something very much like nothing anyone had seen before

[freckles_and_doubt]

Things I Must Do This Week: see several movies, including Phantom of the Opera, mostly because of the review of it by one of my more favoured Harry Potter slash fanfic writers, mistful. And because hey, shameless gothic may possibly outweigh the trademark Lloyd Webber cheesiness. Also Elektra, just because I always see superhero movies, just because. And, in defense against all that pop culture gloss, probably Alfie. And Hero. In fact, probably not enough week here. What is it with movie distribution? vast acres of unwatchable crap for months on end, and then sudden rains of frogs.

I realise that I promised, lo these several posts ago, to read King Rat, which I have subsequently not done, because it slipped my mind. More accurately, it slipped down behind my desk in one of those classic slow-motion landslides characteristic of piles of books, particularly piles of books which are being consulted regularly, usually from the bottom of the pile, and I forgot about it. The hazards of academic life, up there with departmental politics, chronic insolvency and postmodernism. And, it appears, hopelessly rambling sentences. Anyway, have retrieved King Rat from its somewhat appropriate lurking spot in a dark corner by the skirting board, and will keep it to hand as an antidote against the little herd of second-years with which this week will confront me. Poor dears.

Comments

confrontation

[(Anonymous)]

"the little herd of second-years with which this week will confront me. Poor dears." Methinks the confrontations is happening in the opposite direction. Is this the bunch with (at?) whom you're doing medieval romance?

wolverine_nun

Re: confrontation

[extemporanea.livejournal.com]

Yup. And I mean herds of them. Here was I, confidently expecting that a seminar which included Chaucer, Malory and early Middle English lyric romance, would scare them off in droves on the grounds of incomprehensible language and therefore more work. But no. Usual max size of seminar, 20. I have 27. And they don't even know yet that I plan to require them to compare medieval romance to a modern example in one of their essays. LotR, anyone...?

[bumpycat.livejournal.com]

But! How is *work* going? No King Rat for you! Not until you've finished at least one more chapter :)

tchah!

[extemporanea.livejournal.com]

Work is going quite fine, thank you! Have been wrestling with Saussure all day. "The link between signal and signification is arbitrary. Since we are treating a sign as the combination in which a signal is associated with a signification, we can express this more simply as: the linguistic sign is arbitrary. " Once I have rendered that into comprehensible English and applied it usefully to Thurber, I will have finished my third chapter update. So less lip from you, young man! Or I'll quote the nice Derrida bit I just found...

[origamitiger.livejournal.com]

Just noted the music you are listening to. they are the words I would use as well and also to describe the author of the CD.

definitely

[extemporanea.livejournal.com]

Yes, I can accept the validity of that one...

popcorntastic

[(Anonymous)]

Not that I'd dream of saying a word against the Divine Mr Law, but don't expect Alfie to be *not* pop culture gloss. Not that I've actually seen it. I'm just saying.

Hero, however, may well be the most beautiful film you will ever, ever see. *shiver of delight* ... Despite its slightly worrying politics.

robynn

Re: popcorntastic

[extemporanea.livejournal.com]

Oh, I confidently expect Alfie to be popcorn stuff, it's just that it's not fantasy popcorn stuff. I only ever seem to watch fantasy or sf movies, and have been making an effort to break out of that particular stereotypical wossname in the last little while. Watched Possession the other night, which was better than I expected. Although, actually, you could probably also make a case for Alfie as fantasy within a narrower and more psychological - possibly Freudian - definition.

And, yes, I'm looking forward to Hero, many, many people have said it's beautiful. Maybe tomorrow, actually.

Re: popcorntastic

[pinkthulhu.livejournal.com]

Hero is certainly more beautiful than House of Flying Daggers IMHO, although the latter has more plot and character development. Also I like Jet Li. :)

Re: popcorntastic

[(Anonymous)]

More plot, and yet less interest. It was more like a standard noble-outlaws riff, which bored me, compared with Hero's epic fable structure. Not sure I agree about the character development, either; twists, yes, but actual characterisation? I really, really loved Hero, but Flying Daggers didn't measure up.

Jet Li v cool. Zhang Ziyi also. Would love more movies like this.

Wait, wait !

[starmadeshadow.livejournal.com]

You mean Elektra is not a movie of the opera ? Damn ! Oh well. In case you need someone to watch it with, also Phantom, I'll be getting home NEXT WEEK. On Thursday. Yaaaay ! Am missing friends, family and people who don't say 'really fun', horribly. The evil nose biting snow of yesterday has given over to very genteel little flakes meandering down gracefully. I'll keep these, if you don't mind; they're very peaceful, and I feel justified in sitting at home reading Georgette Heyer, and eating dark chocolate and pecan cookies...Soon, soon I will be in the land of honour...

Re: Wait, wait !

[extemporanea.livejournal.com]

Yay, I've missed my movie-watching buddy! No-one else I know watches chick flicks... Will joyously hold off watching both Phantom and Elektra until you get back. Glad the NY snow is no longer biting your nose off. When is the next audition? *prepares appropriate rituals*