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Robert Cutillo

The Custom of the Country

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Edited by Robert Cutillo, Monday, 23 Sep 2019, 19:12

I've just started reading The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton, which was next on my reading list for A233, and it is much better than Far From the Madding Crowd. Although I'm only a few chapters in, Undine Spragg seems to be a very interesting character. I prefer Wharton's writing style too, which is much plainer and more direct than Hardy's. The sentences seem to flow better, as well, with Wharton.

Just an interesting note: I really struggle to imagine American accents when reading a novel based in America. It's always British speakers that pop into my head. Isn't that strange? I wonder if anyone else has that problem too?

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Robert Cutillo

A New Module

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Edited by Robert Cutillo, Friday, 6 Sep 2019, 20:30

For the 2018/19 academic year, I did two thirty-credit modules: English for academic purposes online (L185) and Exploring languages and cultures (L161). Neither were particularly interesting to me. I suppose I chose those two modules instead of the recommended one (which was Voices, texts and material culture) because I thought they might benefit me more – which they did, to a certain degree. But it is literature and creative writing I thrive for. Which is why I'm very excited for my new module: Telling stories: the novel and beyond (A233).

I have already received one of the textbooks, which is titled Realism. I love new textbooks. There are no creases; it has the new-book smell; and every time I touch the textbook, I handle it with care, in fear I'll damage it somehow.

I believe there are about ten novels to read over the course of the module, with five being realist novels and five being fantasy. I have already begun reading one of the realist novels: Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy. It is proving to be a bit of a slog. There is far too much description and exposition for my liking, and far too little action. That said, it is beautifully written in places. But at the moment, I could not care less who wins Bathsheba Everdine's heart.

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Robert Cutillo

Pyrrhonism, Italian, Literary Theories

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Edited by Robert Cutillo, Tuesday, 26 Feb 2019, 19:22
I'm trying to live a life of study at the moment. I try to study at least one thing a day (something I'm struggling with at the minute). I've tried to just focus on the main things I care about (such as literature, creative writing, informal logic, Italian language) but sometimes something random will catch my eye. Here's what I've studied over the past month.

I was on RationalWiki when I stumbled across Pyrrhonism. Pyrrhonism is basically where you question absolutely everything (think an extreme sceptic). There's a funny dialogue on the RationWiki entry that goes something like this: I was asleep but now I'm awake. But what is asleep? And how do I know I'm awake? What is awake? To live your life like that would be insane.

I'm trying to learn Italian. To help me do this I've been close reading a short story intended for kids. It's called Il Gabbiano e la Balena (The Seagull and the Whale). From this I've learned the following words: accanto (near or next), cui (relative pronouns that, which, who, whose, whom), nuotava (swam), grazioso (delightful; this also has other meanings but I've forgotten them), piume (I think this means plume or feathers; I guessed this from context but forgot to check if it's right).

Finally, I've studied one or two literary theories. I only did a little on traditionalism and formalism. I'll have to study them in more detail at some point. I'll try and spend the next couple of days gaining a basic understanding of the other theories and then I'll move onto learning about literary movements. At the minute, I just want a basic understanding of these things, to prepare me for future modules.

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Robert Cutillo

The Disaster Artist

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It happened last summer. I was on YouTube, watching WatchMojo videos, when I first discovered The Room – also known as the best worst movie ever made. The scene showed Tommy Wiseau's Character, Johnny, enter a rooftop and state that he did not hit his fiance. After throwing his water bottle to the ground, he looked up and noticed his friend: 'Oh, hi, Mark.' That was all I needed.

After watching the movie, which I loved, I discovered a book had been written by Greg Sestero – the unfortunate actor who played Mark, Johnny's best friend. The book, titled The Disaster Artist, is Sestero's account of his friendship with Tommy Wiseau and the making of The Room. It is a great story of dedication to a dream, the ups and downs of a friendship, and the emotional toll making a movie can take. A great read.

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