Now I'm gonna have nightmares: [link]

I started this here, because this didn't have so much to do with Firefly per se, but essays in general.

You're not really discussing essays, but analysis, in general. Essays are a personal point of view, "this is what I saw, how I felt, and why."

I try to never to say, "this is what Robin saw, what Robin felt, and why she felt it," unless I'm quoting Robin.

So for the essayist to say that about either Joss or Tim without a direct quote is a value judgment on the essayist's part.

I was taught that in an academic essays you shouldn't ascribe thematic intent to the writer. Not even if you've got quotes from him saying, "I intended this." It's not that you're dismissing the idea that the writer had any intent, but if you discuss it that way, you've gone from talking about the work to doing a psychological profile. And it's just a short step to, "Tim is obviously into BDSM" and the like. You can find writers who say contradictory things about their own work. Their contemporary comments may not match what they say 20 years later, so then what do you do?

So it was drilled into me that if you want to talk about the text, talk about the text. Bringing the writer into it opens a very large can of worms. I blame postmodernism for making the text an excuse for theorizing about the author's political/sexual/sociological beliefs. But I blame postmodernism for most things.

"Tim is obviously into BDSM" and the like.

I still want to choke the fuck out of that poster.

You can find writers who say contradictory things about their own work. Their contemporary comments may not match what they say 20 years later, so then what do you do?

Oh sure. Such is life. I'm just gonna be more interested on their take on their own work, and find it more genuine, than the dude writing that he knows what's in Joss' head because he watched the same show I did.

Well, that pretense didn't last long. It was suggested I come home.

Did I mention the hatred of my body?

Poor ita, though I am glad it was suggested.

Do you think you can sleep soon?

I'm going to give that a shot, after maybe a cup of chamomile tea.

Sounds like a plan.

Hey, do you know anything about either the Hotel casa del mar or Fairmont miramar hotel in Santa Monica?

Both are fancy?

The Casa Del Mar is the one with the restaurant on the boardwalk? If you stay there we could have breakfast there and watch the pretty people play on the rings.

Um. Dunno.

Looking at the prices, I think I would chose the Fairmont [link] unless I stayed with A. and E. on Friday, then I could afford Casa Del Mar [link]

If I stayed at the Fairmont, I can afford both nights.