"A Rose for Emily"

Everyone needs to be familiar with "A Rose For Emily." Because it appears in so many anthologies and textbooks, most people who have been to college should have read it, and it has something to offer everyone - including social criticism and commentary on: race, gender, perverted and/or abusive intimate relationships and more. E-notes tells us:

“A Rose for Emily” is a story that stands by itself. Faulkner himself modestly referred to it as a “ghost story,” but many critics recognize it as an extraordinarily versatile work. As Frank A. Littler writes in Notes on Mississippi Writers, ‘‘A Rose for Emily’’ has been ‘‘read variously as a Gothic horror tale, a study in abnormal psychology, an allegory of the relations between North and South, a meditation on the nature of time, and a tragedy with Emily as a sort of tragic heroine.’’

See also Spark notes.

Questions I have for myself before class:

• Do I want students to look at the conclusions and ideas from past classes - or come up with an interpretation on their own - unbiased by previous readers?
• Should I have students compare the tale to a CSI or Law & Order episode? We've previously compared the meaning of the rose to a Bachelor / Bachelorette reality TV meaning. How would they react to a role play?
  
• Why did our text book place the student example of a literary analysis in front of the story itself?
• Did I warn them in advance of the inappropriate language (by today's standards)? Can or should we discuss it? They could see the same term in the middle stall of the 3rd floor LIB men's bathroom.
  

Questions I want readers to think about today:

1. When was the story set? Where? Describe the social context.
2. Is it believable?
   
3. What do we know about the narrator?
4. What do we know or suspect about Homer Barron? anyone look it up? Here, or here(?)? What're your gut feelings about him?
   
5. Was the writer intentionally using symbols and multiple layers of meaning?
6. Do Homer and Emily seem like a good match?
   
7. How do the town's people feel about Emily? How do you feel about her?
8. What does Emily's reaction to the death of her father tell us about the way her mind works?
9. What does the hair in the last sentence mean?
   

See more questions courtesy of Web English Teacher. Find full text online here - until the text book thugs take it down.

national wear purple day

I found out from a friend about a movement to show support for GLBT youths by wearing purple today. There is a facebook group (at least one). There are events organized in Chicago, and other cities.

Much of the momentum comes from the 6 or more young men who have committed suicide in recent weeks after being bullied for their perceived orientation. At least one of the young men was straight, but peers labeled him and abused him (does/ should that matter?).

Today for a Journal Writing topic I'd like my classes to write about whether gay rights are civil rights. Why, or in what ways, are GLBT targeted? WHy do people react so strongly to homosexuality in you culture? Will there always be a scapegoat - or a socially condoned victim? Is our culture, community or school heterosexist? Issues of race get tied up with gender and sexuality all the time. I'm interested that the Root posted on wearing purple today. Why do divorce rates go up whenever/where-ever women get more rights?
What are the politics of the issue? What are the arguments for or against? For that matter, what is homosexuality? Some cultures consider it an act or behavior, for others (US) it is a fundamental question of identity.

The US Secretary of State speaks in support of an It Gets Better campaign, and the I Give a Damn campaign takes a direct approach.

And a shout out to the JCCC Queers and Allies - who meet Wednesdays at 2pm in CC212. The also have a facebook group.

Would our classes be interested in having a Speak Out panel come to class?

Critiquing layout and design: Message fail?

This billboard faces the east-bound lane of I-70 just outside of Topeka, KS. My wife and I used to look forward to the last image on this board - it said, "Superpower your baby" and had a badly photoshopped greased/ cowlicked baby head on a superman body. The text sent a positive message re: breastfeeding and reading to your baby - both activities I support. The graphics just cracked us up. But the first few times we saw this board no one spoke.

Note this picture has been enlarged, enhanced and sharpened. Traveling at 70 mph, the fine print disappears. Try standing back from your screen to get the effect. I read a harsh message for working mothers.

I try to live by a philosophy of , "Don't attribute to malice what can otherwise be explained by incompetence," and I want to trust the KS Department of Health (who sponsored the message) has it's heart in the right place, but the look at the picture. Why a baby blue background? To blend with the sky and make it invisible (not effective from a marketing perspective), or to call to mind male babies? Why? And white lettering on a pale blue background?

"Being a mother doesn't stop from 9-5" has to sting any mother. Isn't working outside the home for a new mother an incredibly touchy subject - that should be approached carefully with sensitivity and tact? Not until stopping by the side of the road as close as I could get to take this picture did I even see the fine print about, "ask your employer for breastfeeding options." THAT should be the privileged text - that should pop - but it's nearly invisible. And why would someone look twice if the initial image slapped them with guilt trip?

I've only discussed this with one other person, but feedback would be appreciated - is this an epic fail, something worse, merely lame, or am I reading too much into this? I grew up in an art studio and used to have these sort of discussions. Is it effective for it's intended audience? I'd also appreciate anyone analyzing the photo/graphic.

diversity

I wonder if the cartoon (from SMBC) has a point. If so, what bigotry will traditional (18-21ish) students reject? And what bigotry will they hold on to? Interestingly within a week or so of this cartoon the reputable Pew Research Center wrote on this topic in, "Millenials views ...not so different." The matix below the cartoon comes from their research. You likely will have to scroll down for it - but it's provocative.

I wonder if profs tend to unfairly assume their students are less open- minded? Maybe it depends on the academic discipline. Or, as a few former colleagues have put it, "everyone is prejudiced." That statement has bothered me in the past. What's that say about the speaker? What about Mother Theresa? The statement may not be wrong, but...

If you're interested in this topic check out some links collected at the social bookmarking site under these tags: diversity, gender, or race

TheDaily Show's Wyatt Cenac takes a funny look at the subject on the Jan. 12th 2010 show.

Teaching/Learning- cartoon screengrabs & links

On Taking Notes:

And also on the subject of taking notes and keeping a calendar/ schedule - but not screen grab friendly.

On Rhetoric/ Logic and Debate:

http://www.smbc-comics.com/comics/20100102.gif

Transgender panel at JCCC

Friday, which is international day of rememberance, JCCC will be hosting a transgendered panel in Craig auditorium - on the 2nd floor of GEB. It should start at 3:00 pm.

This will be sponsored by JCCC Queers and Allies - who have a site on google groups with more information.

Sounds like an interesting and well informed panel - who will answer questions. I'll consider offering extra credit to those who attend and write up a page on the experience. Our text has led us to topics of gender - and feminism in particular has traditionally been concerned with diversity and all manner of sexual oppression. It would arguably be relevant.