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I have to write one Satire paper this weekend, and then the Sex and Gender paper and the second Satire paper next weekend. Oy.

So this is the topic I chose for Satire. It's the only one I CAN choose, since the others are related to the book that I'm not done reading yet, and the paper is due Monday:

2. In his introduction Wolfe writes, "All serious young writers", serious meaning those who aimed for literary prestige, "were dismantling the realist novel just as fast as they could think of ways to do it" [xii-xiii]

Here Wolfe seems to be taking two words, "serious" and "real" which are usually synonymous and showing how, amazingly, they have been made into opposites by our particularly paradoxical age. Compare this with his practice in the body of his narrative.

First of all-- "compare this with his practice". What practice?

Second of all-- since when are "real" and "serious" synonyms? Since when?

Wish me luck.

(By the way, I did end up enjoying Bonfire of the Vanities, the novel. It was absorbing. I made the mistake of renting the movie, however, and watched it all the way through, proving once again that I am one sick masochist that needs help sorting out why I enjoy causing myself pain.)

Why are you in Tavie's head? 4:06 PM | shower me with attention