4 ms·

I don't think you are properly understanding the critique here. From personal experience I can tell you that English Lit in universities is mostly "deconstruct

I don't think you are properly understanding the critique here. From personal experience I can tell you that English Lit in universities is mostly "deconstructing X" or "Marxist criticism of Y". It's all interpretation in light of contemporary political norms - and of a very narrow range of contemporary political thought at that. The idea of letting the stories reflect the realities of their times, or speak into our own, is just anathema. Heck, most of those authors have been "canceled" for wrong-think of some form or another (or just for being dead white men).

rocket_surgeron 4y ago
>It's all interpretation in light of contemporary political norms - and of a very narrow range of contemporary political thought at that. Unless you are in possession of a time machine, that is the only practical form of interpretation for an undergraduate English literature student. I did not fear the satanic panic of the 80s, I do not fear the marxist panic of today. I note that the panics seem to emanate from the same kind of person, separated by time. Also, neither feminists nor transgender folk scare me so discussing them in an academic setting is not likely to warp my delicate little brain.
- tonfreed 4y ago
  I have no problem with learning to analyse from that perspective, but if it's the only lens being taught then that's an issue. Why not learn how CS Lewis would have discussed his favourite works? Why avoid talking about Randian ideas except to criticise them? At this point, it's not education, it's indoctrination.
  - rocket_surgeron 4y ago
    >Why avoid talking about Randian ideas except to criticise them? Oh. You're a cultist. Nevermind. Rand is as relevant as Time Cube.
    - lliamander 4y ago
      Rand (along with Rose Lane Wilder, and others) was a seminal figure in the development of contemporary libertarian thought. She's no more of a cult figure than Marx, and yet he is taught uncritically. The contradiction is not lost on the rest of us. EDIT: also, no one who speaks positively of Rand and Lewis in the same sentence is a Randian cultist, for reasons that I hope are obvious.
      - rocket_surgeron 4y ago
        [flagged]
        lliamander 4y ago
        > "Libertarian thought" is an oxymoron What a juvenile response. Are we in middle-school now? > Please go hawk your NFTs somewhere else. It's clear from comments like this that you aren't actually arguing with me, but with some caricature you have in your mind. When you are ready to actually talk with a real human being that disagrees with you, let me know.
- lliamander 4y ago
  > Unless you are in possession of a time machine, that is the only practical form of interpretation for an undergraduate English literature student. That's bullshit. We are influenced by our present politics, but it is perfectly possible to learn to see the world from the perspective of others, including our ancestors. > I did not fear the satanic panic of the 80s, I do not fear the marxist panic of today. I note that the panics seem to emanate from the same kind of person, separated by time. Mostly I found the Marxist stuff boring as hell, not to mention riddled with contradictions and intentionally obscure prose. > Also, neither feminists nor transgender folk scare me so discussing them in an academic setting is not likely to warp my delicate little brain. What a non-sequitor. You can have discussion about such people without declaring the greats of English literature to be persona non grata. I'm also not sure why you talk about how "not afraid" you are. It's as if you are implying I somehow am, which would be a gross misreading of the situation.
- pinto_graveyard 4y ago
  [flagged]

rocket_surgeron 4y ago

>It's all interpretation in light of contemporary political norms - and of a very narrow range of contemporary political thought at that. Unless you are in possession of a time machine, that is the only practical form of interpretation for an undergraduate English literature student. I did not fear the satanic panic of the 80s, I do not fear the marxist panic of today. I note that the panics seem to emanate from the same kind of person, separated by time. Also, neither feminists nor transgender folk scare me so discussing them in an academic setting is not likely to warp my delicate little brain.

tonfreed 4y ago
I have no problem with learning to analyse from that perspective, but if it's the only lens being taught then that's an issue. Why not learn how CS Lewis would have discussed his favourite works? Why avoid talking about Randian ideas except to criticise them? At this point, it's not education, it's indoctrination.
- rocket_surgeron 4y ago
  >Why avoid talking about Randian ideas except to criticise them? Oh. You're a cultist. Nevermind. Rand is as relevant as Time Cube.
  - lliamander 4y ago
    Rand (along with Rose Lane Wilder, and others) was a seminal figure in the development of contemporary libertarian thought. She's no more of a cult figure than Marx, and yet he is taught uncritically. The contradiction is not lost on the rest of us. EDIT: also, no one who speaks positively of Rand and Lewis in the same sentence is a Randian cultist, for reasons that I hope are obvious.
    - rocket_surgeron 4y ago
      [flagged]
      - lliamander 4y ago
        > "Libertarian thought" is an oxymoron What a juvenile response. Are we in middle-school now? > Please go hawk your NFTs somewhere else. It's clear from comments like this that you aren't actually arguing with me, but with some caricature you have in your mind. When you are ready to actually talk with a real human being that disagrees with you, let me know.
lliamander 4y ago
> Unless you are in possession of a time machine, that is the only practical form of interpretation for an undergraduate English literature student. That's bullshit. We are influenced by our present politics, but it is perfectly possible to learn to see the world from the perspective of others, including our ancestors. > I did not fear the satanic panic of the 80s, I do not fear the marxist panic of today. I note that the panics seem to emanate from the same kind of person, separated by time. Mostly I found the Marxist stuff boring as hell, not to mention riddled with contradictions and intentionally obscure prose. > Also, neither feminists nor transgender folk scare me so discussing them in an academic setting is not likely to warp my delicate little brain. What a non-sequitor. You can have discussion about such people without declaring the greats of English literature to be persona non grata. I'm also not sure why you talk about how "not afraid" you are. It's as if you are implying I somehow am, which would be a gross misreading of the situation.
pinto_graveyard 4y ago
[flagged]