Missive from Collection at Reed College

Note the content and style (calligraphic and otherwise)...

Comments

Lindsey McAnulty said…
In this letter Gary Synder is telling his mother about Redlands California. He talks about how he is spending the week there to write. He begins describing the place and having to "up its image" and describes the students as stupid. This leads me to believe he doesn't think very highly of Redlands and the people residing here.
August 24, 2012 at 12:49 PM
Unknown said…
Gary Snyder seems to degrade Redlands, California in the fact that he mentions that the students are stupid for the most part and that hes trying to up the image of the college. As for as place goes, Redlands receives a bad image as far as the people there. Gary Snyder does not seem to mention his surroundings in Redlands.
August 24, 2012 at 12:50 PM
Caroline Miller said…
While Gary Snyder is talking about his visit to the Baptist Private College, he talks about this place in negative terms. For example, he states that the school is trying to up its image, meaning it needs some work and he even insults the students in attendance. He does not seem to have any positive feedback on his stay at this place except for the free drinks and meeting with two other visitors. He also mentions that the school is in Redlands, CA which Snyder probably describes in a more positive way.
August 24, 2012 at 12:50 PM
Zeke Hartner said…
In his letter, Snyder seems upset with the conditions he has found in Redlands, Specifically with the people who surround him. He claims to only find comfort in two others who are with him, and claims everyone else he has met lacks intelligence. He also has some issue with his hosts, as they try to give him as little as possible during his stay in Redlands.Overall, he seems dissatisfied with the place he has been residing and he appears to be eager to leave.
August 24, 2012 at 12:50 PM
Unknown said…
I find it humorous that when discussing how the college is trying to "up its image" he refers to all of the students as stupid. He seems a little condescending in the sense that he feels more entitled to be there - which he probably is - than the "stupid students." However, it doesn't sound as though this college is treating him as he feels he should be treated, considering he refers to himself as lucky if he gets served a single drink.
August 24, 2012 at 12:51 PM
Courtney Turner said…
In this letter, Gary is in Redlands, California for the week speaking about his experience as a "writer-in-residence." As you can see, Gary seems to downgrade the location, therefore feeling that change could be done in order to enhance it's image. He speaks about the people he encounters on a regular basis; that they disappoint him with their stupidity. Although, the sense of contentment in his writing generates curiosity. Gary mentions that he is trying to "up its image." From this statement, Gary clearly has a concern for the area with assumed intentions of making it a better place.
August 24, 2012 at 12:52 PM
Unknown said…
Gary's first sentence in this letter seems like he is mocking California when he says "Redlands Calif." The he goes on about stupid college students and how the University he is 'writing' at is trying to change its reputation. To me it seems like he has put up a wall between the people around him and himself therefore not fully taking in the palce he is in.
Gary goes on about the people he is travelling with, two anthropologist.
August 24, 2012 at 12:54 PM
Unknown said…
In this letter, Snyder is pretty much trashing the "place" he is in right now. He talks about the "stupid college students", poor meals, and so on. However on a lighter side he says his company isn't bad including both a world renown anthropologist and geneticist.
August 24, 2012 at 1:54 PM
Unknown said…
Gary Snyder, and esteemed poet, is writing home to his mother in this letter. He discusses his work as a residing writer in Redlands, California and mentions how the students there are "stupid", yet the university is trying to raise its standards and improve its image. The fact that he referred to the students as stupid shows that he has been to several college campuses and universities, and that this specific location seems to have a lot of work to do in order to achieve a higher standard. Because of his evident travel to many esteemed campuses, Snyder shows his ideal "place" as one with intelligent students that challenge his thinking as much as he challenges theirs.
August 24, 2012 at 1:54 PM
Kristin Snyder said…
Gary Snyder seems to look down upon the Redlands. He calls the students "stupid for the most part," and believes the Baptist college is only "trying to up its image." However, Snyder does respect the other "esteemed" authors visiting with him. He views his business tour as more a job than something he enjoys doing.
August 24, 2012 at 3:04 PM
Michael Brangle said…
In this letter, Gary Snyder is describing the place he is currently staying to his mother. He is staying is Redlands California and doesn't seem to enjoy it. He writes about poor meals and stupid college students all around him. He also speaks of the poor service he and his friends are receiving. He obviously doesn't seem to enjoy this place as much as he would his home. The unfamiliarity seems to annoy him and cause a craving to be back home.
August 24, 2012 at 3:06 PM
Vinicius Taguchi said…
Gary is writing to his mother from Redlands, California. He spends time with other visitors rather than residents, even though he is the "writer-in-residence." In fact, he refers to the students there as "stupid," for the most part. In terms of living there, Gary calls it the "poet's life" and does not appear to be adequately nourished. His final statements appear to convey home-sickness, at least to some degree.
August 24, 2012 at 3:06 PM
John Cameron Murray said…
In this letter, Snyder really talks about how different it is for him at the University of Redlands. What he perceives as the normal way for a host to treat somebody isn't at all what he is experiencing in this new place. This is very apparent in his comment about receiving one drink per day. He isn't used to the way in which people interact in California as opposed to where he is from.
August 24, 2012 at 3:06 PM
Unknown said…
Snyder is very blatant in his dislike of the (ex-?) Baptist Private College in Redlands, California. He acts as though the staff is not giving him the treatment he deserves, although he writes that off as the life of a poet. He seems to think very highly of himself. He clearly would rather be at one of the other more esteemed Universities. His only comfort is sharing his turmoil with two other scholars.
August 24, 2012 at 3:08 PM
Unknown said…
In his letter to his mother Snyder practices his calligraphy to describe a college in Redlands, California. the college itself is nothing special but he meets some renowned anthropologist and geneticists who he enjoys his free drink with every day. He is relishing the little things that he experiences while he is on his business tours. He uses this to take away from the fact that the college he is visiting is less than ideal, a sort of coping mechanism he might have developed to get him through his travels. Snyder then shifts his attention to his mother to show his genuine concern for her well-being and his attachment to his home and where he grew up.
August 24, 2012 at 3:19 PM
Karina Gomez said…
I couldn't read this letter very well. It's small, and some of his words are blurred and smearing together. What I could read though is that he is in Redlands, California and is a "writer in residence." He says that the students there are stupid, which I don't understand why. What I also can read is that he is wondering how is mother is feeling and hopes that she is doing well. He seems, for the most part, to be having some good times while he is there.
August 24, 2012 at 4:08 PM
Unknown said…
From what I was able to read, Snyder appears to be quite dissatisfied with the college. Although he doesn't comment too much about the scenery, he does make a remark about the students' lack of intelligence. He also states that he isn't being fed very often. Truly, the company of the two renown scholars seems to be the highlight of his trip.
August 24, 2012 at 6:59 PM
Unknown said…
In this letter home to his mother, Gary Snyder describes his stay in Redlands, California. He says that the students are stupid. He also mentions that they have to "up their image" which means that they are not very developed or sophisticated. From what I understand, Gary Snyder is not enjoying his stay in Redlands. He is just updating his mother because he has been out of touch for several days.
August 24, 2012 at 9:19 PM
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