Comments for Michael McCauley's blog

Comment on Junot Díaz and the New Englishes by Kim Sasser

Kim Sasser — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 02:58:10 +0000

I want to pick up on an idea you toss out here at the end, the contrast between Oscar’s love of role-playing and, ironically in this light, his inability to perform the ideal Dominican man. It’s a compelling contrast. I wonder what we might make of this gap?

Comment on Magical Realism in “Light is Like Water” by Kim Sasser

Kim Sasser — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 02:54:35 +0000

I am interested in your interpretation of the narrator, or who it is that tells one of the brothers that “light is like water.” We had a debate in my other 3362 class about this topic. I always read this as being the father; however, you seem to agree with a few of my other students who also saw this as a kind of Borgesian moment, when the narrator inserts himself into the story’s action.

Comment on Cléophas’ Fiddle by Ashley Smith

Ashley Smith — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 04:29:23 +0000

I think the fiddle’s worth and the girls innability to distinguish that worth is very ironic. I think the story would be much different if the girl did not have that innocent understand of value and the need for immediacy. I love your reference to Stadivarius.

Comment on Ibsen’s Dolls by Ashley Smith

Ashley Smith — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 03:46:59 +0000

I think you are absolutely right in the fact that Nora casts herself as the “damsel in distress.” Also I think that it’s true that Isben’s agenda was to portray a realistic view of the female but I also think that because he creates Nora to be a woman who cannot navigate her societal constraints he is ultimately furthering the agenda of the feminist movement. I think that the text just oozes with the constraints on women that the feminists are trying to make light of.

Comment on Borges and the Invention of Hypertext by Kim Sasser

Kim Sasser — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 02:37:21 +0000

It’s mind-boggling the way Borges foresees the world wide web’s hypertext, something which seems to have come right out of his stories. Does Borges mystify the internet, or the internet Borges?…

Comment on Conrad and Eastern Mysticism by Kim Sasser

Kim Sasser — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 02:35:00 +0000

I see the germs of a strong paper here! Compelling argument that picks up on a subtle, yet significant set of details.

Comment on Ibsen’s Dolls by Kim Sasser

Kim Sasser — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 14:38:44 +0000

Beautifully written post. Your idea about Nora’s romanticizing her position as damsel in distress was especially memorable for me. I never thought about that dramatic moment in this way, but it is so true!

Comment on Cléophas’ Fiddle by Kim Sasser

Kim Sasser — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 17:03:13 +0000

Top notch unpacking of this dialect-dense short story. Your post illuminates significant details about characterization and theme. (I will draw from it as a resource next time I teach the story!)

Comment on Men of Letters by Kim Sasser

Kim Sasser — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 15:15:04 +0000

An illuminating post! I appreciate the way you draw out the Enlightenment agenda behind the definition of this term.

Comment on Crusoe and the Cannibals by Kim Sasser

Kim Sasser — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 22:58:19 +0000

A very thoughtful and thought-provoking post. Great point about the historical occurrence of cannibalism versus the specter of it in the mind of Defoe.