tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458341.post1962319559380391252..comments2024-01-06T10:36:04.084-05:00Comments on A Commonplace Blog: Lessons in human dignityD. G. Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659136455045567825noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458341.post-70068032189430191982014-01-03T09:19:01.407-05:002014-01-03T09:19:01.407-05:00David, are you doing okay? It's not normal fo...David, are you doing okay? It's not normal for you to leave your blog dormant for this long. Just worried about you. I hope your 2014 has gotten off to a good start. The end of my 2013 was absolutely miserable, as I explained to you in a private email. Please send any prayers you can my son Levi's way, as he remains in the hospital. Thank you!Andrew Foxhttp://www.fantasticalandrewfox.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458341.post-22161312235711169032013-11-15T21:36:54.524-05:002013-11-15T21:36:54.524-05:00I want to read the book now, if for no other reaso...I want to read the book now, if for no other reason to see why the students were disturbed by Levi's literary choice in "The Canto of Ulysses." Having just finished reading "If This is a Man/Survival in Auschwitz" and "The Truce" the use of Dante's Ulysses vs. Homer's Odysseus provides a great framework for the two texts (even if written years apart). <br /><br />I'm confused why the students would be disturbed by the literary choice...it's inspired for many comparisons and contrasts. And, OK, it's meant to be disturbing, but not for it's choice/inclusion.Dwighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13688525659034403580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458341.post-48494965963077889432013-11-15T16:40:13.949-05:002013-11-15T16:40:13.949-05:00And your scholarship is one of the reasons I regul...And your scholarship is one of the reasons I regularly return to your blog--I am the perpetual student, you are the mentor. Have a great weekend.R.T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13220814349193561823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458341.post-28399645283070037702013-11-15T16:29:57.347-05:002013-11-15T16:29:57.347-05:00Prof. Myers’s position is that multilingualism is ...Prof. Myers’s position is that multilingualism is a bare necessity for human culture in the 21st century, while I find Prof. Brombert’s self-limitation unduly limiting. No one would be able to study Holocaust literature, which is written in Yiddish, Hebrew, Polish, German, French, Italian, Dutch, Greek, Russian, and other languages, if he adhered strictly to Brombert’s standard. As J. V. Cunningham taught me, you can obtain much of what you need from other scholars, including translators—that’s why there are other scholars and translators.<br />D. G. Myershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10659136455045567825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458341.post-57618850571621983122013-11-15T12:00:14.965-05:002013-11-15T12:00:14.965-05:00Anonymous, let me be clearer. I wonder why polylin...Anonymous, let me be clearer. I wonder why polylinguistics (if that is a word) is essential to comparative literature. And I have no hazy democratic ideals when it comes to the study or teaching of literature. Really, I don't. In any case, I was just curious about Prof. Myers' position.R.T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13220814349193561823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458341.post-81337774956091884252013-11-15T02:23:45.566-05:002013-11-15T02:23:45.566-05:00R. T., Are you saying that any discipline that exc...R. T., Are you saying that any discipline that excludes those who lack the skills necessary to its practice is "unfair"? So, for instance, is it unfair that the San Francisco Giants don't want me to play in their outfield? You are confusing some hazy democratic ideal with qualifications for a profession. Besides, those of us who don't read several languages easily surely benefit from the teaching of those who do. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458341.post-6898189208182206052013-11-13T11:05:38.897-05:002013-11-13T11:05:38.897-05:00"The first commandment of comparative literat..."The first commandment of comparative literature is that texts must be studied in the original to be understood properly." That is commendable, but is it not unfairly limiting to anyone who would aspire to reading comparatively. Such a prescription preemptively shuts the door to many readers. Some readers would bark that such a prescription is arrogant. Where am I wrong?R.T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13220814349193561823noreply@blogger.com