Calling all English professors! Calling all professors of Comparative Literature! I have various graduate students who want to study “world literature” but only read English. They want to cover many texts from many centuries, continents and countries. What is “world literature” and how does it differ from Comparative Literature? How much should we expect someone … More What Is World Literature?
I am in late night grading jail. Students who have not studied verb forms fully, but who have understood concepts, are deriving from what they do know the ways in which things would in fact have been said in Old Spanish or in the Renaissance. How did they figure out when the future subjunctive would … More In Which Grammar Makes Sense
A commentator said in part: “[When I was younger] racism was something I was terrified I would be accused of. To be racist was maybe the worst thing you could be, but it was (I thought) very easy to accidentally do something that would result in some black person calling you racist, and as a … More On Race and Racism
A. Bibliographical Methods: A student preparing for his comprehensive examination asked about criticism on a writer. “I am looking in JSTOR,” said he. I said he should look in the MLA Bibilography. JSTOR is good, but it only has what it has, it does not give a complete panorama of what is. “I see,” said … More Bibliographical Methods, Puzzle, and Note
I was addressed as “Madre,” and it utterly knocked me back. I had never been addressed that way, or heard anyone addressed that way, and the last time I read it was in La Celestina (1499, but see also the movie with Penélope Cruz as Melibea, and Maribel Verdú as Areusa). I had just arrived … More On Language Variation
Here is another labyrinthine post from the olden days. Now I am awake like the Buddha, but a seer at a Los Angeles botánica told me years ago that I was “carrying a great weight.” Qui potest capere, capiat. I Trying to discover my way back professionally from the ravages of Reeducation is sometimes dangerous … More On Anorexia
Now the University is offering us the chance to change from private retirement plans to the state system. I have never been on the state system, although if I had gotten in when I originally came it would have been advantageous, because it is not portable and I have never planned to stay. And rules … More Financial News Question
I might vote for Cynthia McKinney just for the sake of voting closer to my actual views, if I thought Obama really couldn’t win Louisiana. But call me an Obamaholic, Field Negro. I won’t mind, I was a Kucinich voter originally. Now, however, I am in enough denial about the possibility of a McCain victory … More Probability and Statistics: Louisiana for Obama?
I am not a Fashion Free Feminist, and this is terrible: I have discovered I have cellulite, visible cellulite, right in the leg. It is a serious Fashion Problem [FP]. I noticed it when I tried on bathing suits. Now I do not know what to buy. Unfamiliar with bathing suits other than bikinis and … More A Very Serious Question
I am going to do a public reading of selected posts from this blog. I was asked out of the blue and said yes immediately, although I should not spend even more time on recreational writing. It is very exciting – my most important presentation ever, since this is the writing of mine I most stand … More Public Opinion Poll / Coming Out
coldhearted scientist وداد 