edu folks

[Kyburz at asu.edu]

I just read an essay in CCC (College Composition and Communication) that 
made me feel alive.  It was a critique of Composition in its tendencies 
to sap the life out of student writing in deference to academic prose 
(can you call it prose?)  Anyhow, Robert Sirc is the author of this essay 
called "Never Mind the Tagmemics, Where's the Sex Pistols?"  Proof that 
not *all* academics are dicks (feeling my past come crashing back here).  

In the article, Sirc:

	1.) Slams CCC's, the journal, for its shortsightedness and sappiness
	2.) Used the word "fucked" as well as the word "bullshit" (this 
	last, in the same sentence wherein he mentions "ethos."  Aristotle
	indeed.
	3.) Plagiarizes song lyrics from both the Sex Pistols and the Clash.

This last bit, Sirc does masterfully as he weaves song lyrics into his 
critique, noting that Comp has been guilty of exploiting student 
writing--"cheap holidays in other people's misery," which he does not 
quote.  Also, "We've been careering," (Public Image Ltd.) even though 
"career opportunities [are] the ones that never knock," again, not in 
quotes. And, of course, we do all this (teaching) despite the knowledge 
(theirs and ours) that there's "no future," again, not quoted.

In short, a brilliantly funny and biting piece that made me rethink my 
position and my bullshit attitudes about teaching, those that are often 
fueled by my desires for a little holiday in the sun.




Bonnie L. Kyburz, Instructor
Department of English			(602) 965-7756 (office)
Arizona State University		kyburz at asu.edu
Tempe, AZ  85287-0302			*or* surfus at chuma.cas.usf.edu

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 1997 12:40 -0500 (EST)
From: RICHARD ROMEO <RR.TFCNY at mail.fdncenter.org>
To: pynchon-l at waste.org
Subject: Interview with Michael Naumann

Check out Library Journal, 2/15/97 issue--an interview with Henry Holt 
President & CEO, Michael Naumann.  On pg. 106 there is a picture of Mr. N 
with a copy of M& D on his desk.  His comments on M&D:  "_The_ great 
American book everyone has been hoping for".
Q:  And this year you have Thomas Pynchon?
A:  "Pynchon's M&D is without a doubt the best book I have ever been 
associated with.  Both [enlightenment and escape] are part of my 
publishing philosophy, and at most two or three books really represent 
both.  Maybe Pynchon is one."



Richard Romeo
Coordinator of Cooperating Collections
The Foundation Center-NYC
212-807-2417
rromeo at fdncenter.org