Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Chilling in the Library and Not Studying


There were a lot of things I could have talked about today, but I really didn’t want to.  Mostly because I wondered if it would fit with the theme of my blog.  Yes theme.  The thing that English teachers always talks about. So instead of writing about stuff in my life, I feel I should write about themes. 

Themes are awesome, and sadly it took me this long to realize it.  I never learned the importance of themes from novels.  Books’ themes are usually something like “society.”  I just asked Abhinav what is a theme in Hamlet, and he had a blank stare.  This is how I feel about book themes.  They are either too hidden or too blatant.  Themes are not pervasive in novels as I expect they should be, but if that happens they are clichés. 

What is strange is what caused me to think about themes: history class. Mrs. Andrews, my history teacher, does not follow the chapter order in the book.  Before I never understood why she wouldn’t.  The chapters were in historical order, which made sense.  When I asked her she said because she wanted to keep certain historical themes together.  Even though she could just go chronologically, she decided to use themes to tie various points in history together.  Now that I understand, it is a smart move. 

I’ve been watching ef, which is probably why theme has been in my head today.  Ef’s first season is about memory.  All the characters have to deal with it one way or another.  Forgetting others, being forgotten, forgetting themselves, forgetting hopes and dreams.  All aspects of memory are incorporated seamlessly into the narrative.  This is more how I expect themes to work.  By knowing the theme beforehand and watching it subtly pop its head throughout the story, I have a better overall sense of the story and a better appreciation. 

This blog has just started so I don’t know what kind of theme will develop for it.  Though should I really be boxed in by a theme?  Who knows; I don’t have all the answers.  

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