Botany of Desire, Marijuana Chapter, pages 113-145, due Tuesday, March 31 by 9:00 AM

Please respond to one of the following questions:

A. On page 127 Pollan refers to marijuana as a "powerful symbol" and asks "did marijuana pose a grave threat to public health or was marijuana the only illicit drug in wide enough use to justify waging so ambitious a war in the first place?" (127). Marijuana continues to be in the news, particularly in terms of legalization of medicinal marijuana. What, in your opinion, does marijuana symbolize for general American culture? Do you think marijuana means different things to different groups? If so, what else does marijuana symbolize and for whom?

B. In a speech Pollan gave related to this chapter he noted: Andrew Weil calls this desire for changing consciousness the fourth human drive, after food, water, and sex. I think he is right. It certainly is a very widespread activity—a lot more widespread than we realize—and it doesn’t always involve drugs. In his first book, The Natural Mind, which is still well worth read-
ing, Weil points out that kids love to change consciousness, and they do it by
swinging, and by getting dizzy. We do it with exercise and meditation and fasting
and thrill-seeking. We’re creatures, apparently, who just happen to like to fiddle
with our brain chemistry." He makes a similar point on page 139 of the chapter. Do you agree-is changing our consciousness a human drive? What evidence can you give in support of your answer? What evidence does Pollan give in his chapter?

Andrew Weil calls this desire for changing consciousness the fourth

human drive, after food, water, and sex. I think he is right. It certainly is a very

widespread activity—a lot more widespread than we realize—and it doesn’t always

involve drugs. In his first book, The Natural Mind, which is still well worth read-

ing, Weil points out that kids love to change consciousness, and they do it by

swinging, and by getting dizzy. We do it with exercise and meditation and fasting

and thrill-seeking. We’re creatures, apparently, who just happen to like to fiddle

with our brain chemistry.

Most cultures, curiously, prom

Use the comment function below to respond.

human drive, after food, water, and sex. I think he is right. It certainly is a very

widespread activity—a lot more widespread than we realize—and it doesn’t always

involve drugs. In his first book, The Natural Mind, which is still well worth read-

ing, Weil points out that kids love to change consciousness, and they do it by

swinging, and by getting dizzy. We do it with exercise and meditation and fasting

and thrill-seeking. We’re creatures, apparently, who just happen to like to fiddle

with our brain chemistry.

human drive, after food, water, and sex. I think he is right. It certainly is a very

widespread activity—a lot more widespread than we realize—and it doesn’t always

involve drugs. In his first book, The Natural Mind, which is still well worth read-

ing, Weil points out that kids love to change consciousness, and they do it by

swinging, and by getting dizzy. We do it with exercise and meditation and fasting

and thrill-seeking. We’re creatures, apparently, who just happen to like to fiddle

with our brain chemistr

Most cultures, curiously, prm

Prodigal Summer, Pages 400-444. Due By Thursday, March 26 at 10:00 AM.

Please respond to one of the following questions:

1. What is the function of the environment or nature for the characters in the book? In what ways can you detect Kingsolver's own relationship with or to nature/the environment creeping out in the characters and their relationships to nature?

2. What is Kingsolver's purpose in writing this book? Who is her audience and what is she trying to tell or convince them of in Prodigal Summer? Or, what does this piece accomplish in terms of the natural world?

3. If you had to convince environmental studies majors to read this book, how would you sell it to them? What would you say about the book? About the author? Also, would you suggest they read it? Why or why not?

Use the comment function to respond.

Reckless

Prodigal has a number of means and each could apply to many of the characters in this book.
According to the dictionary the adjective prodigal means a.) wastefully or recklessly extravagant, b.) giving or yielding profusely, and c.) lavishly abundant. The noun prodigal applies to a person “who spends or has spent his/her money or substance with wasteful extravagance. I think only one of Kingsolver’s characters fits this definition of wasteful in reference to the environment. Garnett is all about reckless destruction in his use of sprays. His counterpart, Nanny represents conservation and a healthy earth. Deanna is the protector of the vast forest and lives very modestly, she also appears to be the opposite of prodigal when it comes to the environment. And Lusa, the lonely new comer who admires moths in a strange likeness is not wastefully, she seems to come from a place where conservation and using everything you have is a virtue. But one might apply the use of the word prodigal to the actions of the individuals’ love lives. Deanna, despite being dedicated to the hunt and continued protection of her beloved coyotes, finds herself lusting after a man who seeks to destroy them. Lusa seeks to find the place where she belongs in her lovely existence. The humans in this environment are the ones who have lost control and their emotions are running wild throughout the forest.

Post for Monday, March 23--Prodigal Summer 331-399

Please answer one of the following questions:

A. Why do you think this book is entitled Prodigal Summer? In what ways do all of the characters display "prodigal" characteristics?

B. The three major story lines are named "Predators," "Moth Love," and "Old Chestnuts." Why, besides acknowledging her respect for coyotes, spiders, and other predatory creatures, are Deanna's chapters named "Predators?" How does Lusa's life mirror the life cycle of her beloved moths? How does her love of insects lead to her emergence from her cocoon (i.e. her relationship with Crystal)? How do Garnett and Nannie remind you of "old chestnuts?" Are they extinct or going extinct?

MarkAnthony

Garnett refers to the creatures of the earth as gods gifts to humans. He supports this with a quote from the book of Genesis where god has apparently created man as superior beings who should use the plants and animals inhabiting the earth for our own good fortune, health, and consumption. Garnett feels as though through this process if some of the earths creatures go extinct it is acknowledged by the bible and thus it is ok and somewhat expected.

Nannie has contrasting views compared to Garnett and she begins stating that every creature sees itself as the center of its universe. As for salamanders, she thinks that they must see humans as simply a nusance and a creature that destroys its vital habitat. Nannie doesn't see any distinction between a species of salamander going extinct or the american chestnuts going extinct. In the entire scheme of the world they are a unique species and neither is more important than the other, however, all species interact and should coexist. She feels that for humans to singlehandedly lead to the extinction of species is wrong because god said that gluttony is a sin and abusing the environment, and thus leading to the extinction of a species like the salamander would not only be wrong but a sin according to the god. While some species might cause humans harm or simply be a nuisance, they are here for a reason and must be respected for who and what they are and that they are different and unique for a reason, whatever it may be. She strongly believes that everything must coexist here on earth and that no distinct species should have the right to destroy all of those of another species.

Blog Questions for Thursday, March 12. Prodigal Summer, pages 204-267

Respond to one of the following questions:

1. As with Pollan, evolution plays a large role in the text (see Prodigal pages 219 and 277-281). As articulated in the text, are God and evolution mutually exclusive? Why is Nannie's version of things distressing to Garnett?

2. Based on what you know about Deanna's character, why is she so bothered that Jerry knows Eddie is there (page 252-6)?

3. Deanna is the self-appointed protector of coyotes and all predators. Is she disturbing nature's own ways of dealing with upsets? What about Garnett and his quest for a blight-free chestnut tree--is this "good" for nature?

Use the comment link below to respond to one of the questions. Your response is due by 5 PM on Thursday.

Blog Questions for Tuesday, March 10. Prodigal Summer, pages 146-203

You must respond to one of the following questions:

1. Look over pages 187 and 215-217. What are Garnett's and Nannie's ethics regarding the natural world and their place(s) in it?

2. What are the ethics of farming in the "Moth Love" Chapters?

3. On pages 177-180 Deanna and Eddie talk about their own connections to animals, specifically predators. What does it mean to Deanna to be an animal lover? And for Eddie? In other words, how do Deanna and Eddie understand the relationship between humans and animals?

Please use the comment link below to respond. Your response is due by 5 PM on Tuesday.

Prodigal Summer, Pages 68-145. Due Wendesday, March 4

Please respond to one of the questions:

A. Unpack Lusa's dream on page 79. What does the dream mean?

B. In chapters 6 and 9, both named "Old Chestnuts," we start to learn more about Garnett's views on the relationship between man, the environment, and God. How would you characterize his viewpoints or his brand of environmentalism? What is the relationship of man to nature?

C. On Tuesday we noted that one of the themes in the book is language and (mis)communication. Look at the conversations that happen in Chapter 8 between Lusa and members of the Widener family and examine the different forms of communication that are occuring. How is Lusa both part of and apart from the Widener family?

Prodigal Summer: Due Tuesday, March 4 by 10 AM.

Please respond to one of the following questions using the "comment" link below:

A. One of the themes in Prodigal Summer is that of insects, and moths to be specific. In these first 67 pages, what role do the moths play? What do we learn about moths? How do they reflect the situations of Deanna, Lusa, and Garnett?

B. A theme within the book is that of predator and prey. Find a passage from Thursday's reading that relates to predator and prey and analyze it. Who is the predator (animal or human)? Who is the prey (animal or human)? How are they navigating this relationship? Is the entrance of the predator considered a positive or negative entrance?

C. Read the poem that prefaces the book. What is a Prothalamium? What is the poem about? Who is being addressed? What does the poem suggest the book will be about?