Writing piece, no. 2

Get ready for Brautigan, Brechin, and more, folks!

We're in for the psychedelic, tales of power, thinking ecological, and further exorcising the idea of San Francisco as "the gentlest of American cities," (as Jan Morris writes on the back of Imperial San Francisco).

But first, some information on the famed Fleet Week, and the Blue Angels performance this weekend. Anyone go? For those who didn't make it, some random (maybe) images: well-stocked souvenir stands, hordes of people - porting maps, children, ghiradeli ice cream cones - along the water, navy garb, chowder bowls.... No matter what your attitude is on this type of scene, twas another face of our city.

All this to say, as we keep traipsing through moments and movements in the city's history, what about the stuff going on today? What ARE the faces of the city these days, and how do they inform your idea of San Francisco, in addition to the post/Beat movements, and the geopolitical activity we'll see in Brechin's text? Anyone care to comment here?

Ok then, to writing piece, no. 2, due Thursday, Oct. 16.
Please write on at least one of these general topics:

1. Select a poem or passage from the Brautigan text. Do a close reading of the passage, noting elements of its style, themes, tones, etc. Then, connect your observations to concepts we've been pondering in class: counter-culture, the Beat movement, contado... What makes this work revolutionary? What sort of San Francisco does it envision?

2. What are some of the major contributing factors to the construction of a San Francisco "periphery", according to Gray Brechin? Name and reflect on key events and what sorts of movements had to happen for San Francisco to come into being. Are there patterns in the way the city is constructed - for instance, in terms of exclusion, power distribution, or domination? How might the idea of "imperial San Francisco" set the stage or leave a legacy for some of the literary works we've been reading?

And remember to include a question. The ones submitted last week were quite provocative.

Of course, if you have other questions/ideas that spin off of these topics, bring those in to your writing too.

More as we get deeper into the discussion...stay tuned.

Meanwhile - bring a jacket: "The morning fog...may chill the air...I don't care"
-sc