I haven’t had the chance to actually employ all of things
that I’ve been learning in class. It is, to be honest, a little difficult to me
to apply, for example, Gallop’s “Close Reading” to every single text that I
read. I understand that that is not the point; maybe not every single text
should be subject to this method, but since I’ve been experiencing difficulties
applying it, I’ve become a little obsessed about it and I want to try it on
e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. Just, lets say, to see if it really works with something.
Because I know it does, I know that in a way it does help, but I want to know
how much does it help me
specifically. I want to know how much does it change my reading experience
speaking about the mere satisfaction of reading.
Somehow I’ve been getting the feeling that this method
requires too much attention. And what I mean with this is that, wouldn’t we
lose something in exchange for that? If we’re focusing upon details and certain
words and concepts etc… What happens to the “original point” of the story, lets
say (if there’s any)? What if I only want to read a simple tale, and enjoy it…?
I have this fear that if I practice this method too much, soon or later I will
lose the “innocence” of reading. Which is to say that I will easily become an
addressee of any piece of text, I know. But in certain types of texts, such as
literature, you don’t want to analyze it, at least not always. Most of the time
you want to enjoy it, and same thing happens with poetry. So I’m glad it is, at
the end, something optional, and not technically mandatory, unless you’re in
class, of course.
Another thing that I’m yet to explore is identify addressees
and readers. I mean, I can do it, but, the thing is, I really doubt I can
actually just put everything into 2 simple categories. I think there’s more
behind discussion and comprehension of a text or argument than just simply be
either influenced by it or not. And this is happening to me as well.
Advertisements for example I can agree with. But essays, or speeches, etc… It
is hard to merely assume a position and maintain it. Sometimes the argument Is
not well written enough so that it can actually persuade you, but that doesn’t
necessarily means that wouldn’t eventually be. I don’t know, the whole
phenomenon makes me think about a lot of things, but I like that. As long as I
keep learning this way, I don’t care if I agree with it or not. It is, at the
end, something new – and to explore new way of seeing things is always a good
thing.
