Week 8

(for Next Week:)

                                                                Allen Ginsberg

To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.
       – Polonius to Laertes in Hamlet

   Howl is a poem by Allen Ginsberg, first published in 1957, and Howl is, also, more recently, a film, directed by Bob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, about the poet and his work.  One of its source inspirations,  (http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174745) "Song of Myself", by Walt Whitman, invites stylisic and thematic comparison as autobiographical free verse poem written in long lines, many including catalog elements, and a narrator intent on laying bare the cultural and natural, physical experience of being human, and of exploring/celebrating the sexual dimension of our lives and the diverse quality of human identity. The poet's uninhibited, challenging voice is central to both, and both draw attention to the importance of authentic self-expression and relationships built on candor and openness. 

 Having you watch the film Howl (starring James Franco in the role of the poet Allen Ginsberg, author of the poem “Howl”) I will be interested in your response to the content of the poem and the film, the poet’s explanations of his work and why he wrote it, and the critical responses expressed during the trial scenes.  If you owe a short response, or want to focus on Howl as a final project:  In your own words, relate what the poem is about, what you thought of Ginsberg’s discussion of the work, and the opinions aired in court on the matter of its obscenity or no, its artistic merit, the advisability of censoring its publication, etcetera (350 words, short response).

Several links posted here may be useful:

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/life_and_art/2010/09/how_howl_changed_the_world.html

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/books/2006/04/the_paradox_of_howl.html

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/movies/2010/09/howl.html

http://www.shmoop.com/howl/section-1-lines-6-10-summary.html

http://www.dhs.fjanosco.net/Documents/HowlOnTrial.pdf
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                                                                  "Icarus"  –by Henri Matisse

Today we start with a quiz on the two short stories (authored by students at Ai) given in handout last week.

Use complete sentences and paragraphs to answer the following.

1.     Discuss the aptness of the title “Lucky To Be Me” and its apparent reference(s).

2.     What makes up the bulk of the story? Summarize exposition, plot and setting elements of the story and provide a clear elaboration of the central conflict.

3.     Is this a love story?  If not, what kind of story is it?

4.     Discuss the final paragraph and image in terms of the story’s trajectory or arc.  What symbolism may be seen in the image of the deer?

5.     What fairytale is alluded to in “The Lingerie Salesman”?

6.     What is the narrative point of view of “The Lingerie Salesman”?  And what are we led to think of Nelson?

7.     What genre best describes the story, love? horror? adventure? dark comedy?

8.     Describe the climax of the story.

"Seated Woman"

We will proceed to readings introduced or reproduced for reading and discussion which we have not yet had time to address, and in advance of next week's Howl.