Comments on: I Swear http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2007/08/i-swear/ Challenge The Status Quo Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:48:43 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Todd http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2007/08/i-swear/comment-page-1/#comment-15986 Todd Mon, 27 Aug 2007 01:48:56 +0000 http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2007/08/i-swear/#comment-15986 Ian McEwan for me, too. Jose Saramago and Margaret Atwood, as well. Palahniuk does have a definite style, so if you've read one thing you are pretty clear on how he writes. He's started to mix it up recently, but he's really into the submerging the I style of writing; lots of second person pronouns. Ian McEwan for me, too. Jose Saramago and Margaret Atwood, as well. Palahniuk does have a definite style, so if you’ve read one thing you are pretty clear on how he writes. He’s started to mix it up recently, but he’s really into the submerging the I style of writing; lots of second person pronouns.

]]> By: Damian Bariexca http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2007/08/i-swear/comment-page-1/#comment-15981 Damian Bariexca Sun, 26 Aug 2007 22:41:05 +0000 http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2007/08/i-swear/#comment-15981 Seen it; never read it. Palahniuk's one of those authors I keep meaning to get to, but never quite do (Ian McEwan's another). I've read snippets of his other books online, so I'm familiar with the style, but never gotten through one cover-to-cover. I'll grab a used copy and get to it one of these days; thanks for the recommendation! Seen it; never read it. Palahniuk’s one of those authors I keep meaning to get to, but never quite do (Ian McEwan’s another). I’ve read snippets of his other books online, so I’m familiar with the style, but never gotten through one cover-to-cover. I’ll grab a used copy and get to it one of
these days; thanks for the recommendation!

]]> By: Todd http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2007/08/i-swear/comment-page-1/#comment-15974 Todd Sun, 26 Aug 2007 15:00:32 +0000 http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2007/08/i-swear/#comment-15974 It just strikes me as odd that teachers can discuss a book that has a few chapters about rape (Mango Street) with freshmen (that's where the book is approved in my district), but I can't discuss a chapter that has two small bits of nastiness with juniors. The fact that I even worry about legal action is what troubles me. Your Irvine Welsh comparison is a perfect one. I've read bits of Welsh and you were dealing with the same issues. I'm right with you on the decision not to hand out copies of this passage and right with you on the hating myself a bit piece, too. Never read Fight Club!? Go to your local bookstore right now! Really, it's a quick read and well worth it. You've at least seen the movie, right? It just strikes me as odd that teachers can discuss a book that has a few chapters about rape (Mango Street) with freshmen (that’s where the book is approved in my district), but I can’t discuss a chapter that has two small bits of nastiness with juniors. The fact that I even worry about legal action is what troubles me. Your Irvine Welsh comparison is a perfect one. I’ve read bits of Welsh and you were dealing with the same issues. I’m right with you on the decision not to hand out copies of this passage and right with you on the hating myself a bit piece, too.

Never read Fight Club!? Go to your local bookstore right now! Really, it’s a quick read and well worth it. You’ve at least seen the movie, right?

]]> By: Damian Bariexca http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2007/08/i-swear/comment-page-1/#comment-15941 Damian Bariexca Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:48:58 +0000 http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2007/08/i-swear/#comment-15941 Hi Todd - I fought the same internal battle over whether or not to distribute passages by Irvine Welsh in my Honors Brit Lit class (for a lesson on dialect/voice connected to The Reeve's Tale, not just for fun). I think it comes down to the value of the piece in reaching your objectives. I'm of the same mind as you w/r/t censorship, but I also don't think that the explicit approval of Mango Street, et al., is implicit approval of Palahniuk. I don't know the relationship you have with your supervisor/principal, but if it were me, I'd go there first with strong case as to how this work meets your needs. Even if you don't get Board approval, it's much easier to fight this battle if you've got a) clearly stated educational objectives linked to the work, and b) admin on your side. Two questions arise for me here: I've never read Fight Club; is there a passage you can post for us (or link for us) to help frame the context? Also, are you just giving them a section, or the whole text? BTW, I decided against handing out the Welsh piece, less for the drug content, and more for the profanity. I think I hate myself a little bit for bowing to what I perceive as my community's distorted priorities, but it wasn't a battle I was willing to fight at the time. Maybe I'll rethink that decision when I teach it again in February. Hi Todd – I fought the same internal battle over whether or not to distribute passages by Irvine Welsh in my Honors Brit Lit class (for a lesson on dialect/voice connected to The Reeve’s Tale, not just for fun). I think it comes down to the value of the piece in reaching your objectives.

I’m of the same mind as you w/r/t censorship, but I also don’t think that the explicit approval of Mango Street, et al., is implicit approval of Palahniuk. I don’t know the relationship you have with your supervisor/principal, but if it were me, I’d go there first with strong case as to how this work meets your needs. Even if you don’t get Board approval, it’s much easier to fight this battle if you’ve got a) clearly stated educational objectives linked to the work, and b) admin on your side.

Two questions arise for me here: I’ve never read Fight Club; is there a passage you can post for us (or link for us) to help frame the context? Also, are you just giving them a section, or the whole text?

BTW, I decided against handing out the Welsh piece, less for the drug content, and more for the profanity. I think I hate myself a little bit for bowing to what I perceive as my community’s distorted priorities, but it wasn’t a battle I was willing to fight at the time. Maybe I’ll rethink that decision when I teach it again in February.

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