The curriculum idea has been working relatively well, though I haven’t so much made a whole decorative page about it. I made a small list of things I’d like to explore, and have set aside a minimum of half an hour a day each to work on them. I’m currently reading about the history of ghost lore in the US and learning video editing (properly).
Ghost lore is fascinating. I’ve always been intrigued by this particular branch of folklore, and what better time to study it then the spookiest of all months? The book I’m reading at the moment, “Ghostland: An American History In Haunted Places” by Colin Dickey, talks about how ghost stories intersect with and can tell interesting things about the history and unexamined fears, shame, etc. of a culture. The ubiquitous “haunted house built on Indian burial ground” story relating to cultural shame for the land theft and genocide of Native tribes that our history books try and gloss over, the Winchester House myth being a combination of a cash grab and a neighborhood uncomfortable with the idea of a woman alone having that kind of wealth with no man to control it (and thus, her), and so on.
Next month I’m trying to decide if I want to continue alone that vein and start on the history of Spiritualism in the US, or switch over to studying about either Transcendentalism or Romanticism. If I go for Transcendentalism, I live in an excellent area to be able to take a field trip to the Fruitlands Museum or other sites key to the movement, as this was where it originated, and where it continues to influence on the local culture. I’m interested in learning about them from a folklore perspective, instead of the usual philosophical one, as it’s an angle I don’t generally see them approached from.
As is my usual plan for this year, I’m leaning heavily on my local library for resources instead of buying a whole stack of books (unless it’s either something I need and can’t find otherwise, or have determined that it’s a book I need for my own personal reference library), which is going very well. The ILL (interlibrary loan) system is glorious and apparently far too many people still don’t know about it, despite the fact that it’s been around for decades.
I’m currently dealing with a minor cold that is annoying me. I’m taking today to just do absolutely nothing except nap and drink endless cups of hot tea, so my body can devote all of it’s resources to kicking the cold’s ass. I don’t have time to be sick for long, so hopefully this will work.
Speaking of, I think it’s time to go heat up some soup for lunch and doze off for a bit again.
Tricksters Road 