Good morning! So . . . for the final blog, please consider what famous American novelist Kurt Vonnegut has to say about cultivating creativity throughout our lives. Many of you have already set yourselves on this path. For example, Keiran Boerema told me he's learning how to play the guitar this summer. And, check out Carter Dvorak's PositiviTEA podcast where he and a group of other teenagers "bring you lots of positive vibes!" There are already four episodes. I listened to the first two podcasts so far and noticed a significant progression in quality between them. This growth is what Vonnegut is talking about. Or . . . just down the interstate highway in Gary, Indiana, two twin brothers have created something unique. These guys make videos of themselves listening to and commenting upon famous songs. In yesterday's The New Yorker, Amanda Petrusich offers some spot on analysis about why their videos are so compelling in her article: "The Addictive Joy of Watching Someone Listening to Phil Collins": "For me, the twins’ videos are bewitching for many reasons: their sweetness and good humor, the way they quickly recontextualize (and thereby reinvigorate) songs that I have heard thousands of times, and—perhaps most important—their curiosity and receptivity. These days, voices loudly espousing some self-declared expertise far outweigh the ones saying, 'Hey, teach me something.' The way that the twins remain so open to unfamiliar experiences (they came of age listening to Lil Wayne and Twista but appear genuinely interested in all kinds of music) seems like a rare talent. Graciously and eagerly receiving a recommendation is often a far more generous act than giving one." So . . . what do I want you to do? Hmmmm. First, read what Kurt Vonnegut has to say about making our souls grow in the right-hand column. Next, please read Amanda Petrusich's essay linked above because it's an example of good analysis writing, and that's a lot of what you are going to be asked to do in this class. Third, take a few minutes to watch one of the music-commentary videos from Tim and Fred Williams. Finally, please share any ways in which you are already pursuing (or if not, would like to pursue) Kurt Vonnegut's advice and how it has affected you: "Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what’s inside you, to make your soul grow." And, as a way to close out the 2020 summer blog, I think you should also actually do the assignment referred to in the last two paragraphs of Vonnegut's letter, but if you do it correctly, I'll never know. Last thing: in terms of earning a grade on these assignments, when you are totally done, please copy and paste ALL of your summer responses into your own copy of this Google Doc which you will share with me on or before Saturday, August 22. I'm giving everyone a one-week extension because I intended to have my final post done a week ago. I guess it's pandemic timing? However, in terms of due dates, I have one request. Please do Blog #7 first because Dr. Travis is going to share the link with the SPS school board on Friday. That way you have a real audience to write for. To be considered on time, you need to have that blog done by Saturday, August 15th! See you in September! Mr. Shaw | In 2006 a high school English teacher asked students to write a famous author and ask for advice. Kurt Vonnegut was the only one to respond -- and his response is magnificent: Dear Xavier High School, and Ms. Lockwood, and Messrs Perin, McFeely, Batten, Maurer and Congiusta: I thank you for your friendly letters. You sure know how to cheer up a really old geezer (84) in his sunset years. I don’t make public appearances any more because I now resemble nothing so much as an iguana. What I had to say to you, moreover, would not take long, to wit: Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what’s inside you, to make your soul grow. Seriously! I mean starting right now, do art and do it for the rest of your lives. Draw a funny or nice picture of Ms. Lockwood, and give it to her. Dance home after school, and sing in the shower and on and on. Make a face in your mashed potatoes. Pretend you’re Count Dracula. Here’s an assignment for tonight, and I hope Ms. Lockwood will flunk you if you don’t do it: Write a six line poem, about anything, but rhymed. No fair tennis without a net. Make it as good as you possibly can. But don’t tell anybody what you’re doing. Don’t show it or recite it to anybody, not even your girlfriend or parents or whatever, or Ms. Lockwood. OK? Tear it up into teeny-weeny pieces, and discard them into widely separated trash recepticals. You will find that you have already been gloriously rewarded for your poem. You have experienced becoming, learned a lot more about what’s inside you, and you have made your soul grow. God bless you all! Kurt Vonnegut Nimbus Publishing and Vagrant Press Goose Lane Editions Breakwater Books Ltd. The Acorn Press Bouton d'or Acadie Canada Council for the Arts | Conseil des arts du Canada |
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