Class outing

This morning I took my students to the university museum, which is hosting an exhibit of works by the Bloomsbury Group, the group of friends, painters, and writers of which Virginia Woolf was a member.  The goal was to get my students to come at the Woolf novel we’re reading with an eye to the painterly aspects of the book that they may have too-readily dismissed as just “filler” material in the novel.  And I hoped that by showing them the group’s contribution to major changes in the art world they’d be in a better position to appreciate the changes Woolf and her fellow writers made to the literary one.  Although I would have loved to spend more time at the exhibit I think it went over well with my students.  And I had a great time working with the museum staff to come up with a direction for the class and exercises for my students.  Although I’m generally reluctant to take time away from the discussion of literature and writing (I mean, there’s enough trouble right there, right?), in a class that’s all about finding new ways of looking at a book I think it was worth it.

In other news, it seems Ithaca’s beginning its winter weather.  Threats of snow (enough to stick!) for later this week.  It’s been pretty wintry since the beginning of the month, so I have to wonder if this means we’re in for a “real” Ithaca winter for once.

Erin