Last Wednesday I did something a bit out of character for myself: I got involved. The UGA English Department brought Pulitzer-prize winning author Junot Diaz to speak at the chapel, and I am so happy I forced myself to go.
I read Diaz's novel The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao last fall in American Lit, and thoroughly enjoyed it. The book is fascinating in its palpable presentation of intermingling cultures, as the young protagonist (like Diaz) is a Dominican immigrant growing up in New Jersey. Diaz is a bit of a young gun on the literary scene and I really had no idea what to expect from his visit to campus, but he kind of blew me away.
He did two brief readings, one from a short story and one from Oscar Wao, and spent the rest of the time on Q&A with the crowd. Obviously you assume writers to be somewhat articulate speakers, but I've never seen anyone tackle every answer with such ease and fluidity when put on the spot. He was far more impressive than politicians. The very first question he was asked launched a full-fledged discussion about the nature of art, and Diaz's response was so enlightened that I want to share a few quotes.
''Art challenges the church's authority. If not viewed through a religious prism, art allows people to view the world in a way that would make it very hard to be pushed around by any institution.''
''In a capitalist society, the artist is the first to be thrown off the row boat when the going gets bad.''
And my personal favorite:
''There is no novel that does not have deep within its belly the exact opposite point that the artist is arguing.''
In so many words, Junot Diaz is brilliant. His views on society and art gave me a new perspective. I'm only sorry my lazy ass hasn't attended more campus events the past couple years, but now I know I've been missing.
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