stop laughing and type

[madbaker]

After the physics joke debacle at work, I know better than to try to circulate this one. You guys, though, probably have the right combination of cultural literacy and sheer geekiness to appreciate the following.

Read at severe risk of snarfing

Comments

BTW..

[blkeagl.livejournal.com]

I believe a fascination with some of the old classics of literature is only acquired by soaking one's brain in formaldehyde.

Education does not always equal appreciation. As much as I enjoy major sections of the classics, some of it is just a real bore.

But then I also commented to some artist friends on another list after a recent trip to Paris where I saw Picasso just how bored most of his work makes me. Such a philistine... at least I've got the blood to prove it!

I am surprised to note that I don't seem to have any Joyce in my grandfather's gold leaf collection of Harvard Classics.

Re: BTW..

[goldenstag.livejournal.com]

Some of the classics are interesting just to get a feel for the literature, or in the case of some of my recent forays, where some legends have come from. (Having recently read Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of the Kings of Britain, as I'm sort of working my way back through the Arthurian stuff) However, reading it now it seems rather lame. I still have a hard time reading Dante ...

Re: BTW..

[blkeagl.livejournal.com]

Classics are interesting in that they have influenced so much current education and thought.

It certainly doesn't mean that they're required to actually be good literature, eh?

Well, quality is subjective, and the fact that they've lasted and been influential is enough for some to qualify them.

I'm a bit off the beaten path here. *wry smile*

Re: BTW..

[goldenstag.livejournal.com]

Beaten path? There's a path? Heh.

Quality is definitely subjective. It's interesting to read some of the so-called-classics. I started reading (or re-reading in some cases) Jules Vergne, Wells, and other SF "classics" awhile back, too. Readability is all over the map ... Some of them still hold up and are really good reads. Some of them, at least to my more modern sensibilities are much harder to read, harder to follow the storylines, etc.

But they did influence modern Science Fiction (and other literature), so it's kind of fun to get the background, as it were. Also to see where some of those horrid 50's B SF movies got their ideas from ... <g>