Jan 7: Two of the theories that interest me

I begin by saying that I am a psychology major. I follow by saying, surprise surprise, psychoanalytical teaching theory quickly grabbed my attention. I'm chronically fascinated by the social world around me, and it sounds like this educational theory is geared at at teaching to that fascination.

It brings me to wonder, what it the written word if not a window to the soul? I strongly considered majoring in English, but I became interested in psychology because I wanted to study and explore the motivations, repressions, and struggles that follow people. Well, low and behold, the psychology of WMU believes in Skinner behaviorism (translation: WMU psychology and literary analysis tend to have a mutual disinterest in each other). After completing my major studies I truly believe that literary analysis and interpretation has just as much to offer for insight to human behavior.

I see writing along the paradigm of an expression of self. Exploring and expressing emotional adversity is very therapeutic to both writer and reader alike. Studying from a psychoanalytic perspective affords teachers and students the chance to collectively dissect all the suffering motives of certain writers and the perceived chaos of society that brings them to write and imagine as they do.

Reader Response is also a preferred instructional style for me because it's the most engaging. I enjoy styles and subjects that allow for the teacher to step into more of a facilitator role. I find it conducive to a class environment where all members become both teachers and students. Particularly in the study of literature, this type of approach brings the text to life. It creates for a diversity of opinions that can result in a deep synergistic understanding for everyone.

This type of educational style, I feel, also pushes classes to select deep, well-crafted art and literature that can allow for various levels of interpretation and understanding. Literature like that of Shakespeare, and films like "American Beauty" are extraordinarily deep and thoughtful. These are the types of literary artwork where everyone can observe and study and all can walk away with diverse respectable viewpoints. "American Beauty," for example, is my favorite film. I've quite literally seen it about ten times, and almost every single time I seem to pick up on a different meaning of the movie. It's the kind of material that is excellent for this type of class set-up and even casual discussion amongst friends.

And a quick "P.S."

If you anyone would like to comment about the depth of understanding of a film like say, "American Beauty," please by all means feel free and encouraged to do so on my blog.