About a century ago (in mommy-years) I wrote my honors thesis at BYU on Emily Dickinson and how she was a Transcendental Trinitarian. (Oh, it was ground-breaking and all kinds of awesome).
Seriously, her poems are terse epics, and it’s been speculated that perhaps she would’ve made a fantastic blogger, what with the letter-writing and the staying in her house a lot.
What kind of blogger would she be, though? I’ve read a bunch of BlogHer recap posts about great times with friends online or already met, greedy swaghags, and men asking in elevators if it was a cosmetics convention. (I should possibly note here that if Chick-fil-A and/or Mountain Dew and/or Baked wanted to sponsor me to BlogHer 2010 in New York City next year I could probably donate some insulin to a diabetic toddler from Myanmar as a PR stunt for brand exposure humanitarian gesture, just to generate some general goodwill.)
But I don’t think Emily would’ve left Amherst for a conference, even if there was a chance of Crocs swag:
I’m Nobody! Who are you?
Are you — Nobody — Too?
Then there’s a pair of us!
Don’t tell! they’d advertise — you know!
How dreary — to be — Somebody!
How public — like a frog –
To tell one’s name — the livelong June –
To an admiring Bog!
*from the Thomas H. Johnson edited Complete Poems
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Do nobodies need loser assistants to accompany them to New York? Because I am willing to rub feet.
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Jane Reply:
July 27th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Yes! If anyone offers to sponsor me, I promise to make your coming as my assistant a condition of my condescending to let them pay my way. Foot rubs optional (though much-appreciated!).
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That’s one of my favorite poems. I went to UMass and lived near Emily’s house there.
What happened at BlogHer was an anomaly. What matter is the community of people who do this for the love of doing it – whether it’s writing poems in the lonely corners of the Berkshires or having all sorts of “followers” – at least to those that are in blogging for all the right reasons.
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Jane Reply:
July 27th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Enjoyed your post and responses to comments. (Is it horrible that I am dying to know who she was? Will pretend I am quite above such gossip though
).
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The worst thing anyone can say around me is that they are either a)nobody or b)have a stupid little blog.
I’d even punch Emily in the face if she were to ever say such a thing.
Everybody is somebody to someone on the internet.
You are pretty much the only other Mormon on the Internet that doesn’t take themselves too seriously. So thanks for that. Srsly.
Chick-Fil-A for all.
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Jane Reply:
July 27th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Hey now. No threatening the recluse.
But really — I think she was proud of being above the rabble; I think she’s sincere in her assessment of “fame” being tiresome, and not afflicted with sour grapes. So I respect her for this sentiment, and even imagine that to tell her otherwise would be a tad condescending.
And thanks — but I don’t think we’re alone. Maybe we should make a list.
Top 100 Mormons Who Don’t Take Themselves Too Seriously.
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It is funny how we progress as bloggers. When I started I wanted the attention, the notice, the sponsors, etc. Now, I don’t care. I like to write and I like it if people read. If they don’t read though, I’m kind of okay with that too. I’m not all that interested in give-aways and swag and all that junk that advertisers try to push on you – frankly, they are kind of a pain. I enjoy the people I meet, the other lives I get to know, the universal human experience that seems to connect all of us bloggers on an emotional level. Emily, for sure would have gotten that.
Love Emily, my favorite poet of all time. Was going to name my daughter after her. Are you sure we’re not sisters from different mothers?
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Jane Reply:
July 28th, 2009 at 7:54 am
The only time I wish I had a larger audience (more influence) is when I write a commentary/persuasive-type post and I know that mostly the people who read me tend to agree with my point of view anyway (which is great, because it is an awesome point of view), but then I wish I could tell my view of things to people who might not even have thought of it that way before, you know?
Well, and whenever I feel poor — those times I also wish for a larger audience, but that’s just for the money. ;P
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I wish you’d attach your Transcendental Trinitarian paper to your blog for all to see and learn from.
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Jane Reply:
July 28th, 2009 at 7:55 am
Oh, if only I had it in electronic form. (hah!). But I can bring it out to Florida with me if you’re really interested. I haven’t looked at that thing in 10 years. (And there’s probably a reason for that.)
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WOW – being new to the blogging world, I sometimes feel I am reading a different language when I check out some of the blogs you reference. So, for my blogging education, could you tell me what “swag” stands for? I’m assuming the term has something to do with give-aways. AND I’m also interested to find a list of all the different kinds of bloggers there are out there in the blog-i-verse.
Don’t you feel, however, that sometimes blogs start sounding so much like all the others in their genre, that you wonder if one person is authoring them all? (Impossible, I know, but it’s interesting to find a common voice in so many – give or take a few profanities.)
Lastly, I am so impressed with the topic of your honors thesis – anything that includes Emily D. is impressive.
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Jane Reply:
July 28th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
(Sorry, usually I try to warn if there are profanities in posts I link to. I hope you weren’t offended).
Yes, sometimes I wonder when voices sound so similar, but I think this has been somewhat of a literary trend throughout time. Certain metaphors and forms of humor are popular, and we imitate the writing we like either on purpose or accidentally. (At least I try to — I mean in the sense of trying to improve, you know?).
Oh, and swag is anything you’re given at a conference or event, from sponsors or companies hoping that you’ll blog positively about their product. The best swag I’ve gotten so far (though since it came in the mail I’m not sure it technically qualifies, but it was free product), was no-wedgie panties from Hanes for Sally. Came just in time for back-to-school last year.
(Hello? Hanes? Can you hear me? School is about to start again, and my kids are still growing.)
Finally, I should mention my collegiate career more often. It was very impressive. (very). (oh yes).
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Renae Reply:
July 29th, 2009 at 8:34 am
Thanks for the response, J. Don’t worry about me being offended. I think I might make the list of Mormons who don’t take themselves to seriously. I may not be numbered among the TOP 100 as I am a nobody in the world of blogging.
By the way, I’ve been thinking about becoming a “commentor” instead of a blogger. Think there are any sponsors willing to support someone who just loves to feed off what others post?
AND, another observation: As a teacher of students ranging from 6th to 11th grades as well as teachers of all grades, I’ve learned that writers love comments about their writing. Of course, students only want to receive positive responses while “mature” writers say they welcome all observations. SO, I think there’s a place for “professional” commentors, don’t you?
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Yet one more positive comment: Your “Seagull Fountain” title page is among the very best of the ones I’ve encountered in my brief career as a commentor! Kudos to you and Alma!
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Jane Reply:
July 29th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Yes, after you told me about that *one* website your son showed you, I kinda guessed you don’t take yourself too seriously.
On my site design and header, thank you. I love it. I love a lot of clean empty white space, and I LOVE the header Alma Loveland (checkout her site by clicking on the “design by” button on the right sidebar) drew for me. LOVE it.
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I emailed that exact poem to my friend last month. I, too, wonder about how Emily Dickinson would have taken to the blogging world. Being in a more math based major, I’m afraid I will have to google “Transcendental Trinitarian” (thank heavens for cut and paste. No way I would be able to remember the spelling for that).
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Jane Reply:
July 29th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
Hey Charlotte — if you find something on “transcendental trinitarian” let me know, bec. I’m totally suing for copyright infringement. My thesis was on how Emily absorbed tenets from those two belief systems/philosophies and created her own sort of world view. A lot of her poems have trinities in them, though not always the Christian trinity, and they also reflect many of the same sensibilities as Emerson.
That actual phrase, however, was one I coined back in 1999. My thesis was actually accepted as a paper at the 1999 Emily Dickinson conference in Amherst, but Mr. Bennet and I went to Japan instead that summer, to teach English. Sometimes I wish I’d kept up in the academic world, but after awhile, there’s only so much to say, even about Emily Dickinson (I mean, if you’re not interested in establishing that she was a lesbian or something).
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Charlotte Reply:
July 29th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
When I google it you are #3 on the list. Thanks for the explanation, though. It has been a long time since my literary thoughts have surpassed book club level.
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Jane Reply:
July 29th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Holy cow! Still such a kick in the pants to be on the google.
So, I have never even been a part of a book club, though I am joining one next month. I confess usually I end up reading old Harlequin romances in my free time. Such wonderful cliches of domineering men and virginal super-women.
I love white-space, too. Though you’d be pressed to believe it when you look at the black Relief Society blog, the green personal blog, and the over-the-top polka-dot professional blog I host. I want to change them all!!!!! AND I want to ask Mr. Bennett for help with my WordPress site. Is he still willing? Is he available, and if so when is the best time to impose upon his goodwill?
PS – Must say I also like the formality of “Mr. Bennett” vs. the casual reference of “Dick.” See you sometime, Ms. Jane.
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Jane Reply:
July 29th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Probably a Sunday late afternoon? (We feel it is okay to develop our “hobbies” on Sunday).
I think Dick likes it too.
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Around my work, SWAG stands for Stuff We All Get, as in trade show junk.
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Jane Reply:
July 31st, 2009 at 12:00 am
Yeah, that sounds about right. My dad was always bringing stuff home from the druggies (drug company representatives).
I don’t think I knew that pens without drug names on them existed until I was in high school.
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Charlotte Reply:
July 31st, 2009 at 6:50 am
Pens without drug names on them- that there is crazy talk.
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Every year, all my female blogging friends tell me that I just HAVE to go to Blogher.
This was the first year that I unequivocally felt glad that I didn’t go.
I get more positive rejuvenation from our Utah Geek Dinners when you attend than I could ever get from a free video camera in a SWAG bag.
I think you’re right. Emily wouldn’t have set foot in Chicago this year. Jane Austen, on the other hand, would have been there, skewering the activities with a razor-sharp wit.
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Jane Reply:
July 31st, 2009 at 12:04 am
I start thinking BlogHer sounds great in the winter, but by summer I am okay with not going, and when I read the post-conference posts/tweets, all I feel is relief. (Which is not to say that I wouldn’t go if I had sponsors who hawked products that I truly loved).
Would love to read Jane Austen’s take on our contemporary life.
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Jane Reply:
July 31st, 2009 at 12:05 am
Oh, and it was a geek dinner with you that opened all sorts of blogging-event-type doors for me. Thanks! (and I like our friendship too
.
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It was wonderful meeting you yesterday. I’ve been enjoying your blog today.
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Jane Reply:
July 31st, 2009 at 12:05 am
Thanks! and Ditto!
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