Class Discussion,
Room #3
Date 1/27/98
Start log: Tuesday, January 27, 1998
3:10:17 pm Virtual Park Hall time --
FrankBl has arrived.
ShannonMc has arrived.
JenniferCa has arrived.
JasonOg has arrived.
GeraldLa has arrived.
JasonOg says, "hello guys"
ShannonMc says, "what's up"
FrankBl says, "howdy"
JenniferCa says, "hey stud pups"
JenniferCa says, "guess what?"
FrankBl says, "do we have a note to read or are we just linking the stories today"
FrankBl says, "Jenny how was your parrol thing"
JasonOg says, "yes, read note"
ShannonMc says, "read note what?"
JasonOg says, "5"
JenniferCa says, "i actually find out feb 23....court date"
ShannonMc says, "Jenny, did you do the trial diversion?"
FrankBl says, "sorry I thought it was today for some reason"
ShannonMc says, "that's what I have to do"
JenniferCa says, "i actually have to go to a CITY COURT THEN STATE COURT"
ShannonMc says, "you have to go to state court?"
JasonOg says, "everyone type 'read 5 on note"
JenniferCa says, "yup"
Mr.Cole has arrived.
JenniferCa says, "we have to compare those two we read last night"
Mr.Cole says, "Hey, folks. I thought I would spend some time with y'all today."
FrankBl says, "yes"
JenniferCa says, "or contrast"
FrankBl says, "come on in Mr Cole"
JasonOg says, "knarley, you can be our leader"
JenniferCa says, "hehehe"
ShannonMc says, "ok, who wants to begin?"
FrankBl says, "I think that Hooks would not to return to the Great Books because it has only gotten better in racial problems"
ShannonMc says, "I agree"
Mr.Cole says, "Could you explain that a little, Frank?"
FrankBl says, "she was all about racial problems and how the whites have taken over but back then it was even worse than it is now"
JasonOg says, "Hooks never wrote anything about th college requirements, how can we compare these two"
Mr.Cole says, "So how would that impact on "Great Books"?"
JenniferCa says, "not worse but different"
FrankBl says, "that is a better way to put it Jenny thanks"
JenniferCa says, "yer welcome"
Mr.Cole says, "True, Jason. Can we infer what her view of curriculum would be from what she says?"
JasonOg says, "I don't know, she seems as if she is very liberal"
ShannonMc says, "she seems very strong-minded"
FrankBl says, "it seemed like hooks was upset with the way things are run now and if we resort back to the Great Books then they would influence our culture"
JasonOg says, "I liked her"
Mr.Cole says, "Bloom argues that the influence of Great Books would be GOOD for culture."
FrankBl says, "I don't know what it would do for our culture but it would change just not in the way that Hooks would want it"
ShannonMc says, "well, Bloom says that the Great Books are "amateurish""
Mr.Cole says, "Where, Shannon?"
ShannonMc says, "nevermind, he says the Great Book Cult is (page 59)"
FrankBl says, "Mr Cole is there any way to pull up the conversations when we are writing our papers"
JasonOg says, "when reading the Great Books, they are a mixture of social thought and emotion. If you try to take them out of context, the greatness of them will be lost"
FrankBl says, "good point Jason"
ShannonMc says, "good statement"
Mr.Cole says, "Yes, Frank. All these sessions are posted on the web site under "Archives.""
FrankBl says, "thanks"
Mr.Cole says, "Perhaps we should establish what the Great Books are. Anyone want to offer a definition or an example?"
ShannonMc says, "please do"
JenniferCa says, "really"
JasonOg says, "books that last throughout time"
Mr.Cole says, "OK, Jason. Can we name some?"
JasonOg says, "Moby Dick"
JasonOg says, "The Great Gatsby"
JenniferCa says, "wuthering heights"
JasonOg says, "Brave New World"
JasonOg says, "To Kill A Mockingbird"
FrankBl says, "yes but we do study those and they do not seem to have very much influence"
ShannonMc says, "the Bible"
GeraldLa says, "true"
Mr.Cole says, "Anything outside of English lit?"
FrankBl says, "I have read every one of those book in High school an dI am not a change person from them"
JasonOg says, "these books take place in different times and different situations, but you learn from them. Sometimes society changes, but emotions are unchangeable"
JenniferCa says, "has anything youve read actually changed you Frank?"
FrankBl says, "the Bible"
ShannonMc says, "i said the Bible"
GeraldLa says, "how about you jenny"
FrankBl says, "I was answering Jenny's question"
ShannonMc says, "I think the Bible effects Christians"
JenniferCa says, "everything i read guves me a differnt view to look upon things"
ShannonMc says, "it changes lives"
ShannonMc says, "that true Jenny"
JasonOg says, "I just finished 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil' last night, it was not a Great Book, but I did enjoy it"
FrankBl says, "you could say that for the Torah and every other religions book"
JenniferCa says, "i like to think a lot and everything gives me different perspectives"
ShannonMc says, "thats a good on Frank"
ShannonMc says, "I mean a good one"
FrankBl says, "I read The Underboss and it changed my perspective on the mafia if that is what you mean"
Mr.Cole says, "OK, I think we have two questions here. One is how much impact "Great Books" have. The second is what kind of books we want to call "Great"."
GeraldLa says, "i read that too"
ShannonMc says, "most things I read change alot of my perspectives on things"
JasonOg says, "Give us a name of a Great Book Mr. Cole"
FrankBl says, "it is an unbelievable book"
JenniferCa says, "do you mean besides the ones we read for high schoo english?"
ShannonMc says, "just as an aside, Frank, our show is on"
JasonOg says, "Springer could write a Great Book"
FrankBl says, "I also think that things change your perspective when you read a book just to read it instead of having to read it"
ShannonMc says, "I wouldn't want to read his bood"
ShannonMc says, "I mean book, it would be too graphic for me"
ShannonMc says, "the show is bad enough"
JasonOg laughs at Shannon
JenniferCa says, "theres a fight already"
ShannonMc laughs at Jason
Mr.Cole says, "OK, I'll tell a little story. Whe I was an undergrad I did a Freshman program called "Directed Studies" -- 3 courses in Lit, Philos, and History & Politics for a full year. Very mmuch a Great books course."
FrankBl says, "you really would enjoy it and even if you just read the inside of the cover then you will want to read it"
ShannonMc says, "what books did you read?"
JasonOg says, "that doesn't give me a name of a Great Book Mr. Cole"
Mr.Cole says, "In lit. we hit Homer, Greek drama, Dante, Shakespeare, and few other modern things."
FrankBl says, "Shannon are watching this"
ShannonMc says, "of course"
JasonOg says, "So the Great Books can be other things besides novels?"
JenniferCa says, "yeah the inferno"
Mr.Cole says, "In Philos. it was Plato, Aristotle, some kooky medievals, Kant, hegel, and maybe a few others."
ShannonMc says, "that's a great one"
FrankBl says, "I have also read a lot of Shakespeare and the Odessy and I was not influenced by it"
JenniferCa says, "i loved the odessy"
ShannonMc has disconnected.
JasonOg says, "How could you not be influenced by Shakespeare"
FrankBl says, "it was a great book but it did not "change" me"
GeraldLa says, "yah, shakespear just influenced me not to read any more shakespear"
Mr.Cole says, "I didn't much like the politics stuff, it was more Plato and Aristotle, some classical history, some more medieval stuff (Marsillius of Padua)."
JasonOg says, "Okay Mr. Cole. I get your point"
JenniferCa says, "shakespeare was great....how could you get nothing from macbeth or romeo and juliet"
Mr.Cole says, "So, to get back to the original question. What would hooks say about that reading list?"
JasonOg says, "But these are not great books names I am hearing, but great people"
FrankBl says, "I don't think it would change society in way she wants it to"
JasonOg says, "Is the definition of Great Books just the basics of learning"
Mr.Cole says, "Well Jason, Great Books tend to be connected by Great Authors. "
FrankBl says, "Shannon is that just like your mother"
JenniferCa says, "shannon got booted"
JasonOg says, "Are the great authors a part of the Great Books definition"
Mr.Cole says, "Not necessartily, but the two are often linked."
FrankBl says, "I think Great Books make Great authors"
JenniferCa says, "how about Beowulf"
JasonOg says, "Is learning about great people, great events, and great pieces of literature equal 'Great Books"
FrankBl says, "you got me Jenny"
Mr.Cole says, "I don't know, Jason. Does it? And is that what learning should be?"
JasonOg says, "yes"
FrankBl says, " I think it does but it does not define learning"
Mr.Cole says, "Does anything strike you about the names I rattled off?"
The housekeeper arrives to cart ShannonMc off to bed.
JasonOg says, "it is listening to the thoughts of great people and learning from the mistakes of morons, that we ourselves learn and grow"
FrankBl says, "I agree"
JasonOg says, "what is supposed to strike me Mr. C"
JenniferCa says, "he doesnt know what affects you jason"
JenniferCa says, "only you know"
JasonOg says, "leave me alone Jenny"
JenniferCa says, "immnot being mean"
Mr.Cole says, "Well, few women (we did Virginia Woolf, I now recall); almost no minorities. Little exposure to non-Western thought. (Play nice, kids.)"
JasonOg says, "thats what I was asking about"
Mr.Cole says, "Would hooks like that?"
FrankBl says, "I think it would help for her"
JasonOg says, "probably not"
FrankBl says, "Why not"
Mr.Cole says, "Oof, time has flown. If you want to go, you can. I need to tell the others, too."
GeraldLa has disconnected.
JasonOg says, "because she is a strong advocate of black women and she wants them to be involved"
Mr.Cole says, "If you want to stay, that is cool, too."
JasonOg says, "I want to eat"
FrankBl says, "I need to take off so I will see ya'll tomarow"
JasonOg says, "bye guys"
JasonOg goes out.
FrankBl goes out.
JenniferCa says, "me too....hungry"
Mr.Cole goes out.
JenniferCa goes out.
End log: Tuesday, January 27, 1998 4:17:30 pm Virtual Park Hall time --