In response to Barry's last post:

I love the connection to Memento; I agree, I was equally as frustrated. I think it's the point, however. This play is forcing intellect; it can't simply be read for entertainment (like other stories). I think this is the brilliance of the writing. Like the gibbet story, this play is a puzzle.. the only difference: there are too many solutions, too many opinions, to many ways to analyze. 

A couple of thoughts I wanted to bring up in class:

-I thought it interesting how Michal, childlike by nature, killed children.  

-Why the murder of children? It is representational of the death of innocence?

Tonight's class was great. I love the free discussion; it is great to shoot ideas without the threat of torture.

kill the babies

So I've been mulling over killing babies. Well, only the babies that are planning on killing me from their pastel colored cribs. I feel like I'm in a pool of jelly; it feels interesting, but I'm not quite sure it's normal. 

Perhaps I'm a conditioned American; aren't we guilty until proven innocent? I feel like the giant pillowman killing children is underestimating humanity. Do people not have a choice when it comes to their destiny? (and yes, I know using 'destiny' is pathetic)

Anyhow, my final thought: if we were to adopt the pillowman method, America would have to rewrite it's Constitution. Because unless its it the fine print, killing babies (even evil ones) isn't exactly what Framers had in mind. 

PS: Prof. Lennon, I definitely had the same Ghostbuster imagery. 

playing catch-up

I've been catching up on everyone's blog tonight... "Rob Boombotz" said something that stood out: military personnel drop what they are doing just to do something for our country. Does that imply that it is a completely selfless act?

Hm... Some thoughts on that:

Do soldiers not get reimbursement for joining and serving in the armed forces? Isn't it their chosen profession, fatal outcome or not? I don't mean to sound anti-military, but couldn't I also say that I stop my everyday life to put my life and health at risk when I walk into Beth Israel Medical Center? Because I come face to face with the most egregious disease processes in the tri-state area, shouldn't I be hailed as an American Hero? 

What makes the military so honorable? Is it because they risk their lives for the rest of America? Interesting, I've never killed someone for the health and progress of humanity... isn't that as equally as honorable? If so, why aren't there graphic novels written about the selfless Radiographer? 

rest your head on this pillow

I have been completely engulfed by this play. It is has just the right amount of humor and darkness to moisten my literary palate. I agree with Professor Lennon, at some points I was so wrapped up in the individual stories told by characters I couldn't remember what I was reading. 

My only complaint: It was slightly predictable. From Katurain's false admission, I could feel where the play was going. Regardless, I feel like this would be a show I would love to watch and hate to see end. 

I would love to hear how everyone in class connects this work with the work we have read. Or can we connect it? Interesting....

Highway to Hell...

Is this 21st Century intellect?

scene 1

Scene 1: Incredibly mind-blowing!! 

the back and forth banter throughout this scene forces the reader to place himself in the cell with Katurian. Smelling his faint odor caused by fear, for himself and his brother. While reading this work, I was bombarded with lines from Orwell's 1984. So enthralled by the work, I had to force myself to put the play down in order to get work done from my other classes. 

Anyhow, so far... it's mind-blowing!!

my midterm questions:

Does war change you? If so, how?

Why do people join the military?

What are the criteria for a "good" soldier? 

How does media impact public opinion of the war?

where is my art?

I've been thinking about literature in the 21st century and the comments made last class. Is war really what has become the framework for literature for this century? Is today's art the reflection of the art of survival? Is the beauty of all the art we read found in the triumph of one life over another?

I'm not quite sure I like how art is transforming. I feel like we are regressing; this literature is dominated by macho, brut, male perspective. Where are the female artists? Have they all crawled under a house after swallowing handfuls of sleeping pills? Where are the Marianne Moores and Gertrude Steins of our generation? Have their voices been crushed under the weight of fallen towers?

lets agree to disagree...

I've been thinking about Shooting War and reading everyone's comments about how they thought the ending was a sucker punch. Ordinarily I'd agree but I'm in the mood to disagree just to disagree and see where it gets me:

Maybe the ending was intentional, another way to glamorize inorder to strip to reality underneath. The unnecessary exaltation of Jimmy has clearly evoked unrest in the majority of the class... maybe Lappe and Goldman weren't trying to appeal to the masses but repel them intentionally. Just a thought...

ps- wink.

wink, wink, wink, wink, wink

Doggone it! I was expecting mumbling, laugh out loud answers and all I got was a whole lot of winking (is that a tick?) and some serious question dodging. There the republicans go, letting me down again (wink). Palin got some serious prepping last week that's for sure (wink). 

So, how about that 700 billion dollar bailout plan?! I'm curious to see how this all plays out. The market had a serious drop again today, I'm skeptical. I don't know if the "bleeding" can be stopped. It's interesting, when walking home today on Avenue C, I decided that it doesn't feel like an economic crisis nor does it doesn't look like an economic crisis (or what I had imagined one to look like). I guess I had imagined flying paper, crazy men in business suits mugging the homeless, etc. Everything seems to be running normally... it wasn't until got home and checked my 403b account, that I started sweating (wink). 

post class thoughts

Great class tonight; I felt everyone was really into the discussion. I really liked Lennon's visual connection with the Vietnam photos. Brilliant call. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since I left class. 

I was ranting about the class to my fiancee and he is now reading and loving Shooting War. Every thirty seconds he lifts his head from the book and asks something new: "did you consider religion during class?" , "what about the saturated media?". It is quite comical. Anyway, I'm going to make some tea and read along with him...and perhaps instigate an interesting debate with him.