From Sadat

Piraha Amazonian Tribe

Here is the New Yorker article on linguistics we were discussing in class today for those of you that are interested. It really is an amazing article.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/04/16/070416fa_fact_colapinto

CRYBABIES

Rousseau's got us thinking about the origins of language. If human speech begins with the natural vocalizing of infants, what are babies with colic trying to say? Check out the article by Jerome Groopman in the New Yorker of September 17, 2007. It's not online yet, but it will become available through Lexus Nexus any day now, so I'll post a link when it's up. The caption to this image from the article reads: "According to one scholar, the sound of a wailing infant is 'about the most disturbing, demanding, shattering noise we can hear.'" (47)

And for the latest proof that the image of the extremely sensitive loner outcast persists as a central image in modern Western culture, check out Isabel's latest posting.

Thought on Rousseau
One line bugged me: "I leave to anyone who will undertake it, the discussion of the following difficult problem: Which was the more necessary, a society already established for the invention of language, or language already invented for the establishment of society?" (96-97).This is why I don't like telling people I meet that I am a Philosophy major: philosophers are known for getting themselves in ruts, and it's true! It's frustrating! It's time-consuming! It's infuriating!So what's my answer to this 'paradox' Rousseau lays out before us? I respond boldly and simply: "Both." And this is not a cop-out response. Allow me to explain the logic: the point of language is for an individual to communicate with another individual and one individual wouldn't need to communicate with any other individuals unless these other individuals were around. Therefore, 'language' and 'society' grew concurrently. Presto.I'm a philosopher. This is not reductionist. This is thought. Clear, plain, and simple.

From Stephanie

From Audrey

Background on the Body of the Condemned excerpt from Audrey

How to Use This Blog and Linked Course Blogs

VISIT AND POST TO THIS SITE AS OFTEN AS YOU LIKE

HOW TO CREATE YOUR PERSONAL "INVENTING MODERNITY" BLOG:

(1) Go to www.blogger.com. Log on if you already have a Google Account; if not, create one before going further.

(2) Click on "CREATE YOUR BLOG NOW" and follow the instructions. You can name your blog whatever you like, but it would be nice if you selected something witty that reflected the scope of our study. My title—"The Cut Worm Forgives the Plow"—is taken from William Blake's Proverbs of Hell.

(3) After you've created your blog, click on "customize" and add a link to our class site—www.inventingmodernity.blogspot.com

(4) Email me (kah3@nyu.edu) the URL (web address) of your new blog. I'll link it to The Cut Worm Forgives the Plow

*HOW TO USE YOUR PERSONAL "INVENTING MODERNITY" BLOG

1. How often should you blog? I expect you to post something new to the class blogs at least once a week. You will be receive a grade for your overall work at the end of the semester. It's okay if the size and intensity of your input varies from week to week. Some weeks you may only post a few links to interesting and relevant sites and other weeks you'll post a link to a comment you may have made on another student's blog (or any blog out there in the WWW). From time to time, though, I'll be expecting you to post 2-3 paragraphs of thinking about relevant topics—the readings, class discussions, and other issues to be determined. You'll have access to the blogs of other students so you'll be able to judge whether you're doing enough from. N.B. I reserve the right to announce required postings on particular topics.
2. What should you put on your blog? I expect you to post a mix of things, including but not limited to the following:

• Questions about the assigned readings (before and after we discuss them)

• Critical responses to the readings (before and after discussion)

• Essays, stories, and other types of writing inspired by the readings and themes of our class

• Links to other Web sites and blogs

• Links to the blogs of other students in the class, especially when you've replied to their posts

• Links to anything you've posted on The Cut Worm Forgives the Plow
• 
  
• Interesting information (and links to more information) about subjects and names that crop up in our readings and discussion

• Relevant images and videos, links to news feeds, etc.

3. What should you not post on our blogs?

• Don't post material you wouldn't feel comfortable looking at or discussing in a regular Gallatin class.
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• Present your ideas and insights in a manner that will provoke intellectual, academic discussion—convey your thoughts as assertions and ideas so that others may respond argumentatively. In this contexts, it's not very productive (or interesting to others) to say "I hate this book!" or "I feel sad" unless you're willing to give the reasons for your preference or emotional response.

Hot Topic: Read and respond before September 19

Read: Read Percy Bysshe Shelley's "DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN," then post your comments or your own list of Rights.

Hot Topic - Please post your blogs and comments by 9/12

Read the Declaration of the Rights of Man approved by the National Assembly of France, August 26, 1789

What are the basic premises and values of the signers of this declaration? What do you think of them? In what sense do they strike you as "modern"? There are no right or wrong answers to this question.