Readings and Expression-of-interest Form
18th & 19th August 2014
Welcome to the page for the August reading group. The first link will open an essay by Susan Sontag entitled, 'Notes On Camp' written in 1964. Amongst other notable pieces of writing by the same author, this essay is probably one of her most well-known and oft-quoted. The publication from which this edition of the essay appears is from the volume 'Against Interpretation' (1994), London: Vintage, pp. 275-292. First printed in 1966, this collection rose in popularity to become a modern classic, and established Susan Sontag as an eminent philosopher and critical theorist.
As Sontag's essay is broken into separate propositions, I would like to draw your attention to the seventh theses (#7). This particular example of camp mentions 'urban pastoral', and is the theoretical setting for the second piece of writing. At first, you may not see its significance, but we will try to draw out its connection to Sontag's example, together with - perhaps - reasons why in this instance, it may not 'qualify' as being 'camp'. Also, using other examples from Sontag's vast repertoire of model instances of camp, we can examine certain other works falling under the same category.
The second reading is a short story called 'Assembly Line'. It is written by the mysterious writer B. Traven (use this link to read more about B. Traven). It is still uncertain who this prolific writer was, and competing theories about his origin abound. One of the formal considerations of this short parable is the tension between the narrator and the two main characters. Also - and especially for those who have taken the History of Modern Art class - how might this short story relate to Primitivism? What kind of sensibilities interact with another culture (in this case, what might be considered 'primitive') that may, or may not, establish narrative integrity? Or, is 'narrative integrity' always doubtful in these instances? And finally, what levels of 'urban' and 'nature' seem to fit the category 'camp'?
I have posted a different kind of 'expression-of-interest' form. Different from the RSVP on the July page, this option includes a 'Comments' box where you can specify which August group you would prefer to attend. This time, I am offering two evening classes at the outset:
Monday, 18th August, 6.45pm-9.15pm, and
Tuesday, 19th August, 6.45pm-9.15pm.
Thank you for your interest in the Aesthetics & History of Art reading group.
As Sontag's essay is broken into separate propositions, I would like to draw your attention to the seventh theses (#7). This particular example of camp mentions 'urban pastoral', and is the theoretical setting for the second piece of writing. At first, you may not see its significance, but we will try to draw out its connection to Sontag's example, together with - perhaps - reasons why in this instance, it may not 'qualify' as being 'camp'. Also, using other examples from Sontag's vast repertoire of model instances of camp, we can examine certain other works falling under the same category.
The second reading is a short story called 'Assembly Line'. It is written by the mysterious writer B. Traven (use this link to read more about B. Traven). It is still uncertain who this prolific writer was, and competing theories about his origin abound. One of the formal considerations of this short parable is the tension between the narrator and the two main characters. Also - and especially for those who have taken the History of Modern Art class - how might this short story relate to Primitivism? What kind of sensibilities interact with another culture (in this case, what might be considered 'primitive') that may, or may not, establish narrative integrity? Or, is 'narrative integrity' always doubtful in these instances? And finally, what levels of 'urban' and 'nature' seem to fit the category 'camp'?
I have posted a different kind of 'expression-of-interest' form. Different from the RSVP on the July page, this option includes a 'Comments' box where you can specify which August group you would prefer to attend. This time, I am offering two evening classes at the outset:
Monday, 18th August, 6.45pm-9.15pm, and
Tuesday, 19th August, 6.45pm-9.15pm.
Thank you for your interest in the Aesthetics & History of Art reading group.
|
|