Discussion Questions (week 3)

Discussion questions for this week:

• How would you define or characterize a typical "Renee-Gladman-sentence"? What habits or repeated tendencies can you find in Gladman's sentence structures/style? What effect do those habits or tendencies have on the text's narrative? flow? mood? enjoyablity?
  
• What are all the different meanings of the word "authority"? In what different ways is "authority" addressed in The Activist? How do we excercise "authority" in our own lives? as writers? as citizens? as students? as X?
• What role does ambiguity play in the book? What about transformation? Can you discuss examples where ambiguity or transformation effects both FORM and CONTENT? What is the effect? How can you "read" or make meaning of ambiguity?
• What is the difference between reporting and confession in this book? Where/How are personal language and public language distinguished in The Activist? Where/How are they converged or confused?
• What did you like best about the book? What was your favourite section? What did you like least? What section did you care for the least? What revisions might you make if you were editing the text? Did you make any useful discoveries about or observations on writing? reading? thinking? acting?

And some hidden tracks:

• Gladman discussing her own ideas about writing and narrativity, here and here
• A recording of Gladman reading her work (not the BEST sound quality, but still a great reading)