I think the readings in class so far were very interesting, but I didn't understand some of "It's gotta be the cheese". Culture Jam was/is very interesting so far and I can see where the Author is coming from. I don't understand why you would pick cheese, of all things, to compare something too. Not only that, but I really don't understand where these lines come in...
"who killed Emmit Till - it's gotta be the cheese
who trained and armed Latin American torture squads - it's gotta be the cheese
who shot J.F.K., J.R, Ewing, J.C.Penny - it's gotta be the cheese"
I have no idea what those 3 lines have to do with the poem at all. America isn't the greatest country at all, but most of this is just theory. Well, particularly J.F.K. That bothers me because he doesn't classify at all what he's talking about. Is he a "Grassy Knoll" guy? Or a 3 shooters theorist? Or perhaps he watched the Zapruder film and decided the driver turns around and shoots J.F.K? I have no idea, so I have no idea why he even decided to mention it. It seems pointless and takes away from the main point of the poem - America.
I also found the poem to be very confusing. I think he referenced all of those historical tragedies (and JC Penney?) to point out significant things that have influenced American culture. I'm just speculating though, I had trouble with the poem's many references to all sorts of American "things."
ReplyDeleteSome parts of the poem were very confusing. I dont like trying to analyze poems. I thought it was weird when he was talking about covering himself with the cheese? I didn't get it.
ReplyDeleteI think the author chose American cheese to compare with American items in the poem because it is extremely processed and manufactured, like many American items. I found these ingredients on google:
ReplyDeleteMILK, WHEY, MILK FAT, MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, SALT, CALCIUM PHOSPHATE, SODIUM CITRATE, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, SORBIC ACID AS A PRESERVATIVE, APOCAROTENAL (COLOR), ANNATTO (COLOR), ENZYMES, VITAMIN D3, CHEESE CULTURE
I mean.. I don't know what most of these items are, but I still eat the cheese. However, I was also confused about some of the same parts of the poem you were.
I also had a tough time understand a lot of this poem. I think what you said about J.F.K. made a lot of sense. I don't see how he can mix something many historians argue about, with something like J.C. Penny and Emmit Till. I think he could have made his point more clearly if he really wanted too.
ReplyDeletei agree that the poem was quite confusing but you have to realize that its poetry and its meant for the reader to come up with their own unique interpretations of it.
ReplyDelete