Wednesday, December 3, 2003

Essay 3 due.

Wrap-up and course evaluations.

Reading

• Selected poetry (handout)
• Mark Binelli, “Johnny Cash Makes ’Em Hurt”

Notes

In class we’ll think about different modes of interpreting a text, with the lyrics of “Hurt” as our focus.

I hurt myself today
To see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
The only thing that's real
The needle tears a hole
The old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away
But I remember everything
What have I become?
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end
You could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

I wear this crown of shit
Upon my liar’s chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair
Beneath the stain of time
The feeling disappears
You are someone else
I am still right here

What have I become?
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end
You could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

If I could start again
A million miles away
I would keep myself
I would find a way

Then watch the Nine Inch Nails version to prepare for class, if you can, and read the Rolling Stone article.