As I’m sure you all noticed, I have a lot of thoughts at any given moment––most of them pertaining to things that are arguably not-at-all related to the discussion at hand and almost always disorganized. But that is something that I also found surprisingly useful in this course. The grotesque is anywhere and everywhere and that is really what makes it so unique and intriguing. I never thought a half-formed thought about a Scooby-Doo monster would contribute anything valuable in a classroom setting, but here we are!
I don’t really know what I expected coming into this semester, but I can definitely say it was not even close to the content or the classmates I anticipated. The first few classes were a bit of a shock: diving straight into Rabelais and Bakhtin along with the fat studies works and especially listing off elements of the grotesque. In that moment when Allison confidently uttered the now-famous exclamation “urethra”, I realized I was in for quite a ride. It’s kind of like getting on a roller coaster, immediately regretting it and coming to the grim realization that the bar is down so there is no escape.
Along with all the fun that I had in this class, I also think that it has really changed how I look at materials from my other classes and––quite honestly––life in general. I find myself questioning how the Grotesque and Carnivalesque appear in everyday life and how society would benefit from being more accepting of both concepts. In a pandemic-afflicted world, I’ve noticed how the things that are absent from my life at the moment (i.e. socializing, going out to eat, partying, even yelling across the DC) are really intertwined with many elements of grotesque and carnivalesque. Life would be (and is isolation) pretty bleak without the grotesque, yet the word “grotesque” is still eschewed by society as a desirable thing.
As this course comes to a close (or I guess is over while you’re reading this because I will inevitably post at 11:59), I’ve been reflecting on how much we’ve done over the course of a semester. I can say with certainty that my work and thinking extended beyond our class meetings and into my other coursework and even discussions in my common room regarding anything from body image to the profoundly mediocre Coop milkshakes. My newest goal is to continue to share what I’ve learned and hopefully spark interest in the increasingly applicable world of the Grotesque.
Thanks everyone for a great semester!
