I have been thinking recently about some of the great American writers. One of the great gifts bestowed upon this nation is that our primary language is the greatest on Earth, English. No other language has the depth and subtlety of the English language. It is not politically correct to say that the English language is the greatest language ever, but the truth is, it is. No other language comes close.
All of that being said, America has produced some fantastic writers and poets from the earliest years of the republic: Washington Irving; James Fenimore Cooper; Herman Melville; Emily Dickinson; Nathaniel Hawthorne; Walt Whitman; Edgar Allan Poe; Mark Twain; F. Scott Fitzgerald; Ernest Hemingway; Tennessee Williams; William Faulkiner; Robert Frost; the list could go on. But of this group, there are five in my opinion that stand out. They are the ones who have written the great American novels or poem. They are James Fenimore Cooper; Nathaniel Hawthorne; Walt Whitman; Mark Twain; and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Here is my case.
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
First, not many people read Cooper in the original anymore; he doesn't always translate well into modern America. Cooper writes of a time even before the American Revolution. The events of 1773-1782 were over 10 years in the future from his greatest work, "The Last of the Mohicans". But it is shame that more people are only familiar with his work through the recent movie adaptation Mohicans. The movie, though very, very, good and relatively faithful in its adaptation, cannot in the end capture the vitality of Cooper's work. Understanding when Cooper was writing is key to understanding why he is one of the "big five" of American writing.
Cooper was writing in the early 1800's. The revolution was fading into the background of the times and Cooper is taking a look back into a time before the Republic. By doing this, he is giving a story to his contemporaries of who we were and now know who they are. His story gives us tragedy, triumph, irony, love, war and ultimately a sense of destiny. This played well in the early years of the country. Reading Cooper today is like looking back at diary cataloguing hopes and fears of the past. It allows the reader to decide whether those events were worth the cost. Cooper is holding up a mirror to his society and asking, this is where we were, do you like what we have become? It is still the great question.
NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE
Hawthorne is the writer who asks questions of religious hypocrisy, vengeance, guilt, innocence, betrayal, and loyalty. "The Scarlet Letter' is the book of the New England Puritan experience. But the story is timeless; it rings true today. Replace the Puritans with any group completely sure of their own righteousness and the story plays out just as well. And lest anyone think only the religious right is the only group that meets that criteria, I assure you that it does not. Think of any group with enforced orthodoxy (liberalism; environmentalism; the religious right; and so on) and I am certain there is a Hester Prynne somewhere in that group.
Like Cooper, Hawthorne is writing of a time that had past. Hawthorne is writing of what was the distant past even for him. But by doing so, he again is holding up the mirror to contemporary society and to society today that asks the question, "which one are you?" Are you Hester Prynne? Dimmesdale? Or even worse still, Chillingworth? The truth is that all of us are these characters: the fallen woman in need of redemption; the cowardly minister, righteous to the outside world but guilty inside; the inquisitor who thinks nothing of his fellow souls and only seeks his personal revenge. "The Scarlet Letter" is a timeless novel and should be read at multiple times in our lives. the
WALT WHITMAN
Walt Whitman is not only he great American poet, but also a revolutionary voice in poetry. Whitman through his use of free verse helped defined what poetry is and can be.
There is something slightly crazy about Whitman, though that could be easily be applied to many poets. There is a line that starts with Whitman and runs all the way down through the beat poets such as Allen Ginsberg and even down to us today. There is simply no American poetry without him.
MARK TWAIN
You cannot discuss American fiction without mentioning Twain. If Twain had written no other book than "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" he would have been considered one of if not the greatest American writer. You cannot understand America past or present without a thorough reading of Twain and most especially Huckleberry Finn. Huckleberry Finn is satire and social commentary. The book has comedy, but also examines themes of race and identity in America. Even today, over 100 years after its initial publishing, the book is controversial.
But Twain wrote much more than Huckleberry Finn. One of his more interesting books is "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court". The book starts out as broad comedy but ends in a technological apocalypse with mass murder. Twain by the time of the writing of Yankee had traveled a long distance from the frolic of "Tom Sawyer" and the gentle satire of "Innocents Abroad". Twain would eventually travel further down a spiral of bitterness from which he never truly recovered. To read Twain, all of Twain, is to move from hope to disillusionment. That too is also very American.
F. SCOTT FITZGERALD
Fitzgerald is the great novelist of 20th Century America. "The Great Gatsby" is his greatest work. Into that slim volume, Fitzgerald asks questions about wealth, class, and the power of unrequited love. Gatsby is a book that must be read. There have been several film adaptations, but they all fall short. The analogies, the language does not translate to the screen.
Fitzgerald was the author who finally blew the covers off capitalist America. There is simply nothing I can write about Fitzgerald. He said it all.
CONCLUSION
OK, if anyone is out there, I welcome comments, those that are on point and concise, of course. And my list can be argued but I believe that these five are the absolute core of American literature. So if anyone disagrees I welcome your rebuttal.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Seeking Euphoria
I think "Euphoria" is one of my favorite words. Just say it out loud and listen to the sound of it. It is actually fun to say. Euphoria. However, as phonetically fun as euphoria is, very few of us experience a sense of euphoria during our lives.
If you look up "euphoria" on the internet, it is described as a feeling of transcendent well being. If you continue doing research, several online sites indicate that the only people who experience true euphoria (outside of drug induced states) are children during periods of play and athletes who have won a victory after strenuous exertion. The biological reason for this seems to be a release of endorphins in the brain.
Calvin Klein will actually try to sell you a bottle of Euphoria. I am certain it is a wonderful fragrance and you have to admire the slick marketing, but I have my doubts that by dabbing on cologne that I will have that almost out of body experience that true euphoria is said to provide.
So the question remains, can someone experience true euphoria outside of the endorphin rush and outisde of being a child? I think the answer is actually a qualified yes. I think it is rare, but I believe that I have been in a euphoric state on occasion. I have experienced it out in nature; in a great piece of music; or sometimes just being home with family or friends.
The bottom line on "Euphoria" is there. It's real. It happens. I sincerely hope everyone can experience it.
The bottom line on "Euphoria" is there. It's real. It happens. I sincerely hope everyone can experience it.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Back to the Future
OK, I think it is official now. I have hit some weird form of mid-life crisis. I am going back and re-listening to the music of my high school and college years, yes, the "Big 80's". And even weirder, I am going back and re-reading some of the fiction from that time. I have even gone back and watched a few of the movies that came out in the 80's. Here is the really strange part. Most of it (but not all of it) is very very good.
Granted, some of the musical taste was not necessarily the best. And as for 80's fashion, well, the less said, the better. But seriously, think about some of the music. Michael Jackson, before he got weird. Prince (musical genius, terrible actor); REM when they were actually "alternative"; vintage U2; arena rockers, Def Leppard; and yes, the ultimate 80's band, Duran Duran. They all still sound great.
As far as the reading material, if you really want to understand the era, go back and re-read "Bright Lights, Big City" by Jay McInerny. Don't watch the movie (it was awful); but the book really does give a picture of what being a young urban professional was like in the mid-80's. Besides, how many novels are written in the second person?
80's movies comedies were great too. Think, "Ruthless People" with Bette Midler and Danny DeVito. Some of the greatest movie lines ever including the immortal "I've been kidnapped by K-Mart!" If you don't know the line, go watch the movie. Better than anything Ben Stiller or Will Farrel has ever put out. And don't forget "Beverly Hills Cop"; still Eddie Murphy's best movie.
Yes, I am looking at the 80's with retro-glasses that make everything look better than it probably was at the time. But when you compare it to now, the 80's look awfully good. So if you will excuse me, I need to go. A "Miami Vice" rerun is about to start.
Granted, some of the musical taste was not necessarily the best. And as for 80's fashion, well, the less said, the better. But seriously, think about some of the music. Michael Jackson, before he got weird. Prince (musical genius, terrible actor); REM when they were actually "alternative"; vintage U2; arena rockers, Def Leppard; and yes, the ultimate 80's band, Duran Duran. They all still sound great.
As far as the reading material, if you really want to understand the era, go back and re-read "Bright Lights, Big City" by Jay McInerny. Don't watch the movie (it was awful); but the book really does give a picture of what being a young urban professional was like in the mid-80's. Besides, how many novels are written in the second person?
80's movies comedies were great too. Think, "Ruthless People" with Bette Midler and Danny DeVito. Some of the greatest movie lines ever including the immortal "I've been kidnapped by K-Mart!" If you don't know the line, go watch the movie. Better than anything Ben Stiller or Will Farrel has ever put out. And don't forget "Beverly Hills Cop"; still Eddie Murphy's best movie.
Yes, I am looking at the 80's with retro-glasses that make everything look better than it probably was at the time. But when you compare it to now, the 80's look awfully good. So if you will excuse me, I need to go. A "Miami Vice" rerun is about to start.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Watch Your Language!
I think it is fairly apparent that I have a fascination with words and the English language in general. I am always intrigued by the way that writers and speakers pick certain words to get their message across. Some of the greatest phrases in writing and public speaking would be less memorable and most likely less meaningful to millions of readers or members of audiences.
Think for a moment and ask yourself if any of the following were written or spoken with a different choice of words. And for the full effect, I have elected to repeat the phrase with words that have the same or very similar meaning.
The Original
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." - Thomas Jefferson, The Declaration of Independence, 1776
The Change
"Everybody knows the truth of what I'm saying. We are all the same, and we all were given rights by God that no one can take away. Some of them are Life, Liberty, and my right to do whatever I think will make me happy." - Me, A Very Modified Clause, 2011
The Original
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet." - William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene 2
The Change
"Names don't mean nothing. If a rose was called something else, it would still smell good." Me, A Very Modified Line, 2011
I think you can see my point. Which brings me to purpose of this posting: the proper use of the English language is being lost. Everyday my ears and my mind are assaulted by the improper use of English language both by the written word or, more commonly, by poor speaking grammer.
If I were never to hear one more person end a sentence with the word "at" it will be too soon. It is almost too much to ask that when people speak, they will not end their sentence with a proposition.
How about does modifiers? I actually hear this on commercials: "it is the same exact thing." If something is the same, it is exact already. And one I hear in Church, "separate and apart". If something is separate from another item, it is already apart.
I am not a purist and I have on occasion not used proper English grammar, but I do make an effort to speak and write correct English. English is the richest, most supple, and most subtle language on the planet. The combination of the Germanic base with the Latin and French admixture from the Norman Conquest gives the English language the greatest number of synonyms of any language. We have had passed to us the Ferrari of languages: elegant, powerful, and sometimes a little finicky. But like the Italian sports car, if one embraces it and seeks out the knowledge of how to properly use it, the English language provides a beautiful form of expresion, whether written or spoken.
Take a moment to reflect on the words that you choose to place in something as humber as an email, or as soaring as speech to Congress. Make those words count and for Pete's sake, don't end your sentences with a preposition.
Think for a moment and ask yourself if any of the following were written or spoken with a different choice of words. And for the full effect, I have elected to repeat the phrase with words that have the same or very similar meaning.
The Original
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." - Thomas Jefferson, The Declaration of Independence, 1776
The Change
"Everybody knows the truth of what I'm saying. We are all the same, and we all were given rights by God that no one can take away. Some of them are Life, Liberty, and my right to do whatever I think will make me happy." - Me, A Very Modified Clause, 2011
The Original
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet." - William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene 2
The Change
"Names don't mean nothing. If a rose was called something else, it would still smell good." Me, A Very Modified Line, 2011
I think you can see my point. Which brings me to purpose of this posting: the proper use of the English language is being lost. Everyday my ears and my mind are assaulted by the improper use of English language both by the written word or, more commonly, by poor speaking grammer.
If I were never to hear one more person end a sentence with the word "at" it will be too soon. It is almost too much to ask that when people speak, they will not end their sentence with a proposition.
How about does modifiers? I actually hear this on commercials: "it is the same exact thing." If something is the same, it is exact already. And one I hear in Church, "separate and apart". If something is separate from another item, it is already apart.
I am not a purist and I have on occasion not used proper English grammar, but I do make an effort to speak and write correct English. English is the richest, most supple, and most subtle language on the planet. The combination of the Germanic base with the Latin and French admixture from the Norman Conquest gives the English language the greatest number of synonyms of any language. We have had passed to us the Ferrari of languages: elegant, powerful, and sometimes a little finicky. But like the Italian sports car, if one embraces it and seeks out the knowledge of how to properly use it, the English language provides a beautiful form of expresion, whether written or spoken.
Take a moment to reflect on the words that you choose to place in something as humber as an email, or as soaring as speech to Congress. Make those words count and for Pete's sake, don't end your sentences with a preposition.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Writing Prayers
I think it is no secret that I am a big believer in prayer. I don't mean that I pray ostentatiously, in fact, a Christian is warned not to be conducting their prayers on the street corners. However, I also know that I often fall victim to letting my mind wander when I pray. Whether it is fatigue, distraction, or latent ADD, I often have difficulty focusing my mind during prayer. I don't think this is an uncommon problem, but for me it is a real issue.
Prayer is the time which we are to be communing with the divine. I have always believed that the act of prayer was when we could open our hearts and mind to the infinite. But to do this we must be in the moment and have the power to concentrate. I seem to have an inability to do this. The one thing that has saved me in this regard is the idea of written prayer. It is a little unusual and may not work for everyone, however, for me it has been, well, a Godsend.
All of my life the expression "say your prayers" has been with me. But when I got to thinkig about it, what does that mean, "say your prayers"? We are an incredibly verbal species. We communicate in myriad ways, but why are we only to "say" our communications? And ultimately prayer is about communication. Why not write them? I imagine that the supreme deity can read as well as listen.
Whenever I perform written prayer I want the room to be quiet: no distractions allowed. I grab a piece of paper and one of my best writing pens. There is no devotional significance to the pen; it is just more comfortable to write with. I usually take a moment to clear my mind and a few deep breaths to bring my pulse rate down and flood my brain with oxygen. At this point, I start writing.
I start off with a moment of praise as a form of address. One of my favorites is a a paraphrase from the Catholic liturgy. "Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit...". I then move on to my giving of thanks for giving me life, health, and all the material blessings of my life. After this, I write my fears. It is a strange thing, but when you write out your fears, suddenly they don't look so bad.
A prayer however is more than just thanksgiving and a pouring out of the everyday worries and fears. Prayer is a petition to the King of the Universe. When you stop and think about that, that is a pretty awesome thought. The intelligence that created light; that flung the stars against the blackness of space will pause and little to the small pleas of an insignificant being. By writing out those petitions, they become real and I tend to focus on the things I really need. Fewer wants; more needs.
Once I have addressed my thanks, my fears, and my petitions, I close out my prayer by writing out my doxology. One I particularly like is once again the Catholic phrase from prayer: "as it was in the beginning, is now, and forevermore shall be, Amen." I am not Catholic, but I am happy to borrower from them when it serves my purpose.
I think though, the best part of written prayer, is that the prayer is not lost. I know G-d remembers all prayers for all individuals for all time, but being a frail human we do not. I often keep my written prayers and will sometimes go back after a time and review them. When I do, something marvelous often happens. I am able to look back and see the things that I was struggling with at a point in time. I can see the resolution of the problem and can think about how the solution was one that I could not imagine. In addition, I look at my past petitions. Were they answered? Are they still "open action" items? If the petitions were not granted, did it work out for the best?
The next time it is your moment of prayer, try written prayer. It can be more meaningful, bring you into closer communion with the divine, and establish a record of blessings.
Prayer is the time which we are to be communing with the divine. I have always believed that the act of prayer was when we could open our hearts and mind to the infinite. But to do this we must be in the moment and have the power to concentrate. I seem to have an inability to do this. The one thing that has saved me in this regard is the idea of written prayer. It is a little unusual and may not work for everyone, however, for me it has been, well, a Godsend.
All of my life the expression "say your prayers" has been with me. But when I got to thinkig about it, what does that mean, "say your prayers"? We are an incredibly verbal species. We communicate in myriad ways, but why are we only to "say" our communications? And ultimately prayer is about communication. Why not write them? I imagine that the supreme deity can read as well as listen.
Whenever I perform written prayer I want the room to be quiet: no distractions allowed. I grab a piece of paper and one of my best writing pens. There is no devotional significance to the pen; it is just more comfortable to write with. I usually take a moment to clear my mind and a few deep breaths to bring my pulse rate down and flood my brain with oxygen. At this point, I start writing.
I start off with a moment of praise as a form of address. One of my favorites is a a paraphrase from the Catholic liturgy. "Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit...". I then move on to my giving of thanks for giving me life, health, and all the material blessings of my life. After this, I write my fears. It is a strange thing, but when you write out your fears, suddenly they don't look so bad.
A prayer however is more than just thanksgiving and a pouring out of the everyday worries and fears. Prayer is a petition to the King of the Universe. When you stop and think about that, that is a pretty awesome thought. The intelligence that created light; that flung the stars against the blackness of space will pause and little to the small pleas of an insignificant being. By writing out those petitions, they become real and I tend to focus on the things I really need. Fewer wants; more needs.
Once I have addressed my thanks, my fears, and my petitions, I close out my prayer by writing out my doxology. One I particularly like is once again the Catholic phrase from prayer: "as it was in the beginning, is now, and forevermore shall be, Amen." I am not Catholic, but I am happy to borrower from them when it serves my purpose.
I think though, the best part of written prayer, is that the prayer is not lost. I know G-d remembers all prayers for all individuals for all time, but being a frail human we do not. I often keep my written prayers and will sometimes go back after a time and review them. When I do, something marvelous often happens. I am able to look back and see the things that I was struggling with at a point in time. I can see the resolution of the problem and can think about how the solution was one that I could not imagine. In addition, I look at my past petitions. Were they answered? Are they still "open action" items? If the petitions were not granted, did it work out for the best?
The next time it is your moment of prayer, try written prayer. It can be more meaningful, bring you into closer communion with the divine, and establish a record of blessings.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Shaving Backwards
I have started a new little morning ritual: wet shaving. I have always had very sensitive skin on my face and have looked continually for a better way to shave. What makes this especially tough though is I have an extremely heavy, coarse beard.
Over the years, I have tried the multi-blade razor. I wasn't crazy about it, but I got used to it. The first problem with these multi-blade "systems" is the concept behind them. The idea is the first blade pulls the whisker out away from the skin and the second (or third or fouth...) cuts the whisker. Yank hack yank hack.
As you can imagine, this results in a lot of tugging that is not exactly pleasant. Further, when the whisker is pulled out and then chopped off, the remaining whisker snaps back and actually disappears below the skin level. While this does lead to a very close shave it also leads to irritation, reddened skin, and worse, ingrown hairs. Ouch.
The second problem is the expense of these multi-blade razors. For many years the double bladed razor was the standard. Then several years ago, the new standard became the three bladed razor: the Gillette Mach 3. It was and still is a hugely successful product. The problem with this razor is that it is hugely expensive to operate. Blade costs are frankly staggering. And now we are on to the 5 bladed "Fusion" system. I have not priced these blades but I am quite certain they will be even more expensive.
Third, there is the ecological challenge presented by these multi-blade systems. The cartridges use plastic and steel for their construction. They are virtually impossible to recycle. And if you are using the "disposable" razor (which you can only get about 3 maybe 4 good shaves out of), the waste factor is even higher.
I finally broke down earlier this year and bought a top of the line electric shaver. After a break in period and using the electric razor for several months, I gave it up. I still had some skin irritation, but it was manageable. The biggest problem is no matter how much I went over an area, I could not get a close shave. Five o'clock shadow at noon. And the stubble on my neck was ruining my dress shirts.
After going back to the old Mach 3 for a while, I was introduced to wet shaving. This is the shaving your father (or more likely) your grandfather did. It was done with the old style double edged razor. It takes a bit of getting used to and I am still learning. After my first shave, my face looked like it was hemmoraging. However, I am getting better and liking it better each day. Fewer nicks and less skin irritation. Best, no ingrown hairs and ecologically it is very sound. Just a little bit of steel that can be recycled easily.
But, the weird thing about it all, I actually enjoy shaving now. I feel connected to a long line of men from the past. I get the notion that I am doing something my dad did, my grandfather did, and countless other men from the past. It feels like I am carrying on an old masculine tradition.
As I go forward with this, I will keep everyone informed of how it is going and will offer a few links to products and videos as I go.
Over the years, I have tried the multi-blade razor. I wasn't crazy about it, but I got used to it. The first problem with these multi-blade "systems" is the concept behind them. The idea is the first blade pulls the whisker out away from the skin and the second (or third or fouth...) cuts the whisker. Yank hack yank hack.
As you can imagine, this results in a lot of tugging that is not exactly pleasant. Further, when the whisker is pulled out and then chopped off, the remaining whisker snaps back and actually disappears below the skin level. While this does lead to a very close shave it also leads to irritation, reddened skin, and worse, ingrown hairs. Ouch.
The second problem is the expense of these multi-blade razors. For many years the double bladed razor was the standard. Then several years ago, the new standard became the three bladed razor: the Gillette Mach 3. It was and still is a hugely successful product. The problem with this razor is that it is hugely expensive to operate. Blade costs are frankly staggering. And now we are on to the 5 bladed "Fusion" system. I have not priced these blades but I am quite certain they will be even more expensive.
Third, there is the ecological challenge presented by these multi-blade systems. The cartridges use plastic and steel for their construction. They are virtually impossible to recycle. And if you are using the "disposable" razor (which you can only get about 3 maybe 4 good shaves out of), the waste factor is even higher.
I finally broke down earlier this year and bought a top of the line electric shaver. After a break in period and using the electric razor for several months, I gave it up. I still had some skin irritation, but it was manageable. The biggest problem is no matter how much I went over an area, I could not get a close shave. Five o'clock shadow at noon. And the stubble on my neck was ruining my dress shirts.
After going back to the old Mach 3 for a while, I was introduced to wet shaving. This is the shaving your father (or more likely) your grandfather did. It was done with the old style double edged razor. It takes a bit of getting used to and I am still learning. After my first shave, my face looked like it was hemmoraging. However, I am getting better and liking it better each day. Fewer nicks and less skin irritation. Best, no ingrown hairs and ecologically it is very sound. Just a little bit of steel that can be recycled easily.
But, the weird thing about it all, I actually enjoy shaving now. I feel connected to a long line of men from the past. I get the notion that I am doing something my dad did, my grandfather did, and countless other men from the past. It feels like I am carrying on an old masculine tradition.
As I go forward with this, I will keep everyone informed of how it is going and will offer a few links to products and videos as I go.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Remembrance
Today is the 10th anniversary of 9/11. I haven't posted in forever, but there are a variety of reasons, none of which are important especially in light of the significance of the day. I have spent most of my day in thought and meditation. Life goes on but never never never forget.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)