[Roy White]

Dr. Drib. Texts as cultural artifacts. I like it! I like it alot! My Dad lived through the exact circumstances described in The Grapes of Wrath. He could have been the character Winfield as a little boy in the late early 30's coming over the Mohave desert to California to work as migrant workers since they lost their farm in the dust bowl days. My childhood was filledwith his stories of that time so 'The Grapes' has always been, for me a reflection of my own dubious redneck heritage. Therefore the Grapes has been one of my favorite books, leaving aside the transcendental ramblings of the morally bankrupt preacher Casey that is, I am not at all sure he was a representative of any real movement or groundswell of public opinion during the 'Okie' migration.

That does suggest to my mind however what may or may not be a factor in determining whether or not a particular individual likes or dislikes any given book, especially if some people laud that book as a masterpiece and others find it unpalatable. My point being whether or not we can relate to the subject matter or the motivational factors of the Characters. I'm reminded of Chinese cinema, especially the comedies. I scratch my head in complete befuddlement wondering how in the world 4 billion people in China can find most of the gags in Chinese comedy actually funny. Yet I cant deny they do. (I'm talking about some of the films of Jackie Chan for example that were made in China for a Chinese audience then re-released in the States with dubbed in English voices which can make for some hilarious incongruities between voices and Characters!)

Maybe the difference between a 'good' book and a bad one lies almost completely in the cultural makeup and world view of the individual reader. Of course a left brain oriented person will want lots of long descriptions of scenery and so on because he or she is more able to 'draw pictures' in his/her own head and enjoys this process. I love long descriptions of scenery and even backstory that establishes Character development because I can picture entire worlds in my head as I read. So LOTR with all the rich writing about the mountains and clouds is my thing. Tom Clancy's technical descriptions of weapons of war or radar and so on leave me flat since its all machinery and how to... ohh.. I dunno... How the air molecules slip past the wings of an f15 when it is in a 9 G turn. I dont care and will start to abandon the book.

A text as a cultural artifact is an extremely interesting idea. (I'm aware it isn't a new idea by the way.
The Godzilla mythos is a great example of a text/film that flows directly from the damaged Japanese Psyche limping along after the incredible undefendable and unstoppable power of Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

So instead of Judging one another, "How can anyone possibly like Harry Potter! You must be dumb!" Or James Joyce for that matter we should ask instead. "Why is it I like the Authors I like so much. I love the poetry of Robert Frost because he is rich in images that appeal to my right brain (I'm a pretty good Saxaphone player and singer and a few other instruments too) and also appeals to the latent redneck Texan that lives in me, God, Country and apple pie along with all the other stereotypes that go along with a 'red blooded boy' growing up in Rural Northern California and Oregon. Or take The Great S. King! as another of my favorite Authors. Why do I like him? His Character development is wonderful. His stories though in a different reality than ours with vampires and creepy crawly creatures of all kinds still resonate deeply in me. perhaps I long for an incursion of the Supernatural at all costs, who can tell? There are most likely dozens of reasons rooted in my being that appeal to the "Boys in the boiler" deep in my subconscious but to delve in that realm takes a much more accomplished Wizard than I...

Since I read like a gopher diggin a new warren in a wheat field, (without a plan or even much of a vision, I just sort of pick up a book anywhere I can find one and begin reading it until it either hooks me with its images or captures me with its storyline or makes me love its Characters. Any one of the three will keep me reading most books) I've come to the inescapable conclusion that I must at least make an attempt at accomodating alternate world views, seeking to understand and even bridge the gap instead of making a straw man and then condemning all books or members of say an ethnic group, to a comforting stereotype in my own head so I can keep 'them' at arms length instead of having to make an attempt at understanding, which is hard work and I generally try and avoid that out of sheer laziness. I've (through voracious reading and the thoughts like seeds that spring up in my mind from so many Authors farming there) have made every attempt to stop painting with a broad brush in order to shore up my own worldview. This must be avoided yet I still insist on holding fast to my anchorage rooted so firmly in the Judeo Christian heritage. (OOH am I allowed to say that?) I hope tolerance stretches that far at least...


Oh my I got carried away with my ramblings. Its one of the reasons I usually try and confine my posts to dumb jokes and one liners. I start to drift into usually fairly fruitless brown studies and get carried away untill I'm far afield from where I was hoping to go at the beginning of my post.

Its Ok though. I figger by now most of you have skipped on to the next post anyhow... I picture you out there in cyberspace sitting at Starbucks with your laptop going... "SHHHEEESSSSSSHHH!!! What a flippin windbag! What the hecks he talkin bout? I dunno.. oh well I'll go on to the next post. Boy this forum attracts all kinds don't it!"

I keep trying to get back to the idea that got me going... Dr drib's 'text as a cultural artifact' idea. I'm gonna be mulling that one over for a few days Don Thanks..

Roy