Social Media and Literature

I just finished using Storify for the first time. My post talks about Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc), and how it has changed the outlook on Literature.

You all should check it out, and let me know what you think.

How Social Media Has Changed Literature

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My Midweek Getaway

(*Does anyone else think that coming up with a title is the hardest part about blogging?*)

This last week, I decided to go against everything I stand for.  I actually went to an event that was “fun”.  And no, I’m not talking about posting up with a book for six hours straight (although I do find that fun).

I decided to head up to Portland for a concert on Wednesday night.  On a whim, my roommate and I bought nine dollar tickets to go see The Asteroids Galaxy Tour.  This turned out to be one of the best events I have ever been to.

We showed up at the Crystal Ballroom in downtown Portland about 45 minutes early, which gave us plenty of time to soak in the atmosphere and help ourselves to one of McMenamin’s tasty beverages.

I honestly didn’t know much about the band, other than that awesome Heineken commercial (see below) that jump-started their popularity in the U.S.  So I truly had no idea what to expect.

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“What does this have to do with my previous posts?” you might ask.  Well both music and writing have their place  among what we call “art”.  I mean, a song is essentially poetry put to music.  If you were to take out the chorus of a song you would get a poem.

One of the main differences between the two would be the way it makes you feel.  When reading poetry, you are left to decide how it makes you feel.  They are just words on paper with no structured emotion behind them.

Music, especially live music, dictates how you feel.  Everything about a song: music, words, tempo, all come together to put you into a certain mood.

That is one of the reasons that this concert was great.  The performance was so full of raw energy that the crowd couldn’t help but dance along, loving every single second of it.  For those few hours the crowd was connected with the music.

Sometimes you feel like you’re running around in the clouds,
Sometimes you feel like you’re living your life wasting time,
Oh you’re so true yet so blue ~ is it all in your mind?
Tell me, amaze me, seduce me, you still make it mine.

-The Asteroids Galaxy Tour – Push the Envelope

These are some of the lyrics from my favorite song at the concert. This is just one example of the differences in style between poetry and song lyrics. Compared to poetry, reading these words doesn’t quite bring out the same emotions or thoughts. But you can still see hints of rhyme and rhythm in the lines. It is only when you hear the words live that you can truly appreciate it.

I guess what I am trying to say is this was a great experience. I don’t think the two things (poetry and music) are completely comparable, but neither are they that different. Let’s just say they are both wonderful, and both have their place in the world.

Oh, and listen to The Asteroids Galaxy Tour! Like my great new friend, Rachel, 25 from Portland said, “The band is amazing. I am so glad I they played here, and I was lucky enough to see em’!”

Now enjoy some pictures of the concert.

Here is a sweet panoramic view of the stage and the street outside.

This is what it looked like from the back of the ballroom.

Before the concert started. This is the view from the “bar” area.

This is where I was posted up for the concert. I was roughly eight rows back.

Yea, I guess I was the only one excited.

Here is the view of the whole stage, with the chandelier included.

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My Top Ten: Books

Now that I am roughly 95% done with my major, I thought it would be nice to reflect on the classes I have taken the last couple years. I am in the process of completing roughly my eighth Literature class, and I wanted to look back on some of the books that I’ve read in my previous classes. I decided to throw together my own top 10 list of these books (including the class in which I read it).

(Disclaimer: This is based purely on my enjoyment of the books. I am not talking about which is written the best, or which is the most critically acclaimed.)

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10. Howards End by E.M Forester (Art & Politics)
One of the great British novels from the early 20th century, Howards End takes a close look at the struggles of class. The story is wonderful, and keeps the reader engaged as it takes you through the changing landscape of England.

Shakespeare

9. Goodbye, Columbus by Philip Roth (American Lit: 1914-1960)
This story takes a close look at different class issues in America, and leaves many issues on the reader’s plate. On surface value, it is a quick read and quite good.

8. The Blithedale Romance by Nathaniel Hawthorne (Brit/American Lit)
Hawthorne’s great social experiment (Brook Farm) on paper. This is an interesting book that entertains until the end. I believe it gives great insight into the process of writing as well.

7. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (American Lit: 1914-1960)
This was Ellison’s only published novel, and it is simply amazing. I don’t think any other book better portrays the struggle of African-Americans in 20th century America than this. Excellent.

6. Atonement by Ian McEwan (Contemporary British Novels)
This book isn’t as popular as the movie, but I believe it is way better. It is a great love story (or loss of love?) that leaves you guessing until the very end.

5. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (American Lit: 1914-1960)
An American “classic”. It seems to be on everyone’s reading list, and it deserves to be. Some even go as far to call it the “Great American Novel”. Overall, a great enjoyable.

4. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters (Contemporary British Novels)
A twist within a twist within a twist. What’s not to love right? Throw in classic 19th century England, some crazy people and murder… You got a great book.

Zadie Smith

3. Various Works by Shakespeare (Shakespeare: Comedies and Histories)
I know this isn’t a book, but how could I claim to be Mr. English major and then leave Shakespeare off this list? To get a little more specific, I would say A Midsummer Night’s Dream would be the play I enjoyed the most.

2. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway (American Lit: Natures Nation)
This is a quick 2 hour read, but it is amazing. This is Hemingway at his finest. It is so simple, yet so ripe with imagery and deeper meaning. Hemingway was definitely deserving of his Nobel Prize after this story.

1. White Teeth by Zadie Smith (Art & Politics)
Maybe this book is just more relative then the others, but I could imagine myself being in this story. Multiple story-lines weave together, spelling out a great tale that spans generations. Smith’s style of writing brings together many thought provoking issues with a dash of humor and realism on the side. Overall, it is such an enjoyable book. I would recommend it to everyone.

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So there you have it, my favorite books over the last two years. You may not agree with my opinion, but feel free to tell me what you think regardless.

**(Also, I am currently reading Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko which, when finished, will be in my top 10.)**

Cheers.

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America, Where Have All The [Good] Writers Gone?

You guys probably didn’t hear, but the Nobel Prize for Literature was announced recently. To save you all the drama, the winner was Tomas Transtromer from Sweden.

But that isn’t what I want to talk about. For those that don’t follow that closely, an American writer has not won the award for almost 20 years (Toni Morrison in 1993). This may seem to be surprising for those that don’t follow literature that closely, but America has been looked down upon for quite some time now when it comes to writing.

I am going to assume that most people out on the blogosphere don’t really follow literature on a global level, so I will attempt to explain why America has lacked the big writer to win the reward recently. Popular perception is that we (Americans) are ignorant to all that is happening around us. We don’t write about the troubles of poverty, or injustice towards females. How can a writer be expected to write about something that they don’t know about? At the same time, consumers don’t seem to care to read about depressing issues.

An article written in 2008, goes in to further detail about why American writers never seem to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. Horace Engdahl, the academy’s permanent secretary, didn’t beat around the bush when it came to explaining the lack of respect for Americans:

“The U.S. is too isolated, too insular,” Engdahl decreed. “They don’t translate enough and don’t really participate in the big dialogue of literature. That ignorance is restraining.”

American writers nowadays don’t push the envelope on issues that are relevant to the world. We are so comfortable in our little bubble that it is hard to step outside it. As long as people keep writing about our “first world problems”, we will get no respect on a global level.

American great William Faulkner

Gone are the days or William Faulkner or Ernest Hemingway. Part of the reason these two won Nobel Prizes had to do with their ability to write about topics that are “important”. Faulkner had his racism, and Hemingway had World War II. These two had issues that were important on a global level. Our generation doesn’t have any of these authors that are household names.

Faulkner’s acceptance speech shows just how important his writing is. The writing is about something bigger then themselves. His speech alone is worth taking the time to read, because he talks about important issues that were, and still are, relevant to everyone.

If American writers want to garner respect from their peers and critics, they must write about relevant issues in today’s world. It may be too soon, but there needs to be writing about the war in the Middle East or terrorism. These are just my ideas, but I think that they are a good way to start on the path back American prominence in the field of literature.

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