Classes

[icepixie]

101 will be entertaining. The doctoral student I'm assisting is great fun, and has an accept-no-slackers philosophy I find very compatible with my own. All the kids were on time, and paying attention, and kind of adorable, actually. Aw, eager freshmen. I think it'll be a good semester.

I had two of my three grad classes today--both of the 500-levels. (I have a 600-level coming up on Friday.) They both seem like they'll be good. Actually, they seem like [English university name redacted] classes, only, y'know, done right. The pace is quick, of course--these are the graduate equivalent of survey courses--and there's not only the suggestion of doing extra reading, but in one of them (the American lit class) the requirement that half your papers be about primary sources not assigned in class.* So the extra work will in fact count for something, and not be all too easily blown off, which, I gotta say, is the best way to do things, because when papers start piling up, motivation for that goes by the wayside pretty quick.

The critical theory reading group meets tomorrow as well. I'm definitely going, because my theory, it is weak. Almost as weak as my religious knowledge.** I'm tentatively signed up for the feminist reading group as well, and I'm sure there are others that will be attractive. I may have to start an Irish Lit group just because. (I, er, may be retreating to the familiar for my thesis. I've been giving it some thought. A study of contemporary female poets wrestling with the male-created trope of Ireland-as-woman would be awesome. As would the presence of landscape in Heaney and others. Can I write three theses?)

Thanks to everyone who wished me luck on my last entry, by the way. Y'all are awesome.

*

I've had "The Thrill" stuck in my head for going on three days now. If you don't understand what a horror this is...just trust me. It's bad. (Actually, if you go to my last entry and click on the iTunes link, you can listen to the whole thing for yourself. Then maybe the earworm will leave my head.)

Although at least it's not "Rocky Top." My current university wins for "most annoying school song," I must say.


* The prof for that course also shares my view that literature and history are perhaps the closest of all disciplines, and you can't have a good understanding of one without the other. I HAVE FOUND MY PEOPLE.

** That's getting to be a real stumbling block. I have a feeling I'm going to have to get down with some study guides there, because I have Blake again in my Romantics class [grrr, argh], and it's going to be necessary for the Puritan stuff we'll be doing in the American class. Does Biblical References in Literature for Dummies exist?)

Comments

[vbrooksutk.livejournal.com]

Pssshh!! Serves you right when you drown in a sea of orange at the first home game ;)

[icepixie]

Heh. I am either leaving town or locking myself in my apartment on game days. Aaaaaaaaaaah.

[nickless.livejournal.com]

Although at least it's not "Rocky Top." My current university wins for "most annoying school song," I must say.

Murray State, "The Old Gray Mare" At least that's what they play non-stop at football games. *beats head against bleachers*

[nickless.livejournal.com]

Probably better stay there for that evening/night, too... *shudder* Kathe has some good insight into that kind o' insanity.

Oh, and a hint? It might be a good idea to find a football schedule and research the opposing teams' colors so you can make some notes for Friday (and in case of a loss, Monday) classes. Because even eager little freshman can get a little rabid if you show up, at least in their eyes, dressed like the enemy. Yay, kind-of-scary football schools!

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

[English university name redacted] classes

heheheheh. Never again!

My current university wins for "most annoying school song," I must say.

Or maybe just "most annoying drunken fans who scream along with the school song every five minutes"?

I HAVE FOUND MY PEOPLE.

Welcome to Nerdonia!

[alto2.livejournal.com]

The prof for that course also shares my view that literature and history are perhaps the closest of all disciplines, and you can't have a good understanding of one without the other.

One of my high-school English teachers declared to us at the beginning of the year that literature is the product of the civilization that created it, and while I had major disagreements with other things he said throughout the year, I always thought that one was right one. In college, I always found classes the most fascinating when we'd get into the historical and sociological/psychological background of the period. I don't see how you could really grasp the full import of any book without getting those aspects as well.

I'm glad things are working out so well so far! :)

[icepixie]

Murray State, "The Old Gray Mare" At least that's what they play non-stop at football games. *beats head against bleachers*

Huh. Despite having an uncle teaching in the English department there for many a year, I had never heard that one before. I listened to it on iTunes. That was a mistake.

[icepixie]

heheheheh. Never again!

Never! (Hmmm. I wonder if it's gotten any better since they introduced participation grades.)

Or maybe just "most annoying drunken fans who scream along with the school song every five minutes"?

I'm sure that will get added to my list once the first game happens.

Welcome to Nerdonia!

Yay nerds!

[icepixie]

I don't see how you could really grasp the full import of any book without getting those aspects as well.

You would be surprised at how people try...

I'm glad things are working out so well so far! :)

Thanks!

[icepixie]

Probably better stay there for that evening/night, too... *shudder*

And very likely the one before as well...

Oh, and a hint? It might be a good idea to find a football schedule and research the opposing teams' colors so you can make some notes for Friday (and in case of a loss, Monday) classes. Because even eager little freshman can get a little rabid if you show up, at least in their eyes, dressed like the enemy. Yay, kind-of-scary football schools!

Eh, that's way too much work for football. I think I'll take my chances. (Besides, they don't know that I don't yet have control over their grades. Mwahahaha.)

[sleepingcbw.livejournal.com]

I've had "The Thrill" stuck in my head for going on three days now.

Junior year Doc made us sing an arrangement of it, and it was stuck in my head for a month. It was like a vaccination, though; I'm more or less Thrill-proof now.

And anyway, there's always "The Thrill (With an Axe)" to get it out of your head.

[icepixie]

Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh.