Seldom do I look
forward to reading. I have made mention of this fact to my classmates and Professor
Anderson during our first acquaintance, but upon receiving the transcribed Tobias
Wolff interview I was a bit curious and a bit excited. Considering Professor
Wolff’s background details a military service appointment I felt somewhat drawn
to his words although I have read none of his works. I proceeded to read the
entire 23 page document non-stop.
During the course of the class
discussion in which the Wolff interview was reviewed I was troubled that my
classmates appeared to be drawn in and became enamored by Wolff’s responses.
Moreover however, my classmates, whom I recall made mention that they to aspire
to write (as in become writers) seemed drawn in to what I viewed as corporate
responses which they in turn absorbed as true, heart felt, and moving answers
to routinely mundane questions.
Maybe it’s the cynic within me that
was unable to accept such bland and professional response as thought provoking
and insightful. After all, my professional upbringing, both military and law
enforcement, ensures that I ingest information only at face value and then
analyze the format in which it is presented, the circumstances surrounding the
presentation, and the motivation of the presenter. In this case, my presenter
was merely walking the corporate line and offered little insight or challenge
to his audience. Was this merely a book tour interview in which the author
acquiesced?
When
challenged by his interviewer however, my observations were further confirmed. Professor
Wolff appeared shortsighted and uninterested; at times presenting other authors
and works as a form of re-direction and dismissive as to the social
responsibilities a writer may be beholden to, if any. He appeared to lack
sincerity and enthusiasm for the profession and further diminished the ideals
of a lived and learned life as a microcosmic element inherent to writing yet he
himself has valued his past to put forth critically acclaimed works.
If
my classmates are to truly follow in the footsteps of the art of writing, I
believe cynicism and doubt, as well as desire to experience life with limitless
boundaries will allow them to become that which they appear to have admired
from Professor Wolff. After all, it was he that forged letters of
recommendation to gain entry into a specific prep school. It was he that joined
the military as an enlisted man when the commissioned officer status was
available. It was he that survived a combat zone both at home and abroad.
Do
you know how I am able to tell you are lying? Your lips are moving.
JJ can you clarify for me / us: what are the implications (for you) that Wolff joined the military as an enlisted man when an officer post was available? and what are you implying by the fact that he survived a combat zone? do you mean both these traits also require cynicism / doubt / dishonesty? the same dishonesty demonstrated in his forging of the rec letters?
ReplyDeleteIs the idea here that he will do what it takes to succeed, no matter what--ethics aside? lie, if lying means survival?
DeleteWolff's decision to join the military as an enlisted man, regardless of circumstance, ensured that he'd be limited to mundane tasks and a limited leadership role. That moment allowed him to view, live, and experience that portion of his life as a sort of common man; a military blue collar existence of sorts. Had he been commissioned as an officer from the onset his perspectives would have possibly been skewed toward the company line and limited his growth as a writer. More importantly however, his eventual ascension into the commissioned rank furthered his growth and expanded his perspectives; perspectives I can only assume lead to the memoir "In Pharaoh's Army."
ReplyDeleteI further alluded to Wolff's combat zone survival within my original post referencing his mother's abusive experiences at home during his childhood (as noted in "This Boy's Life") and abroad as a combat veteran, in which he detailed his exposure to the "Tet Offensive" as two precipitous moments in his life leading to his persona as a writer. Again, two very personal experiences that are the roots of his memoirs and allowed Wolff, the writer, to reflect upon them in order to develop award winning literary works.
Wolff's behaviors, leading to published works, merit analytical analysis by its readers. As Wolff made evidently clear when interviewed, readers take ownership and are therefore allowed to interpret them as they see fit. Moreover, Wolff's motivations are subsequently subject to interpretation. Readers may use past actions, such as the forgery of letters of recommendations, to question the author's ethical behaviors.
Wolff has presented us with a pattern of behavior that when closely applied to the transcribed interview allows for the academic and student population to question the motives behind Wolff's answers. Be they corporate, professional or personal responses, the reader may infer from them what he will. I have developed my opinion of Wolff's motivation for acquiescing to this interview and I have concluded that, unlike his military enlistment, he has chosen to echo the company line. A line developed quite possibly as a result of a life lived as a Stanford University professor.