English Classroom

[aliquisa]

What's one book you think it would be fascinating to study in a classroom but can't imagine a professor putting onto the reading list?

Why that book?

Comments

[formendacil]

Actually, I have difficulty imagining any such book.

Thing is, I think there's all sorts of books (most of which I've heard of in passing, or theoretically can only conceive of, since I haven't read them) that I never WILL see in a course, but this has more to do with it being difficult to see a SPECIFIC professor teaching. But, at the same time, I'm acquainted with stories of all sorts of courses offered on eclectic and far-out stuff... so, really, I can see any book being taught, if it's interesting.

And, as the flip side of the same coin, any book I can't see any prof putting on a reading list (in a pertinent course), would have to be unfascinating.

Not that there aren't already boring books on the reading lists...

[aliquisa]

Okay, here's a hypothetical:

Say I (as in me) am giving free reign to teach any book I want for any purpose I want. You're a student in my class. Which book are you dying to see me teach?

[formendacil]

Unfortunately, almost all the reading I do these days is coursework reading... and insofar as I read for pleasure it tends to be authors I discovered because of a Literature class. For example, I picked up a copy of TOM JONES simply because we read JOSEPH ANDREWS in class, and I quite enjoyed Fielding.

*Thinks... Thinks... Thinks*

Hmm... I'm still having difficulties, but Agatha Christie just popped into my mind, and I really would love a literature class on Mystery Novels--or perhaps specifically on Christie and her differing forms and ploys as exemplified in different novels or as taken up, modified, or rejected by those influenced by her.

What can I say? I've been in a very English mood of late...

[lalwendeboggart]

Hmmm. Maybe Watchmen. It would be amazing to study as it has so many layers and references in it, and is most definitely not typical fare, and a 'serious' work in every sense of the word. Plus there's a lot of structure to study in there for a writers' class.

However I can only see a certain 'type' of tutor ever putting that on a reading list.

I did once write a paper on the satire of Kurt Vonnegut and they had to send it to another tutor to mark, which caused some problems ;) So I think reading lists are based more on whether the tutor has read the books than if they are relevant/worthy!

[aliquisa]

Do you think that tutors should take more responsibility for finding new and interesting ways to teach old concepts? Or do you believe that classic literature should still be taught for the sake of it being a significant part of culture?

You know... I'll probably post that question as a blog entry and see what answers I get.

[formendacil]

In that case, I'll wait to respond to it, since I definitely have thoughts on that matter.

[lariren_shadow]

I have like 20 you realize

[lariren_shadow]

Actually this is what I'm going to say, post something about survey courses and I'll respond.

[polemically]

I'd love to study Watchmen or Neil Gaiman's Sandman in the classroom.

eta, forgot to say why. Watchmen is so deep and has so many layers I think that more could be gotten from the book in a group discussion.

Sandman is layered with myth and meaning. It would take several readings and probably different points of view to appreciate it completely.

[aliquisa]

I actually intend to teach Sandman in a few weeks. Specifically Gaiman's pretty little rendition of Midsummer Night's Dream. Intertextuality and appropriation of historical sources, here I come!

[polemically]

I'd so go to your class if I could. :D