Claudia Rankine's book was a good read. I enjoyed reading it actually, even though at times it seemed to be a little depressing. Of course I suppose all great writers are depressing. Does that mean that all depressed people make great writers? I certainly hope not, because that's one quality that I don't believe that I possess, but I would be willing to throw myself into the throngs of depression if it meant that I would be able to manage a good grade :)
If I had to classify the book, which I'm assuming that we have to do, I would put it into the Essay category. Only because the entirety of the book is written through the author's perspective and her personal thoughts on life and the world around us. She does make a couple of good points, but I had trouble getting into her perspective as the events that she was describing led me to where I was when those were happening instead. Perhaps that's what she was going for?
The book always seems to be at some great breakthrough in human thought before casually moving on to another subject just before. My example for this would be the guy with Alzheimer's. He gets to the point to where she describes him moving homes and whatnot, and makes the reference of "What's the point of forgetting life and then dying?"... She almost intentional doesn't make a point out of it to attract the reader. There are a couple more examples such as this one, but I'll wait for class.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
18 MAR 2010 Essay Packet
After reading the essay packet I can really only say one thing in general, the essays are a little easier to read than poetry. Of course, this is not to say that they're easier to read than short stories, but they are interesting to say the least.
The style of the essays were all written as a narrative. I was able to picture the Author in front of me and they were simply telling me a story. They were written as if they were all spoken stories. Such as "I saw this guy and he did this" instead of seeing "There was a guy who did this". They made for an interesting read considering that the picture in my head of an old timer telling stories about back in the day made the most sense while I was reading them.
The only one that I really had trouble with was the List of things to do today. I couldn't stop myself from trying to figure out who that person was, perhaps that is the intent. For the most part, I would have an idea of who that person was, but then on their list something completely off the wall would be there. Not quite sure what the point of the list was if there was no way of determining who the list was intending to be... of course there probably is a way, I'm just not privy to it.
The style of the essays were all written as a narrative. I was able to picture the Author in front of me and they were simply telling me a story. They were written as if they were all spoken stories. Such as "I saw this guy and he did this" instead of seeing "There was a guy who did this". They made for an interesting read considering that the picture in my head of an old timer telling stories about back in the day made the most sense while I was reading them.
The only one that I really had trouble with was the List of things to do today. I couldn't stop myself from trying to figure out who that person was, perhaps that is the intent. For the most part, I would have an idea of who that person was, but then on their list something completely off the wall would be there. Not quite sure what the point of the list was if there was no way of determining who the list was intending to be... of course there probably is a way, I'm just not privy to it.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
My Paris...
My Paris by Gail Scott was definitely an interesting read. I was almost structured in some kind of order but that order escapes me. I know it wasn't chronological, nor was it event oriented, but it still had a certain kind of flow that was easy to follow. Perhaps Topical? Is that a word?
The piece was written almost exclusively in stage directions. I'm not sure if that was the intent, but there was no a single line of dialog. The author was able to elude to dialog however whenever the main characters ("S" or "C") had something to say.
I'm not sure if there's some kind of connection, but it seemed like each sentence had a word that was taken out of it. Perhaps we've just been reading too much poetry and I'm attempting to find some kind of pattern in everything I read now, but I wasn't able to find anything with missing words. Perhaps I'm just not putting the correct words into it?
The story seems to show the narrator becoming more and more french throughout the story. Perhaps it is chronological, but being the stranger in a strange land goes out the window around the third part. Then at the end, she's the insider gossiping at parties. It was however quite confusing... this has been my first experience with this type of writing.
No one...
The piece was written almost exclusively in stage directions. I'm not sure if that was the intent, but there was no a single line of dialog. The author was able to elude to dialog however whenever the main characters ("S" or "C") had something to say.
I'm not sure if there's some kind of connection, but it seemed like each sentence had a word that was taken out of it. Perhaps we've just been reading too much poetry and I'm attempting to find some kind of pattern in everything I read now, but I wasn't able to find anything with missing words. Perhaps I'm just not putting the correct words into it?
The story seems to show the narrator becoming more and more french throughout the story. Perhaps it is chronological, but being the stranger in a strange land goes out the window around the third part. Then at the end, she's the insider gossiping at parties. It was however quite confusing... this has been my first experience with this type of writing.
No one...
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Bath house 15 February 2010
The event, in which I was in attendance, began today at precisely 12:30pm in the Student Center's auditorium. I, having very limited experience in such events, wasn't sure what to expect. As I walked into the door I couldn't believe how full the auditorium already was, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to find a seat. Luckily a seat was found and I was able to have a good view of what was about to be an interesting performance to say the least.
The even began with a reading of "Is this wool hat my wool hat?". Something that caught me a little off guard. It was almost a round sung as opposed to a poem per say. The 4 students, each with their own tone of voice, began rambling that same line over and over. Until I noticed that they had changed the order of their words and became slowly independent of each other. Each were still saying the same 7 words, but in the order of which I couldn't make out. I was able to pinpoint each individual voice calling out, but I could also listen to the group as a whole. Each individual were like many who may scream out in this world trying to determine where their role may be within the group. An interesting conclusion if I do say myself, considering that everyone goes through that same prospect at one point in their lives. "Is this my role?" screaming, trying to be overheard by the mass of individuals screaming the same question to their peers. Something that I didn't understand however was that there wasn't any sort of conclusion to the poem... it just ended.
The presentation of Stephanie Rowden followed the performance. A completely different approach as her time was geared more toward the realm of academia. Her specialty was the auditory approach of how different sounds effect individual listeners. These were illustrated and finally culminated in her expression of the spoken voice. This came together quite nicely as she was able to do what all of us attempt to do, tell a story. Whether it's the tale of a young boy being hit by a car, or an old man that doesn't garden as much as he leads on. All were stories being told by sounds and the spoken word. An interesting approach I must admit, and can be related to writing by the fact that it's attempt is the same as any artist putting themselves out there to get a reaction out of the people that they're trying to reach.
The third and final performer was Stephen Benson. An author of many books (some of which are on sale near the exit) that took an approach that I was actually expecting to take, however with a little bit of a twist. While I was expecting people to stand before me and read their work, I wasn't expecting that to be done on a set and performed like a one man show. It was a little difficult to follow, proof coming from the many people leaving (Maybe they had class or something since the event ran a little over), but from what I got from it was that he was attempting to digest all the reading that we're required to do in our lives in a brief time frame. Reading from emails, text books, novels, screen plays, or the like, he put on a show that got the point across. That point of course is that we have a lot of mediums to get our story told and shouldn't be limited to just the one. It was improvised and he was able to give the entire performance some continence, but I fear that I was lacking somehow in being able to determine a deeper point than that. I did enjoy him linking the two performances before him into his, and even found some point rather funny.
Eat a Sweet potato.
The even began with a reading of "Is this wool hat my wool hat?". Something that caught me a little off guard. It was almost a round sung as opposed to a poem per say. The 4 students, each with their own tone of voice, began rambling that same line over and over. Until I noticed that they had changed the order of their words and became slowly independent of each other. Each were still saying the same 7 words, but in the order of which I couldn't make out. I was able to pinpoint each individual voice calling out, but I could also listen to the group as a whole. Each individual were like many who may scream out in this world trying to determine where their role may be within the group. An interesting conclusion if I do say myself, considering that everyone goes through that same prospect at one point in their lives. "Is this my role?" screaming, trying to be overheard by the mass of individuals screaming the same question to their peers. Something that I didn't understand however was that there wasn't any sort of conclusion to the poem... it just ended.
The presentation of Stephanie Rowden followed the performance. A completely different approach as her time was geared more toward the realm of academia. Her specialty was the auditory approach of how different sounds effect individual listeners. These were illustrated and finally culminated in her expression of the spoken voice. This came together quite nicely as she was able to do what all of us attempt to do, tell a story. Whether it's the tale of a young boy being hit by a car, or an old man that doesn't garden as much as he leads on. All were stories being told by sounds and the spoken word. An interesting approach I must admit, and can be related to writing by the fact that it's attempt is the same as any artist putting themselves out there to get a reaction out of the people that they're trying to reach.
The third and final performer was Stephen Benson. An author of many books (some of which are on sale near the exit) that took an approach that I was actually expecting to take, however with a little bit of a twist. While I was expecting people to stand before me and read their work, I wasn't expecting that to be done on a set and performed like a one man show. It was a little difficult to follow, proof coming from the many people leaving (Maybe they had class or something since the event ran a little over), but from what I got from it was that he was attempting to digest all the reading that we're required to do in our lives in a brief time frame. Reading from emails, text books, novels, screen plays, or the like, he put on a show that got the point across. That point of course is that we have a lot of mediums to get our story told and shouldn't be limited to just the one. It was improvised and he was able to give the entire performance some continence, but I fear that I was lacking somehow in being able to determine a deeper point than that. I did enjoy him linking the two performances before him into his, and even found some point rather funny.
Eat a Sweet potato.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
28 Janurary 2010
Working through Natalie Goldberg's "Writing Down the Bones" has been an interesting experience to say the least. For the most part, it seems that she's of the opinion that no thoughts should go into writing at all. In fact, I shouldn't even be thinking about what I'm writing here. Unfortunately for me, it doesn't work that way. I was hoping to hear another approach by now, especially since we're starting to get into some of the more meatier parts of the book. Perhaps with practice I'll be able to fall into line in how I should be writing.
As for the chapters that were assigned for this week, I believe that there's one major theme. DETAILS. I'm not sure how many times she could elaborate on the use of details, but I get the idea. Maybe I should go into more detail, but I am willing to risk my grade for the sake of making a snarky paragraph that states how the author of the book we're reading wants us to go into detail, and then not personally go into detail... At least not in this paragraph. I hope that the Irony (and humor) isn't lost on my readers.
For the Poetry Packet, I think I'm finally starting to get the hang of poetry in general. Generally speaking, I like to think that I have a fairly accurate command of the English language, at least for someone on this side of the pond. For most of the poems we are reading however I find it difficult to actually determine what they're talking about. Perhaps that's the point however, or I'm just looking in the wrong place. The ability for a piece of work to become personal to every individual that reads it, a majority of the time being something completely different, is probably what makes poetry so moving.
As for the chapters that were assigned for this week, I believe that there's one major theme. DETAILS. I'm not sure how many times she could elaborate on the use of details, but I get the idea. Maybe I should go into more detail, but I am willing to risk my grade for the sake of making a snarky paragraph that states how the author of the book we're reading wants us to go into detail, and then not personally go into detail... At least not in this paragraph. I hope that the Irony (and humor) isn't lost on my readers.
For the Poetry Packet, I think I'm finally starting to get the hang of poetry in general. Generally speaking, I like to think that I have a fairly accurate command of the English language, at least for someone on this side of the pond. For most of the poems we are reading however I find it difficult to actually determine what they're talking about. Perhaps that's the point however, or I'm just looking in the wrong place. The ability for a piece of work to become personal to every individual that reads it, a majority of the time being something completely different, is probably what makes poetry so moving.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Readings for 21JAN10
Goldberg's "Writing Down the Bones" so far has been interesting to say the least. Reading the first couple of chapters, I get the idea that I'm probably reading the correct book to help with my writing. The author's demeanor is not the same as if she was going to be writing a text book, and for this I am thankful. I found the story about her waiting in line at a buffet extremely humorous, also she brought up a good point. Why is it that whenever we study some kind of literature it's written by someone who's dead? I suppose it's simply the amount of time that the book has been out for it to gain some kind of following, or something.
I like her approach to writing, or I should say, her approach at getting me to write. The overwhelming block that you have to leap over before actually writing something is huge. Luckily she's able to pacify it with a simple answer... just write. It doesn't matter what you're writing about, or who you're writing to, just that you write. The idea that writing is something like a sport, one that requires practice, is probably the best point that I've heard to this point. The time spent simply writing is a practice event, and it really doesn't necessarily have to be the next War and Peace. What it does is loosen that person up to be able to write the next War and Peace when the time comes.
As for the Sonnets, I honestly believe that they were the most difficult read that I've faced in quite some time. I'm not a fan of poetry in of itself, considering that it leaves open so many blanks. I've heard the expression of comparing the written word to a painting and how they're both works of art. I understand completely and actually perpetuate that imagery when I speak of the written word. To me however, poetry seems like a modern art masterpiece (Even though it's been around for a long time) in that it's just a blank canvas that leaves the viewer (In this case reader) to fill in the space. Perhaps I'm missing something, but I would rather have that person tell me a story, not have me put what I believe the story should be into some kind of Mad Lib interpretation of what the story is.
I like her approach to writing, or I should say, her approach at getting me to write. The overwhelming block that you have to leap over before actually writing something is huge. Luckily she's able to pacify it with a simple answer... just write. It doesn't matter what you're writing about, or who you're writing to, just that you write. The idea that writing is something like a sport, one that requires practice, is probably the best point that I've heard to this point. The time spent simply writing is a practice event, and it really doesn't necessarily have to be the next War and Peace. What it does is loosen that person up to be able to write the next War and Peace when the time comes.
As for the Sonnets, I honestly believe that they were the most difficult read that I've faced in quite some time. I'm not a fan of poetry in of itself, considering that it leaves open so many blanks. I've heard the expression of comparing the written word to a painting and how they're both works of art. I understand completely and actually perpetuate that imagery when I speak of the written word. To me however, poetry seems like a modern art masterpiece (Even though it's been around for a long time) in that it's just a blank canvas that leaves the viewer (In this case reader) to fill in the space. Perhaps I'm missing something, but I would rather have that person tell me a story, not have me put what I believe the story should be into some kind of Mad Lib interpretation of what the story is.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Personal Information
My name is Adam Dreher, and I was born here in Ypsilanti. I know that a lot of people going to Eastern usually come from all around the state (In some cases World) but I'm one of the few that have been here my whole life. Well, except for a short stint in the Army. I spent 7 years in the Army as a Cavalry Scout. A fairly exciting job... if you're in to that kind of thing. I completed my time in March of 2008.
I started at Eastern Michigan University in the Summer of 2008. I am a Political Science Major, with a Philosophy Minor, or in other words, the cookie cutout of what a pre-law student should be. I know of all of the studies indicating that other majors actually perform better at law school, or at least teach skills that allow students to perform better, but nonetheless it's still the path of most of the law school candidates.
I'm interested in Creative Writing because, unlike Political Science and Philosophy, it allows me to express what I think about, not what other people (people whom are smarter than I ever will be) think and applying it to some kind of argument. At least, I think it does. I'm hoping that it will be a nice excursion away from what I'm used to. Plus I've had a couple of ideas for books that I'd like to write, and it couldn't hurt to see if I actually have the talent to put those ideas to paper.
At Eastern, I'm currently involved with various Student Organizations as well. I am the Commodore of the Sailing Club, President of the United Nations Student Alliance, Vice-President of the Student Veterans of America, as well as taking part with Eastern's Mock Trial Team. If you'd like any information on any of these groups let me know, as I can probably talk your ear off about all of them.
As for after Graduation, I hope to attend law school. Probably because I have seen too many episodes of Law and Order (I attribute G.I. Joe and M*A*S*H as my reasons for joining the Army). From there, who knows. One thing is for sure however is that I will stay in the State of Michigan. My time in the Army did teach me one thing, and while I might sound a little like Dorothy, there's no place like home. Besides, from my understanding, the state needs me.
I started at Eastern Michigan University in the Summer of 2008. I am a Political Science Major, with a Philosophy Minor, or in other words, the cookie cutout of what a pre-law student should be. I know of all of the studies indicating that other majors actually perform better at law school, or at least teach skills that allow students to perform better, but nonetheless it's still the path of most of the law school candidates.
I'm interested in Creative Writing because, unlike Political Science and Philosophy, it allows me to express what I think about, not what other people (people whom are smarter than I ever will be) think and applying it to some kind of argument. At least, I think it does. I'm hoping that it will be a nice excursion away from what I'm used to. Plus I've had a couple of ideas for books that I'd like to write, and it couldn't hurt to see if I actually have the talent to put those ideas to paper.
At Eastern, I'm currently involved with various Student Organizations as well. I am the Commodore of the Sailing Club, President of the United Nations Student Alliance, Vice-President of the Student Veterans of America, as well as taking part with Eastern's Mock Trial Team. If you'd like any information on any of these groups let me know, as I can probably talk your ear off about all of them.
As for after Graduation, I hope to attend law school. Probably because I have seen too many episodes of Law and Order (I attribute G.I. Joe and M*A*S*H as my reasons for joining the Army). From there, who knows. One thing is for sure however is that I will stay in the State of Michigan. My time in the Army did teach me one thing, and while I might sound a little like Dorothy, there's no place like home. Besides, from my understanding, the state needs me.
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