before
we go about pronouncing what is and isn't crap or what is and isn't a waste
of time, perhaps we might consider all the possibilities.

Or not.

Just my morning's ramblings.

Have a fine day everyone. I'm off to a thesis defense (the best I've ever
read) and then golf and then dinner with my family. It's going to be a good day.

All the best,

--John

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Received on Wed Dec 10 07:51:17 2003