in media res

Posted Sunday, October 11, 2009 by Rod Solaimani - in Morocco

Too Hip To Be Square With Huey Lewis

In 10th grade Lit, Mr. Carson taught us that the best way to sleep covertly while standing upright is to lean stomach-first against a cabinet in the back of the classroom, and place a chalkboard eraser between your chin and chest. This technique is best employed when your students are giving 15-minute oral presentations on Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley.

In his waking hours Mr. Carson rewrote the example sentences in our vocabulary books so that they provided context within the scope of 70’s pop culture. I learned that the word “avarice” is a synonym for “greed”, and that many consider Avarice Films Inc.’s undisputed masterpiece to be Debbie Does Dallas. I thought it was a Western, and my dad worshiped John Wayne, so I asked him if he’d heard of it. He had, but to the best of his knowledge it was not a John Wayne movie. We then had a father-son moment.
Mr. Carson also taught me that all epics begin in media res and that the adventures that shape our lives are no exception.

Tags: Debbie Does Dallas, Huey Lewis, John Wayne, Percy Bysshe Shelley

Sunday, October 11th, 2009 Thoughts

2 Comments to in media res

Rodness: karate bath house? Ball dropping on New Year’s?? Huey Lewis… films about Dallas??? sounds like a lot of shenanigans! Godd stuff my man–don’t pass out in a sand dune if there are scorpions around

Suthee on October 22nd, 2009

Hi,

I am interested in applying for the fellowship. How much did you know about music from Morocco before you applied? Did you need sponsorship from your school?

Thanks!