tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13734864.post7464476138105668062..comments2024-01-04T08:02:29.500-05:00Comments on Attempts: Syllabus for The History of American Thought Since 1865, Spring 2011Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16524368948187746248noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13734864.post-24726025964830297372011-01-09T21:12:38.362-05:002011-01-09T21:12:38.362-05:00Eliot is of course the better choice. "The W...Eliot is of course the better choice. "The Wasteland" is central to American letters in a way that nothing of Pound's is.<br /><br />Pound, it seems to me would be a braver choice, because he's an example of. . . what's the line from "Blazing Saddles". . . "authentic frontier gibberish". The pro-fascism, the anti-semitism, the idiosyncratic economic theories. . . these are all part of the American intellectual landscape. He's far loonier than anyone else on your list, but then America is far loonier than is often admitted.phosphorioushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06742073511218096394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13734864.post-37925910662340459252011-01-09T20:33:53.504-05:002011-01-09T20:33:53.504-05:00Thanks, phosphorious.
I actually think, far from ...Thanks, phosphorious.<br /><br />I actually think, far from a quibble, the need for another feminist is the biggest critique <i>I'd</i> make. If I could add a 14th book, that's what I'd add. (I don't know which for sure, since I'd have to think about it, but my initial instinct would be Carol Gilligan's <i>In a Different Voice</i>.)<br /><br />Not sure I see why Pound would be either preferable or braver than Eliot, though. I picked <i>The Waste Land</i> for the obvious reason: it seems to me the most central poetic work in the modernist cannon. Why would you suggest Pound? (And which -- some of the Cantos?)<br /><br />And yes, I'll try to post a follow-up when I can...<br /><br />SFStephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16524368948187746248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13734864.post-52410066781090108912011-01-09T17:16:48.215-05:002011-01-09T17:16:48.215-05:00A very thorough and well balanced syllabus. Perha...A very thorough and well balanced syllabus. Perhaps another feminist is wanted, but that's mere quibble.<br /><br />And a braver man would swap out T.S. Eliot for Ezra Pound.<br /><br />But that list comes pretty close to summing up "American thought." Please post when the course is over, and let us know how it went.phosphorioushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06742073511218096394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13734864.post-62215004434277519112011-01-08T21:27:38.557-05:002011-01-08T21:27:38.557-05:00Sounds like a fun class! I'm very happy to se...Sounds like a fun class! I'm very happy to see that you're counting poetry as part of intellectual history -- seems most people these days simply overlook its existence. And yes, having taught "The Waste Land" umpteen times, there is no need to apologize for including articles along with it. I just make the need for commentary/interpretation part of the story . . . Have fun!Brian Reedhttp://faculty.washington.edu/bmreed/noreply@blogger.com