Fun with CraigsList

[katycarl]

Found this gem through a site that posts paying freelance jobs. It may not apply to anyone here (though cheers if it does!), but, with Eleanor's essay on the state of the academy in mind, I couldn't resist sharing the way this poster in search of a tutor writes about his/her woes in the course of studying English poetry. I thought some of us could identify:

There has been a certain encouragement of "personal expression" at the expense of actually reading difficult poetry has not been good for much except mediocre therapy, and a flaccid poetic understanding. . . .

Since I'm kind of hoping that I'm a brilliant writer under all this mental detritus, I need something more than an "appreciation of literature" tutor. . . . I don't know anything about Dickinson's psycho-sexual development or her role in feminist iconography, nor do I care. And it would preserve your sanity in meeting with me if you didn't either.

Enjoy the full text:

newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/wrg/811229569.html

[job]

Katycarl,

I couldn't resist (which for some reason I suspect you would have known). Here's what I wrote the poster (she's from Harlem/Morningside, I'm assuming).

Dear Harlem/Moringside

(What a great name for a character: Harlem Morningside – can I have it?)

Alas,

I wish I was living in NY. I would take the job in a heartbeat.

As it is I live in Wisconsin.

But as I hate to see fellow writers suffer, I will tell you this. Three books to get:

Arthur Quinn’s Figures of Speech: 60 Ways to Turn a Phrase

Paul Fussell’s Poetic Meter and Poetic Form

John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction.

It also won’t hurt to read Aristotle’s Poetics and Rhetoric – or rather, outline, memorize and KNOW these texts like your social security or phone number.

The first three are the basic rudiments, really, of the “rhetoric” of literature. The Aristotle, well, he and Homer got the whole ball started, so can’t forget him….

Together this packet should give you the principles necessary to tackle Mr. Stevens’ most abstruse musings and supercharge your bullshit meter for the poets that tries to get away with literary murder.

You can save yourself the $30+ (or just give it to me ) and read these books closely. I suspect Fussell in particular will be an eye-opener.

Best,

Joseph O’Brien

[katycarl]

Job, I wonder how you knew I had you more than a bit in mind here.

What a great list--I'm yoinking it for my own personal reading, too. Do I owe you $30+? (Or a bottle of whisky, which something tells me I would have brought anyway, when I come to the farm?)

[estiel]

Shouldn't Bluemaydie be notified? (re her post in the Living Room)