RedWine+Dena conversation topic
I can't decide:
Does red wine prompt me to comfortably articulate interesting intellectual dialogue
OR
does it make me think I am making a well articulated intellectual argument?
. . .
Latest RedWine+Dena conversation topic introduced:
Mandatory Literary Classics Used in 7-12th Grade English Classes
My argument:
The vernacular and cultural context of most of material used in 7th - 12th grade English classes are irrelevant and disconnected to its student readers. Many, if not most, of those having to read such pieces will have a hard time relating to the characters and their emotional reactions to the environment and events portrayed in the novel.
If Detroit is indeed 45% illiterate (according to Colin Z), then shouldn't there be more concern with finding material that kids can relate to more, and in turn be "turned on" rather than annoyed and "turned off" to reading? Are there works that these youth could enjoy more than "A Separate Peace" (which I've never read, but it is what sparked our conversation) that introduces characters that deal with issues that are more relevant to our times? The generation turnover is so great with the introduction of media and technology that we face unprecidented generational gap challenges.
The rebuttal:
Books making the "classics" list speak of universal emotions. they are deemed "classics" because the literally are suppossed to be relevant to our society, regardless of when they were made. (Admittably, there is much more, but since I wasn't making the argument, I'm not able to go into it much further with linear, easy to follow clarity.)
. . . I could keep going with my arguments, but you get the point. I'm obviously still drunk and writing so who knows? Tomorrow morning I could read this all and choose the latter proposition as the answer.
Any commentary? (On the arguments in play; I'm not inviting you to ridicule me by enthusiastically stating that I don't make any sense when I've been drinking.)
Does red wine prompt me to comfortably articulate interesting intellectual dialogue
OR
does it make me think I am making a well articulated intellectual argument?
. . .
Latest RedWine+Dena conversation topic introduced:
Mandatory Literary Classics Used in 7-12th Grade English Classes
My argument:
The vernacular and cultural context of most of material used in 7th - 12th grade English classes are irrelevant and disconnected to its student readers. Many, if not most, of those having to read such pieces will have a hard time relating to the characters and their emotional reactions to the environment and events portrayed in the novel.
If Detroit is indeed 45% illiterate (according to Colin Z), then shouldn't there be more concern with finding material that kids can relate to more, and in turn be "turned on" rather than annoyed and "turned off" to reading? Are there works that these youth could enjoy more than "A Separate Peace" (which I've never read, but it is what sparked our conversation) that introduces characters that deal with issues that are more relevant to our times? The generation turnover is so great with the introduction of media and technology that we face unprecidented generational gap challenges.
The rebuttal:
Books making the "classics" list speak of universal emotions. they are deemed "classics" because the literally are suppossed to be relevant to our society, regardless of when they were made. (Admittably, there is much more, but since I wasn't making the argument, I'm not able to go into it much further with linear, easy to follow clarity.)
. . . I could keep going with my arguments, but you get the point. I'm obviously still drunk and writing so who knows? Tomorrow morning I could read this all and choose the latter proposition as the answer.
Any commentary? (On the arguments in play; I'm not inviting you to ridicule me by enthusiastically stating that I don't make any sense when I've been drinking.)