Happy Holidays!

It's been a while since I've been able to post--the dog days of December, however, seem to have slipped by; and since Winter Solstice was last night, the days will begin getting longer. Finals are over, papers submitted, and recommendations written, students dispersed to various homes and domiciles--but I won't say anything about grading yet, since they aren't due until January 2nd, and that's work yet to be done. It's Christmas break, and for all of us, I'm sure, a welcome time.

In fact, the purpose of this post is to wish all of you who might read this English department blog a marvelous and fruitful Holiday season!

And what better to celebrate than to offer photos from our very own Wassail party, held on the day after classes were over!

First, the goodies arrayed on one of the tables, and below, our esteemed chair, Ginger, tempting us to partake--at the other table.

Terri and I are trying to get everyone into the spirit of the season. . . .

And while Emily, Matt and Chelsea seem to be responding,

Lou appears to be doing his best "Bah, Humbug" impression!

Ah, the milling crowds, presaging the crush of shoppers and revelers to come. . . .

And, finally, Steve, with me and Ginger--representing the new and the old. . . .

Have a great break, everyone, and we'll see you on January 14th! (or shortly thereafter?)

-Jay

Sticks and Stones may Break my Bones, but Words?

"i aint seen no poems stop a .38
i aint seen no metaphors stop a tank"
- "Two Poems", Haki Madhubuti


Somewhere between reading poetry from the Black Arts Movement and Marx's Communist Manifesto, I have found myself perturbed by the question (yet again): "What do words DO?" It bothers me that as a student of literature I should ask so simplistic a question. I feel such a concern would more likely hail from the minds of the simplistic, the myopic, the avaricious capitalist. I, for more reasons than one, should know first-hand what words can do. Words have been at the root of many revolutions, political decisions and perspective transformations. Words hurt and heal, sting and soothe, yadayadayada. I know the effect of a brilliant writer who effortlessly moves a reader to tears or has one bursting into fits of laughter.

Still, outside of cliche answers like the aforementioned, of what real 'use' is reading the great words of those writers valourized by the canon? In an age decidedly and inadvertently affected by capitalism, what is the market value of literary words? Of all the pleasures I have experienced from studying literature, the one I most value is the ability to critically analyze people and, more often than not, predict behaviour. Now I don't need and economist or market analyst to tell me how understanding people can bring in big bucks. That's the point on which all successful advertising pivots: the understanding of people, what drives and satisfies them.

Francis Bacon in his essay "Of Studies" says "Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability. Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business." The efficacy of literary works are oft limited to the provision of delight and the display of wit for wit's sake. How tangibly do literary words boast the 'ability' aspect? Bacon's statement implies the underlying assumption that mere words as entity are somewhat inactive; their ability is proven in the disposition of business. What good does reveling in similies and synecdoches do in and of themselves? Must we always apply the skills this reveling gives us in order for the words to have value? Since when did value need validation from the materialist? Perhaps delight and ornamental attributes are good enough. After all, money is sought only to satisfy human desires (whether it is making another smile, launching a bomb, wreaking unfounded havoc or inflicting pleasurable pain). It has no implicit value. If hyperbole and onomatopoeia cut right to the chase, great!