Epochs on Both Your Houses (Herman Hesse’s Narcissus and Goldmund, Plus Postmodern Food Factory ”Crap Sampler”)
Description
In the first non-Eco book of the season, the boys tackle Herman Hesse's Narcissus and Goldmund, a tale of two very different medieval figures. Karl and Friedrich, our Hessexperts, are perplexed by the book's relation to Hesse's other works, but plow on nonetheless. The boys talk about artistic creation, medieval verisimilitude, and the special bond between teachers and students.
Then, on a very special Postmodern Food Factory, the boys try not one, not two, not three, but FOUR different lab-created foodstuffs (Nitro Pepsi, Smartfood Doritos Popcorn, Taki's Meatsticks, and Carolina Reaper Cheetos). Plus an all time great Karl story about his fear of popcorn.
Theme Music: "Shostakovich" by Mucca Pazza.
The boys (sans Friedrich) wrap Season 3 by talking about the perfect capstone book: John Kennedy Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces. They take one last gander at form (picaresque? satire?), discuss Fortuna's wheel, and think through what it means to be a political and artistic outsider in the vein...
Published 09/09/22
The boys hop on their three person tandem bike to pedal their way through the spinning wheels of Flann O'Brien's dark comedy The Third Policeman. They debate the novel's genre (sci fi? fantasy? existential tragicomedy?) and explore its fascination with particle physics, theology, and, of course,...
Published 08/23/22