A Haunted History

Once upon a midnight dreary,
While I pondered, weak and weary
Of what I would write on my blog for class,
Why, oh why is my teacher such an...

Oh, sorry, I was just reworking a little bit of Poe.  I've been obsessing lately- as I usually do whenever I teach him.  In fact, I just started watching The Following- a TV show built around the idea of a Poe obsessed Literature teacher who creates a cult.  It's like someone just jumped into my brain.  Alas, I digress.

Ever been to New Orleans?  While most people know it for Mardi Gras or Cajun Food, New Orleans is also known as the most haunted city in the US.  There are even tours offered to take willing patrons on a sight-seeing trip of the underworld.

What is it about the city that captivates visitors?  The history? The architecture?  No one is really sure- but the city certainly does feel haunted.  Even if you don't believe in that sort of thing, one visit to the cemeteries (even during the daylight) or to the Garden District at night, and you can't help but deny that the hairs on the back of your neck stand up a bit higher than normal.

Personification is a funny thing.  Authors have been using it for generations to imply that rocks or birds or grass or even Love is a living, breathing, thing.  But what if an author, say a brilliant, deranged, opium addict, were to take personification and flip it.  What if he were to make the personified item a malicious, evil, supernatural thing.  What if a house wasn't haunted by something- what if the house was the "something" doing the haunting?

You've all seen a haunted house story (or two).  Some are good (The original Amytiville Horror, The Shining, The House on Haunted Hill- again, the original) and some are not (see remakes of above).  So, here is your blog task for this week- you have just been hired by me to write an original haunted house story.  Seeking inspiration, you turn to the master and reread the Fall of the House of Usher.  What are 5 things that Poe does in his story that you, a good follower of the genre, would copy?  How would you use them?

Want a challenge?  After you've done your five things- what are 2 things you would do differently?

Your blog is due next Tuesday at midnight...

Oh, and here's a little something for you to set the mood.

A Paranoid and Peculiar People

Like all literature, American literature is a unique reflection of American culture.  As one of our first great writers, Hawthorne captures two key aspects of our unique cultural identity:  a complete paranoia regarding authority and our fascination with the occult.

In this blogpost, choose one of the following prompts.  Be sure to provide specifics where asked and give details to show your understanding.  Your blogpost should be a minimum of 4 paragraphs and include appropriate media to support your thoughts.

Option One:  In what ways has the USA's obsession with finding faults in leaders hurt our nation?  Identify a leader in US History who has been wrongfully (or too severely) vilified and theorize as to what might have been had that particular person been able to perform their duties without unreasonable scrutiny.  Feel free to use both current and historic examples, but they must be from the USA.

Option Two:  Young Goodman Brown is a perfect example of our countries unique relationship with the "occult."  It shows how our country, founded by a deeply religious yet deeply superstitious people, is infatuated with the "dark forces" around us.  In what other ways is our fascination with the mysteries of the supernatural demonstrated?  That is, in what other forms of art (literature, film, television, visual art) do you see this obsession with the occult?  What does that say about American culture?  Be sure to be specific- and be sure to be exact.  For example, while the movie, The Ring is a good example of occult fascination, it is not an American story.

Enjoy!

Mr. T

The Original Anti-Hero

Anti-heroes have become something of a hot topic lately in entertainment.  Four of the highest rated TV shows of the current era (and widely considered by critics to be four of the best shows of all time - The Sopranos, The Wire, Mad Men, and Breaking Bad) feature morally ambiguous protagonists.  Are audiences supposed to love Walter White or hate him?  Should we feel sorry for Don Draper or hold him accountable for his wrong doings?  What about Tony Soprano or Omar?  And it's not just them -is Dexter Morgan - who is only a serial killer - really a bad guy?  And what about Nancy Botwin, wasn't she only trying to support her family?  Even the new adaptations of Sherlock Holmes portray him a little rough around the edges.

The anti-hero is nothing new in American Literature.  Our unique literary heritages are ripe with characters that audiences love to hate- including Irving's Ichabod Crane.  On one hand Crane is a school teacher - a noble profession no doubt - who is initially beloved by his community.  On the other hand he is gluttonous, manipulative, greedy, and deceitful.  In him, Irving gives us one of America's first and finest anti-heroes.

So here is your first blog task:  Choose a modern day anti-hero from a TV show, movie, or book that you have read.  Identify three characteristics that they share with Ichabod and write a brief blogpost (minimum 4 paragraphs) comparing the two.  Don't know any "anti-heroes?"  Ask one of your more morbid friends (or do a bit of research!)  As always, this is due in 1 week.  Add photos or other media (appropriately cited of course) to spice it up!

Enjoy!

Mr. T

Photo courtesy:  http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/07/why-is-the-golden-age-of-tv-so-dark/277696/