Virtual Class

So regarding virtual class last week, I'd say it was a solid effort in getting to understand what this book was about. I know that while I was going through House of Leaves I would at times just give up, and have to pick it up again later on. Having no chronological order in how to read it, made it that much more difficult in understanding it, or was that Danielewski's plan all along. He first started off by saying how this book is not for you, which is intimidating, but then says how the order in which you read is optional, which for me seemed to me more of a drastic move on his part. However, I did feel that this virtual class did grab more control of the book, although we still have major work to do in terms of understanding it.

Skip It !

So we're told in the beginning of the novel, that we are "aloud" to skip around this novel. Peter assumed in this case it doesn't really matter. To be honest Peter did skip the introduction, and started reading on page three. After getting very little out of the first chapter, and figured it was in a sense taking advantage of the book, Peter went back to read the intro. Later Peter realized that Peter had less of an idea of the first chapter, than did after reading the introduction.

So taking this into consideration, for each time the text would change in font, Peter realized the topic would change, so Peter started skipping the less bold areas of the book, and would later go back to them. Little did Peter know that it wouldn't help much at all anyway, as Peter still found himself somewhat lost after trying to compress information that would still find a way to be irrelevant to each other.

The one thing Peter didn't like about this novel was the use of detail. Peter felt all the extra detail used covers what we're expected to find. This house is meant to be a mystery, Peter can see that, however, Peter felt it would make it a lot easier if we didn't need to read about Mr Reston's biography. All the sidetracking gets a little irritating after a while and forces me get somewhat frustrated and lost.

House of Leaves (Part Two)

So reading through House of Leaves, the word house is left in blue through the text and even in the title, but for what reason? What is so significant about the word House? Yea theres a house in the story, and it's weird expanding anterior leaves the reader in suspense because of this, but why blue? Why not red or green. In my opinion the title should be House of trees, and trees should be green, representing the vital waste of paper for each printed copy.

Reading, and skipping around you can find separate definitions to this word house. Danielewski even states in the beginning of the novel that you may jump around at your pleasure. I don't see what he's doing here, I feel that was a bad move. This isn't the bible we're talking about. However, reading the book in chronological order by page doesn't really help in this case either.

I'm starting to believe the word house holds more power as I move forward. The characters refer to the house as less primitive as time goes on, and they sense a change taking place. I'm honestly not sure what the word means yet, however I want to say that it will eventually come out towards the end of the story.

Character Sketch

Billy Reston is an engineer, well at least he was one before he had an accident in India, preventing him from ever walking again(pg 37). Now handicapped working as a teacher, he appreciates his life as he's kept a picture from the day of the accident that Will took, showing himself moments before he became crippled. We see that Billy is the first to notice the House expanding, but ignores his judgment, realizing that a house cant possibly expand from the inside.(pg 55) Although he has this broad view on the world with an "almost animal like ability to accept the world as it comes to him". (pg 99).

Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbIRmp_CsFQ

I chose this video, well mainly because it's pretty self explanatory. What better way to show emphasis on a house with an anterior expansion, than through a plastic inflatable house with the anterior expanding. It shows two kids running in at different points of expansion, which can relate to Billy Reston going into the house at different points of the book, and noticing a significant difference in size.

HOUSE

"As tape and film reveal, in the month following the expansion of the walls bracketing the book shelves, Billy Reston made several trips to the house where despite all efforts to the contrary, he continued to confirm the confounding impossibility of an anterior dimension greater than an exterior one." After reading about this house, I pictured a haunted house, mainly thinking of the movie Clue. Just like the theme of the board game, people are suspected and interrogated of crimes, and in the end the mystery is solved. As the movie moves forward we find new rooms secret pathways that supports the investigation.

House of Leaves

So getting into House of Leaves, I see that this piece requires a little more than the eye perceives. I feel like I'm not getting as much out of it as I should be, but in my defense there is a lot to get, and there seems to be more than one story going on in there. So yea, this book isn't weird, it's very weird, and getting past 200 pages is not easy ! I have on countless occasions gone back and re-read paragraphs, and I still have countless hours left of reading the first half of this book. I will say that the format of random text anywhere makes it more "fun", but it certainly doesn't make it go any faster, or easier to read. So if you will excuse me I have more reading to do ! (because I have to read over 200 pages of more than weird literature)

Graffiti ?

Reading the first few lines in "Bombing": Brooklyn Graffiti, Language and Gentrification, I hadn't thought much on how Graffiti can incorporate in really being relevant to 21st century literature. Reading on through the first few pages however, it was said that these "tag" names represent more than just vandalism, but can have more of a representation of who you are. Like in many of the arts, when you travel and witness these "works" they tend to vary in design. One particular instance where this caught my eye, was through a memory, when I had traveled to Puerto Rico about ten years ago for vacation. I don't remember much, but I do remember the vandalism throughout neighborhood streets. How it was different to that of the streets in Brooklyn, which I would see when I would come to visit my grandfather. Well graffiti is graffiti, but it was different in terms of style at least. In conclusion I guess there is a lot more to say about this new found way of representation and art.

The Next President of the United States

Finally, it's here, the moment we've all been waiting for. Who will be the next president of the Unites States? As I sit here on this Tuesday night, I watch Barack Obama getting closer and closer to being our first black president. History in the making, and I usually don't get excited over politics on any level, even if it is the presidential election, however this election can determine how our nation rebounds from this "depression", which in turn can effect generations to come. As of this moment, John McCain is down 75 electoral votes, and I'm still surprised how biased this country can be even in a time of financial crisis. However, we can't get mad at those in the south, it's not their fault they cant read ! Haha.. well at this point I'm pretty confident in the outcome of the election, and can get by ignoring the next three hours of politics and instead catch up more on Graffiti in New York.

21st Century Film

Over this past weekend, I'd seen a few many diverse films in terms or genre. Watching comedy's, horror films, epic's, and a few action packed movies, I realized that censorship isn't what it used to be. Obviously horror films tend to get graphic regardless, especially with Halloween on Friday, however who can judge weather a movie is rated PG-13 or R? I was thinking about this while watching "The Fog" directed by Rupert Wainwright. I mean, I do tend to get excited when watching an action packed mystery movie, and do enjoy the rush, but I was thinking if my thirteen year old cousin's were there watching it with me. Who's to say that this would be suitable for their eyes or not? I remember reading this film article on the changes over ratings in the last few decades. How brief nudity, was considered an "R" rated film, not suitable for the eyes of 16 year olds. Meanwhile the teen pregnancy rate increases by the year. Also, looking into other countries and their censorship, not only for movies but for legalized drinking and prostitution. I'm starting to question what the meaning of censorship really is.