I feel compelled to reply to this post, since you really haven't picked up the intrinsic value of literature. Literature isn't just about "HURR DURR FOREST MEANS LIFE" etc as you keep implying in your post. Rather, literature contains a wide range of sociological factors, cultural values, historical facts, life lessons and much more within it. Furthermore, it teaches you to critically analyze something and develop skills to argue against it.
This is fair, I'll give you that. As well, I don't actually hate every last book I see. I really enjoyed Brave New World to be honest, I actually put a fair bit of effort into writing those essays (and didn't get much higher marks wise but whatever). With Literature, you need to actually give a shit about what issues the book is presenting to be able to "appreciate it". I couldn't give a shit about Elizabeth Bennet or Daisy Buchanan deciding between romance and wealth. "Orwellian type books" as I like to call them, present much more provokative issues that we can connect to, and perhaps learn from. While it is true that Literature examines aspects of the human condition, there are aspects of human nature that just plain matter less than others. Once again, Literature is not the only friggin thing on Earth that enhances your critical thinking skills.
English IB HL doesn't just teach you to read a book and spit bullshit out. For me and most of my classmates, yes it did. It teaches you to see how aspects of literature can affect other subjects (I guarantee the books you've read had significant cultural aspects of not just your own nation, but other nations as well). Furthermore, it's supposed to teach you how to write critically and analytically, and also, speak fluently, eloquently and with critical thought. The fact that you've failed to pick up these intrinsic values that IB has tried to teach you, shows that you pretty much, in your own arrogance and your own supposed "own intelligence and views," failed to see the bigger picture of your education.
For a cultural reference to matter, it actually needs to have some significance in this world. Yeah, I learned the names of traditional Japanese clothing attire and the names of random rivers in India. But those are things you could learn with a simple Google search. If the Western education system wants us to appreciate other cultures. Instead of tossing random books at students, why not stop sucking on "the Corporation cock", raise taxes to get funding for important institutions such as education, and organize trips to these places. I'm certain that I'd gain much more appreciation of the Congo jungle by actually seeing it first hand, than reading about some emo and his conquest and exploitation of Africans. I'd also learn much more about imperialism in a social studies course than reading some random book. As for the "bigger picture of your education" comment, at the end of the day, its not about what IB wants to teach you. Its what you want to get out of IB. The only reason I took English HL IB was because the alternative was French HL IB, which would've been brutal. If I wanted to get critical thinking skills out of it, Courses like Theory of Knowledge are more than enough.
It's very sad that you aren't able to pick up basic themes from great books such as the Great Gatsby and see how they apply to real life situations, especially in this global economic recession we live in. Clearly you were not cut out for IB.
First of all, the Great Gatsby is a terrible basis to understand today's economic crisis. As much as I feel the gap between rich and poor is too wide, we as humanity have grown a lot since Fitzgerald's time. Cases where marriages are based 100% on wealth and social standing are getting more and more rare. The "social circle of the rich" is also growing steadily to encompass the "social circle of the poor". Lets continue taking education as an example. A century ago, if your father wasn't Charlie Big Bucks, you were going to have trouble getting education period. Now, while most Ivy Leagues schools etc. still give free passes to relatives of contributors, many more people are getting in because of their talents and abilities. Society has progressed, and will continue to progress. If you have interest in conditions from long ago, than by all means, read Gatsby over and over again. But what has passed cannot be recreated, quit dwelling in the past. Instead of worrying about Gatsby's gay little green light will guide you through life, worry about how the collapse of the Lybian green flag will impact you, your friends, and your family.
Shakespeare and Fitzgerald were literature icons and had major impact in all areas of study and yet you fail to see their significance in them. I guess you can call your years in IB pretty fucking useless.
Give me one example where Shakespeare/ Fitzgerald had significant impact on the following areas of study: Agriculture, Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Cell Biology, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computing Sciences, Data and Information Studies, Dentistry, Electrical Engineering Environmental Studies, Forestry, Genetics, Geology, Geophysics, Immunology, Materials Engineering, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Medicine, Neuroscience, Newtonian Physics, Nutrition Studies, Organic Chemistry, Pharmacy and Pharmaceuticals, Physiology, Statistics, Theoretical Physics, Veteranarianism
Definately had an impact on all areas of study.
