Cameron's Literature Blog

Peer Review 4

Peer Review of Bruno Filletti’s “Crossing Brooklyn Bridge” Blog Post which can be found here: https://brunosliteratureblog.wordpress.com/2019/09/06/crossing-brooklyn-bridge/

Hey Bruno. This blog post was really interesting to read. The way in which you were able to draw out the major thematic concerns of Whitman’s “Crossing Brooklyn Bridge”, alongside addressing your own personal connection to these themes, was truly insightful. In particular, speaking of the events of your own life, and their similarity to the events that Whitman describes within his poem, gives this blog post an added layer of complexity that makes for an enthralling read. I look forward to reading your future blog posts.

Reflection on my First Blog Post

For this final blog post, I thought that I would reflect on the first blog post that I wrote for this subject. The topic was “From what you know about the USA has anything surprised you in the literature that has been introduced to you so far in this unit?”

As I made quite clear in the opening lines of this post, what I knew of America was really only very superficial current affairs, topics that Australian or global news outlets would cover, and any real history was completely out of my sphere. Looking back, I must admit that I now have a far greater knowledge of the USA.

One of the major points that I constantly come back to is the role that Emerson and Thoreau have had on the direction of American literature and the broader American mentality. Having only read works such as “Resistance to Civil Government” and having a weak knowledge of current affairs within America, I was quick to jump to the idea that Thoreau presents the birthplace and broader Libertarianism, perhaps the grave.

With a far greater knowledge of America, having now completed the majority of this unit, I have been able to witness the ways in which Emerson influences Whitman, who in turn influences writers such as Ginsberg, revealing to me a more natural progression and maturity of the very “raw” ideas that these early American writers put to paper.

Peer Review 4

Peer Review of Dylan Versola’s blog post which can be found here: https://dylanversola.home.blog/2019/10/04/blog-5/

Hey Dylan, I really enjoyed your blog post this week. I definitely agree with your statement about the many ways in which the Australian Experience can be interpreted. Your drawing from both Paterson and Lawson were insightful. These poems are integral to the composition of Australia in the late 19^th century, and your analysis was insightful. Once again, I really enjoyed this blog and look forward to reading your future posts.

Reflection on my first blog post

For this week’s blog post, I’ve chosen to reflect on my first blog post for Australian Literature. The topic for that first week was “Who is an Australian? Describe your own national and cultural background and explain why it is definitely part of what makes up our Australian nation.”

It’s interesting to look back and see how stereotypical and basic my view of what makes up an Australian. Subsequently, my knowledge of Australian Literature, was quite limited to famous bush poems, and authors like Banjo Paterson and Henry Lawson. Over the course of this semester, I’ve been exposed to a plethora of Australian Literature, that honestly, I never knew existed before this semester.

Important historical footnotes like “The Ernst O’Malley hoax” and alternative works and poets like Michael Dransfield, have broadened my view of Australian Literature, and therefore, broadened my view of what makes up an Australian. I can say now that Australia is a diverse nation, enriched by the multitudes of composers and their works. Not just limited to the famous, and perhaps outdated bush poems of poets like Paterson, it is the evolution of literature within Australia, that is representative of Australia’s evolution as a nation, and the evolution of what it is that makes up an Australian.

Try to write an e.e.cummings poem using your own subject matter but sticking to his language and form.

I have taken inspiration from Cumming’s “in Just-“ for this poem, using the opening line to begin my own poem.

in Just-

the space between this and there

hereandthat

in Just that very spot

the trees swoosh secrets

the sky opens

and closes

open close

openclose

closerthanbreath

and when the Clock walks by

andwhenthe Clock walks by

maybe He waves?

probably just passes.

would He dine with me?

probably just passes.

heed my words?

probably just passes.

remember

name?

Heandiarenostrangers

in Just-

this very moment

He and i are friends at

last

Peer Review 3

Peer Review of William Trinh’s blog post which can be found here:

Blog 4

Hey William. This blog post was really enjoyable to read. It was truly insightful the myriad of meaning that you were able to draw from Ezra Pound’s “In A Station of the Metro”. It showed your immense understanding of the poem and its minimal symbolistic complexities. The way in which you unpacked the final line of the poem and the connection between the development of humanity and nature was a really interesting perspective and one that I hadn’t considered. I look forward to reading your future blog posts.
– Cameron

Write a letter to Patrick White telling him what you think of any one of the texts you have read this week. (Miss Slattery and Her Demon Lover)

To Mr. Patrick White

Having recently read your short story “Miss Slattery and her Demon Lover”, I must admit I am somewhat in awe of your story-telling ability. Namely, your ability to create vivid descriptions from simple phrases and words, within your works is profound. Never are your descriptions word-heavy, rather the connotations of various emotions and feelings, that are invoked within your audience add to the allure of your narratives. One such example of this is the description of Tibby Szabo as “This fat and hairy man”. Perhaps it is the way in which you seemingly cram each word with a world of hidden meaning, that makes these stark descriptions, so poignant. I just can’t seem to put my finger on exactly how it is that these barren representations of characters and actions are so descriptive, yet they paint vivid pictures of these characters within my own mind. Another example of this is the line “He had the paprika chicken in his teeth.” Immediately this simple line fills my mind with such a vivid, yet unpleasant image, that makes this story all the more compelling. I must say that upon reflection of your works, it is this innate simplicity of your descriptive passages that makes them so compelling to me as a reader.

Cameron

Australian Literature Peer Review 3

Comment on Jared Mark’s “Milford Sounds” Blog Post which can be found here: https://jaredmarksbrain.home.blog/2019/09/01/milford-sounds/comment-page-1/?unapproved=4&moderation-hash=cfff2d40b99d2db59213519dd5b4ec8a#comment-4

I thoroughly enjoyed your description of this piece. The way in which you blended your own personal thoughts of the piece, with the physical dimensions of the artwork, really enhanced your description. I definitely agree with you, one truly does feel a sense of insignificance when gazing upon “Milford Sound”, completely dwarfed by the immensity and complexity of the artwork. I had this same experience when looking at this piece for the first time as well. I really enjoyed your description of “Milford Sound” and look forward to reading your future posts.

Cameron

American Literature Peer Review 2

Comment on Ethan Hua’s “A Narrow Fellow in the Grass” blog post which can be found here: https://ethansopinion.home.blog/2019/09/01/a-narrow-fellow-in-the-grass/

This poem was really enjoyable to read. I really liked how you not only masterfully imitated Dickinson’s form, but also the complex subtleties that make her poetry so interesting. I particularly found your use of personification, for the valley and the daggers quite complex, and gave a seemingly mundane scene, almost a mystic quality, that I think is what gives Dickinson’s work such allure. The way in which you concluded the poem with the same opening line, gave the poem a natural suspense and climax that made it such an enjoyable read. I look forward to reading your future blog posts.
– Cameron

Write a letter to James Baldwin telling him what you think of the power of his writing. (In regards to “Going to Meet the Man”)

To Mr. James Baldwin.

Having recently read your short story “Going to Meet the Man” I must admit that it took me aback. I had to take a few moments to reflect upon the story, especially the final, gruesome flashback. The vivid nature of your writing evoked a range of emotions within me, with jarring clarity.

The depth and accuracy of the character of Jesse struck out to me also. The way in which you captured his voice, mannerisms and attitudes was truly masterful. Perhaps the most shocking aspect of this story is that Jesse as a character is no parody, he is no exaggerated character, purposefully created to amplify an issue. No, he is, sadly, an accurate depiction, an embodiment of the same racist sentiment that he himself spews forth, in disgusting ignorance.

As I have said previously, it is the final scene, the lynching, that has stuck with me, and was a major cause for reflection, upon completing the short story. Even now, reading through it again, I am filled with a sense of dread. The rapid nature of the scene; the pace as each new detail hits the reader square in the face, is almost terrifying. It is as though as a reader, if not subconsciously, there is a desire for this latest terror to be the last, or this shocking element to be the final one, but this is not the case. The way in which this terrible scene flows into the final shocking act of the story, affords the reader no reprieve, and is perhaps why it is so jarring, as there is no point within the story, at which the reader can digest the atrocities that they have just read.

“Going to Meet the Man” is truly insightful, and the power of not only its message, but also your writing cannot be overstated.

-Cameron