Comments on: “Se puede vivir sin pensar” http://spanish-podcast.com/2009/01/28/se-puede-vivir-sin-pensar/ A bilingual blog and conversational Spanish podcast. Wed, 30 Nov 2011 02:02:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Kathryn http://spanish-podcast.com/2009/01/28/se-puede-vivir-sin-pensar/#comment-3130 Kathryn Fri, 10 Dec 2010 22:55:20 +0000 http://spanish-podcast.com/?p=991#comment-3130 I had a professor once who liked to caution against looking too closely at historical events surrounding the writing of literature. I don't entirely agree with him but I think in this case there might be some wisdom in that. The story is very poignant and speaks to alienation and fear of all kinds at all levels of society. I am posting this comment way after the rest of you but I can say that in recent times with the economy and uncertainty it is very easy to withdraw and give up little by little. Human relationships, from friendships to marriages to boss-employee relationships can sometimes reflect a passive attitude on the part of the powerless and a willingness to give in rather than fight to maintain freedoms or options. As it is true that historical context can be important to the writing of the story it may also be important to look at the historical contexts of the readers to understand why or why not comments are made. Just some random thoughts... I had a professor once who liked to caution against looking too closely at historical events surrounding the writing of literature. I don’t entirely agree with him but I think in this case there might be some wisdom in that. The story is very poignant and speaks to alienation and fear of all kinds at all levels of society. I am posting this comment way after the rest of you but I can say that in recent times with the economy and uncertainty it is very easy to withdraw and give up little by little. Human relationships, from friendships to marriages to boss-employee relationships can sometimes reflect a passive attitude on the part of the powerless and a willingness to give in rather than fight to maintain freedoms or options. As it is true that historical context can be important to the writing of the story it may also be important to look at the historical contexts of the readers to understand why or why not comments are made. Just some random thoughts…

]]> By: eleena http://spanish-podcast.com/2009/01/28/se-puede-vivir-sin-pensar/#comment-1994 eleena Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:42:46 +0000 http://spanish-podcast.com/?p=991#comment-1994 Thanks, Carl, for commenting. No, I don't think you're thinking too much. I actually got a few private emails from people who downloaded the podcast about this story saying that they liked the story or that they love Cortázar's writing. But I was kind of expecting a few people to have said something publicly on the blog about the actual crux of the story. Oh well. You know that's how this blogging thing goes....the entries we anticipate being home runs turn out to be singles, while the entries we think are only a single, wind up turning into home runs. Outside of extremely negative/very controversial posts, it's hard to predict with any certainty what will get a reader/listener response. Thanks, Carl, for commenting. No, I don’t think you’re thinking too much. I actually got a few private emails from people who downloaded the podcast about this story saying that they liked the story or that they love Cortázar’s writing. But I was kind of expecting a few people to have said something publicly on the blog about the actual crux of the story. Oh well. You know that’s how this blogging thing goes….the entries we anticipate being home runs turn out to be singles, while the entries we think are only a single, wind up turning into home runs. Outside of extremely negative/very controversial posts, it’s hard to predict with any certainty what will get a reader/listener response.

]]> By: Carl http://spanish-podcast.com/2009/01/28/se-puede-vivir-sin-pensar/#comment-1989 Carl Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:32:11 +0000 http://spanish-podcast.com/?p=991#comment-1989 I've been waiting to see if any comments would show up on this post. I wonder if people are uncomfortable with a sympathetic story about the "upper class". Kind of like it's not PC to write about how Franco supporters and church clergy etc., also suffered during the civil war. Or maybe it's just me thinking too much. I’ve been waiting to see if any comments would show up on this post. I wonder if people are uncomfortable with a sympathetic story about the “upper class”. Kind of like it’s not PC to write about how Franco supporters and church clergy etc., also suffered during the civil war.

Or maybe it’s just me thinking too much.

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