No worries. I knew I was treading one one of those areas you feel you own, so I'm not surprised. And many of my colleagues would and reportedly do question my intelligence, though not to my face, of course!
I love the notion of postmodernity as an "evil twin of Modernity" (there's that binary gesture again). As you define it here (whenever someone comments on humanity's stupidity), it seems everything is postmodern, which is an interesting idea but for me a confusing one as it contradicts my perhaps limited reading on the topic.
I agree with you about the trouble students face when they confuse their own pleasure (or lack thereof) with a critical response. Do you think that is partly the result of too many teachers trying desperately to assign to them only those things to which they can "relate?" On that tendency, one I often protest, you might find interesting Mark Slouka's insightful and incisive article in September's Harper's, one which I am copying and submitting this week to both our Dean and our President
Teachers are lucky, though, because they often assign works they do like. As for me, I seem to like more than most. For instance, I like both Beckett and Stoppard--it is not necessary for me to have an author offer me something that corresponds with my own outlook.
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I love the notion of postmodernity as an "evil twin of Modernity" (there's that binary gesture again). As you define it here (whenever someone comments on humanity's stupidity), it seems everything is postmodern, which is an interesting idea but for me a confusing one as it contradicts my perhaps limited reading on the topic.
I agree with you about the trouble students face when they confuse their own pleasure (or lack thereof) with a critical response. Do you think that is partly the result of too many teachers trying desperately to assign to them only those things to which they can "relate?" On that tendency, one I often protest, you might find interesting Mark Slouka's insightful and incisive article in September's Harper's, one which I am copying and submitting this week to both our Dean and our President
Teachers are lucky, though, because they often assign works they do like. As for me, I seem to like more than most. For instance, I like both Beckett and Stoppard--it is not necessary for me to have an author offer me something that corresponds with my own outlook.