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11/30/2005 Archived Entry: "The Curriculum of Things"

The Curriculum of Things
Influenced somewhat by the girl's recent book suggestion of Home Rules and Bill Brown's "Thing Theory."
A year long study.
First semester.

First few weeks

  • Places of exasperation
  • Things you beat people with
  • Lost items of significance
  • Ruptures and seams

    Second few weeks

  • Rooms of embarrassment
  • Cassettes that no longer play (or that play scratchy)
  • Ripped clothes (from where/how/when)
  • Toilet trouble

    Mid-term

    Third few weeks

  • Sentimental objects long throw away
  • Living room pleasures
  • Broken or unplayed records
  • Memorabilia, trinkets, souvenirs of places you now hate
  • Receipts

    Final weeks

  • Recipes scattered in drawers
  • Drug paraphernalia
  • Posters of rock stars and celebrities you hung or wanted to hang on walls
  • Rooms of drinking
  • Books. Torn books. Unread books. Cherished books. Loaned books. Books dropped in the tub. Books piled on books. Books with notes inside. Books written in ("Yes!" "Right on"). Books you want to throw away. Books given to you by people you no longer remember. Books given to you by people you no longer want to remember. Books you hate. Books you read more than once. Books you steal from.

    Final Exam

    Replies: 1 Comment

    Read Perec's "Approaches to What" in the volume Species of Space. Describes the above in a different way. Read all of Species of Space, for that matter-- great nonfiction, experimental, funny, smart as hell.

    Posted by robert @ 12/01/2005 12:02 PM EST

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