Author: Shannon Marlatt

The whole concept of archives confuses me. If you think about it, everything could be considered an archive. Most people assume archives are documents found in dusty old museums or in the basement of some community high school. While these statements are true, archives can be so much more than just boring documentations.

The definition of an archive is “a collection of historical documents or records providing information about a place, institution, or group of people”. While numerous of these archives are documents, there is also a vast majority of other historical records that are not documents. For example, things like notes, essays, and even text messages are considered archives. All three are collections that provide information about a place, institution, or group of people. Notes and essays provide information about schools, which are institutions, and describe the study habits of groups of individuals; the students. In addition, text message analyzation describes the social habits of groups of people during a certain time period, which is the present. In the future, society could possibly see text messages as an outdated source of communication, and use them to study the way friends and family talked to one another.

Art is considered another archival art form. Of course, classic paintings by Picasso and Van Gogh are archives; their paintings have made huge historical influences and will continue to make these influences on future generations. Although these artworks are phenomenal, small artistic contributions can be considered archives as well. Things like graffiti, hand-print paintings made in kindergarten, and even small scratches on a desk can be considered archives. All three can be studied in order to make statements in regards to the population of the current times. Through these analyzations, archive researchers can make assumptions of societal patterns.

These are just a few examples of specific archives. Obviously, there are so many more things in the world that can be considered archives. Plaques on buildings, the buildings themselves, even trash is an archive. Almost everything can be an archive if you’re willing to take the time to notice and study it. That’s the beauty about history, everyday we mark our mark even if we don’t seem to realize the effect we have.

When I read “Z is for Zulus” (Everett 247) at the end of Zulus, I couldn’t help but be completely perplexed. After reading the previous chapter, I thought that I could attempt to form a congenial thought on the book as a whole. However, then I made the introspective decision to turn the page and readdress the cyclic pattern of confusion that began at the beginning of the novel. To figure out the meaning of this last chapter, I chose to start with finding the meaning of the world that seems to have driven the work as a whole; the word “Zulus.” Continue reading ““Z is for Zulus” (Everett 247)”

Trigger Warning: This blog is a possibly useful rant on Trigger Warnings. Continue reading “Continuing the Endless Debate on Trigger Warnings”

Not only is intertextuality relevant to intertwining different disciplines, but it is also very important inside certain subjects themselves. Specifically to English, intertextuality can help gain a better understanding of the various authors’ messages or themes. One simple tool that can be used to compare novels is characterization. Just by addressing the similarities or differences in characters between novels, the reader can better interpret the characters by enhancing their observations of the character’s strengths and their flaws. In Jean Toomer’s Cane and John Steinbeck’s East of Eden, two characters, Karintha and Cathy Ames, are both very similar; through their similarities, the readers have an enhanced understanding of their vivid personalities.
Continue reading “Intertextuality Through the use of Characterization”

We don’t need categorization to survive. Yet, it is basic human instinct to put people in certain places and organize them by what society sees fit. We classify people by race, physical appearance, sexuality, and more. Plus, along with these classes, stereotypes are added to their assumed personalities. Homosexuality, or any identity that belongs in the LGBTQ community, is one of these common human categories. In the book Interdisciplinarity, there is a section called “Queering the Disciplines”. When analyzing this section of the text, I can’t help but think that the ideas expressed could be insulting to homosexuals. Moran’s references make some pretty controversial comments on the gay community. Continue reading “Straight Theorists”

No matter how much we don’t want to admit it, different areas of study rely on each other. Which is why interdisciplinary studies are so important; the intertwining of various disciplines are essential for full intellectual success. Although some scholars would beg to differ, like Leavis, Literature needs Science, Math, and History just as much as those three areas rely on English. Certain scholars, like Snow, wanted to join literature and science as their own interdisciplinary study. In the book Interdisciplinarity, Snow is described as believing that, “both fields were impoverished by their ignorance of each other” (Moran 135). I fully agree with this statement. Both literary scholars and scientists are missing out on a whole new way of thinking if they refuse to learn anything else outside of their beloved fields. The more stubborn the opposing fields are, the more ignorance they are gaining. Continue reading “” ‘Together?’ ‘Together.’ “”