Love, Poetry and Revolution - Wednesday 26th April 2023

Last night tiredness won, and I didn't manage to finish 'Nausicaa'. So, instead of starting the day with a walk, I'm going to finish the chapter ahead of tonight's lecture/discussion.

I've managed to finish the episode ahead of 8 am, which means I still have time to make breakfast before I start work. I will hopefully have time to write something about 'Nausicaa' and my response to it after work.

Son #1 went off to work early and son #2 is not far behind, though he's heading to the airport to meet his gf, who is arriving from Costa Rica by way of Newark.

A little after lunchtime they arrive back from the airport. It's good to see them together again.  Perhaps I'll get a chance to practice my Spanish?

Back to work.

My last meeting today was rather later than usual and, as is so often the case, there were post-meeting actions which meant I finished closer to the lecture than expected.

The guest speaker on 'Nausicaa' is Prof. Anne Fogarty of University College Dublin (UCD).  She brings fresh perspective on the chapter and further avenues to explore. It brings forth an observation about my experience of first reading the novel that I feel is relevant. I first read 'Ulysses' in my early 20s.  On first reading I found it difficult, confusing, in fact bewildering at time, however I loved it. I loved the language, the word play, the conversation and the characters. I was hooked.  In hindsight I realise that without the life experience I now have, I had little chance of fully appreciating the subtlety, revolutionary and modernity of the book.  

I wanted to write something a little more in-depth about 'Nausicaa', but I'm not going to have time, so this will be a brief commentary.  I guess there are a number of themes to the episode: gender roles and power, disability, sexuality, feminism (though I don't think this a term Joyce would have been familiar with) and the now familiar stylistic aspects of the novel. There's an ebb and flow surrounding gender roles and Gerty represents both innocence and knowingness, whilst Bloom (it is gradually revealed that the gentleman that Gerty projects her thoughts and feelings on to is none other than he) switches between a very desire-oriented view to one that is more open and expansive in terms of gender roles in a relationship.  There is a clear overthrowing of the idea of women being passive and maternal coincident with societal changes. A fascinating chapter that repays repeated visits, as does the book as a whole. It is also, as many will know, the episode that caused the serial publication of the novel to be suspended on a charge of being pornographic and subsequently banned (and the book itself) for obscenity in the US of A. (N.B. If you were to read the book in search of titillation, you would be disappointed, just in case you are contemplating.)

Whilst I was being educated (?), son #2 and his gf made dinner and when the course finished I joined them and son #1 to eat, talk, and watch TV.

I also made a decision to buy a BBC Maestro story writing masterclass presented by Alan Moore, both as a kickstarter but also because it was offered at 40% off.  Now all I need is more time. Where can you get that from? How much?

After putting the bins out ('Where's tha bin?') I headed for bed, and a chat with Q.  Meantime son #2 and his gf are off out to see a late night horror film, 'Evil Dead' something or other (never mind about the dead evil ones...)

Nadine Shah / 'Fool' / 'Fast Food'

[[This has appeared here before.  Probably will again one day. I still love the lyrics, the tune, the video and the overall vibe (Yep! I'm vibing.) It's a good reminder not to take yourself too seriously, amongst other things.]]