Analysis Paralysis
August 29th 2007 04:33
We first began analysis in year 10 of high school. They tricked me however, and they didnt call it analysis. Im sure if you did year 10, you'll know exactly what Im talking about. Mostly, you examine adverts and try to figure out exactly what the advertiser is trying to say and any hidden meanings. Sometimes newspaper articles.
Then, in year 11, I was accepted into Related English, the highest level. To my utter delight, the teacher was my beloved Mr Garrett who had taught me in year 7. I enjoyed my english class with him so much because this man LOVES words. Any conversation with him involves a serious wordplay - you need a 200 IQ just to keep up. One day he was telling me he sat down with his daughters for breakfast and asked them - "Did you sleep well?" and the eldest (who was about 7 I think?) replied, quick as a snap - "I was the fastest asleep" he covered his face and moaned - "Oh, what have I DONE?"
I cant imagine what it was like to live with him, every single word being a puzzle with 10 meanings, every sentence worthy of analysis. I bet it would have been fun though! Not just a typical pencil pusher either, the dear Sir was a triathelete who rode his bike to school and back then went for a 20km run when he got home!
For about the first month in our Related English class he allowed us to cruise. Only 8 people had been deemed 'Worthy' of the highest english class, so we became very close and friendly even if when it came time to go to the quad we didnt look at each other. We cruised on modern media and public speaking - I failed miserably in that, not having the confidence I do now - and then, one day, we entered the room to see all the desks pushed together. Sir annouced - " Its the beginning of group discussion and analysis!" Like he was announcing ice cream and chocolate day. We were terrified, as well we should have been.
I still have the 'breaking into senior poetry' handbook and refer to it often. We began with Gwen Harwood, and if you havnt read her stuff, you bloody well should! There was another auzzie writer too that did awesome poetry of the auzzie bush, one of his poems was 'Spring Hail', but I cant remember his name....But thats ok, because I'll do another analysis post with all the relevant information. Oh! And have you read 'An absolutely ordinary Rainbow'? damn that poem rocks!
So, he serves us up some magnificent poetry and we fall in love with it - things like 'The Killer' and 'The Glass Jar' and we discuss. Then he starts talking about Alliteration, onomatopeoa (I LOVE that word but cant ever spell it!) structure, format, language selection.....Our minds were boggling. He asked us to do a separate analysis each on a poem so he could see how we go.
Enter Kleos Question Time. Teachers either loved me or hated me for KQT. I once had a roaring argument with the Ancient History teacher - great opportunity for the rest of the class to play cards - and after an hour of screaming she checked the text book and I was right, she was wrong!
Mr Garrett LOVED KQT. This time however, I think I gave him brain paralysis. First question - "You want me to dissect the poem line by line, word by word?"
"Yes, thats the idea"
"Why?"
"Its required for your HSC exam - and a great way to build your skills as a writer"
*Kleo sigh* "But you're telling me a line like 'striped like ice cream' can have hidden meanings - you know I write raw and dont pour over it inserting 'meanings' what if she's the same? What if she didnt mean it? What if you're just supposed to take it at face value?"
*Garrett sigh* " That doesnt really matter K. What matters is what you get out of it - what it means to you on EVERY level that you can find"
*Kleo wry look* " So, what you're telling me is, I have to take this gorgeous poem, thats so pristine and lovely in my mind and perfect just the way it is, and tear it to shreds, kill its originality -* voice raising, class looking up* - pull it apart into tiny pieces and analyse EVERY SINGLE GODDAMN WORD UNTIL THE POEMS ORIGINAL MEANING IS LOST?! THATS NOT FAIR! NOT TO ME. NOT TO THE WRITER. NOT TO THE POEM! THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!"
The Dear Sir had to walk me through it like I was a trembling baby horse finding his legs. He persisted as he always did - with the soft never ceasing insistance of water. And why perservere with such a difficult and colourful student? Because that was his way. He'd do it for anyone who had a genuine thirst.....And he knew, once I got the hang of the technique, I'd be great at it.
And I was. But things really didnt seem to fire up until a few months in when I was informed by the High School Gods that my units were wrong and had to be changed. I decided I was going to do 3 units of english. The school fought me, I tried to get the numbers up, no go, no show.
Then dear Garrett said....." I will teach you, on your own, if you're that keen. Tell them that"
So I did. And permission was granted.
Extra early starts when he and I were the only ones in the school. Extra late finishes also in an empty school. Empty that is, save for the clamorous raised voices of two literary genuis' arguing over shakespeare! My extra texts were ' Virtual Light' all of the works of Yeats....And I cant remember what was extra cirricular and what was standard because the topic of 'Utopias and anti utopias' was over both units and we cross refrenced texts from both classes. I ripped analysis out of those texts he'd never concieved existed. Before exams I used to memorize up to 10 pages of notes to back up my arguments, and what arguments they were! There is nothing more satisfying then completing a successful essay - especially since you've worked so hard to get that essay format just right! Laying out every distinct argument and then adding not one but 5 quotes to back it up, AND knowing your argument is 100 percent original, well, it almost makes you scream "SMUCK YOU! EXAMINER" right there in the dead calm of the exam hall.
This mastery of the exam format rocketed me to number one in Ancient history....The exam contains 7 essays. That one subject could boost your grade SO much because of its difficulty....Yet people walked out of that 3 hour HSC exam after a bare 20 minutes.....Unforgiveable considering at 5 minutes to pens down I was still scribbling furiously on Aknaten! Mastery of the format also pushed me up in art and agriculture. All due to the dear Garrett......
I never conceived of a side effect. After school was over I thought to myself, "Ahh, I'll never have to analyse again!" Only to find I did it everywhere......I find hidden meanings in street signs. Parodys in the language scripts chosen for Neighbors. Metaphors in the MX that Im sure no one else saw.....I cant watch any TV program, movie or even commercial without finding hidden meanings and writing down quotes. Every book, every newspaper article, every poem.....Dissected, torn to shreds layed out like a lions kill for me to see not just its entrails but its very skeleton.....
Who cares if the writer 'meant it' or not indeed.....Theres too much fun to be had!
Another sort of reverse side effect involves my own writing.....I look at my own poetry, my own narrative.....Even this post! And think, whats the hidden meaning? What do you get out of it in analysis? Shit, did I mean to use a sounding word there? I never noticed that alliteration before - awesome, its doing just what it should for that verse. It makes me shy to work on the things I love the most, because I see right through them! I feel, not enough on analysis, or too much, or wrong hidden meaning, wrong sound to go with that image.....Until my whole brain collapses into a tangled mess and I have to get myself a glass of wine.
I am a victim of my own analysis paralysis.......Im the fastest asleep......
And if you google yourself anytime soon Sir, you copped out and disappeared before I could give you another installment of the novel.....Which is dedicated to you, BTW! And floundering without guidance.....PM me. We need to talk.
Oh, I've finally learned to spell 'voice'(have I?) and you pushed me so hard to write poetry no matter how much I claimed to hate it......So, what do you think?
Then, in year 11, I was accepted into Related English, the highest level. To my utter delight, the teacher was my beloved Mr Garrett who had taught me in year 7. I enjoyed my english class with him so much because this man LOVES words. Any conversation with him involves a serious wordplay - you need a 200 IQ just to keep up. One day he was telling me he sat down with his daughters for breakfast and asked them - "Did you sleep well?" and the eldest (who was about 7 I think?) replied, quick as a snap - "I was the fastest asleep" he covered his face and moaned - "Oh, what have I DONE?"
I cant imagine what it was like to live with him, every single word being a puzzle with 10 meanings, every sentence worthy of analysis. I bet it would have been fun though! Not just a typical pencil pusher either, the dear Sir was a triathelete who rode his bike to school and back then went for a 20km run when he got home!
For about the first month in our Related English class he allowed us to cruise. Only 8 people had been deemed 'Worthy' of the highest english class, so we became very close and friendly even if when it came time to go to the quad we didnt look at each other. We cruised on modern media and public speaking - I failed miserably in that, not having the confidence I do now - and then, one day, we entered the room to see all the desks pushed together. Sir annouced - " Its the beginning of group discussion and analysis!" Like he was announcing ice cream and chocolate day. We were terrified, as well we should have been.
I still have the 'breaking into senior poetry' handbook and refer to it often. We began with Gwen Harwood, and if you havnt read her stuff, you bloody well should! There was another auzzie writer too that did awesome poetry of the auzzie bush, one of his poems was 'Spring Hail', but I cant remember his name....But thats ok, because I'll do another analysis post with all the relevant information. Oh! And have you read 'An absolutely ordinary Rainbow'? damn that poem rocks!
So, he serves us up some magnificent poetry and we fall in love with it - things like 'The Killer' and 'The Glass Jar' and we discuss. Then he starts talking about Alliteration, onomatopeoa (I LOVE that word but cant ever spell it!) structure, format, language selection.....Our minds were boggling. He asked us to do a separate analysis each on a poem so he could see how we go.
Enter Kleos Question Time. Teachers either loved me or hated me for KQT. I once had a roaring argument with the Ancient History teacher - great opportunity for the rest of the class to play cards - and after an hour of screaming she checked the text book and I was right, she was wrong!
Mr Garrett LOVED KQT. This time however, I think I gave him brain paralysis. First question - "You want me to dissect the poem line by line, word by word?"
"Yes, thats the idea"
"Why?"
"Its required for your HSC exam - and a great way to build your skills as a writer"
*Kleo sigh* "But you're telling me a line like 'striped like ice cream' can have hidden meanings - you know I write raw and dont pour over it inserting 'meanings' what if she's the same? What if she didnt mean it? What if you're just supposed to take it at face value?"
*Garrett sigh* " That doesnt really matter K. What matters is what you get out of it - what it means to you on EVERY level that you can find"
*Kleo wry look* " So, what you're telling me is, I have to take this gorgeous poem, thats so pristine and lovely in my mind and perfect just the way it is, and tear it to shreds, kill its originality -* voice raising, class looking up* - pull it apart into tiny pieces and analyse EVERY SINGLE GODDAMN WORD UNTIL THE POEMS ORIGINAL MEANING IS LOST?! THATS NOT FAIR! NOT TO ME. NOT TO THE WRITER. NOT TO THE POEM! THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!"
The Dear Sir had to walk me through it like I was a trembling baby horse finding his legs. He persisted as he always did - with the soft never ceasing insistance of water. And why perservere with such a difficult and colourful student? Because that was his way. He'd do it for anyone who had a genuine thirst.....And he knew, once I got the hang of the technique, I'd be great at it.
And I was. But things really didnt seem to fire up until a few months in when I was informed by the High School Gods that my units were wrong and had to be changed. I decided I was going to do 3 units of english. The school fought me, I tried to get the numbers up, no go, no show.
Then dear Garrett said....." I will teach you, on your own, if you're that keen. Tell them that"
So I did. And permission was granted.
Extra early starts when he and I were the only ones in the school. Extra late finishes also in an empty school. Empty that is, save for the clamorous raised voices of two literary genuis' arguing over shakespeare! My extra texts were ' Virtual Light' all of the works of Yeats....And I cant remember what was extra cirricular and what was standard because the topic of 'Utopias and anti utopias' was over both units and we cross refrenced texts from both classes. I ripped analysis out of those texts he'd never concieved existed. Before exams I used to memorize up to 10 pages of notes to back up my arguments, and what arguments they were! There is nothing more satisfying then completing a successful essay - especially since you've worked so hard to get that essay format just right! Laying out every distinct argument and then adding not one but 5 quotes to back it up, AND knowing your argument is 100 percent original, well, it almost makes you scream "SMUCK YOU! EXAMINER" right there in the dead calm of the exam hall.
This mastery of the exam format rocketed me to number one in Ancient history....The exam contains 7 essays. That one subject could boost your grade SO much because of its difficulty....Yet people walked out of that 3 hour HSC exam after a bare 20 minutes.....Unforgiveable considering at 5 minutes to pens down I was still scribbling furiously on Aknaten! Mastery of the format also pushed me up in art and agriculture. All due to the dear Garrett......
I never conceived of a side effect. After school was over I thought to myself, "Ahh, I'll never have to analyse again!" Only to find I did it everywhere......I find hidden meanings in street signs. Parodys in the language scripts chosen for Neighbors. Metaphors in the MX that Im sure no one else saw.....I cant watch any TV program, movie or even commercial without finding hidden meanings and writing down quotes. Every book, every newspaper article, every poem.....Dissected, torn to shreds layed out like a lions kill for me to see not just its entrails but its very skeleton.....
Who cares if the writer 'meant it' or not indeed.....Theres too much fun to be had!
Another sort of reverse side effect involves my own writing.....I look at my own poetry, my own narrative.....Even this post! And think, whats the hidden meaning? What do you get out of it in analysis? Shit, did I mean to use a sounding word there? I never noticed that alliteration before - awesome, its doing just what it should for that verse. It makes me shy to work on the things I love the most, because I see right through them! I feel, not enough on analysis, or too much, or wrong hidden meaning, wrong sound to go with that image.....Until my whole brain collapses into a tangled mess and I have to get myself a glass of wine.
I am a victim of my own analysis paralysis.......Im the fastest asleep......
And if you google yourself anytime soon Sir, you copped out and disappeared before I could give you another installment of the novel.....Which is dedicated to you, BTW! And floundering without guidance.....PM me. We need to talk.
Oh, I've finally learned to spell 'voice'(have I?) and you pushed me so hard to write poetry no matter how much I claimed to hate it......So, what do you think?
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Comment by David
Stop watching Neighbors, and stick to street signs. That show will do your head in.
I enjoy reading posts like this. They're conversational. And no, I'm not reading anything into it other than what's on the surface. Oh apart from this line:
Now you've got me doing it.
But that's common. The reader always reads more into what the writer wrote than what the writer intended. Or so Herman Hesse says.
David ...
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
What a great post. I too suffer from analysis paralysis. I got mine from uni not school. I did 3 unit English too but I have to say that my teacher...not so great.
Mr M and I can't watch a movie without tearing it down. Damn Film Studies. Sure they teach to "appreciation" but before when I used to watch a film to 'switch off', it doesn't happen anymore.
Maybe this will help ward off dementia.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Chic Critique
I had a similar relationship with my music teacher in high school, so I can relate. I analyse performances, songs and music the same way.....and even some of my English teaching stuck for me to do similar analyses of commercials and the like, just like you.
I really loved reading that story. Thanks
Cheers
CC
Comment by Always Eighteen
Always Eighteen
I'm a victim of analysis paralysis. I'm slowly trying to get over it, though, because it had begun to dig me too deep. I want it at a comfortable level.
I like your story. It made me smile. It's great meeting a fellow English lover!
Comment by Ash
Flashes of memories
I LOVED ENGLISH!!!!! I had the most inspiring English Teacher for 'A' Levels. She was just incredible.... taught so much more than English... taught life!
I remember the first few classes of being taught to 'tear a poem shreds, grasp everything and anything from it and find those deeper meanings'. What she taught us was that there was an infinite number of meanings to what someone had written because we all see things from a different perspective.
I have found that myself with what I write here on Orble. I can write something and have a thousand different meanings in mind when I write it.... and the comments people give will open a thousand more avenues to even more meanings. It isn`t wrong, it`s just a matter of opinion... if you can substantiate why you have come to that conclusion.
I remember the day that the Head told me that my cousre of study was unsuitable. 'We have certain pathways which you must follow. Yours does not follow.' I was told. It was my first show down with authority. I walked into the classes I was being forced to take the very next day, handed in my books and told the teachers I would not be returning. (This for a private African school is a NO-NO!) I then just kept on turning up to the classes that I wanted to take and eventually they all accepted me! HA sucks to be you people, TAKE THAT!!!!!! I shouldn`t get started on schooling... it`s a sore point for me... I could actually write a book on it!
Yep that`s exactly what it does to you... and I reckon we get a damned sight more out of everything than anyone else so I`d say it`s a blessing more than anything K.
I really do hope your Mr Garret finds your posts and replies to them. Have you ever contacted your school to pass on messages to him? I did with my Teacher after almost ten years and very happily received an email a few weeks ago from her.
We have the best addiction K.... an addiction to the written word - it opens so many doors that most are unaware of!
Ash
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
This post is brilliant. I also loved English and can remember my teachers that guided me with enthusiasm and inspiration.
Alternatively I remember my maths teacher basically telling my close friend and I that we were essentially thick because we didn't catch on as quickly as she would've liked. Come to think of it, she was a monster. Just felt like getting that out.
What a difference in the two approaches....
Tracy
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Ive explained my fascination with neighbors. Its so fun to analyse.....At the moment Im trying to figure out how everyone drinks so much yet never seems drunk....And evil Paul is about to return! OH YEAH.....
I always check the episode's name. Its always a very clever parody, showing whoever's writing actually HAS a brain....Makes me feel like some of the little jokes are just for me!
And analysis paralysis is catching and has no cure.....Sorry I infected you!
Mrs M,
Oh, believe me, Kman and I do that too....Mum screams "How can you watch the movie when you talk all the way through it!!" We dont enjoy it until about the 3rd run through!
Chic
You're most welcome! Believe me, I analyse music and dance too.....choreography, performance, the whole shebang!
I wish he was reading too....I miss him heaps. I love hearing positive teacher stories!
Always Eighteen,
It is indeed wonderful to meet another english lover! I tried to get my analysis paralysis under control....It just ends up happening on another level of my brain!
Sweet Ash,
Good on you - what a story! I did go back to school, I told him I would visit cos I only lived down the road. I think I went up a month after I finished and he'd left already! I asked around but the most anyone could tell me was he'd gone to another school....Very disappionting when his response to my wanting to visit was - "Thats great! I'd love to follow your writing! So many students just vanish after school!"
I managed to visit with my agriculture and art teachers, but he seems gone until and unless the universe makes a link....I know he was an internet fiend so theres always hope he finds my blog....
And I do consider it a blessing.....Sometimes when Im giggling over a street sign though I just think....WTF is wrong with me?
Tracy
What is it with math teachers? We had one that was just plain evil. He wasnt the uniform master but used to walk around during roll call and dob people in for their shoes and stuff....A total nightmare. Ive never grasped math. They say word minded people never will!
Spit here whenever you like, you're completely welcome!
But its nice to know you had good teachers too!
Thanks for the great comments all.....Now, to analyse them all......MWAHAHAHA!