Gothic horror, indeed, Stephen. This is such a keen connection. Brings
back the visceral response to the story, which I've taught many times.
Even students who have read contemporary horror or watched it, still
find this story truly creepy, Exactly the term I'd apply to all those
using this poor brain dead woman for their own selfish reasons...
Doug
On 24-Mar-05, at 5:15 PM, Stephen Vincent wrote:
> Seems to me the tale of Mom and Dad Schindler's (including the "Right
> to
> Life" folks certain politicians' right to run again) gothic attempt to
> keep
> Terri Schiav "alive" is one more twist on Faulkner's tale of Emily
> keeping
> some version of Homer Brown "alive" with flowers et al as his long
> dead body
> goes skeletal and to dust, resting there for years upon their marriage
> bed.
> Full of sad pathos and beat the Reaper craziness then, and not too much
> different now. One can only image local southern wax museums preparing
> for
> Terri's next appearance - like currently on Fox Network, 'smiling',
> hour by
> hour.
>
> I guess it's old American tradition getting an over-the-top revival.
> Jeezus. If only! Oh yes, I am cynical enough to imagine Adobe Photoshop
> images of Terri on the Cross 24/7 on TV Easter Sunday.
>
> Or maybe it's just Millennium fever? Or the quality of certain
> theocracies?
>
> I've had it. R.I.P (finally) Terri!
>
> Stephen V
> Blog: http://stephenvincent.durationpress.com
>
>
Douglas Barbour
Department of English
University of Alberta
Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E5 Canada
(780) 436 3320
http://www.ualberta.ca/~dbarbour/dbhome.htm
He saw the dark as a ragged garment
spread out to air.
Through its rents and moth-holes
the silver light came pouring.
Denise Levertov
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