GRE Review: Schools of Theory in a nutshell

Hey Readers,

Who knew that Literary Criticism could be so fascinating? ( maybe my subconsious? ).  The notes below plus my current Literature class are a nice review ( Also a nice prompt for reflection: most of the criticisms I wrote in college were inspired by Marxism and Identity Criticisms.  I think I tried to get into the whole Linguistic thing, but my limited knowledge of the English language (just/always developing/forming) hindered/impeded/slowed down any analytical attempts.  Of course, the Psychological school with its emphasis in universal consciousness et. al. was also difficult because from a Marxist's perspective, "universality" was often standardized by the "hegemony." ).

Notes from my GRE Lit Review Book:

"In general, modern criticism makes use of insights drawn from three broad schools of theory:"

Marxist: With emphasis in economic situation and Socialism and its keywords: base/material economic reality, cultural superstructure, class, proletariat, means of production, bourgeoisie, imperialism, dialectical materialism
-New Historicism- specifics of culture matter profoundly: language, ideology, encoded ideology supporting the dominant class and also the struggling voice of the oppressed ideological subject, Euro-American patriarchy's typical marginalization of the other, phallocratic hegemony
--Feminist Criticism (Patriarchy, sexism, sexist language, etc.)
--Black Criticism
--Post-Colonial Criticism
---Identity Criticisms- Investigate definitions of self and constructions of self (synthesis of 3 broad schools of theory)

Linguistic: With a focus on Language and influential to early 20th century critics and the necessity to "professionalize" their discipline making it less speculative
-Formalist Criticism- (Russian inspired) Investigates formations of literary texts through defamiliarization because of devices of plot, story, and voice making language unfamiliar because writing is an aesthetic and literary object
-New Criticism- Questions the foundations (speculations about authorial intent, subjectivity, beauty and emotion) of the literary schools using the intentional fallacy, the affective fallacy, the heresy of paraphrase, close reading (the actual text, especially in poems); popular in England and the U.S.
-Structuralism- Popular in Continental Europe thanks to linguist Ferdinand de Saussure and his research in Semiotics because meaning is not intrinsic but produced by structure with terms, such as sign, signifier, signified, binary oppositions, spatial metaphors (center/periphery, vertical/horizontal axis)
-Post-Structuralism- Employs terms: mimesis, alterity, marginality, desire, and lack, while criticizing Structuralism using:
--Deconstruction, which focuses on the displacements, the excesses, the gaps, the exceptions with jargons: erasure, trace, bracketing, differance, slippage, dissemination, logocentrism, indeterminancy, and decentering
-Reader-Response Criticism- Insists that the reader's experience of a text is the literary event, thus involving an implied/ideal reader, horizon of expectations, Resception Aesthetics, also a synthesis of the 3 broad schools of theory

Bridge
Lacanian Criticism is the bridge between Linguistic and Psychological because language comes first and "structures the unconscious thus discontinuity between signifiers and signified, and the signifiers 'float' in an endless chain of substitution."  Other keywords to remember: mirror, phallus, signifier/ signified, substitution, desire, jouissance, objet petit a, and the three orders: imaginary, symbolic, and real

Psychological: Concerns with universals of human consciousness (factored in personality and biography of individual authors)
-Freudian Criticism and its jargon: Oedipal complex, libido, id, ego, superego, subconcious, repression, resistance.  Harold Bloom's 'strong-poet' (authors subconsciously position their work against an earlier author, their literary father) SEX!
-Archetype/Myth Criticism from Freud's collaborator Carl Jung with a focus on myth, ritual, recurring symbols, motifs, character types, plots, mythic hero, collective unconscious, etc..

Lecture: Reappropriating pagan horoscopes to narrate Christian Mythology

Guess What Readers?

One day Tutee B and I were in the library renewing books for our session, and I found out that he was a palm reader ( specializing in horoscopes ).  My interest pique, I asked him about his experience, and he was quick to point out that horoscope reading is a sin ( The Vatican already made a law concerning it? ), nonetheless Filipinos' pagan past was inseparable from it.

I wanted to hear his take on horoscopes, so I proffered an alternative viewpoint about horoscope and sin: "Horoscopes are just guides that don't determine our destiny, and we can use our free will given to us by God to consider them when making decision, diba?."  Still hesitant, he added, "Adam and Eve had free will ( and look what happened to them )."  Nonetheless, he narrated the Christian mythology through the reappropriation of horoscopes.

Virgo was the sign of the Virgin, very pure.  Angel Gabriel told Mary that she'd get pregnant with God's child, without committing sin ( sex before marriage ) hence, the Immaculate Conception ( conception of a pure vessel ).  Libra was about Balance (Scales) but lately the world had been out of balance; Jesus' coming would restore balance.  Scorpio's (Scorpion's) poison represented the evil in the world, and Sagittarius was the sign of the protector (Half Archer and Half Horse).  Joseph received a message from God to accept Mary and his stepson Jesus, and to protect them.

Jesus was born during the month of the Capricorn represented by the Goat-Fish symbolic of Jesus' dual nature: human and divine.  Then it skipped Jesus' childhood and resumed with Jesus' ministry.  Aquarius and the pouring of Water was paralleled with the miracle of the wedding feast of Cana.  Pisces and its Fish symbol correlated with the miracle of the fish and loaves.  Aries foreshadowed Jesus' death as sacrificial lamb (Ram).

Jesus had the strength and courage like the Taurus/Bull to face his ordeal.  Gemini representing the fickle Twins illustrated Judas' betrayal.  Cancer represented close-minded people (Crabby people) crucifying Jesus. Nonetheless, Jesus resurrected and was triumphant proving to be the Leo [Lion] King of us all.

Random? ideas excerpted

Hey Readers,

Sometimes it's nice to digress.  I've read some random books encountered along the way ( in addition to my GRE book list ):

"Golden Harvest: Essays in Honor of Joseph A. Galdon S.J." edited by Susan P. Evangelista et. al:
Reading this is helpful in understanding Father Galdon's philosophy ( especially his teaching philosophy, which dealt mostly with Significant Human Experiences [like student-centered to the max] ). 

"The Mustard Seed: Reflections for Daily Living" by Joseph A. Galdon S.J.:
This is a collection of Father Galdon's articles ( homily/sermons a la newspaper column style ).  It's a nice mix of literature, religion, Jesuit philosophy applied in everyday situation.

"For All My Walking: Free-verse Haiku of Taneda Santoka with Excerpts from His Dairy":
Taneda Santoka was a begging and wandering monk ( so relatable, diba? ).  These free-verse ( not limited by typical sound patterns or certain haiku schools ) haikus were created during his meanderings.  In an ironic way, he could be like a rockstar monk writing about sex and Sake.  Also the diary excerpts give good background to situate his haikus that reveal the transcendental in the mundane while showing typical concerns of writers, such as inspiration, process, and publication.
 
"On Becoming Filipino" Selected Writings of Carlos Bulosan:
"Now You Are Still and other Poems" by Carlos Bulosan:
This book is a collection of Bulosan's short stories, essays, poems ( some also appeared in "Now You Are..." ), and personal letters.  I read some of the stories and all the other writings.  In his works, there are a lot of anger and sadness because of the injustice he encountered and saw in life.  Nonetheless, his personal correspondences still showed a sense of hope and peace.

"Very Short Stories for Harried Readers" edited by Vicente Garcia Groyon
I love flash fiction ( and its playing with typography/form ), and this collection contains plenty of exemplary examples of [sudden] fiction ( an awesome bonus is that these writers are mostly Filipinos, thus they serve as fabulous role models ).

"A Moveable Feast" by Ernest Hemingway:
I was inspired to read this after an author referred to it in an article about a Writing Center philosophy.  So far this book is a mix of Paris/France travelogue, and memoir of/ gossip about expat[s].  Hemingway talked about walking around Paris, chilling with his wife, writing stories et. al., partying with artists, such as Gertrude Stein, James Joyce, Scott Fitzgerald, and more.

Excerpts from:

"Writing Centers in Context: Twelve Case Studies" edited by Joyce A. Kinkead et. al.:
So far, what I'm liking about this is the direct application of the generalities ( mentioned by Olson ) to different Writing Centers across the United States.  Each Writing Center's history and approach is interesting.  I'm learning about a potential Writing Center-to-be ( multiculturalism and writing as a political act ), and will soon understand the main approach (foundation) used by Utah State University's Writing Center in training USU Writing Center tutors ( c'est moi ).

"Writing Centers: Theory and Administration" edited by Gary A. Olson
So far, this is a good general introduction.  Sometimes I feel that this is so elementary; maybe I feel this way because I've been working in a Writing Center for 4 years and recently I've been reading tons of Writing Center articles for personal research ( so most of what the writers talked about sounded like a broken record ).  The articles focusing on Administrative responsibilities are enlightening.  Overall a good review.

Lecture: a no birdbrainer

Guess What Readers?

I was walking down the hallway when I saw a poster announcing that Fil-Am playwright Linda Faigao-Hall was going to give a talk on "How to write plays about Filipino Americans and still remain sane."  Because I like writing and because I like the Play form ( especially its' performative and condense/haiku-ish yet jam-packed aspect ) I went.

According to the Dean of the Fine Arts, Fil-Am playwrights and their plays are unexplored here in the Philippines ( meaning plenty of room for exploration ).  Fil-Am's distance ( perhaps their liminal status ) gives them insights on certain Global issues.  OMG, hearing the Dean lists Faigao-Hall's credentials is quite inspiring.

Some of her published plays include, "Sparrow" [ which was previewed and read during the lecture, grabe, deep shizzle talaga ], "God, Sex, and Blue Water", and "The 'A' Word".  She'd been published in the 'Best 10 Minutes Play 2008 Anthology', and she's currently working in a Writing Center in Mercy College (NY?), while spearheading a revival of Cebuano art form involving extemporaneous poetry jamming, singing, and dancing ( a 'Native' musical ;).

Faigao-Hall was already published in the Philippines before she migrated to the U.S., but it took her 13 years living abroad before she had the courage to submit her play to "Equity Players Inc." (?). Having "beginner's luck" her 1st play submission was produced.  Then she talked about rejections, rewrites, CSI writers as "failed" playwrights, public readings, contracts [ once written can't change the words ], the difference between Off-Off Broadway/Off Broadway/Broadway.  She had a 9 to 5 job during the day, and she wrote her plays during the night ( starting at 10pm ).

According to her, her biggest obstacle is IGNORANCE.  She's constantly dealing with Asian stereotypes, and Filipino/Fil-Am viewers are often skeptical of her work; anything they deemed "local" is thus inferior.  They also don't like watching what they already know.  But the truth of the matter is that they don't know.  Faigao-Hall's mission is to address these stereotypes in the hopes of eliminating them.  In addition to this vision, she explores the theme of Cultural Collision, writes from the Gut ( not thinking consciously about labels: Fil-Am, Filipino, American, et. al. ), and believes that ART gives sustenance and nourishment.

Manila Internship: winding down (w12)

Como Estas Readers?

Well things are winding down at my internship.  This week was short because Friday was a holiday; thus my main focus was on the Library Project and Publication Project.  Next week will be my last week of observing and freelance tutoring, so I can strictly focus on finalizing office tasks.

The Library Project is going; the last part is more meticulous than anticipated ( more time consuming because most of the books left are not in a series ).  One more shelf left before I update the call numbers into the computer catalog.

The Conference Prep is going as well.  I'm observing the effects that the budget plays during this preparation stage ( concern includes: color or b/w printing  ).  As an investment, an extra assistant is hired to complete other secretarial duties, such as organizing materials for grab bag (notebook, pen, Center's magazine, brochure, ID holder, etc. ), photocopying Conference materials, buying Conference banners/tarp, etc.

During the ESL Practicum, Director N and I discussed each class's strengths: audience appeal (class 1) and structure (class 2).  Both class seemed to be struggling with sustaining/maintaining their argument ( hence, can be all over the place ).  During Writing Wednesday, we discussed a structure of an essay ( thesis, intro, bodies, conclusion ) before the class worked on their Personal Response Paper 3 employing the whole writing process: brainstorming, drafting, revising, and finalizing.  Besides saving time and having the urgency to write, I wonder what other benefits ( or disadvantages ) are in this approach ( one sit-in ).  I also helped Student F to brainstorm.

Freelance Tutoring is going.  Tutee B and I discussed elements of a good thesis statement ( personal opinion/stance, arguable, insight ) in the context of political campaign/project ( such as the building of a Youth Center ). For Runner J's thesis, we worked on Ch. 3 and 5; one more chapter before we do an overall review so he could give a copy to his main adviser.  Finally the Publication Project is also going.  I emailed Writer O revision comments for his article; I drafted revision comments for Writer I, and soon I will revise my article according to Director N's comments.