Thursday, April 13, 2006

Things I said to students this week...

...that I really probably shouldn't have said.

  • After seeing the "freak-out look" on an independent study student's face (after I'd just given sound but very detailed advice on how to start pulling the research together and start writing) I said, "Oh I know that look. That's the look I give when I'm freaking out about something and someone -- usually male -- thinks what I want is sound advice on solving a problem, when what I really want is to freak out a little while first. Hm. So apparently when I'm wearing my advice-giving professor hat, I'm male."
  • In describing my Medieval Times experience (before the start of class): "The Merlin-like figure offers prayers to pseudo-neo-pagan gods and goddesses, which of course isn't at all medieval. But then, you couldn't really have a production that's supposed to appeal to a huge, wide, diverse, ecumenical, multi-culti American audience being overtly Christian, because that would be kinda creepy." (OK, I did save myself from this one. How? I said "I'm sorry, my 'word hoard' is on the fritz." Since we were in Old English, they laughed. Whew! I really didn't mean creepy -- I was going for "a turn-off for many of their potential paying customers.")
  • On Boorman's Excalibur and the scene of Uther lying with Igrayne: "He's in full plate armor. Ouch! Do you know how much that stuff weighs?"

17 comments:

History Geek said...

I've done simlar things, granted though my class is between the ages of 2 1/2-3 1/2.
It usally slip it is a up that I hope to every god ever known in history that they don't get.

Then there was last saturday where half the words out of my mouth were gibberish.

On a side note, yes it's ouch. The things you learn after working Ren.

Tiruncula said...

I love "my 'word hoard' is on the fritz"! I'm going to have to remember that one. Tee hee!

Dr. Virago said...

On a side note, yes it's ouch. The things you learn after working Ren.

Hmmmm...sounds like there's an interesting story there! Nudge nudge. Wink wink. Know what I mean? ;)

Tiruncula -- And when I can't think of a word and I struggle to remember it or to express myself, I say, "Sorry, I guess I've used up my word hoard today."

Another Damned Medievalist said...

I just look at my class and say, "there's a word for what I'm trying to say, and I can't think of it ...it was there ... suggestions??" And then I talk about how dehydration can cause these types of glitches and we all drink.

Karl Steel said...

You know what real confusion would be? Grabbing the wrong Boorman from your collection and showing them Zardoz.

It wouldn't be an easy thing to introduce Dystopian (misogynist?) Fantasy into a medieval classroom.

On medieval film: I saw Merideth Monk's Book of Days years and years ago, and someday, perhaps, I'd like to teach it. Anyone on the list know, w/out doing any research (in other words, I'm not blegging), how I can get my grubby medieval hands on a copy? Like, to own for myself? Her website isn't too helpful that way.

I can only hope I can control what seems to be end-of-the-semester induced Tourette's during Monday's class...best of luck to you too, Dr V., as you seem to have come down w/ it too.

Dr. Virago said...

You know what real confusion would be? Grabbing the wrong Boorman from your collection and showing them Zardoz.

My eyes! My eyes! They're burning! Sean Connery in red leather bondage gear is NOT sexy! BSL! What the hell *was* that?!

Wish I could help with Meredith Monk -- I followed your link and thought it sounded really interesting. If you ever track it down, let me know.

And I think I need to take ADM's advice and drink more water -- maybe that will help my friend brain.

History Geek said...

Hmmmm...sounds like there's an interesting story there! Nudge nudge. Wink wink. Know what I mean? ;)

It is no where as interesting as it sounds. One of the knights, we'll call him Sir Clumsly, just after the joust managed to trip over a bench. I just happened to be in his line of fall.

The remark "We always knew you wanted to land a knight," was heard.

I had bruises for a month or better. Poor guy though, he fell over himself (thankfully not literally this time) to try and make it up to me.

Karl Steel said...

My eyes! My eyes! They're burning! Sean Connery in red leather bondage gear is NOT sexy! BSL! What the hell *was* that?!

Sorry! Should have warned you! It's this.

I guess it's my favorite of the 3 Boorman's that I've seen (Deliverance being the other) because it's so. goddamn. weird. And 70s dystopian sci-fi has sometimes been a guilty pleasure. Mainly because I can prod people into swearing by Saint Loy or perhaps even grettere ooths.

Dr. Virago said...

Mainly because I can prod people into swearing by Saint Loy or perhaps even grettere ooths.

Heh. Glad you caught that. I figure all the medievalists are reading Chaucer's blog, so I can use that elsewhere in the medieval parts of blogistan. But if I used it at Berube's people might just say WTF?

Anyway that cheesy movie has an equally cheesy tagline: Beyond 1984. Beyond 2001. Beyond Love. Beyond Death.

BXB&B! Thatsa cheesy tag!

Dr. Virago said...

Oh, and History Geek, I'm disappointed that your story wasn't tawdy and steamy, but pratfalls and puns are *almost* as good!

Another Damned Medievalist said...

Goodness -- I just realized that Boorman is responsible for one of my first girl crushes ... Helen Mirren

Hmph.

Now, I just want to look as great as Helen Mirren when I'm her age.

Leslie M-B said...

Have you heard the episode of "This American Life" titled "Simulated Worlds"? It's available at www.thislife.org. About 24 minutes into the program, Ira Glass drags the late Michael Camille of the University of Chicago to witness Medieval Times. It's lovely.

MT said...

After seeing that Sean Connery still, it's clear to me that whoever of Bush's publicists costumed that swagger across the aircraft carrier had Zardoz in mind.

Anonymous said...

As a teacher of 12-15 year olds, I so associate with the "Eek, did I really say that??" (Hi, btw; love your site!) My favourite guilty pleasure thus far: "Repeat after me: Mrs P [me] doesn't care," when told that a sporting commitment was going to prevent homework from being completed.

Karl Steel said...

Alexandra: harh.

Thought I'd add one more from Monday. I'm doing the Harlem Renaissance right now, and when running my students through some biographies of the poets, I said, "...and the Claude McCay converted to Roman Catholicism, and he died shortly thereafter. There's a lesson to be learned from that..." and the students, honest-to-god, gasped, so I hastily added, "...although I don't know what that is."

Lord knows what will come out of my mouth today.

Dr. Virago said...

Trillwing -- I *love* that episode!

MT -- Ha! Thanks for pointing out the resemblance!

Hi Alexandra -- and LOL.

Karl -- Oh dear! That's as bad as my creepy Christians!

Karl Steel said...

Boy, maybe there ought to just be a running Confessional for classroom slips towards the end of the semester.

Had to define a couple of words for my students today. "Troth," as in "plighting one's troth" was simple as simple could be. It was all I could not to give an ad libbed SGGK lecture right then and there. But 2 minutes later I got all jammed up when I tried to define the word 'Hokum.' "Do y'all know what 'hokum' is?" 5 heads nod. I look to them frantically. "Why don't you tell us what it is?" The mumbling means the onus is on me: "Okay, it's uh...., it's uh..., okay, excuse me, it's 'bullshit,' pretty much."