Looking back on English 380 --- It doesn't feel very much like an English class, and I don't mean that in any negative way whatsoever. More classes, I think, should be organized like this one. The classroom setting doesn't feel so restricted, formal, and boring. Discussing more controversial subjects in such an open and honest manner has led to a wonderful class environment with brilliant insight into the city, its issues, its subcultures, and much more.
Obviously, among the more surprising things to learn about Edmonton was the prevalent drag scene. Actually, reading details about any clubbing/drug/party scene is interesting to me simply because I'm a more sheltered individual by choice. To me, clubbing or going out was just an expensive waste of time for people who need alcohol to have a good time.Being submerged in a subculture so thrilling, independent and carefree is inspiring in many ways to me because I've never been remotely into any such scenes myself, let alone bothered to educate myself about the under-workings of the city.
The single thing that has surprised me most about this course is how I see Edmonton now. I wouldn't say that I've undergone a full transformation by any means... but the city seems so much more optimistic... or open... or free. I was driving home the other day and I took time just to notice how the trees seem to grasp over groat road, and the pine trees stand straight, tall, and proud upon the hills on either side. I looked north from campus, across the river to behold Edmonton's downtown skyline, my eyes traveling from west to east settling upon apartment buildings, office buildings of differing architecture, then the dome of the legislature --- As describe in Coyote Kings. I'm beginning to embrace and appreciate the diversity Edmonton boasts. I don't dread campus anymore because of its ratty, rundown buildings and the sense that I'm stuck here against my will only because I have to be. I see opportunity, I see freedom to choose what I want, I see people within the ratty old buildings working on building the rest of their lives.
Corny (and tangential) moment of the day: We're playing a piece in Wind Ensemble titled Emblems by Aaron Copland -- Very famous composer, and *very* American and patriotic. Our conductor was giving us a pep-talk before we played a run-through of the piece about how it's quintessentially American, how it has glimpses of "Amazing Grace" embedded within the original ideas Copland composed, but she was saying that it's still a powerful and meaningful piece even for Canadians. She asked that we give the piece a chance, accept it, and let it be what it is --- And then, we will truly see how marvelous the piece is. I think that this "patriotism" paired with the notion of accepting things for what they are and giving them a chance to see their true glory has really helped me in the past couple of weeks to see Edmonton and begin to accept it as my home.
I completely agree with you in regards to the structure of English 380. I think I would enjoy school alot more if all classes followed the same format.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to how your persepective of Edmonton has shifted, as mine has too. I think that alot of it has to do with the two novels we've read. For me, Coyote Kings really made me appreciate Edmonton more. I felt like I was being exposed to a different characterization of the city that I had never heard of before.
While I can't say that I'm in love with Edmonton, I no longer remain indifferent about it. I'm actually looking forward to exploring what else Edmonton has to offer - other subcultures that may exist or even another area of the city that has more to it than meets the eye. It's funny because I now realize that I actually don't anything about Edmonton (whereas before, I used to feel that I knew enough about the city)- at least in terms of its "underground."
Its amazing what a little education can do to shift your perspective of the everyday isn't it?