III

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.