“Coke tastes better than Pepsi” I said to Jay as he pulled an ice cold can of Pepsi from the refrigerator. The can cracked with a crisp snap as Jay opened it, reminiscent of the crisp refreshment he soon be enjoying. “Yeah Coke tastes better if you like pop with a vanilla aftertaste” Jay retorted, “or if you like the taste of piss.” As I heard Jay speak these truths I knew I was wrong, but for some reason I continued to argue. I decided to go with the only argument that any fan of Coke can possibly use, the fact that it is older, and therefore better. “I just prefer the classic taste of Coke.” John mindlessly recited what the Coke ads said. It took Jay a moment to respond, as he was thoroughly enjoying his ice-cold Pepsi. “That argument is total bullshit” Jay replied with the subtlety of a bull in a china shop, “First of all the older a recipe is doesn’t automatically mean it tastes better. Dr. Pepper and Moxie were both introduced before Coke, so by your own logic those taste better. Second of all Coke is now referred to as “Coca-Cola Classic” because in 1985 they changed the formula to “New Coke”, which was a rip-off of Pepsi. After a few months they changed it back for the “nostalgic” formula. Last time I checked Pepsi never tried to rip Coke off, because Coke sucks.” Damn, I thought to myself. I was hoping Jay didn’t know about the “New Coke”, and how obvious it was that Coke tried to rip Pepsi off. All I could do was stand in awe, Jay was as cool as the Pepsi can, with perfect condensation droplets formed on the can.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Toscano Reading
The first and most memorable thing about the Toscano reading for me was all the "ideas", that were implied throughout the course of the reading. The reading was peppered with key words which have a "radical" connotation such as consumerism, Realpolitik, Bolivian water privatization, and numerous political philosophers. None of these seemed to lead to any particular mindset, or belief, however I would venture a guess and say that anti-capitalism probably has it covered. After looking into it, he also works for the labor institute and has written poems dicussing income disparities in the U.S., so I think my assumption was correct.
The mechanics of his poetry is also a source of interest. The one poem repeated pointing, clicking, selecting, numerous times and seemed to imitate our societies disconnect which has come with the internet. Most of that poem also seemed like sound-bytes from newscasts, which I think was also meant to symbolize our lack of attention, or lack of understanding of complex global issues. I think that the second skit, was a reference to consumerism. The size of a television was mentioned frequently, and the actor trying to reach his god, seemed an attack on people who find purpose through consuming. With all this said I am not really sure, as all the poems were purposely vague but those are my guesses.
The mechanics of his poetry is also a source of interest. The one poem repeated pointing, clicking, selecting, numerous times and seemed to imitate our societies disconnect which has come with the internet. Most of that poem also seemed like sound-bytes from newscasts, which I think was also meant to symbolize our lack of attention, or lack of understanding of complex global issues. I think that the second skit, was a reference to consumerism. The size of a television was mentioned frequently, and the actor trying to reach his god, seemed an attack on people who find purpose through consuming. With all this said I am not really sure, as all the poems were purposely vague but those are my guesses.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Bhanu Kapil Reading
The Bhanu Kapil reading was mildly enjoyable for me. She started things off with a somewhat unusual dialogue about Michigan,, referring to it as a "dark state". I found this somewhat intriguing, and wondered exactly what she meant. She also showed us a Michigan Starfish, or a leaf as it is more commonly known.
After this brief introduction she began to read from her book titled Humanimals. As she prepared to read my mind tensed in preparation for nonsensical onslaught it would soon face. However, I eventually relaxed as I realized that Bhanu's unique "style", was much less caustic to the story in humanimals. The context of Humanimals made the style appropriate, and somewhat enjoyable, much to the contrary of Incubation. Incubation seemed like a narrative gone horribly awry, but Humanimals the style actually worked for. The vignettes of her Father's childhood actually seemed to illustrate the idea of humans on the fringes of society, as somewhat animal like. The descriptions of all the injuries he endured, reinforced this idea. These coupled with the narrative of the girl seemed to tie together, and enhanced my enjoyment, instead of subtracting from it. Her use of the color red also made an appearance almost to the point of redundancy.
After this brief introduction she began to read from her book titled Humanimals. As she prepared to read my mind tensed in preparation for nonsensical onslaught it would soon face. However, I eventually relaxed as I realized that Bhanu's unique "style", was much less caustic to the story in humanimals. The context of Humanimals made the style appropriate, and somewhat enjoyable, much to the contrary of Incubation. Incubation seemed like a narrative gone horribly awry, but Humanimals the style actually worked for. The vignettes of her Father's childhood actually seemed to illustrate the idea of humans on the fringes of society, as somewhat animal like. The descriptions of all the injuries he endured, reinforced this idea. These coupled with the narrative of the girl seemed to tie together, and enhanced my enjoyment, instead of subtracting from it. Her use of the color red also made an appearance almost to the point of redundancy.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Bhanu Kapil
First of all I would like to comment on Bhanu's unique writing style. She used a jumble of assorted childhood memories, and disturbing imagery from her hitch hiking adventure. It was arranged in a non-linear pattern which is supposed to make it seem more realistic. While I would agree that this style did make it more realistic, I personally feel as though it greatly subtracted from my enjoyment of the book. Part of the reason I enjoy reading is that there is usually a linear plot, with a problem, a somewhat concise solution, and a feeling of closure. This book offered me none of those.
Bhanu did use some graphic symbolism with very good effect. I enjoyed her frequent mention of the color red present in her environment. Many times it was in a beautiful scene, or one of horror. The symbolism of cyborgs and monsters intrigued me at first, however as the story progressed, I felt as though I had less of an understanding as to what they actually were. I racked my brain with possibilities and none made any particular sense. I hoped by the time I finsihed I would have figured out what they were, however I think I actually knew less.
Bhanu did use some graphic symbolism with very good effect. I enjoyed her frequent mention of the color red present in her environment. Many times it was in a beautiful scene, or one of horror. The symbolism of cyborgs and monsters intrigued me at first, however as the story progressed, I felt as though I had less of an understanding as to what they actually were. I racked my brain with possibilities and none made any particular sense. I hoped by the time I finsihed I would have figured out what they were, however I think I actually knew less.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Response to Short Story Packets:
The first packet that I read was the Evenson one from Contagion. The thing I enjoyed most about this story is how sane, and normal the narrator seems. He seems to go about his task for Dr. Rauch with a curious interest, despite the fact that he acknowledges how unusual, and morally questionable, what he is doing may be.
The first assignment he receives from Dr. Rauch, and the Dr.'s general attitude make you suspicious of him. He seems overly eager to apply his concepts of personality to everyone, which are seemingly so numerous that no real conclusions could be drawn from them anyway. Despite all this and the fact that no other interns have to do anything remotely similar, he carries out the Dr.'s absurd task. After this the story jumps to the narrator's new mentor, Kagen, who is a Dr. with a crazy brother as well. I remeber Rauch's initials were B.K., and I am not sure if Kagen is actually Rauch, but it would seem unlikely that two doctors would have a crazy brother, and have their intern spy on him. As the story progresses the narrators mental stability apparently deteriorates, and it appears that he is being observed, leaving doubts to his sanity.
After thoroughly enjoying the Evenson short story I then turned to the Field story, expecting a story on par with Evenson; unfortunately I was very disappointed. The only thing that really interested me in this story was the narrator's vow of silence while with the psychiatrist. The narrator took their silence as a victory over the psychiatrist, even though still paying for their "services". Judging from this stance, and what was implied through the other nonsensical stories, the narrator is seeing the psychiatrist due to a court order. The self imposed silence during these sessions either implies an unwillingness to change from the narrator, or the sentiment that they don't belong in counseling.
The first assignment he receives from Dr. Rauch, and the Dr.'s general attitude make you suspicious of him. He seems overly eager to apply his concepts of personality to everyone, which are seemingly so numerous that no real conclusions could be drawn from them anyway. Despite all this and the fact that no other interns have to do anything remotely similar, he carries out the Dr.'s absurd task. After this the story jumps to the narrator's new mentor, Kagen, who is a Dr. with a crazy brother as well. I remeber Rauch's initials were B.K., and I am not sure if Kagen is actually Rauch, but it would seem unlikely that two doctors would have a crazy brother, and have their intern spy on him. As the story progresses the narrators mental stability apparently deteriorates, and it appears that he is being observed, leaving doubts to his sanity.
After thoroughly enjoying the Evenson short story I then turned to the Field story, expecting a story on par with Evenson; unfortunately I was very disappointed. The only thing that really interested me in this story was the narrator's vow of silence while with the psychiatrist. The narrator took their silence as a victory over the psychiatrist, even though still paying for their "services". Judging from this stance, and what was implied through the other nonsensical stories, the narrator is seeing the psychiatrist due to a court order. The self imposed silence during these sessions either implies an unwillingness to change from the narrator, or the sentiment that they don't belong in counseling.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Response to City Eclogue
1. My first point of interest is how the tone of these poems seems to be bipolar. A lot of them he starts out describing a tree, with a sense of beauty and awe, then changes to intense disgust about how the tree is planted. The city trucks are a frequent target of his vehement disgust.
2. Another topic that seems to crop up in his writing frequently is the difference in how colored people, and white people, are treated. The way it is addressed makes me think this is about modern racism, probably in a large city, perhaps in a primarily segregated part.
3. The author seems to have a seething anger directed towards the cities trucks, or any type of modern equipment. Maybe Ed Roberson is a Primitive Anarchist.
2. Another topic that seems to crop up in his writing frequently is the difference in how colored people, and white people, are treated. The way it is addressed makes me think this is about modern racism, probably in a large city, perhaps in a primarily segregated part.
3. The author seems to have a seething anger directed towards the cities trucks, or any type of modern equipment. Maybe Ed Roberson is a Primitive Anarchist.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Response to Poetry Packet
I enjoyed the first two poems tremendously, the first one seemed to be a personal battle over becoming desensitized, and the second poem gave some clues as to why the author might be feeling as though they're "scared I won't feel a damn thing.'' While acknowledging this change is happening, the author feels compelled to fight it but simply can't.
The next poem appeared to be someone delving into a series of uncomfortable childhood memories. Starts out about her Father coming back from war, assorted views on innocence, her mean uncle. Just an odd bunch of vignettes of childhood memories.
The four page long poem seemed to be another series of vignettes, described with an innocence, and distance from the topics, which seemed very eerie. Some of the most unusual were the story of the pilot who had to search for the hidden airport. Or the story about how her mom broke her arm by packing down the garbage. I think they were told in a manner which purposely made the author seem distant, and never really connects any of the tragedies to her self in any format. She starts off rather mildly, pointing out the the cows "heat their own barn." When reading this one can't help but wonder how cold the cows get. Then later on is the brief story about the pilot who we must assume ran out of gas looking for the hidden airport. The author never touches on the victims of these scenarios, or informs us of how they turned out.
The next series of poems appear to have been written by an African-American poet in America prior to the civil-rights movement of the 60's. There is a series of sing-song poems that reveal a difficult existence, which morals and social conventions followed by whites at the time don't fit into.
The next poem I found interesting was "And What Do You Get." It starts out with a series of contradictions, created from removing sylllables from some common words. I thought that these plays on the words were very interesting, and rather enjoyed deciphering their meanings.
The next poem appeared to be someone delving into a series of uncomfortable childhood memories. Starts out about her Father coming back from war, assorted views on innocence, her mean uncle. Just an odd bunch of vignettes of childhood memories.
The four page long poem seemed to be another series of vignettes, described with an innocence, and distance from the topics, which seemed very eerie. Some of the most unusual were the story of the pilot who had to search for the hidden airport. Or the story about how her mom broke her arm by packing down the garbage. I think they were told in a manner which purposely made the author seem distant, and never really connects any of the tragedies to her self in any format. She starts off rather mildly, pointing out the the cows "heat their own barn." When reading this one can't help but wonder how cold the cows get. Then later on is the brief story about the pilot who we must assume ran out of gas looking for the hidden airport. The author never touches on the victims of these scenarios, or informs us of how they turned out.
The next series of poems appear to have been written by an African-American poet in America prior to the civil-rights movement of the 60's. There is a series of sing-song poems that reveal a difficult existence, which morals and social conventions followed by whites at the time don't fit into.
The next poem I found interesting was "And What Do You Get." It starts out with a series of contradictions, created from removing sylllables from some common words. I thought that these plays on the words were very interesting, and rather enjoyed deciphering their meanings.
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