Individual Presentations (Day 3)

Well, here are the notes on the last presentations. (Again, if I mispell anyone's name I'm sorry)

Caitlin: (Game of Worlds) Caitlin focused on Shades poem as a reflection of his reality and its own separate world. Kinbote also creates his own reality. Over all these, Nabokov creates his own worlds that then interact upon each other. Her paper is really a study on the many realities in Nabokov's works, specifically in Pale Fire.

Chris: (whether or not Lolita is a love story) After exploring this topic from some time, Chris came to the conclusion, "does it really matter?" He talks about Humbert's affect on society. He is incredibly human and we empathize with him, yet he thinks of himself, and in many ways is a monster. Perhaps it is not a love story but an analysis or telling of Humbert himself. (Prof. Sexson talked about how this is a love story, but in different terms. He mentioned the aspect of the divine)

Abbey: (solipsism in Nabokov's texts) Solipsism is the idea that everything outside of the brain is the brain's creation. We can only trust that the brain exists. Abbey cites the passage in Lolita where Humbert Humbert states "imagine me. I will not exist if you do not imagine me" as proof of this concept. The characters in the story are the constructs of the narrator's mind. It is then impossible to decipher reality from the imagined.

Keri: (screenplay of Pale Fire) Keri read to the class from her screenplay. I will say that her imagery was really fantastic. Her descriptions went a long way to the viewer picturing the scene as if in a movie. In one scene a butterfly flutters on the breeze of a quiet neighborhood, finally alighting on the blood spattered hand of John Shade, though we do not know it is him yet. Then the scene changes to the royal palace in Zembla and Charles Xavier surrounded by frolicking pageboys. What a great opening scene!

Aron: (poem) Aron wrote a poem incorporating so many aspects of Nabokov and his novels. It was a rare experience to have such a layered poem read to the class in any individual presentation. Reference upon reference flooded my vision, all within the restrictions of a rhyme scheme. I was truly impressed by his weaving of imagery as if on a loom, incorporating references, tastes, and tactile imagery. Nice job!

Jon: ("Master of Puppets") Jon began and continued his presentation with an impression of Dr. Sexson, white beard and all. Wow. What an enjoyable presentation! (and Dr. Sexson got a plug for his capstone class in there as well). Jon talks about his paper in which he writes about Nabokov as a puppeteer over his fictitious authors or narrators. Discussion of authorial voice. He mentions the "beauty and deicacy of the gauze" and cites the quote on Nabokov--that his novels have "more pleasure per square inch" than any other. Jon also mentioned that Nabokov's relation to Humbert Humbert may echo the relationship between Shakespeare and his Prospero.

Chelsea: (creative project) Chelsea talked about her creative project; i believe it was remaking several bookcovers. Then she talks about her analysis of a photograph in which the person she is with has passed away. She talks about the theme of immmortality (our connection to this theme and Nabokov's). Through art we can live forever, either in a photograph, a book, etc.)