Module 1 Discussion: Vargas Llosa and The Role of Literature in Society
Module 1 Discussion: Vargas Llosa and The Role of Literature in Society
Overview & Prompt
In one of our lecture presentations in this module is a quotation by the author, Vargas Llosa. Please read his comment below about the role of literature in society and respond in approximately one 250 word paragraph, stating whether you agree or disagree with the sentiments expressed by the author. Please also respond to at least one other student in our class.
“A society without literature, or a society in which literature has been relegated—like some hidden vice—to the margins of social and personal life, and transformed into something like a sectarian cult, is a society condemned to become spiritually barbaric, even to jeopardize freedom.”
Vargas Llosa
Guidelines
Your initial response should be around 250 words. Stating whether you agree or disagree with the sentiments expressed by the author.
Then your response to a classmates’ discussion should be around 100 words and add to the discussion (i.e. posing questions, reflecting on their response, etc.). All posts and responses should contain proper grammar, be free of spelling errors, be substantial, and reflect critical thinking.
This is classmates opinion: (respond in 100 words following above instructions)
I whole-heartedly agree with the sentiment expressed by Llosa. If society attempted to prohibit or blacklist literature, we would inevitably regress into a society that suffers largely from ignorance and injustice. The assertion that society would become spiritually barbaric in the absence of literature can be applied quite literally in several cases because literary works such as the Bible, Quran, and Torah serve as the central foundation for spiritual instruction and guidance in many religions. Additionally, literature is what evokes thought and feeling. It is what allows us to foster emotional relationships with our ancestors and fellow-humans. The passionate response summoned by literature inspires the progression of humanity by cautioning us from repeating some of history’s greatest mistakes and motivating us to discover purpose and possibility. It connects us with something bigger than ourselves which, in essence, is the definition of spirituality. In Llosa’s quote, he also adds that even freedom would be jeopardized in a population in which literature is absent. This is true as it would definitely be eliminating our freedom of expression. It is also true in the sense that it would restrict the discovery of new ideas and thought processes. The freedom for humanity to move forward would largely be hindered if access to literature became restricted. Stories, poems, and plays are invaluable fuel for the kind of creativity and innovation that the advancement of mankind thrives upon. The worldly views we hold which encourage us to move forward as collective beings are, in large part, shaped by the independent and critical thinking skills that literature instills within us. Take literature away, and it’s easy to see how a spiritually barbaric and unfree society would result.
Module 2 Discussion: Narrator and Point of View
Overview and Prompt
In this module, you will be reading about plot and narrator in fiction, both of which are necessary for an effective narrator. In “Sonny’s Blues,” Baldwin has two main characters: Sonny and his brother. They each choose very different lifestyles and have a very difficult time understanding each other’s choices. Sonny’s brother often narrates with a sense of bafflement over Sonny’s love of music and drug addition–both part of the world that he inhabits.
After reading the story, reflect on an incident when you and a family member took a very different perspective. Why did you “see” this event differently? How was it resolved?
Review: Understanding Fiction Lecture Presentation link:
https://webapps.fsw.edu/online/LIT2000-201720/Module2/presentation_html5.html
Review: James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues Guided Reading (attached)
Read: James Baldwin’s short story “Sonny’s Blues” located in the textbook (attached)
View: Sonny’s Blues and James Baldwin Video Reading and Documentary Link:
View: Tiffany and Sonny Video https://youtu.be/6F_NkbLRZ8M
Module 1 Discussion: Vargas Llosa and The Role of Literature in Society
Overview & Prompt
In one of our lecture presentations in this module is a quotation by the author, Vargas Llosa. Please
read his comment below about the role of literature in
society and respond in approximately one 250
word paragraph, stating whether you agree or disagree with the sentiments expressed by the author.
Please also respond to at least one other student in our class.
“
A society without literature, or a society in w
hich literature has been relegated
—
like some hidden
vice
—
to the margins of social and personal life, and transformed into something like a sectarian cult,
is a society condemned to become spiritually barbaric, even to jeopardize freedom.”
Vargas Llosa
Gui
delines
Your initial response should be around 250 words.
Stating whether you agree or disagree with the
sentiments expressed by the author.
Then
your response to a classmates’ discussion should be around 100 words and add to the discussion
(i.e. posing qu
estions, reflecting on their response, etc.). All posts and responses should contain proper
grammar, be free of spelling errors, be substantial, and reflect critical thinking.
This is classmates opinion: (respond in 100 words following above instructions)
I whole
–
heartedly agree with the sentiment expressed by Llosa. If society attempted to prohibit or
blacklist literature, we would inevitably regress into a society that suffers largely from ignorance and
injustice. The assertion that society would become s
piritually barbaric in the absence of literature can be
applied quite literally in several cases because literary works such as the Bible, Quran, and Torah serve
as the central foundation for spiritual instruction and guidance in many religions. Additional
ly, literature
is what evokes thought and feeling. It is what allows us to foster emotional relationships with our
ancestors and fellow
–
humans. The passionate response summoned by literature inspires the progression
of humanity by cautioning us from repeat
ing some of history’s greatest mistakes and motivating us to
discover purpose and possibility. It connects us with something bigger than ourselves which, in essence,
is the definition of spirituality. In Llosa’s quote, he also adds that even freedom would
be jeopardized in
a population in which literature is absent. This is true as it would definitely be eliminating our freedom
of expression. It is also true in the sense that it would restrict the discovery of new ideas and thought
processes. The freedom fo
r humanity to move forward would largely be hindered if access to literature
became restricted. Stories, poems, and plays are invaluable fuel for the kind of creativity and innovation
that the advancement of mankind thrives upon. The worldly views we hold
which encourage us to move
forward as collective beings are, in large part, shaped by the independent and critical thinking skills that
literature instills within us. Take literature away, and it’s easy to see how a spiritually barbaric and
unfree society
would result.
Module 1 Discussion: Vargas Llosa and The Role of Literature in Society
Overview & Prompt
In one of our lecture presentations in this module is a quotation by the author, Vargas Llosa. Please
read his comment below about the role of literature in society and respond in approximately one 250
word paragraph, stating whether you agree or disagree with the sentiments expressed by the author.
Please also respond to at least one other student in our class.
“A society without literature, or a society in which literature has been relegated—like some hidden
vice—to the margins of social and personal life, and transformed into something like a sectarian cult,
is a society condemned to become spiritually barbaric, even to jeopardize freedom.”
Vargas Llosa
Guidelines
Your initial response should be around 250 words. Stating whether you agree or disagree with the
sentiments expressed by the author.
Then your response to a classmates’ discussion should be around 100 words and add to the discussion
(i.e. posing questions, reflecting on their response, etc.). All posts and responses should contain proper
grammar, be free of spelling errors, be substantial, and reflect critical thinking.
This is classmates opinion: (respond in 100 words following above instructions)
I whole-heartedly agree with the sentiment expressed by Llosa. If society attempted to prohibit or
blacklist literature, we would inevitably regress into a society that suffers largely from ignorance and
injustice. The assertion that society would become spiritually barbaric in the absence of literature can be
applied quite literally in several cases because literary works such as the Bible, Quran, and Torah serve
as the central foundation for spiritual instruction and guidance in many religions. Additionally, literature
is what evokes thought and feeling. It is what allows us to foster emotional relationships with our
ancestors and fellow-humans. The passionate response summoned by literature inspires the progression
of humanity by cautioning us from repeating some of history’s greatest mistakes and motivating us to
discover purpose and possibility. It connects us with something bigger than ourselves which, in essence,
is the definition of spirituality. In Llosa’s quote, he also adds that even freedom would be jeopardized in
a population in which literature is absent. This is true as it would definitely be eliminating our freedom
of expression. It is also true in the sense that it would restrict the discovery of new ideas and thought
processes. The freedom for humanity to move forward would largely be hindered if access to literature
became restricted. Stories, poems, and plays are invaluable fuel for the kind of creativity and innovation
that the advancement of mankind thrives upon. The worldly views we hold which encourage us to move
forward as collective beings are, in large part, shaped by the independent and critical thinking skills that
literature instills within us. Take literature away, and it’s easy to see how a spiritually barbaric and
unfree society would result.
