I could laugh at that cadaver
In November I blogged about the novelist Jim Shepard, who was the funniest teacher I ever had. I am pleased to learn that Jim is now a finalist for the position of director of the Iowa Writer's Workshop, which is arguably the nation's most prestigious position in the teaching of creative writing. Obviously that means he's not only a funny teacher, but a great one.
Not having studied Denis Johnson, I had trouble following the discussion here; maybe it demonstrates his greatness, I don't know. Roy Blount, Jr., once said something to the effect that trying to appreciate literature by going to grad school is like trying to appreciate the female body by carving up cadavers. I've always felt a bit that way myself. Which is why Jim's humor, on full display in the Johnson discussion, is so valuable.
Join the discussion at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/johnclaytonoutreach/
Not having studied Denis Johnson, I had trouble following the discussion here; maybe it demonstrates his greatness, I don't know. Roy Blount, Jr., once said something to the effect that trying to appreciate literature by going to grad school is like trying to appreciate the female body by carving up cadavers. I've always felt a bit that way myself. Which is why Jim's humor, on full display in the Johnson discussion, is so valuable.
Join the discussion at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/johnclaytonoutreach/
