Hang ups

I posted my one big hang-up in the discussion forum. Now that I look back to my beginnings in the realm of English Studies, Barthes and his concept behind myth was something that I have been dealing with since English 101 with Sean Lewis. It came up again in 205 with Dahlia, Theory with Petro, LGBT with Kalter, last semester with you in experimental lit, and it is rearing its ugly head again. I feel though I have a solid grasp on it now that I have taken the time to look back. The best way I can summarize my understanding of it is to refer to Samuel Delany's "Tales of Neveryon" and the story of Old Venn.

In this chapter Venn is teaching writing and language to a child. The child states that she could write things down and ruin someone. Old Venn tells the child that language is powerful and if used improperly it can corrupt and destroy someone.

That is what I am getting from all of this. We are in a power struggle with something of our own creation that can lead us to our own demise faster than anything else. In the scope of modern media we can use it to make kings and bring to power someone unexpected. Our current president is a good example of this. Who was he before Oprah sponsored him? The media appeal and the language that she used to support Big O and his cause is uncanny.
I reflected even more so on my current position in life. Without a basic understanding of the myth, how to communicate, and language I would be nothing. It is weird. Then I looked to my upbringing in the south and kind of laughed. Not because of the educational system but because of how I speak. I say perbatim instead of verbatim. Which has nothing to do with my understanding of language, intelligence or knowledge; however, I am still criticized for the way I speak.

I am off on a bit of a tangent here and will come back to the other two readings later. I forgot my book at a different house.