History..? Or Literature...?
2007-08-14 at 6:58 p.m.
I think i'm going to love tuesdays this sem! tuesday, also known as Lit day, is going to be great fun, simply because it is lit day. even running about from CDTL back to arts in 10mins isn't going to be that bad, i don't think. today was great. much as i like history, much as i appreciate the 'history'-oriented way of looking at the past, history just doesn't give me the same zing as lit does. listening to dr./professor peleggi discuss the intro to world outline yesterday didn't infuse me with any sort of excitement—maybe because i'm not that psyched by intro to world anyway, but 19th Century lit today was just, wow. listening to dr. ang talking about all these books, poets, and everything else, i finally felt the way i've been waiting to feel the past two weeks: superduper excitement. i'm now so, so psyched for the semester (and 19th C. lit), that i'm not even bummed that i don't know anyone in the class. whee. it seems i am a lit person after all.
but at the same time, looking at the past from a 'lit' perspective ignores a lot—in lit, the 19th century can be seen—or imagined—as a golden period, the height of literary and cultural liberty, political reform and etc, but all that stays with me is the abject poverty and squalor of the lower classes during that period. not that lit people ignore these facts, simply that they say, 'yes, but it was also a period of great literary, cultural and political achievements!'
in the same way, history students or historians look at it and say, 'yes, advancements were made, but ultimately, the people who benefitted were still only the privileged elites.'
both perspectives slight something important, and i just can't decide which side i'm on.
ooh and i now have a huuge list of books that i want to read!!
1) Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
2) Through the Looking Glass
3) The Story of the Amulet, E. Nesbit
4) The Dark is Rising series, Susan Cooper
5) Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
6) Cranford, Elizabeth Gaskell
that's ten books, dude!
at this rate, i'll never do my course readings....