A.J. Pallante
Prof. Boland
English 329
20 January 2009
Autobiographical Assignment #1
Conversation, the ability to manipulate language, has always been something that has interested me deeply. The ability to convey emotion and conceptual information through the use of sound was always something that I found to be fascinating in the context of establishing an audient connection with another human being. Obviously, as a child I was less concerned with, and could not fathom, the intellectual aspects of conversation and remained more attracted to the sounds that accompanied speech. However, this is where the pursuit of endeavoring to gain something from literacy began. Though it is difficult to recall exactly how this practice was initiated, I can identify certain mediums that have enhanced the process along the way.
It must be said that I was never one who particularly enjoyed reading and writing. Even today, I still share similar sentiments. It is difficult for me to remain stationary and stare at a manuscript without pausing frequently to curse the author and all who were involved in the production of the given text. However, when I was in fourth grade, there was a book series that I could not get enough of. For some reason unbeknownst to me, R.L. Stein’s Goosebumps were all I read. I have always been entertained by macabre circumstances and the darkly humorous. Though not embodied in his work, I could identify certain elements of horror within these stories. This was my first memorable encounter with reading.
With this foundation, what sustained my interest in the ability to understand and manipulate language came in the form of lyrics. Though most lyrics are poor examples of what can be considered fine writing, there was one band in particular whose lyricist exhibited the ability to compose with an expansive vocabulary. The band was called Cradle of Filth. Now, I know the name does not due any justice to my claim. However, this is where I found my greatest connection to language. This is where language came to life. I can clearly remember devoting the majority of my time to writing, trying to understand how a person can think in terms of abstraction while expressing these abstractions in the form of beautiful poetry. By reading and emulating these lyrics in my own journals, I was able to maintain an interest. I was able to put abstract thoughts into poetic terms. Had it not been for the lessons I thought myself with these lyrics as a guide, I would have ultimately succumbed to the crushing burden of curricular standards.
Interestingly enough, none of what I accomplished in the arena of reading and\or literacy had anything to do with school. If anything, school drove me away from reading. Throughout, I was forced to read boring stories selected by individuals far removed from education in order to fulfill ridiculous curricular standards. I was taught to relegate beautiful sounds and ideas into parts of speech. This is what ultimately turned me away from reading and writing altogether. However, now that I am able to observe the entire picture, now that I am able to separate the purpose of public schooling from purpose of education, it has become easier to hold onto the memories of what language once was to me, and what it could potentially become once again.
Prof. Boland
English 329
20 January 2009
Autobiographical Assignment #1
Conversation, the ability to manipulate language, has always been something that has interested me deeply. The ability to convey emotion and conceptual information through the use of sound was always something that I found to be fascinating in the context of establishing an audient connection with another human being. Obviously, as a child I was less concerned with, and could not fathom, the intellectual aspects of conversation and remained more attracted to the sounds that accompanied speech. However, this is where the pursuit of endeavoring to gain something from literacy began. Though it is difficult to recall exactly how this practice was initiated, I can identify certain mediums that have enhanced the process along the way.
It must be said that I was never one who particularly enjoyed reading and writing. Even today, I still share similar sentiments. It is difficult for me to remain stationary and stare at a manuscript without pausing frequently to curse the author and all who were involved in the production of the given text. However, when I was in fourth grade, there was a book series that I could not get enough of. For some reason unbeknownst to me, R.L. Stein’s Goosebumps were all I read. I have always been entertained by macabre circumstances and the darkly humorous. Though not embodied in his work, I could identify certain elements of horror within these stories. This was my first memorable encounter with reading.
With this foundation, what sustained my interest in the ability to understand and manipulate language came in the form of lyrics. Though most lyrics are poor examples of what can be considered fine writing, there was one band in particular whose lyricist exhibited the ability to compose with an expansive vocabulary. The band was called Cradle of Filth. Now, I know the name does not due any justice to my claim. However, this is where I found my greatest connection to language. This is where language came to life. I can clearly remember devoting the majority of my time to writing, trying to understand how a person can think in terms of abstraction while expressing these abstractions in the form of beautiful poetry. By reading and emulating these lyrics in my own journals, I was able to maintain an interest. I was able to put abstract thoughts into poetic terms. Had it not been for the lessons I thought myself with these lyrics as a guide, I would have ultimately succumbed to the crushing burden of curricular standards.
Interestingly enough, none of what I accomplished in the arena of reading and\or literacy had anything to do with school. If anything, school drove me away from reading. Throughout, I was forced to read boring stories selected by individuals far removed from education in order to fulfill ridiculous curricular standards. I was taught to relegate beautiful sounds and ideas into parts of speech. This is what ultimately turned me away from reading and writing altogether. However, now that I am able to observe the entire picture, now that I am able to separate the purpose of public schooling from purpose of education, it has become easier to hold onto the memories of what language once was to me, and what it could potentially become once again.
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