mistaken assumptions

for once we had an awesome discussion in my previously mentioned English class. it was about the deterioration of the English major as a whole, and what exactly majoring in the humanities entails. it was...marvelous. because we are all so passionate about our major that to imply that it isn't important or necessary inspires even the most laid-back and reticent of us to rise valiantly to our major's defense.

what we discovered while talking about the humanities is that so many people believe the English major is something inherent in a person---that it can't be taught. you can either understand and write poetry or you can't. you can correctly analyze a piece of literature or you have no idea what it means. you are born with the English major gene or you aren't. you cannot be taught.

that viewpoint is so wrong it makes my soul ache. love of writing can be taught. there is no correct way to analyze a piece of literature, or rather there is a certain process to go about analyzing a work but literature and poetry is still complete open to interpretation.

that freedom of interpretation is the beauty of the English major that people often miss. anyone can read a poem or a book and love it; the way the words blend and click together, and how a story unfolds like an intricate puzzle. anyone can appreciate beauty, and how the sound of a sentence can fall like music on your ears. language is an intricate part of life. you cannot have society or humanity without language. it allows us to communicate, to create beauty, to spark ideas, and to share emotion....passion. it is what seperates us from every other species on earth.

the English major isn't for everyone, and by no means am i making that claim.

but it's also not a mysterious cult, a biological quirk, or a predestined choice.
it is open to everyone.
like anything else, you just need a love of it.