INDG 401 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Ekphrasis, Firecracker, Constipation
9 Jun 2018
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ENGL 409, Lecture February 2, 2018
Beautiful Losers cont.
Charles Atlas comic
- Changes it to Axis in the book
- Inclusion of this in ch. 29
- Premise is to take a loser and to make him into a winner
- F. becomes a winner when starting the program
o I never bests him again in a physical contest
- There’s always a Charles Axis out there somewhere
o Always a more powerful axis out there no matter what you do
- The promise of the program merely inscribes in that infinite thing of winning/losing
which the book is yearning on
- A great example of ekphrasis
Another instance: Marvin Gaye/ Gavin Gate in the novel
- Another instance of how this novel is deeply interwoven with popular culture of the day
- This song was a hit in 63/64
- Another example of ekphrasis in the novel
- Sexualizes the backup singers
o Turns it into something orgiastic
- Song that conveys hurt
- Readers are insufficiently attune to this
- Hurt among the characters
What does the song tell us about F?
- At the bottom of the firecracker box, leaves a note that says: Turn on the radio and this
song comes on
- What does F teach us and doesn’t teach us?
- What is the teaching in this particular incidence?
- Has a brief restorative effect on I.
- Why does hearing it hurt me to get I. out of his apartment?
- What does F’s note presume about the pupil?
- Recall, F has been dead for 5 years
- F new when he wrote his note before dying what would be on the radio 5 years later, has
a supernatural or psychic power
o One logical way of explaining
o The way I wants to see F, as having some sort of supernatural power
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Changes it to axis in the book. Premise is to take a loser and to make him into a winner. F. becomes a winner when starting the program: i never bests him again in a physical contest. There"s always a charles axis out there somewhere: always a more powerful axis out there no matter what you do. The promise of the program merely inscribes in that infinite thing of winning/losing which the book is yearning on. Another instance: marvin gaye/ gavin gate in the novel. Another instance of how this novel is deeply interwoven with popular culture of the day. This song was a hit in 63/64. Another example of ekphrasis in the novel. Sexualizes the backup singers: turns it into something orgiastic. At the bottom of the firecracker box, leaves a note that says: turn on the radio and this song comes on. Has a brief restorative effect on i. Recall, f has been dead for 5 years.
