Final Presentations

I was really impressed with the amount of work that went into all the final presentations. I know how hard ours was to coordinate/carry out, everyone did a fantastic job. A few presentations which stood out in my mind were the 20 minute lifetime group, that video you made was awesome! I still want to know whose tye-dyed bear suit you were wearing?! The editing and the story were amazing. Although i really had no idea what to expect from the presentations, having never been in a Sexson class, i was totally blown away. I think everyone went above and beyond their themes and ended up illustrating the entire semester throughout each presentation. The 20 minute lifetime, dolce donum, the eternal return, the world as myth and dream, and life as fiction and language, if i do say so myself, were all really amazing presentations. I enjoyed the discrepancies between the highbrow and lowbrow examples everyone used from Galdiator, to writing their own verse, to the continuous use of Neo and Sexson throughout the presentations. It all came together very nicely and made for an entertaining week of finals. Although i can honestly say that in my college career, that is in the last 4 years, i have never done a video project, or a final group project, and can safely say that i am happy to put the stress of it all behind me.

As for the individual presentations, i hoped you all enjoyed Where The Wild Things Are. As it was one of my favorite books growing up as a kid, it seemed only necessary to include it as my final comparison between highbrow and lowbrow lit. Thomas' presentation, where he read us The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein is also one of my favorite book. It is just so pertinent to everything in life. Great Choice. of course i cannot mention the final presentations without saying something about Brianne's rap. It was hilarious, but also informative. Very creative and well done. The beat behind the lyrics was also really great, did you protools that yourself?? In my four years at MSU it was probably the most enjoyable final presentation i have had the pleasure of watching. Another presentation which stood out in my mind was the ribbon dance Lisa performed. Although i couldn't quite understand the relationship to the texts, i give her credit. I do not think i have the necessary fortitude to stand and deliever something as wonderful as a ribbon dance in front of a class. You may have one upped Brianne in my book. Kudo's to everyone, these presentations were not only hilarious but very informative!

Good vs. Evil

Highbrow vs. Lowbrow Characters

These are just a few of the similarities/differences i have noticed when looking at highbrow and lowbrow Lit:

Highbrow: these characters tend to be somewhat socially awkward and many of them are not easily relateable (who can really relate to Malloy). They are typically not someone you would identify yourself with. At least not me. And finally, there's usually the duality of right vs. wrong being played out in highbrow novels through their characters. (Examples: Mussert, Malone, Moby Dick's Main, etc.)

LowBrow: These characters are presented in an easily understandable fashion. They tend to almost be relateble. Or should i say, someone you can look up to, seek to emulate or deisre to become. Through these characters, the battle between good vs. evil is usually waged. (Examples: Robert Langdon, Haroun, Santiago, etc.)

My Fellow Bloggers

I think the blogger who has had the most impact on me throughout the semester has to be Bizz. Although her blogs arn't filled with long diatribes and pungent remarks about other works of highbrow lit (usually), she constantly hits the nail on the head with each blog. Suffice it to say, she usually makes the class much, much easier for me to understand. SHe, out of all the other bloggers, makes this whole on-line reading and writing as interesting as i believe anyone could. When she does however delve into a highbrow book, or a deeper meaning, she does so with great tenderness (meaning making her reference available to the masses), which i think no other member of Emergent Lit can do. She isn't afraid to not know the answer (Blog: "haroun and stuff") "They both imply that stories for stories sake are meaningless or are just simplistic entertainment for children. I remember Prof. Sexson saying something to the effect that FW sounded more like language of babies, or small kids trying to talk which is often nonsense. But we love to listen to it anyway. I don't know why" I love the "I don't know Why" sentence. There's a deeper conclusion there, we all know it, but the great thing is Bizz leaves those conclusions to make up to you. She won't tell you the answer, like so many others, but we all know, that she knows it. So congrats Bizz, and thanks for making the class slightly easier!

What Seest Thou Else

We were told to ask someone "What Seest Thou Else In The Dark Backward and Abysm of Time?"

Although i have asked quite a few people, the end result is always the same - they stare, as if through me, and then completely disregard what i had previously said. I think the world today isn't interested in round about ways to ask a question. True, one can ask it in simpler terms, "what do you see/can you learn from the past", but it doesn't sound nearly as good. I believe we now have what prof. Sexson calls, "The Infantilization of Literature". This may be so, but is this really such a bad thing? Harry Potter and the Twilight series have brought books into homes and onto childrens shelves who probably would never really pick up a book. Just as FW and Ulysess have most likely turned some people off from "highbrow" lit because of the sheer complexity of the novels.

Beckett, Stranger than Fiction, The Tempest, FW

What is the relationship between all of these books? Good question. Is it that the Tempest and FW are works of Highbrow? Along with Beckett? Yes.
The Tempest, FW and Beckett both deal heavily in the theme of the world as a dream or an illusion. What is real? How can real be defined? How can we know 'real'? Sounds alot like the Matrix... All of these books deal with a character within a novel. A story within a story. Fiction as life. In a sense, they also deal with fate. Do we choose our own path, or is our path chosen for us? An interesting relationship between beckett and Stranger Than Fiction is that in both stories, Beckett and STF's 'author' both kill of 8 people in their stories. The author also tentativly reminds the reader that what they are engorged with is simply, a work of fiction. In STF Karen Eiffle says, "And with a subtle piece of fiction..." and in Beckett he says, "It is midnight and raining" then goes on to say "it is not midnight or raining". Joyce, Beckett and STF all have the never ending list in them. Harold is a counter whereas Joyce counts many, many, many things. Ultimately the reader is forced to understand that these characters, though real they may seem, are not the masters of their own destiny. It has been written. This reminds me of a quote from the Matrix when Morpheus asks Neo why he doesn't believe in destiny, he replies, "I don't like the idea of someone else having control over my life."

Floyd and Beckett

This song reminded me of Samuel Beckett's 3 Novels when he discribes his bike:

"I've got a bike
You can ride it if you like
It's got a basket
A bell that rings
And things to make it look good
I'd give it to you if i could
But i borrowed it

You're the kind of girl that fits in with my world
I'll give you anything
Everything if you want thing"

"Bike" Pink Floyd