Re: A diversion


Subject: Re: A diversion
From: Matt Kozusko (mkozusko@parallel.park.uga.edu)
Date: Fri Feb 18 2000 - 15:50:25 EST


Brad: Of course not, but the real question is "are we obliged to go
there?" (I suspect the answer is "yes" for anyone who cares about
their
grade.) Is "there" the only alternative to Cliff's Notes and Oprah's
book of the month club? If I actually manage to get "there", will I
ever be able to get back? Is "there" interesting or even desirable?
The population over "there" seems rather small, and the standard of
living below average. Just where are you taking me anyway?

Teacher: You're onto something with the bit about the grade. As I
said, Brad, think of this as *one way of approaching literature*.
It's particularly useful way, especially coming from the standpoint of
rhetoric. Asking questions about words, images, tropes, exercises
your mind in nifty ways. You'll learn to become a better writer, a
better speaker, better aware of the ways language makes up realities.
You may also find yourself liking the literature better itself.
You'll find you're more involved with it, and that contrary to dogma,
you haven't ruined everything by being a little tearer-downder; you've
actually enriched your reading experience. It's like that grunge
rock-and-roll, Brad. It's like that music you listen to. Did you
ever find yourself more interested in a great tune, Brad, because you
started paying attention to the details, to the little treasures of
the song, its implications, its personality? Didn't you find "Space
Oddity" a little more intriguing after you figured out about Major
Tom?

Brad: Dude.

Teacher: Yes?

Brad: If I go there, will there be covered parking for my SUV?

 

-- 
Matt Kozusko    mkozusko@parallel.park.uga.edu
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