ENGL 475: Postmodern Literature (Fall 2004)

I didn't want to be the first one when I saw this yesterday. Evidently, neither did anyone else. Time to bite the bullet and admit the horrible truth: I'm a dork and, I guess, I don't so much mind.

I'm Sandi (short for Aleksandra). I'm a junior. I'm an English major with a concentration in the poetry track of creative writing, and I'm about to declare art history on top of that. I am from Rockville in that I commute from there every day, but I am also from the USSR, in that I immigrated from there when I was 5.

I am given to being verbose. I'll stop now. Someone else comment so I don't feel so brown-noser-ish.

Thanks for being first, Sandi. You are _not_ a dork ;-)

my name is robert powers

i like thomas pynchon waaaay too much

and shostakovich

im a 5th year senior and am 21.

I'm Donnelly Gillen and am a senior art history major. Sandi (and anyone interested in art) -- I recommend taking Arth351 to complement this class. I am writing an undergraduate thesis this year on something in modern or postmodern art but I haven't picked a definitive topic yet.

I am a Maryland native but I transferred from USC last year -- sunny, grimy Southern California just wasn't my bag. I am obssessed with music and I ride horses competitively.

The fourth, then. I'm Gaelin, 23 and a senior. Not counting the year and half I spent between Community College and UMCP, it's my third semester of seniordom. I have a focus on creative fiction writing, albiet with some current administrative difficulties

William Gibson has been my favorite author for some years, although he currently shares the honor with J.G. Ballard; I attribute my own corruption to reading "Neuromancer" at age ten. I purchased "Pattern Recognition" during the winter break, but was unable to read it until the start of the summer session. I was quite pleased to see it on the book list, not simply because I would save a little money, but also that I finally get to discuss his work in class.

I seem to have given the most long-winded introduction yet, but seeing as writing is what I'm in the English department to do (whether the administration likes it or not) it is to be expected.

Forgive the bitchiness of the end there, finding out today that I likely won't be able to take my focus class has put a pallor on the rest of my evening.

is it strange/abnormal to have never used a blog before? right. well, my name is patrick sullivan (pat or p. sull), born in DC, lived around MD my whole life, live in CP now with some friends in a house.
i'm an english major doing a creative writing concentration, planning on being done by may and getting outta here and up to nyc, or thereabouts.
i like dave eggers.
i don't like introductions.

Hi, I'm Allison, and I'm a 20-year-old senior English major.

I was thinking about my interests, and the first to come to mind were all vain, moderately masochistic physical activities--I love running and am training for a half marathon, I love tweezing my eyebrows, and my plan is to flat iron my hair reading the desert of the real. I feel like a tool, of course, for these things being my first introduction, but I feel like the details of myself I list are arbitrary, and I'd like to think they're more pieces of trivia than the essence of my character...

I live for This American Life on NPR and Great Falls, Maryland, and really like to take inventory of how happy I am to be alive. I like reading (who in this class doesn't?) and hate driving (and am horrible at it).

It's hard to write an introduction without feeling narcissistic, self-conscious, and dorky, or conversely, inaccurate. But it's a sactrifice I'm willing to make for this class. :)

And, in general, I'm really excited about this semester..

Hello, I'm Darrell Forbes, and I'm a 21-year-old senior philosophy major. I'm originally from Richmond, VA, but have spent the last 15 years in Salisbury, MD. I now have intense feelings of nostalgia whenever I smell chicken waste. Thank you Perdue!

I love Nabokov and Bulgakov. I am most interested in music, and I play a handful of instruments, whose performance tends to cut into my other, (supposedly) more immediate obligations. I also love to explore College Park via her myriad bike trails. I stumbled across Lake Artemisia yesterday, which was gorgeous. Have a look sometime.

Furthermore, this class looks to be ridiculous.

"Furthermore, this class looks to be ridiculous."

Mmm . . . you mean in a good, postmodern, absurdist kind of way? ;-)

Hi, I'm Faryan. 19 year old Sophmore (gasp). I'm an undecided business school dropout, leaning towards Sociology/Psychology and English. I'm from Potomac Maryland, I enjoy DJing as a hobby and to scrounge a few bucks (hint hint). I took this course because I'm personally in quite a quagmire with my understanding of universal concepts. Postmodernism seemed like an interesting and fulfilling venture (albeit I have a limited knowledge about it.

And I'm obsessed with electronic music and partying, for whatever that's worth.

hi, I'm marin. I'm 20 and a junior (I think, maybe a senior, I'm bad at keeping track). I'm an english major, focusing on american lit, though lately I feel like I'm just killing time until I'm accepted into the peace corp. I've been at maryland for a year now, I started college in North Carolina, where I was also a street performer (jugggling fire on a unicycle, its strange the things you pick up in college). I ended up at maryland so that I could be close to dc for the protests and because it was still far enough away from home that I wouldnt be expected to visit often. I dont have favorite authors (I'm too fickle for that sort of thing), and I have absolutely no knowledge of the authors we're reading in class so I guess thats it.

Hi, I'm Anastasia. I'm a 20 year old senior in denial about graduation this may, with a range of plans for graduate school that extends from an MFA in costume design to a doctorate in American Studies. I'm a Digital Narrative Studies major through IVSP, which basically is the study of technology and storytelling. I'm interning with MITH this semester... along with working in the Costume Shop and taking 19 credits. I've been accused of being masochistic in my course load.

I've read most of the books on the syllabus already, William Gibson is a personal favorite of mine. I'm also a graphic novel addict, I'm a big fan of Spiegelman's, including a recent reaction of his to 9/11 that has left me very excited to read his newest work. I've read the New York Trilogy and discussed it in English 301, and I've read Introducing Postmodernism, along with a dozen books in the same series, the graphical approach to information used in these books is consistently enjoyable (Introducing Joyce is particularly good.)

The book I'm most excited to see on the syllabus is Stephanie Strickland, V. I've read parts of Strickland's work online, and I look forward to delving more into her structure of ideas.

Hi. I'm Giles, a senior English major concentrating in American lit. I'm originally from North Carolina, and I’m planning on joining the Peace Corps once I graduate (its almost like I’m repeating what someone else said). Beyond that I have no plans. I play too many videogames and foolishly choose to read my own book choices during the semster on top of those assigned

The only author on here that I’ve read is Spiegelman, who I really like. I’m looking forward to that one

Hello everyone. My name is Zeshan. I am 22 and I am graduating this December! I am an English major w/ a concentration in "Language, Writing, and Rhetoric." I got the chance to study abroad last year in London. Currently, I am in the process of applying to law school.

I took an Intro to Sci Fi Literature last fall in which we read weird and disturbing texts like Ubik. For me, some of the novels in this genre are hard to swallow but are at the same time intriguing and well-written. I am taking this course because I think I will like Postmodern Lit and because I too took and enjoyed the "Computer + Text" course (English 467) taught by our professor.

I'm Adrienne, a senior English major from Laurel, MD. If I could go back and do it all again though, I'd probably be an American Studies major and/or a Japanese literature major and/or a Russian history major. But the good thing about English is that I can touch on all of these things through my English classes anyway. so much for regret.

I've read a bunch of Delillo including White Noise and Underworld, but not the newest one. I read Underworld a few summers ago, but I never got to really process it, if that makes sense. I've been itching to re-read it.

Hi, I'm Yaseman, and I'm a junior and double major in English and Education. I want to be a high school english teacher (preferably 11th and 12th graders). I took this class because I was tired of struggling to read Old and Middle English, and Shakespeare in my other classes. I figured I would pretty much understand every book we would read in Post-Modern Lit.

Hi! I'm Anna Rosengarten. I am a junior English and Family Studies double major, and I am not really sure what I am doing with either of these degrees quite yet. I study what I do because I enjoy it, not so much for what it will get me later...I'll probably regret that. I am from Memphis, TN and usually proud of it. Like many others in this class, I am also a fan of Spiegelman and am anxious to read his newist work...

Hey, I'm Mark Chisholm and this is my last semester before I become a fifth-year senior. I'm from this area, born in Washington grew up in Silver Spring.

hows it goin, name's greg, I'm a junior double major english 'n philosophy. From DC (born 'n raised) now I live in Takoma Park with all the them carayzee liberals 'n burntout hippies.
Thats me in a nutshell... or are you in the nutshell... "It's pomo, you know weird for the sake of being weird." -Moe Sizlac

Hey, I'm Kathleen. I'm a fifth year senior majoring in English. I was born and raised in College Park (yes, people actually are from here). I plan to graduate some day, and when I do, I'm not sure what I'll do with myself.

oh yea. I also am currently reading "The Emmigrants" by Sebald. If anyone has read any Sebald I'd love to discuss it, cause he's brilliant and really hard to understand.

hey guys,
like someone else who said they've never used a blog before, i've actually never heard the word until this class and i find it amusing. my name is diana christadore and i'm a senior english major completely unsure of what i want to do with this degree, but almost positive it will have nothing to do with english.

hey guys,
like someone else who said they've never used a blog before, i've actually never heard the word until this class and i find it amusing. my name is diana christadore and i'm a senior english major completely unsure of what i want to do with this degree, but almost positive it will have nothing to do with english.

Blog = web log. Welcome to the blogosphere.

Hi, I'm Kristen... I'm a 21 year old senior broadcast journalism major from Connecticut. I'm a fantastic procrastinator … which is why I waited until 2am Wednesday morning to do this intro. I’ve read Paul Auster before… we covered The New York Trilogy as well as some sort of biographical essay of his in high school. I liked it then but I’m sure I’ll get more out of it four years later.

I’m somewhat ashamed to admit that aside from a little F. Scott Fitzgerald, I devoted my summer reading to pop-culture beach reads (i.e. James Patterson and Nicholas Sparks). I spent my last summer of freedom teaching swimming lessons to children ages 2-12 and learning to surf. As for next summer… when I will officially be thrown into the real world, I have no definite plans and can only hope for the best.

Welll, Kristen, I've got you beat! It's a couple hours before class....whoa procrastination. I'm Kate, i'm a 21-year-old senior from chicago. I'm majoring in American Studies with a focus in American Lit. Spent my summer slaving away waiting tables, taking classes, and for a break got out to do some backpacking. basically, my procrastination is usually due to the fact that i'd rather be outside than sitting on the computer. this will be interesting.

Welll, Kristen, I've got you beat! It's a couple hours before class....whoa procrastination. I'm Kate, i'm a 21-year-old senior from chicago. I'm majoring in American Studies with a focus in American Lit. Spent my summer slaving away waiting tables, taking classes, and for a break got out to do some backpacking. basically, my procrastination is usually due to the fact that i'd rather be outside than sitting on the computer. this will be interesting.

I have all those procrastinators beat since i completely forgot about this assignment. I'm Christeen and am also an English major concentrating in fiction creative writing like three other people in this class. I'm a junior so I don't have to freak out just yet about life after college. I'm taking this class because i would like to be forced to read more modern literature in the hopes that it will help me expand my own writing into more creative depths. I'll see how that works out. I love reading Michael Chabon. I love the movie of his book Wonder Boys despite Toby Maguire. And Im liking this first book of the class.

Hey,
I'm Jamila and I am a senior english major with a concentration in African Diaspora lit. So this class is different from what I usually take but I'm looking forward to reading some new authors. I'm from VA and I commute from there twice a week and I'm looking forward to graduating soon.

Hey,
I'm Jamila and I am a senior english major with a concentration in African Diaspora lit. So this class is different from what I usually take but I'm looking forward to reading some new authors. I'm from VA and I commute from there twice a week and I'm looking forward to graduating soon.

hello.
(tho i doubt anyone is reading this other than Dr. MGK)
i am larissa called 'lara' by family & yes, i was indeed named after the famous one in the Dr. Zhivago novel (anyone heard of it?? there is an old movie...)Strangely enough, i was recently informed that the meaning of the name lara is 'famous one' hence, i go by larissa, which is equally inaccurate, meaning...
well, i'll leave that one alone.
If you are still interested in this meandering intro, i will try to give out the required pieces of data, err, info, i mean:
i am an *old* (see below) junior. i recently re-enrolled after spending way too much time being amused by musicians, sailors, airmen and, umm, dancers.
i lost years traveling, living in inhospitable locations (like the Deep South), and learning that cliches are not always, but too often true.
i finally came back and discovered that all of it distilled down to the misadventure of looking for myself in dark places.
My advice to all is: don't go looking for things that aren't lost, (unless, of course, you plan to give in to your compulsion to be a writer, artist, filmmaker, or any other of the equally hopeless right brained endeavors. In that case, i can't recommend it enough.)
That said, i myself am a degenerate english major with the requisite concentration in creative writing. i plan to go to film school after graduation.
oh yes, i also love W. Gibson, grew up in montgomery county & am currently living outside baltimore, which is a hideous commute. BTW, anyone know of any local places for rent???
-larissa-
ps
sorry for the delay posting, i've had serious issues w/my former isp and just switched over.
*i'm old for the ages i've seen posted...i'll give a hint, the bleaker half of the mid twenties*

My name is Jay Kevin Roland II, but I just go by Kevin, (strangely) to avoid confusion. I'm a Junior English major, and an aspiring 5th-year Senior. After college, I'd love to move to Vegas to become a professional card dealer/player and to write creatively on the side, until such a time when I can support myself solely by writing. This is currently a pipe dream, however, but we'll see how things turn out.

I'm taking Postmodern Lit because I love books, but hate reading. Lit classes, I find, motivate me to do the reading, and I am always grateful afterwards that I had the opportunity to enjoy the books I've read.

I am also a notorious procrastinator. I like to think that my best work is produced when my back is against the wall, but the truth is that the entirety of my work is produced with my back to the wall. Hence my post two weeks after the start of class.

I'm Wei Tan. Senior Journalism major. Read a bit about Derrida and Deconstructionism so decided to check it out for myself.

Eek, I might be the last one. Sorry about that, I'm also doing my first blog in this class (which seems weird to me, given that I spend half my life behind this computer), so it hasn't become a habit yet. Anyway, better late than never, right? (I hope?)

My name's Greg (Lord) and I'm a 21-year-old senior. I'm an English major on the creative writing track because that's all I've ever been able to come up with as a plan for college. Lucky for me, though, I think I may have accidentally completed the American Lit track as well, so at least I'll have something semi-realistic to point to on a college transcript. After this, I have no idea what I plan to do - I think I'm just waiting on the right series of accidents to land me somewhere useful.

I don't really have a list of favorite authors, partly because I can't choose and partly because I feel underprepared to defend any single choice. I took this class suspecting that some of the authors on our list may end up finding their way onto that list, though. Beyond that I play a lot of ((way) too many) video games, play with a lot of web graphics and web design, watch my nightly adult swim like a good human being, vote when human decency demands it, and occasionally (this is just occasionally, mind you) try to do some creative writing since... you know... it's my major and all. Very much looking forward to this class, and the sort of strange and surreal discussion that goes along with it. Now time to go post on the other class's blog!

hi....my name is patrick thompson and im a junior english major. Im a hip-hop dj and I have a show on wmuc. monday mornings 2am- 4am..so def check it out if for some strange reason your still awake. Im enjoying this class and all the readings seem pretty interesting.