let’s get this party started
so.
this is our own, personal blog space for the POLITICS OF LIT class. you are responsible for posting 250 words each week by monday, midnight, starting april 7. your posts should be about the books we read–or you can respond to other people’s thoughts.
1. Patriotism/Yukio Mishima
2. The Trial/Franz Kafka
3. The Jiri Chronicles/Debra DiBlasi
4. Invisible Monsters/Chuck Palahniuk
5. Persepholis/Marjane Satrapi
6. Blood and Guts in High School/Kathy Acker
7. Packet of shorts
8. film
onward.
lid
April 7, 2008 at 6:24 pm
This story is exciting, while I don’t relate to Reiko’s character and even found myself rejecting her decision, it makes a beautiful story. I have always been fascinated by the topic of suicide, even as a child, and also Japanese culture. After the first paragraph I was hooked, this is right up my alley. With such focus on detail and feeling, the story absolutely breathes its passion into the reader.
Now apparently, I must be missing something BIG in life, because if sex and violence weren’t already being paired in many songs and stories out there, I would never have put them side by side. I mean to say, I suppose I get it, the idea to pair them, but I don’t like it, not the way I need to in order to fully grasp it. Let me also say, that I’m not entirely sure that I would LIKE to understand the connection. I wouldn’t normally agree with the saying “ignorance is bliss” but from my perspective, I am glad I don’t “get” it. Perhaps too close to home….?
April 8, 2008 at 3:59 am
The premise for which the Lietenenat’s self-crucification took place really pissed me off. I feel that it was an act of selfishness and very chickenshit!! If he felt that the ultimate way to stand up for his beliefs was to protect his friends and fellow countrymen by saying no and commiting suicide so he cannot be used as tool against his beliefs then he should have also had no problem standing up and expressing those beliefs, even if the result would have been death. The end result would have been the same, but he could save many more and express and spread his faith by simply saying, “No, I have faith in my country’s original beliefs and I refuse to be used as a tool against those beliefs! I will not committ such acts against my fellow countrymen!” Instead he felt that in order to stand up, self-crucifaction was necessary to save others. This did nothing but strengthen the government’s push to identify and rid of the rebelious soldiers. His message has now gone no further than the blood stained linnens that now blanket the overly romantascized events that took place leading to his demise. The fact that his “HaryKary” was lengthy, agonizing and at points almost illfated was only retirtibution for the pain that his fellow countrymen with similar beliefs now have to suffer, because he didn’t step up to save them. Insted he told his wife, we shall soon see them in the other world and they will joke with me about taking you with me. On the other hand, his wife is more of a hero. She stood up for her beliefs. She even volunteered for the most extreme mission of all(watching her husband’s suicied then commiting her own)! By doing this, she proved that she is more of a soldier than her husband. She was able to prove her faith and stand up for what she believes in, even if this faith means death.
April 8, 2008 at 6:48 am
So I have to admit that I wasn’t too crazy about this story. It honestly left me feeling sick and awful. And not because it was written so powerfully well, but because I hate suicide and it is hard for me to hear about, think about, and now even read about. I have had many people in my life commit suicide and attempt suicide, including family members, and it has been a very touchy subject to me nearly my whole life. Although this book was not meant to be just about suicide I couldn’t help but focus on the suicide that I was left with when I closed my book on the last page. I understand that the book’s “powerful message” was about honor and commitment and understanding Japanese culture, but I don’t see anything honorable about taking your life away from the people who love you. Even though I can not judge another culture’s beliefs, my mind will not allow me to accept the notion that it can be “ok” and “acceptable”.
April 8, 2008 at 5:30 pm
The first time through the story I had a hard time getting past the american view of the oppressed wife and unatural connection between physical life and military cause. I grew up with an immediate family that regarded military as a dirty word and in order for me to understand the story I had to read it again. I tried to trascend myself into the japanese culture so I could respect the meaning of the story and remove my rose colored glasses. When looking at the story with a different perspective, I could see that without juxtaposing sex and violence the story would lose all meaning. I felt as though sex and violence was altimately creating the same purpose, maybe the same satisfaction. Although I did my best to look objectivly at the story, I had a hard time with The wife having to watch her husband commit suicide. At least she got some hot sex out of the deal…
May 1, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Even though I’ve been really really sick, I have not had a chance to read this yet although it reminds me of our next book Invisible Monster. I won’t go into that but this book like all of them have a running commonality sex, violence, military, japanese, it is all the same isn’t it?
Everywhere you go physically, the themes are the same. I didn’t grow up in a military family, however, my father went through three wars. He speaks not badly of any of them; and I’ve always wondered why, and I know now he just wants to remember the good times he had as a child
He was in World War I at about 10 yrs old and ran and fought and got separated from his family. He is yugoslovlan and though it was horrible, he and his family made it. This story sounds again with suicide, violent sex and just plailn violence that in every civilization in every life WE as people have the choice to let it go on and on and on or when do we stop it guys? All of these books talk about men and the raw sex and violence
and fighting. I see a pattern here , do YOU?
May 7, 2008 at 12:16 am
After reading The Invisible Monster, I must say that I have never been so grossed out and entertained at the same time. Our Alfa Romeo and Brandy Alexander certainly carry on a story of divine entrigue !!! What’s with the guts out of Brandy and Alfa’s face blown off? I’m not sure what I would call Pahaliuk’s work but bizarre. It took a minute to get into the story, however once in there it took a minute to get into the story, etc. But in all fairness I couldn’t put the book down. Even though it is pretty gruesome and sad that they couldn’t get anywhere I jsort of miss the old guys!!! Honestly, I don’t know what to say about this one. I liked it (because I like grusome things) and I didn’t. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since either. Well, this one was a winner!!! In the juxtaposition of life and death this one may well have been death!! Anyway, I have to say I liked it. Carry on Pahaliuk!!
May 21, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Seropolis
For a young girl of 10 years old this hihtory of “place”, the religious environment, the psychological, sociological, anthropological things and places that took part in this book , to me would be overwhelming. A girl that age should be playing and working with her mother on cooking, weaving, etc. instead of almost to the point of ‘w anting to blow herself up” just in dialogue. There was humour in the story some I’m sure I did not understand, because I am not from there. I do remember quite well in 1979 what I was doing while being aware of this war. I don’t believe there is a racial issue as much as an ethnic, religious issue.
What is the real Iran? Pre and post? what is the perception of sexuality in Imperialism from other countries. There are the politics of the veil and whether or not now in this modern time is it such an issue.j What are all the issues? About everything? Where and why is it ok and the same question I’d like us to think about where and why is it Not ok to be doing all the terror, torture, lack of support from the United States? While all along we ARE the enemy and have been for many many years.
May 26, 2008 at 2:56 am
I dont know if I am posting in the right place, but it’s the only place available to me at the moment, I don’t see any layout for Blood and Guts in High School.
I am having a difficult time reading it. I am unable to make any sense of it because it is so fragmented and abstract. I feel as though there isn’t even any real character. At times, when some of the pieces come together for a minute and I feel like I am getting it, I lose it again.
May 26, 2008 at 2:57 am
Is anyone else experiencing this…..?
May 27, 2008 at 12:16 am
So I need some help getting through blood and guts. I got as far as janey going to new york but I can’t find any curiosity for reading on. I can usually find aspects of any wrighting that I can at least admire, but I am feeling a bit of the alienated reader thing that I have heard others talk about but never quit understood. Can anyone share a perspective that would help me through the book?
May 29, 2008 at 9:02 pm
I at first reading wanted to throw up. It made my stomach hurt and feel real yucky. I understand the point of the point now, but I didn’t at first.
To be another person of an abusive background it was very difficult to read and look at, however, Acker has a way to pull one in if for no other reason than curiosity. I almost wasn’t that interested!!! I believe the items that we put up on the board made it make more sense to me. I cannot even think of an intellectual thing to say about it. Not necessary I guess. I probably will be a little skeptical at having any of my friends read it. Maybe not. I m just glad that one is over. Thank you