hey all:
a couple of years ago, one of my students (in my sci-fi class)(taught
during summer school) blurted out, "why can't we just read this stuff for
fun???!!!"
i had to keep my cool, and restrain fantastical thoughts of a
mac10convertedsemiautomaticmachinegun.
i wanted to ask this person why the hell was she in college? instead, i'm
happy to share, i tried to answer as best as possible... but i don't think
i made a bit of difference, because, like several of you have written, it's
a thing that takes time... maturity, interest, growing into the kind of
critical lense one wishes to explore...
what i did,as usual, was draw weird pictures on the blackboard. i drew the
side cut of an island and suggested that when we read for fun, for
entertainment only, we are only appreciating what is on the surface.
(then, i dramatically drew the huge mass of land that triangulated out from
the bottom of the island, under the little loopy waves.) i suggested that
this island was built over layer and layer of super thoughts,
sociohistorical implications, other texts, ideas, ideas, ideas. if we want
to achieve a deep reading, we must dig or dive.
hanging out on the island is great for a tan and the air and the nice
breeze and the balmy whisper of the little palm tree (that is also drawn
there in "little princian style").. but after a while, i'd imagine it'd get
pretty darn boring. plus, there's that awful possibility of a wicked
sunburn.
ciao,
lissa bloomer
if you're wearing pants, thank my great great great grandmother.
elisabeth bloomer
instructor, english
virginia tech
ebloomer@vt.edu
540.231.2445
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