zaaaAP Lit SuperBlog

Let's DO Something

I was quite struck by the course of the conversation my class had on Tuesday. We started to discuss Joe and Joanna's relationship, and soon, we ended up discussing race relations in America.  Mr. Heidkamp mentioned that Light in August brings many racially-related issues to light. He then showed us a clip from Birth of a Nation, and mentioned that America's story is all about one race being superior and one race being inferior.

You know, it's always the same: Every time we discuss race, someone always mentions that Americans have been bad for showing so much racism, and that racism is steeped deeply into our story. This conversation is only one example of what I’m thinking of; the same thing happened during the Martin Luther King Day Assembly, particularly this past year: A student gets up in front of the whole school and lambastes Americans for not having done enough yet to overcome racism.

And I’m really tired of hearing such talk. I know it’s important that we must acknowledge that America’s history is steeped in racism, and that Americans are racist even subconsciously, but what good will it do us just to sit around and talk about how bad Americans have been. Why don’t we instead get up and DO something—DO something to destroy the conscious and subconscious racism in Americans.

I really feel like we’re all wasting our time just sitting around talking about this. If racism is really that bad, then we shouldn’t be wasting our time discussing the relationship of Joe and Joanna, discussing how it reveals racism in America, and especially wasting time spending hours reading pages and pages of Light in August.  I mean, Mr Heidkamp even claims that all the time we spend discussing the book in class will barely scratch the surface of its immense literary depth.  So instead of even trying to dive deep, let's focus our discussions towards something that's more practical and will make better use of our time.

School should not be forcing us to do loads of work, but teaching and training us to be people who can positively contribute to humanity in an active manner. And anyone who discusses existentialism extensively should realize that “schoolwork” and the structure of our class are “social constructs” that aren’t doing good to any of us, or to our world at large.

At the beginning of this calendar year of 2009, I made it my New Year's Resolution to actively promote social justice in the world and positively contribute to humanity. I'm still looking for ways I can do this. Maybe someone out there will offer me some suggestions, for the good of all humanity.

So let’s discuss, and then go out, and actively DO something to end racism in America, so that our story will not continue to be written with racism. And let’s do it together, because our efforts can find success together.

Yet, we won't ever find success if we don't acknowledge and humbly submit to the great moral force that created the world and continues to be its standard of Truth.  If we seek His favor, surely He'll grant us success.  For “Did we in our own strength confide,/ our striving would be losing./ Were not the right man on our side/ the man of God’s own choosing;/ Dost ask who that may be?/ Christ Jesus it is He,/ Lord Sabaoth his name,/ From age to age the same,/ And He [WILL] win the battle.” (“A Mighty Fortress is our God”, by Martin Luther)

Racism and Bigotry Saved America

Mr. Heidkamp's discussions about the self-fulfilling prophesy of bigotry in "Light in August" automatically brought to my mind thoughts of one of my favorite TV shows: "24." The sheriff and Mr. McEachern both use stereotypes to correctly identify Joe Christmas as a troublemaker, as Jack Bauer does in select seasons of "24."

Season 4 of "24" sees Jack finding a link to a terrorist cell by interrogating a seemingly innocent boy just because he's Middle Eastern. A nice storyline would include Jack finding the kid innocent and realizing how wrong it is to stereotype people. But "24" never has a nice storyline. Instead, Jack finds out that the kid is actually a terrorist in training and his family are pretty big terrorists.

I know these examples of stereotyping working are only from works of fiction, but I wonder how often it works in real life. Airport security uses profiling in efforts to capture terrorists, but how often do they actually catch prospective threats and not just make Middle Eastern people really angry?

The passage where Mr. McEachern knows what Joe is up to even before he has any legitimate evidence makes me think of the end of a "South Park" based off "24." Eric Cartman, after exposing a terrorist plot by interrogating a Muslim family, concludes that "racism and bigotry saved America." Although this is from a show as ridiculous as "South Park," it raises a worthy issue: is there enough truth behind stereotypes to use them as a part of policy?

Are Looks Everything?

Most of us have noticed, and possibly discussed, Faulkner's lack of physical descriptions.  Save Joe Christmas's entrance, the reader doesn't get a lot of guidance from Faulkner as to what the characters look like.  I dind't even know who was black and who was white until after the first few chapters.  What I find interesting is that Faulkner can create such a connection to the characters without giving the reader a strong mental image.  Does this suggest that building in descriptions of characters in stories is unnecessary?  Until now, I had mostly connected to those characters that I could picture the best.  Do you think that internal descriptions are ultimately more important than the physical ones?

Mold Me

While reflecting upon my past papers and novels I've read for class, I have realized something.  My writing style is heavily influenced by whatever author we are reading at the time.  For example, when reading Beloved, I found myself responding to it by using different sentence lengths and often incomplete sentences.  Faulkner's influence has been slightly less obvious in my writing simply because I am not able to write like him.  But, at first, I did find myself using more impressive diction and longer sentences.  Does anyone go through this as well?  Why do you think this occurs?

Transporting Detail

As I was finishing my querencia last night I was hit with a wave of appreciation for Faulkner's detailed and descriptive writing. One passage on page 76 I think illustrates Faulkner's skill particularly well.

The street lamp at the corner flickers and glares, so that the bitten shadows of the unwinded maples seem to toss faintly upon the august darkness. From a distance, quite faint though quite clear, he can hear the sonorous waves of massed voices from the church: a sound that at once austere and rich, abject and proud, swelling and falling in the quiet summer darkness like a harmonic tide.

In general I think his description transports the reader in to the novel. But more particularly in this passage I think his description of sound in this passage is incredible. His simile comparing a tide to the singing from the church allows the reader to feel what its like to be Hightower. The  way Faulkner describes the music as swelling and falling not only paints a picture of the scene but takes the reader there, and allows them to join Hightower looking out of the window. I think with out this wealth of detail that Faulkner gives his readers the novel would loose an aspect that has made it one of the great novels of the 20th century.

Bleak and Bloodless Logic

Heidkamp mentioned blogging about the language and syntax of the novel, so I thought I'd share a specific sentence that I thought represented Faulkner's writing as I can tell so far:

p.242 "Burden...began to read to the child in Spanish from the book which he had brought with him from California, interspersing the fine, sonorous flowing of mysticism in a foreign tongue with harsh, extemporised dissertations composed half of the bleak and bloodless logic which he remembered from his father on interminable New England Sundays, and hahlf of immediate hellfire and tangible brimstone of which any country Methodist circuit rider would have been proud."

Obviously this passage has some very strong syntax. This is the part when Calvin is being forced to learn religion from his father, which also parallels with Mr. McEarchern forcing Joe Christmas to learn as well. The obvious use of such strong and angry language shows the dislike of Calvin towards his father's teaching or his act of learning it. Words like "bleak" and "bloodless" make it clear that Calvin isn't exactly taking to what he is hearing. Maybe that's why his name is Calvin.

Does anyone have any other lines that have very specific syntax according to the context?

Joe Shmo-tif

My group's motif is names/naming.  So far we have about 5 actual pages where names come up.  However, a lot of the character's names have overall meanings.  It seems pretty clear what each name means according to the characteristics of each person, and the actual plot.  What's not so clear though is what Faulkner is implying about names.  Is he saying that names identify a person or is that just the way the characters see it?  I'm sure my group can argue either way, but which argument would be easiest and make more sense?  Also, are there anymore pages besides 33, 54, 60, 67, and 253 that really stick out?

Prostitute and True Love

As we now see the complexity of the relationship between Christmas and Ms. Burden I think as readers we can reflex on the relationship between Christmas and the Prostitute, Bobbie.  Bobbie and Christmas had a different and unique relationship.  Christmas was first exploring his own until he met Bobbie, the first women he "fell in love with." 

Bobbie and Christmas began off on a strange note at the start of their relationship.  Christmas lusted for Bobbie from a distance until they began talking.  Max and Mame did not like their relationship and personally I think Bobbie only did it for the companionship.  Bobbie never was excited about it.  She even told Max that Christmas payed her.  Why does Christmas continue this relationship with Bobbie?  More importantly, why does Christmas find the need to tell Bobbie that he is part black while they are lying there naked?

Reversal of Gender Roles, anyone?

So, as we explore the increasingly screwed up and disgusting thing that is Joe and Joanna's relationship, I was drawn to the evidence of the switching of gender roles in some of their affair together.  For one, Joe's brutal act of sexual violence, where he means to rape Joanna, is committed with the intent of putting Joanna in a woman's place, or so he believes.  Joanna provides for Joe, literally putting food on the table and a roof over his head, so he doesn't feel he has any semblance of power in the relationship.  This drives him to commit the despicable act of violence, and afterwards, he thinks to himself "At least I have made a woman of her at last." (236)  Joe's desire to "make a woman" of Joanna shows his insecurity and lack of power in the relationship.  Joe also rejects Joanna's "breakmaking" for him when he chucks his dinner at the wall.  If you recall, he did something similar when Mrs. McEachern tried to feed him against her husbands wishes. Joe despises charity, and he despises himself for eating out of this white woman's hand, much like, as Lukas pointed out, a dog. Does anyone else see the connection? Are there any instances I might have missed?

Dinner and Sex

I think Joe Christmas and Miss Burden's relationship is very interesting. It seems as though they are both desperate, and therefore are a good match. Ever since Christmas broke into her house and raided her fridge, their relationship has been completely physical with very little verbal interaction. It seems like they work together to satisfy eachother's physical needs. Miss Burden makes Christmas dinner while Christmas sneaks into her room late night. Is their relationship emotional at all? They go weeks without speaking to eachother. I am having trouble paralleling this relationship to real life. What is miss Burden gaining out of their relationship besides the late night physical meetings? 

Light at the End of the Tunnel

This weekend I had a lot of time to read Light in August because I got my wisdom teeth pulled, and was not able to even speak. I thought that this would be a good time to reread up to the part that we were supposed to read upt to by the end of the weekend. The first time that I began reading the book, I was positive that I would not be able to understand or comprehend anything that Faulkner had to say. But after re-reading the book this weekend I am able to pick up on some of the subtle complexities that are associated with this complex and intricate novel. On eof the more prominent things that I noticed was that how the identity of a person is built up by other characters in the novel. I find it fascinating that I am always wondering whether or not the way a certain person is being portrayed is actually the personality of that person. Books that keep me wondering, such as Light in August, make me want to read more, which is what I want in a book. Now that I am actually engaging myself in the book I am able to fully enjoy all of the intricacies. What have you noticed after re-reading a passage or chapter from the book?

Depends On The Day

I am really enjoying Faulkner's novel but sometimes I am really confused. I feel like I read it for a long time then do not get anything out of it. Then they're are other times when I really do understand what is going on. I like how Faulkner describes the characters. I also like how he starts each chapter off not really letting you know who the chapter is about. Even though I really like "Light In August" sometimes it is really confusing and I can not seem to understand the deeper meanings fully.

Out Of Order

Faulkner's writing jumps around a lot.  I had almost forgotten about Lena and Byron and the rest of the gang.  Since she was the first character introduced, and since there seemed to be enough drama to fill a book with her story, I was sure this was mostly going to be about Lena.  But so far, she has given a quick summary of her life in a couple of pages, while Christmas has been given five chapters so far to tell his story.  Also, the way his past was presented was done in an odd order.  First Faulkner described the night when Mrs. Burden was killed, though he explains it without telling the reader if Christmas did it or not.  But then he goes way far back to when Christmas was five, and then starts working back towards the present.  So not only is the book out of order, but so are the flashbacks.  And this far through we still don't know if Christmas is the murderer or how all of the characters are connected to each other.  I admit, Faulkner knows how to keep a story going.  I suppose I don't mind the style, it's defiantly different, but I fear I'm going to forget stuff that happened already.  I noticed some other people were not a fan of the writing style.  Are there other reasons too?  Do you guys like this style better then most?

I'm Impressed

After getting into Light and August I have to say I am impressed with the unique strategies Faulkner uses during his characterizations. One of my favorite character descriptions is the characterization of Joe Christmas. When he was first introduced, the lines "his mouth and his face darkly and contemptuously still, drawn down a little on one side because of the smoke" created a mysterious feel about Christmas. Later, it is revealed just how mysterious he is by his twisted and brutal actions (32). Though I admit I struggled with the in class essay, Christmas's description through his past was an extremely fascinating passage. The connections made with the toothpaste and women and how the situation took away his innocence and skewed his view of women were very creatively portrayed. How do you guys feel about Faulkner's characterizations? Which are your favorite?

Faulkner's Views on Parenting

As we completed our in-class essays two days, I was amazed about Faulkner's use of sexual innuendo within text. As I started to connect the passage we read to the other parts about Christmas, I thought Faulkner made a strong point about being open with sexuality. After his time in the orphanage he is adopted parents known for their strictness while raising Joe. Faulkner describes his “though he did not then know that, like the eagle, his own flesh as well as all space was still a cage.” Joe is confined to learning about sex is not approaite ways, and later becomes a vagrant and fighter and misfit within society. Although Falukner would never truly blame one factor for Joe Christmas'  immorality I think it is safe to say that Faulkner does try to go anganist some the strictness surrounding him while he wrote "Light in Aguust". I think in some apt way he goes agnaist tradtional and strict upbringing by showing Christmas as the result of restrictive work. On the other hand Faulkner could be describing Christmas as an anethma a man who cannot suceed or be normal despite any upbrining. Though his father is strict he is also described as fair. Through Christmas what do you beelive Faulkner is saying about parenting?

Too Absorbed?

Whenever I read a book, I start thinking and even behaving like the main character from it. This tendency holds true to A Light In August. After reading multiple chapters about Christmas, I began thinking in a sort of third person style, vivid with imagery and in varying sentence lengths. My thoughts were explained to me through a superficial lens- it was like someone was looking down at me and narrating my inner thoughts. I began thinking about the colors surrounding me, and even saw toothpaste in a different light. This sensation- that of absorbing and somewhat becoming a part of Faulkner's novel, only lasts for a couple hours after I read, but is an incredible experience none the less. Does anyone else get as absorbed as I do?

Bobbi, Bobbi, Bobbi

 This far into the novel, I have started feeling very sympathetic towards Joe Christmas. He has gone through so much in his life; being an orphan, getting "kidnapped", being adopted, and so on. Not one young child should have to go through such drama when they are so young! After all these different events that have occurred in his life, this woman by the name of Bobbi comes along. She seems like a nice, kind, and wholesome woman, until the reader figures out she is a prostitute! However, the worst thing of all is that Christmas is in love with her. I feel so bad for him! Does anyone else have an opinion on Bobbi and her way of life?

I Don't Like A.D.D. in Books

    Although I still think that it's too early for me to make a judgement on Light in August, I'm starting to think that I'm not going to like it very much. The reason for this is because of all the jumping around that occurs in Light in August, with new chapters telling stories of different characters in different time frames. This has automatically reminded me of Beloved, and how certain chapters would shift to different characters points of view without warning. Personally, I would much rather have a book tell a story staright through with only one form of narration. Is anyone else bothered by these changes?

Smooth, Sweet, and Pink

After completing the essays in class about "the toothpaste"  passage and what Faulkner's purpose in writing it was, we are now in the process of grading other student's responses.  One response that struck me as intriguing was the link between the toothpaste and women in Joe Christmas's life.  The student brought up the argument that the use of repetition of "smooth, sweet, and pink" was not only a literal meaning for the toothpaste but for women as well.  After Joe Christmas is exposed to too much of the toothpaste, he becomes sick and begins to hate it.  What interested me then is how the student said that but the end of the passage this is how Joe Christmas felt about the dietitian.  He saw her as "a face no longer smooth and pick-and-white, surrounded now by wild and dishevelled hair whose smooth bands once made him think of candy"(122).  This connection, that I had completely missed, I believe is accurate in portraying how Christmas's relationship with women was destroyed.  It is supported by the figurative and literal meaning of the toothpaste that Faulkner presents and the student pointed out.  So my question is, do you agree? Do you think that Christmas's change in feelings towards the toothpaste is connected with his change in feelings towards women? 

Joe Christmas, the Misfit

During our monitored quiz, our class talked a lot about the scenes in Light in August where Joe Christmas is walking through both the white and black parts of town.  People were arguing whether Christmas felt more connected with the white part, or the black part, as there was textual support for both.  But I feel as though Faulkner may have done it on purpose, that he did have support for both sides of the argument, and that he was trying to convey to his readers that Christmas really doesn't connect with either of his identities more than the other. 

As I thought about this further, I realized that Christmas, no matter where he is in his life, has no real home, or even people he feels comfortable around.  While in the orphanage, no matter who he is with, people are always making fun of his race.  When Joe goes to live with the Priest and his wife, he may find some comfort in things and people, just like when he is wondering around town, but never really connects with them. 

Do these instances all go back to passage where Joe "looses his innocence," when he hears the dietician having sex, or is there even more underlying problems? Why is Joe so disconnected with his surroundings?

A LED Light in August?

I was thinking about some of the things that draw me into Light in August so deeply, and that make it so different from modern literature. Faulkner's narrative is so slow and diligent in a way that would seemingly bore the reader, but the intricacy fascinates me beyond belief. Its almost overwhelming, really, the extent to which nearly every paragraph holds some powerful message, either directly or in vague, sweeping terms. I think it would be very difficult to write a book like this today, as so much of its power comes from the things modern technology has in my mind removed. For instance, the tone of the book is largely developed by the slow, Southern way of life. We see Lena walking, we see wagons, we see letters. All of the characters are developed by their interactions, or lack of interactions. If we added cars, cellphones, and the general fast paced city life to the story, I think they would corrupt the beauty of the book. So in this way, the historical aspect of the book has made me think about what it takes to make a powerful modern novel, and how characters have changed- or if basic human traits remain the same, only against different backdrops. Any thoughts?

Lucas With a C??

I am going to rant.

Pardon the ranting. 

I hope you can forgive me for my ranticity. 

Anyway, After completing the first three chapters of Light in August, I was shocked to finally come across a literary character who shared my name. However, this Lucas only wishes his name had a k. I simply am annoyed with this culture, in which the glorious name of Lukas is butchered to conform to the American standard. What happened? Did the pride that originates from the glorious name disappear? I am hurt that our American culture, as well as the rest of the world has dropped the k for a measly c. What did a c ever do? A c is in front of cat. 

God should be ashamed of his creation of the cat.

Now a k; this is a phenomenal letter. A k begins kangaroo. How could anything be kooler than this krazy marsupial?

I hope this did not offend anyone. It has just been bothering me, and I felt the need to let off some steam.

However, on a more important note...

When do you think Lucas will come back and resume his ladykilling? Is it simply a coincidence that his mannerisms are somewhat suggestive? 

I am fascinated by the Joe Xmas character. Chapter 6-9 were riveting. It was fascinating to learn the background to the mysterious character. However, I am interested to hear what further happens with Bobbie and Xmas. Please let me know, if you get a chance. I think that they might possibly fall in love, she dies, and he then goes on to distill whiskey. What are your thoughts on the name Luc(k)as, and the future of Joe Xmas. Maybe it is significant that Luc(k)as has luck in it. Who knows...

Memory

While reading Light in August, I feel like topics have come up that we wouldn't usually be talking about in class. A point in the story that I thought to be interesting is based off the in class essay that we had yesterday.  I thought this was an interesting prompt to pick because you got to evaluate Joe Christmas as a young boy and see how his relationship's develop with women throughout the novel. Even though Joe did not see the sex happening, he still heard it.  How much do you think that this really affected Joe when he grew up? Can this have a huge impact on his life? I personally think that Joe was too young to understand what was going on, therefore, he might recall it when he is older. I don't however, think it should affected the way he treats women. What do you think?

What's the Significance?

When Joe Christmas goes to the dinner in chapter 8 he notices how big Bobbies hands are. Instead of letting this fact go it is mentioned again and again. On page 179 "He could see the figured pattern of her dress and bib of an apron and the two bignuckled hands", it also says on page 190 "The hands had gone away". Why are Bobbies hands so important?

While in the dinner for the second and third time Joe thinks that everyone is laughing at him. Are they actually laughing at him or is he just imagining them laughing at him. Why does Joe think they are laughing at him and why does he feel out of place?

Kickoff

In chapter 7 Joe enters a shed to have sex with a women, that his friends had arranged. But when he enters the shed he "was overcome by a terrible haste. There was something in him trying to get out, like when he used to think of toothpaste". When I first read that passage I never got the connection between his violent outburst and the toothpaste. According to the passage, he would feel enraged whenever he thought of it. This is why he beat the girl, because he was reminded of the terrible experience with the dietitian. I would also like to point out the similarities in diction in the two passages, similar words are used even combined words like "womenshenegro", "smell" and "women". Let me know if any other passages have similarities to these two, or if you disagree please tell me, and why.

A New Found Love of Christmas

When I started reading Light in August I did not much care for Christmas. He seemed cold and mean when we are first introduced to him. As we then find out that he secretly sells whisky his character became even more shady. I was glad we got a chance to learn more about Christmas in the chapters describing his past. Instead of disliking Christmas I began to feel compassionate for him, especially as a young boy in the orphanage. He made an innocent mistake (catching the dietitian having sex) and it affected the rest of his life. After reading about all of his hardships I developed a new respect for Christmas. I was wondering if anyone else had this change of heart about Christmas as well? 

Detailing Uncertainty

As I read Light in August I really appreciate Faulkner's use of detail, especially concerning Joe Christmas.   Faulkner goes into extensive descriptions of different events in Christmas' life, yet the audience still knows very little about what is actually going on with him.  The toothpaste scene, for example, gives vivid detail about his experience in the bathroom as a five year old, yet we come out of it still completely confused about Christmas.  How does he really feel about women? What does he understand about sex? The questions are proposed but never really answered.  I think Faulkner does this (multiple times in the book) on purpose to really show how conflicted and uncomfortable Joe Christmas is internally with his associations about sex and gender, and externally about his race. Just a thought, but nevertheless, the writing is awesome.

"Light in August" Reminds Me Of __________.

The way characters are drawn in movies is crucial to a book or film’s success. Many movies can sketch a character well, but few movies create characters with rich and full values. One movie in particular reminds me of the novel Light in August. At first I did not understand why I made this connection, but still for reasons unknown this novel reminds me of the movie Shawshank Redemption. The two pieces of art share very little. Light in August takes place in the south, while Shawshank takes place at a New England prison. I can’t quiet put my figure on it, but I figure that both pieces create characters extraordinarily well. Both go to great lengths to create mystery or uncertainty in their characters as their plots develop, while providing excessive details. I just get similar “feelings” when I read Light in August and watch Shawshank Redemption. What movies or other works remind you of Light in August.

Communication Breakdown

I'm not a big fan of writing impromptu essays.  In fact, I don't know many people that are.  So it's not surprising that I was less than enthusiastic about writing one on "Light in August."  Sure it was the last one and I'm not going to have to worry about it again, and it is a helpful learning tool, but it still makes me stressed.  But the thing that has bothered me the most about this essay is not it's content, or how well I think that I wrote it, but what I've been hearing about the grading of it from other students.  Many people have said that their teacher said to write about a certain thing before tackling this specific essay.  For instance, Ms. Kinnan apparently told her class to focus their essays on Joe's recognition and misrecognition in the passage.  As a student who wasn't told to do that, I feel a little nervous having people who were told to focus on that grading my paper.  It makes them biased and it seems weird that teachers would be telling classes different things for a common essay.  I don't know if I'm the only person who heard this, and I could be wrong, but I've heard it from multiple people.  Has anyone else heard anything about this?

A Disconnect with Women

So I know we talked a little about this is class the other day, but I find it really interesting. I'm thinking about the connections- or rather disconnections Joe Christmas seems to have with women. And not even just Joe Christmas, any narrator or male character seems to me to see women as weird and strange creatures, almost unnatural.

Christmas dislikes Mrs. McEachern because he thinks she's trying to make him cry, and he is not used to someone treating him kindly. Okay, I can see how she might seem unpredictable, or maybe even a little annoying, always trying to get in between him and Mr. McEachern, but come one! She's just being nice! Was his childhood so screwed up he doesn't realize that?

I think we see the answer to that in the chapter about his childhood. Yes, Christmas had a horrible childhood, as seen in the passage about the toothpaste. I think that event probably started his own disconnect with women, and was never able to feel connected with them.

I don't know if I am being overly sensitive, but the ideas and viewpoint on women seem to be sexist. I guess you could say that was the time... but that doesn't stop us from saying that some of their actions are racist. I think Light in August has some subtle and some not so subtle racist and sexist remarks. If these are the characters views, or Faulkner's own leaking through, I don't know. What do you guys think?