Vicarious MFA
Vicarious MFA: Home stretch
The Vicarious MFA!
Informal survey: Are writers with MFA’s the only writers who give a damn what people in other MFA programs are reading? If so, thanks to all you non/anti-MFA HTML giant readers who put up with the all this MFA chatter. Here is your last dose of Vicarious MFA hoo-hah.
+ Surprise guest class with Richard Ford!
Before the class, everyone who signed up for it read Indian Uprising by Donald Barthelme, Louis Menand’s New Yorker article about Barthelme , and an interview with Umberto Eco. Richard Ford talked about Barthelme for a little while and we asked him a lot of questions about his writing process, philosophy and ideas about the collage element that is innate in all forms/types of writing. He brought his “notebook” to class, which, in fact, was not a notebook at all. It was a huge, purple, three-ring binder in which he collects quotes, thoughts, facts, research, etc for whatever novel he’s working on at the time. He told us about how he’s dyslexic and how that effects his writing. At one point Ford said, “Rick Moody, who I deeply disrespect, once said something about how there are only two kinds of writers: writers like Hemingway and writers like Beckett. I disagree with that… It’s too narrow a perspective on what a writer can be…Writing is supposed to broaden your world, open things up… Rick is probably a nice boy, he just says silly things.” I got to chat with Ford for a moment afterwards, just to say thanks and hello. I was excited about this because we are both from Mississippi and we’ve both lived in New Orleans, which is the nearest refuge for people born in Mississippi. We talked about New Orleans for a minute, how easy it is to get nostalgic about New Orleans and how we both want to buy houses there.
More Highlights:
+Amy Benson made strawberry-rhubarb pound cake for our last meeting of Non/Fiction. I turned in a monster crazy-weird essay that I will be excited to get her feedback on.
+Last workshop is kicked off with a few bottles of champagne, which went straight to everyones’ heads, loosening a hysteria of honesty. It was a good group, but I will be happy not to have to read anyone else’s first drafts for a while.
Tags: Richard Ford, rick moody
Richard Ford: What a tool! What’s the point in talking shit about Rick Moody, when the only purpose of his shit-talking about Rick Moody is to point out the shittiness of Rick Moody’s shit-talking? If Moody’s narrow, Ford’s narrower. I’m tired of dick holes being in charge of everything.
Richard Ford: What a tool! What’s the point in talking shit about Rick Moody, when the only purpose of his shit-talking about Rick Moody is to point out the shittiness of Rick Moody’s shit-talking? If Moody’s narrow, Ford’s narrower. I’m tired of dick holes being in charge of everything.
I guess I could also add something here… Richard Ford said that despite Rick Moody’s sometimes polarizing ideas about how many “types” of writers there are, he still likes Moody’s writing & thinks he’s a smart guy. Just a smart guy who sometimes says things just to stir up a fuss…
I guess I could also add something here… Richard Ford said that despite Rick Moody’s sometimes polarizing ideas about how many “types” of writers there are, he still likes Moody’s writing & thinks he’s a smart guy. Just a smart guy who sometimes says things just to stir up a fuss…
I like hearing what MFAs are reading. Ford would abuse Moody in the squared circle.
I like hearing what MFAs are reading. Ford would abuse Moody in the squared circle.
until a couple years ago, i didn’t even know what mfa stood for. so for me this has been enjoyably anthropological. filled in some gaps, exposed me to some ideas. thanks.
until a couple years ago, i didn’t even know what mfa stood for. so for me this has been enjoyably anthropological. filled in some gaps, exposed me to some ideas. thanks.
I’m always interested in hearing what other people are reading.
Off topic, but does anyone know why Shane Jones’s blog is down?
Thanks,
John
I’m always interested in hearing what other people are reading.
Off topic, but does anyone know why Shane Jones’s blog is down?
Thanks,
John
thanks for these. very interesting and informative and stuff. good job for making it thru.
thanks for these. very interesting and informative and stuff. good job for making it thru.
like moody, but love ford. i had the master class with him two years ago and i’m still reeling from it — in the good way. man is one intense and educated motherfucker. just look in those eyes. the seriousness with which he takes writing and himself is something to behold.
also, he tells good anecdotes about people. the best one i heard involved him and john updike, and ended with updike grabbing his coat lapels at a literary event and saying “did you just tell me ‘fuck you’??” (it had been a misunderstanding: ford had merely said “thank you” or something harmless like that and updike had misheard him.)
like moody, but love ford. i had the master class with him two years ago and i’m still reeling from it — in the good way. man is one intense and educated motherfucker. just look in those eyes. the seriousness with which he takes writing and himself is something to behold.
also, he tells good anecdotes about people. the best one i heard involved him and john updike, and ended with updike grabbing his coat lapels at a literary event and saying “did you just tell me ‘fuck you’??” (it had been a misunderstanding: ford had merely said “thank you” or something harmless like that and updike had misheard him.)
word up! i was born in jackson, lived in 9th ward too. Over near Thomas Jefferson Elementary, if you know where that is/was. Family is deep out there.
…. I miss it.
Was considering applying to Loyola of New Orleans.
word up! i was born in jackson, lived in 9th ward too. Over near Thomas Jefferson Elementary, if you know where that is/was. Family is deep out there.
…. I miss it.
Was considering applying to Loyola of New Orleans.
damn, great annecdote. i hear he’s feisty, touchy even. he wrote a great essay about punching people called “in the face” that appeared in best american essays 1997 — recommended for a glimpse into his forceful personality.
damn, great annecdote. i hear he’s feisty, touchy even. he wrote a great essay about punching people called “in the face” that appeared in best american essays 1997 — recommended for a glimpse into his forceful personality.
yeah “deeply disrespect” is just chatting shit for the sake of it, what does he gain from that adverbial?
yeah “deeply disrespect” is just chatting shit for the sake of it, what does he gain from that adverbial?
“Rick is probably a nice boy, he just says silly things.”
Jesus, that’s a cheap shot.
Too bad Dale Peck wasn’t teaching with Richard.
“Rick is probably a nice boy, he just says silly things.”
Jesus, that’s a cheap shot.
Too bad Dale Peck wasn’t teaching with Richard.
wait, how does that square with “deeply disrespect”? you’ve def. got that quote right?
wait, how does that square with “deeply disrespect”? you’ve def. got that quote right?
I was in that seminar, too, and he concluded the Updike anecdote by saying, “You hate to imagine the voices buzzing around that guy’s head.” Lol. (This was before Updike died.)
He also had the extremely pleasant Southern affectation of addressing his students as “Mr. Yeh,” “Ms. Lacey,” “Mr. Doten,” and etc.
Really excellent teacher, one of the high points of my MFA coursework — and those unearthly pale blue eyes! Uncanny experience, making eye-contact with Richard Ford. Reminded me of Clint Eastwood in Pale Rider — rrawwrrr.
Rock Springs is one of my all time favorite books. The subsequent collections are good, too, but that one really hits my heart just right.
I was in that seminar, too, and he concluded the Updike anecdote by saying, “You hate to imagine the voices buzzing around that guy’s head.” Lol. (This was before Updike died.)
He also had the extremely pleasant Southern affectation of addressing his students as “Mr. Yeh,” “Ms. Lacey,” “Mr. Doten,” and etc.
Really excellent teacher, one of the high points of my MFA coursework — and those unearthly pale blue eyes! Uncanny experience, making eye-contact with Richard Ford. Reminded me of Clint Eastwood in Pale Rider — rrawwrrr.
Rock Springs is one of my all time favorite books. The subsequent collections are good, too, but that one really hits my heart just right.
Ford spends too much time talking about his art – in the space of six months I had three classes with him, heard him launch an anthology I featured in, read c.14 interviews with him, heard him read twice, read his thoughts on how he wrote his interminable three Bascombe novels (and this is all in Europe, European publications and venues). Now I’m grateful for some of this but there’s mystery left. Cormac Mc Carthy will be remembered, and somehow ends up seeming far more important, because he did none of this. (Oprah not-counting)
I should have said: but there’s NO mystery left….
Ford spends too much time talking about his art – in the space of six months I had three classes with him, heard him launch an anthology I featured in, read c.14 interviews with him, heard him read twice, read his thoughts on how he wrote his interminable three Bascombe novels (and this is all in Europe, European publications and venues). Now I’m grateful for some of this but there’s mystery left. Cormac Mc Carthy will be remembered, and somehow ends up seeming far more important, because he did none of this. (Oprah not-counting)
I should have said: but there’s NO mystery left….
oh richard ford
richard ford still exists in people’s memories
oh richard ford
richard ford still exists in people’s memories
when i read the letters m, f, and a in direct succession without any spacial breaks, i feel a slight tingling of metaphorical alienation expressed through a very distinct style of narrative prose with a heavy personal and original literary voice,
when i read the letters m, f, and a in direct succession without any spacial breaks, i feel a slight tingling of metaphorical alienation expressed through a very distinct style of narrative prose with a heavy personal and original literary voice,
but when ‘strawberry-rhubard pound cake’ is boldened, i feel relief and a deep energetic connection that is inexplicable
but when ‘strawberry-rhubard pound cake’ is boldened, i feel relief and a deep energetic connection that is inexplicable
Comic effect.
Comic effect.
I guess he meant he “disrespects” Moody’s criticism, but still thinkgs he’s a good writer. It was also a bit of a joke.
I guess he meant he “disrespects” Moody’s criticism, but still thinkgs he’s a good writer. It was also a bit of a joke.
Pound cake is a reason for celebration. You can’t eat your words, despite years of people trying.
Pound cake is a reason for celebration. You can’t eat your words, despite years of people trying.
A man’s got to make a living.
ah, yes. i remember (i think) some interview where jake gyllenhall made a joke about being sexually interested in maggie gyllenhall, and she said something like: “You can’t say that! Irony doesn’t come through in print!”
A man’s got to make a living.
ah, yes. i remember (i think) some interview where jake gyllenhall made a joke about being sexually interested in maggie gyllenhall, and she said something like: “You can’t say that! Irony doesn’t come through in print!”
Ms. Paaaahsons. I loved that class.
Ms. Paaaahsons. I loved that class.
True that.
True that.
On to the PhD programs, Catherine! I’ll see you in workshop in Salt Lake City.
On to the PhD programs, Catherine! I’ll see you in workshop in Salt Lake City.
He might also sell his body for sex. Sounds like Mark Doten from above would shell out the sheckles to do him and stare into those “unearthly pale blue eyes.” “Please, Mr. Ford,” mark would whisper into his wrinkly old ears, “no more talk of European journals, just look at me. Mmmm yes, that’s it.”
He might also sell his body for sex. Sounds like Mark Doten from above would shell out the sheckles to do him and stare into those “unearthly pale blue eyes.” “Please, Mr. Ford,” mark would whisper into his wrinkly old ears, “no more talk of European journals, just look at me. Mmmm yes, that’s it.”
Richard Ford never should’ve left the South.
Richard Ford never should’ve left the South.
mm ok I guess it doesn’t come across in the innernet, but if he truly intends to just stress how much he dislikes someone, seems like an abuse of his position that is spiteful and deeply distasteful
mm ok I guess it doesn’t come across in the innernet, but if he truly intends to just stress how much he dislikes someone, seems like an abuse of his position that is spiteful and deeply distasteful
that’s a trap — his eyes drain your life essence, and to stare into them for too long would be death (and another novel for him).
also, he stomped a mouse to death with his boot in room 413 or Dodge Hall on the Columbia campus. i shit you not.
that’s a trap — his eyes drain your life essence, and to stare into them for too long would be death (and another novel for him).
also, he stomped a mouse to death with his boot in room 413 or Dodge Hall on the Columbia campus. i shit you not.
yeah totally. was one of the high points of my time there as well.
yeah totally. was one of the high points of my time there as well.
adding the “deeply” softens the blow, in my opinion. using it shows that he’s aware of what he’s saying, that it’s measured and kind of self-deprecating, i think
adding the “deeply” softens the blow, in my opinion. using it shows that he’s aware of what he’s saying, that it’s measured and kind of self-deprecating, i think
funny
funny
Love his “‘In the Face” essay, and the shopping cart in the parking lot scene in “The Sportswriter”, but otherwise find him “too literal” and a bit misogynous.
Love his “‘In the Face” essay, and the shopping cart in the parking lot scene in “The Sportswriter”, but otherwise find him “too literal” and a bit misogynous.