I had an interesting time in my poetry class today. I was struck by just how much the professor knows and how little I actually know in relation to classical literature and history. I am now bound and determined to change that. For example, I have no idea who Sophocles was. I have never read The Illiad, or any Shakespere other than "Romeo and Juliet." I also have to know knowledge of Napoleon or the French Revolution.
Now, some of you might be thinking, "So what?" and I guess that question is valid. I've lived 32 years and have not yet run into a situation where knowing about Napoleon was vital to my survival, but I do think that I might have missed out on the deeper meaning of a lot of things as a result of my lack of knowledge. Also, it seems to me that there are a lot of larger issues in the world that it seems like humanity has struggled with for an awfully long time. Examining how other cultures have tried and failed to deal with these issues might help in coming up with solutions to them now.
A good example of this was actually brought to my attention in class today. The professor was commenting on how amazing it was that during the American Civil War, the wealthy slave-owners of the Confederacy were able to convince so many poor, non-slave-owning whites to take up arms and turn against their countrymen when it was clearly against their best interest to do so. Slavery, after all, was the ultimate form of low-waged labor and therefore kept wages low in the southern economy for whites as well. I immediately saw a parallel between this concept and the current Tea Party movement in America today. Somehow, the right wing has convinced these uneducated masses (comprised mainly of the rural blue-collar working poor) to rise up against the left, when the right has traditionally only looked out for the interests of wealthy corporate America. These people have no idea that they are cutting off their noses to spite their faces.
So anyway, I think it will be a good idea to educate myself a bit more with regard to classics and history.
In other news, I spent a good amount of time last night watching women's Olympic curling - and I still don't get it. I do so love the Olympics!
I am the Reverend Humpy and I have approved this message.
2 comments:
I loved my liberal arts education for just what you describe. It's so much deeper and broader and engaging to the mind than a simple trade school education. Even though I understand the need for a trade school education, I'd love for more people to be versed in the kinds of thinking that is required of you when you read and discuss classic literature, anthropology and sociology, and art and music. It makes life a rich and interesting tapestry, enhancing and informing your daily experiences with so much more. Like someone once said, you have to understand the complexities, to really get the enjoyment of it all. In other words, a flower may be just a reproductive organ, but when you understand it at a molecular level, you appreciate it's beauty even more.
At least that's how I see the world.
Well said. Well said, indeed.
Post a Comment