OU blog

Personal Blogs

Christopher Douce

A334 Journal - January 2025

Visible to anyone in the world

1 January 2025

It’s been a lazy day today. 2024 has been thoroughly rubbish, so I went to bed early, and I woke up with a clear head.

I’ve worked through all the audio and visual resources for Week 14, which relates to the Arabian Nights’. It was interesting to hear that there were also some references to Montague, which I think is the next week.

I’ve been busy reading Aladdin, and I think I’m nearly through to the end. There’s a lot going on. The more that I read, the more uncertain I am about the direction my TMA 3 is going to take.

13 January 2025

I’m in my second week after getting back to work, and I feel as if I’m getting behind again. Last Tuesday there was an interesting tutorial about the poetry section, which I quite enjoyed. A bit of the tutorial introduced us all to the TMA questions. I’m now increasingly certain about which option I’m going to choose.

There’s a couple of things I need to do. I need to finish Aladdin (I took it to a medical appointment, but I ended up reading Grazia magazine), watch Tartuffe on iPlayer (as recommended by my tutor), and start to read The Turkish Embassy Letters. There has been some interesting chat in the WhatsApp group about this text.

One other thing I’ve done is begin to listen to Gulliver’s Travels whilst on a long drive (which is available on BBC Sounds). I did try to begin to listen to Sense and Sensibility on the same journey, but I had paused my Audible subscription. Even if you’ve downloaded an audio book, you can only play if back if you have life subscription. An annoying ‘feature’.

It looks like the BBC iPlayer version of Tartuffe lasts for about two hours. I’m going to put the kettle on and give that a go.

18 January 2025

There have been a round of tutorials over the last couple of days. There were three tutorials, back to back, with a break for lunch. I’m guessing that the structure reflects what would have taken place had there been a face-to-face day school. I’ve also noticed that there’s another tutorial that has been recorded, which I need to listen to.

The tutorials have covered some of the texts that are the focus of TMA 3. I’m still not sure exactly sure which direction I’ll jump. My tutor shared a point that had already occurred to me, that some of the texts more directly align to one of the questions rather than the other. I’m waiting until I’ve got to the later texts that are in the current part of block 2.

One bit of the tutorial that was especially helpful was the section on independent study, which relates to TMA 4. My working assumption is that we pick up on some of the texts that we haven’t chosen for TMA 3. A range of different independent study options were highlighted to us: some further stories from the Arabian nights, or some more plays by Moliere. I’m far from close to deciding which way to go, in part since I’ve not done very much this month; I’ve been really busy in my day job.

The other night I got back to Aladdin, but didn’t get very far. What I did discover was that I only have ten pages to go, which admittedly isn’t too many pages. After I’ve got to the end, I’m going to jump to The Turkish Embassy Letters, after making sure I know what bit of the text to focus on. I’m not sure whether jumping about is the best strategy, but I do feel that I need to study strategically.

19 January 2025

I’ve finally finished Aladdin! In the end, I quite liked the story, but I did raise a critical modern eyebrow about how some of the characters were depicted. The whole text has got me thinking about the role of stories, and how similar stories appear in different contexts and cultures.

After Aladdin, I went to the module materials and briefly read up to chapter 6, which was about Gulliver’s Travels, which I read over the summer. I do need to reread what I’ve gone through today, since there’s a lot in the detail that I need to properly take in. The material about the political situation in the 18th century is interesting.

A couple of notes to self: I need to have a good look at the audio and video materials that relate to Gulliver’s Travels. I might even get onto doing that today if I get through a bit of ‘day job’ work. I also need to look at the suggested independent study options, to see what I want to do.

23 January 2025

I’ve been to another tutorial which focussed on the independent study materials. I need to have a good look through all the different options and figure out what I want to do, since that will make up an important part of TMA 4. I need to refer to my notes - there is also a question of figuring out what bit of independent study may have changed my perspective.

I had a good listen to the Gulliver’s Travels audio book whilst doing a lot of driving. Maybe I’ve mentioned it before; this was one of the few texts I managed to read over the summer. I’m finding that I’m really starting to enjoy the text (if you can call an audio book a text). Reflecting on the previous module, there’s clearly a link between Gulliver’s Travels and Ursula Le Guin’s The Dispossessed. By the time I get home from my own travels, I might be able to navigate myself across Gulliver’s.

Whilst chatting on WhatsApp, a fellow student mentioned something called York Notes. Although I had never heard of them before, I recognised some of the book covers from my times browsing bookstores. Knowing that I’m going to struggle with TMA 5, I ordered a couple of second hand copies from eBay. I know this is taking me away from my course texts, but I do feel as if I need as much help as I can get.

When I’ve finished reading the module materials about Gulliver’s Travels, it is then onto the bit about The Turkish Embassy Letters. I’ve got a load of reading to do.

30 January 2025

I’ve still not finished reading the module materials about Gulliver’s Travels, or have started The Turkish Embassy letters. I have, however, read a set of York notes. Reading these notes took me back to a time when I was studying from my literature GCSE. It was a curious time, where I had an increasing realisation that I enjoyed studying English lit. It was also a time when I didn’t really know what was going to do for the rest of my life. The notes took me to quite a reflective place.

A couple of nights ago, I went to a tutorial about the Arabian Nights, which was facilitated by a member of the module team. We focussed on literary technique, and had a look at a couple of passages, practicing our close reading skills. I quite enjoyed the tutorial, but it did help me to make my mind up that I’m probably not going to use that text for either my TMA 3 or TMA 4.

I also spent a bit of time going through the TMA feedback I received. There were some really helpful points, particularly about where to focus my writing.

I now have more of a sense of what it means to be an English Literature student, but I still feel I have quite a restricted way of thinking about the texts we’re studying. I feel as if need to begin to look at the texts in a different or more creative way; in a way that I’m not yet doing. I feel as if I need to get away from an ‘engineering’ way of looking at what we’re studying. I feel that I’m doing okay, but not as well as I feel I could be. I’m hoping for a ‘penny drop’ moment, but I’m unsure about how to speed that up.

To procrastinate a bit more, I’m going to see if there are any audio or video materials about Gulliver’s Travels and the letters on the module website, and then I’m going to go back to my day job. I’ve a lot to do.

Permalink
Share post
Christopher Douce

A334 Journal - December 2024

Visible to anyone in the world
Edited by Christopher Douce, Wednesday, 1 Jan 2025, 17:53

6 December 2024

My deadlines are getting out of hand; not only do I have to write a TMA, I also have to mark up to 20 TMAs. I’m obviously going to prioritise the marking and returning of TMAs for the students that I support over writing my own TMA. There are other things that I have to do, which is writing of exam questions and TMA scenarios for the module that I’m supporting. Plus, there is other life stuff going on too.

My tutor has been really generous with an extension, which I really appreciate. This said, I continue to feel as if I’m getting behind. I also feel that I’m not going to have much time to get any reading done, due to the importance of doing my best to support others.

Part-time study is hard. I always knew this.

What am I going to do?

I’m going to double down on my marking; I’m going to work hard to get some time back.

14 December 2024

I’ve turned my marking around, I’ve got stuck into editing some module materials, and have been supporting those who are around me.

All this has taken me away from the module materials for over a week, and I need to get my head back into the Hamlet space. This weekend is TMA writing, which I’m going to mix up with a bit of cycling, and also a bit of TMA marking (two more scripts have come in over the last couple of days).

I’m beginning the day by making notes, and remembering where I was. By the end of the day, I hope to have identified a number of passages to draw on. If all goes well, I hope to submit in 4 days’ time, which is a lot earlier than my extension.

I have a vague plan over Christmas, which is to try and begin to read the Turkish Ambassador’s letters, but there’s a possibility I might well get distracted by cooking and mince pies.

17 December 2024

Well, my TMA 2 has gone in. I don’t think it’s the best thing I’ve ever written, and there’s a part of me that feels that it isn’t really what the module team was looking for. This said, I think I’ve done a fair job at answering the question.

I’m troubled by two things. The first is that I don’t think I’ve analysed the text as closely as I feel I ought to have done. I have picked out various key bits, and related these to comments from critics, but I don’t think I’ve gone into enough detail about the literary forms and structures. On the subject of critics, I don’t feel as if I’ve got them talking to each other as I would have liked. What I mean is that I don’t feel like I’m positioning myself in the middle of a debate. Perhaps this is something that comes with practice.

I have a vague plan for this morning; to have a quick look at the module website to find out where I supposed to be, and then to look at what I ought to be reading over the Xmas break. I know there are two sections that have passed me by: Donne and Spencer. When I’ve done this, it is back to my day job: editing TMAs and module materials.

Final comment of the day: I’ve looked at the module materials, and I’ve eyeballed the all the remaining TMA questions, as well as the EMA. I think I’m going to quite like TMA 3. TMA 4 looks worrying, but TMA 5, which is about Austen looks like a nightmare. I quite like the EMA, though. I need to choose some texts to base it on.

I’ve got such a lot to do. I need to sort myself out.

18 December 2024

I’ve just watched Simon Schama’s John Donne. A fabulous documentary. I really appreciated the setting; the scenes of trapped office workers, working in offices that were said to be close by the former site of the Fleet Prison. I feel another field trip coming on. This time, a trip to Bread Street, which I might have visited once before. My Kindle is charged, ready for a trip to a hospital reception area, to pick up my reading when I get there.

Back from my visit. It’s been quite a productive day in terms of reading. I’ve been through all the poems in Chapter 8, and it looks like I have two tutorials to catch up on; one that was about Petrarchan poetry, and another about TMA writing (which I missed).

In terms of what I’ve been through today, I recognised one of Donne’s poems, but I have no idea when I first came across it – it might have been a tutor development event; I honestly can’t remember. I quite like the sonnets of Samuel Daniel, but there’s a part of me that want to tell him to ‘get a grip’ and stop being so dramatic.

Looking ahead, to book 2, there’s a lot more poetry to get through. The next section is going to be pretty racy.

19 December 2024

I’ve listened to the tutorial recording about Petrarchan poetry, and I’ve sped through the Write Now tutorial. I feel as if I’ve now caught up a bit, but Spencer remains a bit of a mystery. I’m making a practical decision to not spend any more time looking at The Faerie Queene – it really doesn’t appeal.

The Write Now tutorial was useful, even though I listened to it after having written everything. A worry that I do have is that my essay might have a structure that is over complicated, and I may have covered too much of Hamlet. After having a quick look at it, I’ve decided not to worry. I think it’s okay. I think I know what mark I would give myself, and I would be really pleased if it was higher.

I’ve not got the racy block 2. Instead, I’ve got to return to the marking of TMAs, which is an occupational hazard. I then need to write a few more blog posts to share a bit more material for a project that relates to TM470.

I also need to do a bit of Xmas shopping.

I haven’t done any more Xmas shopping, but I have been listening to (and reading) some of the poems in chapter 1, book 2. Oh, my days…

23 December 2024

My TMA results came back in super quick time. Kudos to my tutor for turning the results around just before the Christmas break. I’m happy with my score (although obviously I would have liked to get a few more marks).

I’m managing to find a few hours here and there. I’ve not been specifically studying the module materials, but I’ve been finding resources that connect to the module materials.

Last night I watched a production to the bawdy play The Country Wife (YouTube). I remember reading a very short discussion in the text notes which considers its genre. It’s certainly a comedy! The characters are ridiculous. This summary I tried to read the play without either listening to or watching a production, or having the useful notes from the start of the set text. My imagination just wasn’t up to it.

In the early hours of one morning, trying to get to sleep, I discovered an In Our Time episode that was about the life of Thomas Wyatt who was covered towards the end of block 1. I listened to quite a bit of it before dropping off. I’ve noted it here, so I know to go back to it. Another poet that I’ve found from Block 1 is Lady Mary Wroth; another programme which is worth listening to.

Turning to the early chapters of Block 2, to complement Simon Schama’s documentary, there’s also this programme about John Donne, which I need to listen to.

Continuing my searching, I’ve discovered a programme about the life of Aphra Behn, a poet, playwright, novelist and spy. I really want to read her biography. There’s hasn’t been a biopic made about her. I feel there should be. The podcast mentions actress Nell Gwyn. I’ve heard of Gwyn, but I don’t know anything about her. There is an episode about Gwynfrom a series called You’re Dead to Me.

Reading through the list of poets in books 2, there are programmes about Thomas Campion (The Early Music Show); Campion being a composer as well as a poet. There’s also a programme on Richard Herrick (Omnibus). There is, of course, an episode of In Our Time about Christopher Marlowe.

There’s a programme about Marvell’s To His Coy Mistress; one from a programme called Free Thinking.  .

Looking a bit further ahead, there’s an episode of In Our Time that relates to The Arabian Nights'. There’s also an audio book version of Gulliver’s Travels. Although there isn’t an audio clip that covers the life of Swift, there is a different episode of In Our Time that explores Swift’s A Modest Proposal .

29 December 2024

Over the last couple of days, I’ve been reading Tartuffe. I quite liked it. I found it an easier read than the block text which summarised the different acts. I found another summary online, and listened a couple of podcasts about it. I guess this all counts as independent study, right?

A couple of days earlier, I had a quick look at the next TMA; there has also been a bit of chat on the WhatApp group about it. I’m not quite sure what option I’m going to do, or what texts I’m going to draw on, but it is really early days.

My objective for today is to get an overview of the online module materials to see what texts might be useful. I’ll also have a delve into any accompanying audio or video recordings.

I had a look through the independent study options for week 12. It looks like that in quite an unstructured way I’ve already done bits and pieces: I’ve listened to an audio recording, have read the introduction to the set text, read a biography of Molière and have read a review of a contemporary (2018) production. I looked for a video of a production through Drama Online, but I couldn’t find anything. Instead, I found a 1983 RSC production on a popular video streaming site, and I was immediately struck by the difference in the translation between the text and the play.

I realised I hadn’t looked at the week 11 independent study options. The suggestions were to look at the poetry of Suckling and Lovelace, find out more about Hobbes and Leviathan, read more about Aphra Behn (from where I discovered a summary of her works) and to practice one’s close readings skills.

Looking forward, there’s audio recordings for The Country Wife (which I need to have a listen to), the chapters on the Arabian Nights’ Entertainments, Gulliver’s Travels, and The Turkish Embassy Letters all before the next TMA. Remembering the TMA question, I think I already know what direction I’m going to move to, but everything will depend on the tutorials.

Back to my proper study (rather than this ‘messing about’) I need to go through the Wycherley chapter pretty sharpish.

30 December 2024

I’ve read the chapter about Wycherley, but I need to go over it again.

I’ve realised that I don’t have the set text for the Arabian Nights, so I’ve downloaded a copy for my Kindle (since the chapter suggested that I should read the introduction of the set text). I hate ordering things from Amazon.

Talking of Amazon, I’ve noticed something weird about the OU ePubs that I’m using on my Kindle Scribe. I can add handwritten notes to my ePub version of books 1 and 3, but I can only save ‘text notes’ (by using a virtual keyboard) in book 2. It must be something to do with the format that is used.

Here’s a summary of the independent study options for Wycherley: read the introduction of the set text (which I’ve partially done), read two articles about restoration theatre, read another libertine play (which looks like an interesting option), and read some criticism. Although I shouldn’t really jump ahead too far, my task for today is to read the introduction of the Arabian Nights, and to go through the accompanying material that is on the module website.


Permalink Add your comment
Share post
Christopher Douce

A334 Journal - November 2024

Visible to anyone in the world

2 November 2024

It’s time to do a bit of catching up. I save all the email notifications about forum posts, and I put them in a separate folder. Before moving towards looking into the detail of the TMA question, I’m going through them all, just to get a sense of what they’re all about. Before making this post, I’ve made four short posts: a comment about The Spanish Tragedy (mostly saying that I don’t yet understand it), one about Julius Caesar, one saying something about Love’s Labour’s Lost, and another one about As You Like it. I really had to struggle to remember what happened in Love’s Labour’s Lost, but I remember adding some notes in the bit of the module website.

Our tutor has posted some FAQ notes, which are helpful. Some points that I’ve noted down are: look at the English Literature Toolkit for guidance about close reading, look the Renaissance Rhetoric document, the module glossary, the Oxford English Dictionary and some OpenLearn resources. The three resources that are relevant are: Approaching playsApproaching poetry and Approaching prose fiction.

5 November 2024

I’ve started to prepare for my TMA 1, albeit quite late. 

I’ve clicked through to the independent study, and I’ve looked at the suggested options: exploring a 2012 film adaptation (which I’ve watched whilst working through the module materials), read two critical essays (some suggestions are offered), something about Plutarch’s Lives (which are at the back of our set text), and the role of women in Julius Caesar. Although I’ve kind of done the first activity (but not really thought about the setting and direction much), I’m interested in the final activity. This said, what I’m probably going to do, is to quickly read through the introduction of the set text (I’m sure that alternative option is okay!)

Before I get there, I’m just going to remind myself by doing a quick re-read of Chapter 4: Julius Caesar and the shape of Shakespearian tragedy, and have a good look through the additional notes about Renaissance Rhetoric.

7 November 2024

Well, I think I’ve written a reasonable draft of my TMA. I compiled a whole lot of notes together when I was in London yesterday morning. I then continued my reading, writing, and editing this morning, from deepest Lincolnshire. 

Whilst on one hand, I have felt that this one has been a bit of a struggle, I quite enjoyed how it has all come together after putting in the groundwork. I’ve emailed a PDF to myself, so I can do some proofreading on my Kindle in the morning, before making some final edits.

There isn’t much of a break. The next TMA is due to be submitted by mid-December.

8 November 2024

Well, it has gone in. My first TMA for my first level 3 literature module.

I’ve looked ahead: the next chapter is all about Hamlet. I’ve eyeballed the independent study options, and whilst I might have a look at some other sources, I’m quite drawn to the activity of looking at the different versions of the text. At this point, more importantly, I need to make sure I get my head around the chapter of the module materials.

11 November 2024

Slightly worried the next deadline, I got stuck into Hamlet. I began with a video that I found on the module website, followed by a document that highlighted differences in one of Hamlet’s speeches. I then discovered an In Our Time Podcast which I thought was brilliant. The guests spoke about differences between the texts, and the different characters. I’m going to give it another listen. Now that we’ve done an exercise in close reading, I’m going to do my own exercise in close listening.

I’m up to act 4 of the set text, which is Q2, rather than the FF (if you know about this stuff; I didn’t know about this stuff until very recently). I’m surprised at how well I’m following it all. Looking back, I remember seeing two film versions of Hamlet (one with Laurence Olivier, another with Mel Gibson), a recording of an RSC performance, and a live performance in Catford. Each one was, of course, pretty different. A question I’m toying with is: why is there no clown? There are bits of the play which suggests that, perhaps, Hamlet is the clown? I should be done reading it in a couple of days. I’m actually reading it out loud to myself.

The side effect of all this is that I feel as if I’m now talking in iambic pentameter.

A final note for today: my tutor has sent a note encouraging me to start thinking about the EMA question, encouraging me to make notes whilst I do the various independent study option (I’ll share a top level summary of what I’m doing in this blog). It’s a useful reminder. I need to find a few moments to look at the EMA options.

16 November 2024

Catch up day. I’ve chosen independent study option 1 for chapter 5. To make it easy for myself, I’ve put the text in a Word document, adjusted the font to make it bigger, and I’ve emailed it to my Kindle, so I can read it a bit more easily; my eyes are getting old. Plus, I can scribble on it with a digital pen, which will help with understanding the text.

I’ve realised that I’ve already done independent study option for chapter 6: watch a production of Hamlet. You could say I’ve watched quite a few of them.

My plan for today: read The Story of Amleth by Saxo Grammaticus, read chapter 6 of the book, and look at both the TMA and the EMA question.

Okay, I’ve chosen which TMA option I’m going to go with, and I’ve had a first go at finding some sources. I’ve found about five so far. I’m going to email these to my Kindle and hope to read these over the week.

My final bit of work for the day: I know which EMA option I’m going to do. I just need to make a choice about which set texts to choose. There’s quite a bit of time between now and the end of May so I have a bit of time to choose, but I do know that there’s quite a bit of pace to it all.

I’m starting to feel a difference between level 2 and level 3 study. I have a feeling I’m going to puzzle over TMA 2 (and the EMA).

22 November 2024

I’ve fallen off the study train since I’ve had to focus on my day job, where I’ve been going through other module materials. This said, I have been to one interesting and related event; an annual digital humanities workshop, which was facilitated by some colleagues who have been involved with the writing of the modules I’ve been studying.

Yesterday I received my TMA 1 result. I’m pleased with it, but I would have liked a higher score. I’ll be really happy if I can keep this up, but I know it’s going to be a hard slog. There has been loads of chatter on the module WhatsApp group from other students about the return of their TMA results.

The biggest learning point I’m taking away from my TMA is: be more secure in your own opinions, and try to get different sources to play off against each other. Good advice, which I need to remember.

Before delving into my day job in a lot of depth, I’m going to listen to a tutorial that I missed. There was chatter on the WhatsApp forum about that too.

25 November 2024

I feel I’m making a bit of progress, in terms of starting to organise my thoughts for the next TMA. I’ve downloaded about four or five different papers that relate to the TMA theme, and I’ve scribbled on all of them using my Kindle Scribe (or whatever it is called). One of the papers offers a set of useful definitions which I can work with. Another paper articulates the exact same idea that I had about Hamlet. I guess that is encouraging, since that might suggest that I’m starting to think like a critic?

On Wednesday I may have a bit of time to transcribe my annotations and thoughts, so I can begin to order them. In doing this, I hope to crystalise my opinions.

I’m slightly behind on the module planner, but not too behind.

There are some rumours on the WhatApp group about what is in TMA 3. I haven’t looked yet. I feel I can do TMA 2, but the rest are complete mysteries to me.

28 November 2024

I didn’t manage to do any note taking yesterday despite the best of intentions. I hauled all my books to a medical appointment, but there was no way I could find a quiet corner.

I’ve listened to two tutorials this morning. The first was recorded by my own tutor, and the second was by another tutor, which was all about Spencer. Both tutorials were really helpful, even though I’m not doing the Spencer TMA option. It was especially helpful since I’m a bit behind the reading; it shared a framework that will help me understand more clearly the reading.

Next steps? Over the next couple of days there are some really long ‘composite’ tutorials, which should be interesting. When I’ve been to one of those, I’ll be ready to start my TMA. I still need to keep up with the reading, though.

In my day job, I’ve got some tasks where I need to find some headspace some writing that also requires a bit of problem solving.

29 November 2024

Another day, another set of tutorials.

Today we had one about Hamlet, one about Donne, one about Spencer, and one about independent study. The study session focussed more on rhetoric, which I’m quite comfortable with. I recognised all the techniques that were mentioned, but I don’t know the names for everything.

I think I would like to do the earlier independent study option which was to read some essays by Michel de Montaigne.

Now that I’ve attended two tutorials on Hamlet, have written a bunch of notes, I feel I need to write my notes up, pick a few passages and then start to pull everything together.

The module calendar says that I’m now officially behind.

Permalink Add your comment
Share post
Christopher Douce

A233 Journal - May 2024

Visible to anyone in the world

6 May 2024

I’ve been in a bit of a marking hole for a while.

The last thing I did before taking a bit of work-imposed break from study was watch a production of The Tempest that was staged at The Globe. I turns out that I have lost my copy of the text; it is either hidden amongst a pile of books, or it is at my parents place; I don’t know which. To get around this, I’ve been following a version of the text with a Project Guttenberg version that I have downloaded onto my Kindle.

I recently found out that the version of the text I had wasn’t the one that was recommended by the module team, which has now been delivered. It is the introduction to the set text that I have ordered, and it is that text that I’ve been reading today.

I’ve also emailed a bunch of additional reading to my Kindle, which I hope to go through over the next couple of days. I feel I’m building up towards the writing of the EMA. Another step towards it will be a Shakespeare lecture that takes place tomorrow. In between my day job and study, I’ll also be marking some project assignments. I have a lot to be getting on with.

10 May 2024

I’m finally doing a bit of proper study. Two days ago I went to an online tutorial that was about TMA 5 preparation, which I found quite helpful. Yesterday I listened to the remainder of a module team tutorial that was about how to go about reading Shakespeare. This morning, and also for a part of yesterday, I’ve been skim reading a bunch of additional readings I’ve found from both the module website and the OU library. I feel I’m getting there.

The Tempest is growing on me. Whilst I’ve always liked science fiction, I’ve never really liked fantasy. I found the idea of a magician creating a storm and causing mischief thoroughly boring. I can, however, see that there’s a whole lot more going on than I ever realised.

Our tutor has directed us to a site Shakespeareswords.com which looks to be pretty useful.

Next steps: finish up all my reading, and then go onto making my word processed notes from my Kindle notes and highlights, and then writing, which will hopefully take a couple of days.

15 May 2024

A couple of days ago I went to a tutorial that was run by my tutor. I think there were five of us; a lot was covered, and it was recorded. I picked up a whole load of tips on how to approach my essay.

I spent a lot of time yesterday sat in a car. I made use of over 4 or 5 hours of driving by listening to an audio book of The Dispossessed. The more I listen to it, the more there is to unpick.

To help with the unpicking, a fellow student shared the following YouTube videos, which are certainly worth a listen:

I was struck by a couple of things. I was struck by how many detailed videos the presenter of the second video had mad. I was struck by how much time and energy had been expended preparing all of these. I liked the third video; it talks about materialism vs idealism. It has helped me to reflect on the views that I previously held about science fiction. The points about roles, origins and purpose of stories are interesting too. 

19 May 2024

A busy couple of days. I managed to finish transferring all my digital e-book notes into my Word document. I had to do quite a bit of driving yesterday, so I spent 4 more hours of it listening to The Dispossessed. I think I have a few more hours of listening to go, but I know what happens, and (broadly) how the final chapters are structured.

Today has been a day of two halves. In the morning I did the bulk of my writing, building on and drawing on my notes. It turned out I was 500 words over the word count. I then went through a cycle of editing. Although I think there is still some time to go, I got to a point when I was happy with what I had written, and what I had learnt. This time I applied quite a rigorous writing process. I felt that looking for additional resources, and skim reading them was pretty helpful. I also carefully referenced every article that I downloaded. If I found I didn’t use it, I cut it from the reference list.

There is a niggling feeling that I have that I haven’t really answered the TMA question, but I really don’t think that is the case. I could have picked on more bits of realism, and more specific bits of fantasy, but underneath it all there is the need to express your understanding of the text and to express understanding of different literary terms. I’ll try not to worry. I think I’ve done this.

28 May 2024

Only two more days to go until the final TMA deadline on A233.

I’ve started to get ahead on the reading (and studying) of my next module, A334. This means working through some of the free versions of the texts that I’ve downloaded from Project Guttenberg. To conclude this A233 blog, I wanted to share two points of learning from my studies of English, and points of learning from studying this module.

The first is that I’m starting to read texts in a slightly different way. Although this sounds a bit weird, but I feel as if I’m more aware of what is written. I’m also questioning: why words were written. I found myself realising this when I was reading a popular science (or engineering) book about cloud computing; a text which relates to my day job. (Admittedly, it was a very good book).

The other bit relates to The Tempest. When I watched a production of The Tempest for the first time, I wasn’t very taken by it. I thought it was really silly; all that stuff about magic, fairies and monsters. I didn’t speak to me.

The more I read about it, not just of the module materials, but articles I found from the OU library, the more I began to appreciate it. I reflected on the characters, and the context in which it was written. Turning to an entirely different subject, I also reflected on some research presentations I had attended that were about decolonising computing, and what that meant. 

Could The Tempest be used as a lens to understand this completely different subject? Maybe software engineers could be a bit like Prospero, using all their technical books to enact digital magic. What about the other characters in the play? I will continue to mull over these idle questions.

I’m now looking forward to As you like it, Julius Caesar, and Hamlet.

Permalink
Share post
Christopher Douce

A233 Journal - April 2024

Visible to anyone in the world

7 April 2024

I am procrastinating in a really productive way: I’m reading ahead! I’ve been reading Startdust. It is interesting note that there are a number of different versions. I accidentally downloaded the text only version. What you do need is the illustrated version. The illustrations add a huge amount to the text, since on its own, I found the text quite hard to follow.

I’ve made it part way through the chapter that I shouldn’t be reading.

It’s time to begin to collate all my notes, to prepare for the writing of the TMA. I’ve got notes in two different places: pencil scribbles in the set text, and digital highlights on the PDF version that I’ve been reading using my Kindle. I’ll see how I get on.

12 April 2024

I’ve downloaded an audio book of The Dispossessed. Today I’m helping a friend get settled in his new house. Since it’s quite a drive away, listen to The Dispossessed whilst I’m driving. I found the first couple of chapters unfathomable, and I have no idea what is going on.

13 April 2024

I’m stuck at home with a dodgy ankle that was caused by too much running about, and the messing about with furniture didn’t’ help it one bit. Subsequently, this gives me a bit of time to complete TMA 4! I edit together a set of notes from my reading, I then have a go to edit up my story, and then cycle round a loop of editing a few times. I’m quite pleased with what I’ve written, but less happy with the reflective section, where I’m really struggling with word count. 

I really like Propp’s actants, but I feel pretty dumb, since the extent of my reflection seems to be: ‘I like them, and they have helped me’. I think I know where I’m going to let myself down in the TMA, but it has nearly got to that point where I’ve just got to submit it.

14 April 2024

It’s ‘listening to The Dispossessed’ day. I’m making reasonable progress, but it’s slow and long going. I’ve really got to concentrate to understand what on earth is going on. Since it’s all a bit weird, I don’t know what detail is going to be important, and what detail adds to the overall atmosphere. I don’t think I like it. I glimpsed at the module materials, and there is a comment that the text places demands on the reader. I’m struggling and I’m not even reading it.

It really isn’t good that I’ve fallen asleep twice. On the second occasion I slept through half a chapter. This has never happened.

15 April 2024

One hour of listening before I start work. The Dispossessed has become very weird. Let’s say: I appreciate it, but I don’t like it. I appreciate it’s difficult to predict the future, but spacemen reading books and sending letters? As for all the faux physics, that bit is really starting to grate.

16 April 2024

Another chapter first thing in the morning. The further I get into it, the more I’m drawn to it. I’m surprised at how much action there is!

It’s time to get back to studying a bit more systematically again. I’m back to the online module materials. There are bits that I’ve missed in the previous section, but I need to keep moving forward. It’s onto the video and audio material that relate to Stardust. There are interviews and videos to work through. I’ll skive off a bit of my day job, with the justification that everything I’m doing here is connected (in one way or another).

I’m on a roll: I’ve reviewed all the audio and video clips in the Le Guin weeks, making some notes. My next activity has been to prep a TMA 5 document. Noticing there’s a fair amount of supplementary material, I start to download articles from the library.

Before I’ve finished today, I’m going to have a quick look in the Shakespeare section to see if there’s any audio or video materials I can have a look or listen to.

17 April 2024

Struggling with ankle aches and pains, I join the queue to the GP, whilst listening to chapter 11 of The Dispossessed

When I get back from the queue, I make the following post to the A233 ‘laid back’ Facebook group: “I think I've done a 180 turn when it comes to The Dispossessed. I've gone from: 'this is really tedious, and is continually making me fall asleep' to 'this is really amazing stuff!'. Two chapters on the audio book to go. Keep with it; there are Urasti propetarian dividends to be had, even though it initially might sound like a lot of nonsense (if it is your kind of thing).”

I’m now browsing through the Journal of Science Fiction Studies, when I really ought to be browsing through the IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering. 

It’s all related, right?

Permalink
Share post

This blog might contain posts that are only visible to logged-in users, or where only logged-in users can comment. If you have an account on the system, please log in for full access.

Total visits to this blog: 2496833