definitions (notes on our 3/18 class)

Well, we have now reached a milestone: we at least "officially" know each other's names.

At the beginning of class the final three students listed the names of everyone else in the class (we are hoping that, unlike Alice, they remember their own names and identities). We then discussed the evaluations that were posted here, taking special note of complaints of self-editing and the interface of Serendip.

Our discussion turned to reactions to Wai-Chee's visit. A few students noted that they had been surprised by her definitions (either finding her definitions too narrow on some points, to wide for others).

Classifications are bollocks: True or False? We discussed classifications as constructions, then as having merit only based on their "usefulness." Can you define a genre in the most convenient way and still have it hold up to argument? But isn't that all classifications are anyway? So defining them in any way you choose at least makes them fluid.

In the talk Wai-Chee gave at BMC she mentioned the internationality of her facebook group, but also that their was a language constraint. Students noted how this was depressing, especially in light of how the internet seems to 'open up' the world.

Then the discussion wound back to the idea of "aliveness" (in relation to novels --are they alive? no agreements reached). Grobstein defined it on a scale from consciousness to being energy dependent. From here followed more class definitions (or personal definitions)... is a hammer a hammer if it is not recognized as a hammer? what about as a weapon (Maxwell's Silver Hammer... came down upon his head). A loopy conversation about identification (ooh, classification??) as linked to existence, aliveness.

Then a look at the syllabus: "counter" "realities" as far as A Game of You.

Then we broke into small groups to discussion who Alice really is and how we would classify Wonderland. What does it actually parody? When we came back to class, we could not really decide (or Define it): is it a parody of "desire to be pleasing," or "memory/ization," or "dreams"? Anything?

Then a (small) debate on the nature of change and growth: Different or the same? One student noted that changes could occur, but not necessarily lead to growth (another student said change itself was growth, or at least inspired it/allowed for it even if it was miniscule). Did Alice grow or not? (no definition really reached here either).

What about the words 'consequence' and 'consistency'? How does Wonderland manifest consequences? Consistently? Inconsistently? These questions were asked, but we seemed to have run out of time to answer/define them...