Our education system is quite ironic—first, we stress about knowing the answers to questions; we study hard for tests, and we think we know quite a bit; but eventually, we realize the most important questions we can ask have no answers. Sure, we can do some arithmetic; sure, we know how spelling, grammar, and mechanics work; sure, we know where, when, and by whom the Declaration of Independence was signed. But, these are trivial. The important questions of humanity remain unanswered.
Over the course of the semester, we analyzed and discussed texts—and more broadly, works of art—as individuals with their own identity. What makes a text fit into a specific genre? When does a different version of a text become a different text entirely? Who does a text belong to? These are questions that I have thought about to certain extents before I came to Geneseo, and are very applicable to the world. Maybe there is value in the liberal arts after all. In all of our discussions in class and over the internet, we have never reached a solid answer to any of these questions. Perhaps this is a sign of truly mature and intellectual discussion. True, we may have certain opinions and beliefs (I surly do), but do we really know the answer? Herein lies my true takeaway from Fluid Readers, Fluid Texts: the arts are filled with gray area, no pure black and white. As I, and I’m confident all of us have gotten higher and higher in our education system, we have struggled to view the world conceptually and theoretically. Success can no longer be pinned to memorizing a set of flashcards. None of the material we’ve covered over the course of the semester is simple enough to be put on a flashcard.
I have certainly been challenged throughout the semester. Admittedly, I could have done some things better to ease my stress. Hindsight 20/20. My abilities as a writer to adequately capture my ideas onto paper has also been challenged—our assignments deviated from the type of literary analysis which I am most comfortable with and forced my to think differently. But, challenges are the only way to grow, and I definitely believe I have grown as a writer and a thinker. Though it may sound somewhat chiche, I see the world differently and I have brought what we’ve learned in this class into other classes and areas of my life.