You say you want a revolution...

[felis_ultharus]

I have not gotten far into Linda Hutcheon. I keep getting infuriated by this author. She's turned by philosophy into her bogeyman, constantly making claims about humanism which are not in the slightest true. I wonder where this stuff comes from.

Reading her vague-yet-vicious discussions of "liberal humanism" is like reading a long, scholarly essay on Spain's relations with its fellow Asian countries, particularly its near neighbours Laos and Japan. Not for the first time this year, I've wondered how someone so smart can be so stupid.

And if this is the best postmodernism can do, it's really depressing that it's taken over my field.

The constant talk in these books about "changing the system," "revolutionizing," "overthrowing," makes me wonder why they never mention what they want "the system" to change into, what the goals are of "revolution," what they want to be left over once it's all "overthrown." The purpose is never mentioned. I suppose purpose is "bourgeois" now, along with meaning, beauty, imagination, identity, readable books, happiness, love, and everything else that makes life worth living.

(I realize "bourgeois" is a standard French word, but has anyone ever seriously used that word in English without being "bourgeois" themselves?)

And is there any sight more depressing and funny at the same time than tenured professors, all echoing nearly-identical views, talking about revolution and bringing down the system. In English Lit, postmodernism is the system, and hearing about this is like hearing Maoist and Stalinist generals call their armies "the people's liberation armies."

(I hope I'm not irritating everyone by these constant rants, but if I don't rant somewhere, I think I'm going to have to punch a wall. I feel like everything I loved about books and literature and history is being ripped to shreds by a bunch of self-serving professors hungry to get published, and I'm not even sure I want to go on another semester.)

Comments

[seal7.livejournal.com]

Hamish. I have access to something that might cheer you up.
You might need a friend's computer though. For downloading. And such.
It's called Advent Children ;P
Out and subtitled since yesterday.

[felis-ultharus.livejournal.com]

Thank you thank you thank you thank you....

It will be some days before I can grab something like that, though. You're right about needing a friend's computer to nab it :/

[seal7.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm pretty sure jenjoou uses bittorrent... maybe she has interest in seeing it herself, anyway?

Alas, for whenever you can make use of it, here's the link. :)

I watched it, it's absolutely gorgeous. *-*

[foi-nefaste.livejournal.com]

You're not irritating. It's entirely understandable, and quite enjoyable. And, since I actually agree with the better part of what you say, it makes going back to my bit of postmodernism a bit easier after reading your rants. If that makes any sense at all.

[felis-ultharus.livejournal.com]

Are you still getting it even without Lecker :/

I guess I'm not too surprised. It's everywhere at this point.

[jc2004.livejournal.com]

Hey, there are lots of us that appreciate a good rant. Fuck diplomacy.

[felis-ultharus.livejournal.com]

I'm just worried for the same reason I was concerned about going on about politics. I figure at least half my friends list doesn't know what postmodernism is, and for all I know, some of them may like a lot more than I do...