MODES OF THOUGHT IN ANTERRAN LITERATURE

c667, 2nd year classics

file: 103

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Raquel: Okay, I'm recording. 

Hai Rong: Yeah. Yeah, I can see that. 

Raquel: So, you know, whatever you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. This is a trial now? Yes, exactly. So, you know, be careful you don't implicate yourself. 

Hai Rong: I think I can control myself. Can I ask you a question, though? 

Raquel: Sure. 

Hai Rong: This Anterran Lit class… seems like there's a lot of debate about it.

Raquel: Ha, pretty generous to call it debate. 

Hai Rong: You think so? 

Raquel: No, no. Debate is actually pretty accurate. Different interpretations of the same set of facts. 

Hai Rong: So, what's your take?  

Raquel: That's complicated.

Hai Rong: I can handle complexity. 

Raquel: Yeah, I'm getting that sense.

Hai Rong:

Well?

Raquel: It's just, I knew the professor before he started teaching this class, and he's like, a legend in archaeoliterature. Which is what I'm doing my grad thesis in. So, there's no one else here I'd rather be working with. But…

Hai Rong: But? 

Raquel: But I don't know. I mean, he got separated a couple of years ago and it was so fucking messy. Ugh, he was so fucked up. But at the same time, he got tenure and it's part of the standard contract, right? You know, tenure professors can teach one class of their choosing. That spring, he was a wreck. Definitely drinking a lot and generally kind of phoning it in. But the next fall, he came back clear eyed and bushy tailed and ready to get back to work. And that was the first year he offered the History of Anterran Lit class. So... 

Hai Rong: So what happened? What changed? 

Raquel: I have no idea. You 

Hai Rong: didn't ask him? 

Raquel: Nope, no way. As far as I could tell, he was back, and I was on my way to getting my thesis done with an advisor who really means something. 

Hai Rong: But, I mean 

Raquel: What? 

Hai Rong: Well, all the students I've talked to think he's totally crazy, like, certifiable.

Raquel: Have you seen those students? I mean, they're idiots. 

Hai Rong: Yeah, you're right about that. 

Raquel: So, why did you take the class then? I mean, if you think he's nutballs. 

Hai Rong: Because either way, it's pretty fucking intriguing, right? Either he's right, in which case there's been a world changing discovery that no one else knows about, or he's like some crazy outsider artist guy who's made up an entire world history down to the most obsessively granular details.

Raquel: And which do you think it is?

Hai Rong: Honestly, I have no idea. That's why I wanted to talk to you. 

Raquel: I hope that wasn't the only reason. 

Hai Rong: No, no, but I mean, I definitely wanted the scoop.

Raquel: Well, I don't think I can answer the mystery for you. The stuff you've shown me, the language, the archaeology, I just don't think it's possible for one dude to make it all up.

There's just too much, but then there's nothing on the internet. Almost. 

Hai Rong: What do you mean?

Raquel: I mean, I found some references to the Chinese sub accident. 

Hai Rong: You did? I couldn't find anything. 

Raquel: Yeah, it was in an Argentinian newspaper archive somewhere. Weird. I have it somewhere. 

Hai Rong: Can I see it? 

Raquel: Sure. But, first, let's talk about my needs. The Media Arts Project? 

Isn't that why we're here?

Hai Rong:  Okay, okay. Hit me. 

Raquel: Uh, okay, hold on. I've gotta pee.

Pause. From a distance:

Raquel: I only have red, is that ok?

Hai Rong: I love red. Thank you. 

Raquel: Yeah.

Hai Rong: Okay, I'm ready. 

Raquel:Great. Let's  talk about you. So. Question number one, where are you from originally? 

Hai Rong: Well, I was born in Yantai, China, but I moved to Vancouver when I was ten. 

Raquel: Was that hard? 

Hai Rong: Not really. I mean, sure, the language was tricky and I missed my friends, but I think I was just young enough to not care too much.

Raquel: Oh man, I would have been pissed if my parents moved when I was ten.

Hai Rong: Yeah, that's definitely a cultural thing. American kids especially feel like they have a vote in what they do and where they go. My parents didn't really see it that way. Neither did I. 

Raquel: Do you feel like those expectations your parents had, those um, cultural differences, did they play out through your adolescence too?

Hai Rong: Oh, they're still playing out dude. Those never go away. 

Raquel: Weird how that works.

Hai Rong: Do your parents put a lot of pressure on you too? 

Raquel: Not really. They're pretty low key, honestly. They're both academics, so as long as I'm safely ensconced in the ivory tower, they're fine. 

Hai Rong: Must be nice. 

Raquel: What do your parents do?

Hai Rong: They're engineers. My dad is a chemical engineer and my mom is also a chemical engineer. 

Raquel: Got it. So zero expectations, very low key parenting style. 

Hai Rong: Exactly. Nailed it. 

Raquel: Next question. Brothers and sisters? 

Hai Rong: One sister, older. 

Raquel: And what's she up to? 

Hai Rong: She's married, living in Vancouver. She's a dentist. 

Raquel: Does that qualify as scientific enough for your parents?

Hai Rong: Oh, they don't care about science. Heh. No, it's all about stability. And yeah, dentistry? Very stable. Plus, she just had her first kid, so. Yeah, she's the golden child. 

Raquel: And you're not?

Hai Rong: Heh. Well, by comparison, they don't really understand how classics is going to lead to a stable job. 

Raquel:  It is a little lofty, I guess.

Hai Rong: If it was strictly Chinese classics, they might get that. But even then…

Raquel: More wine? 

Hai Rong:I probably shouldn't. We had three at the bar. 

Raquel: That's not a no.

Hai Rong: Your expertise in linguistics is next level.

Raquel:  I owe it all to that logic class with Professor Ligari.

Hai Rong: Ugh, I hated that class. 

Raquel: I know, but Professor Laguerre, ugh, she is so hot.

Hai Rong: So that's your type?

Raquel: Mmm, I don't have a type. I'm post-type.

Hai Rong: Well you took me out. You got me tipsy. You brought me back to your room under the lame pretext of making some podcasts about foreign transfer students, and now you're pouring me more wine, so I think Professor Ligari would agree that the next logical question is: am I your type? 

Raquel: I'd have to do some research.

Hai Rong: Fieldwork?

Raquel:  Real world experience.

Hai Rong: You're not really doing a podcast on foreign transfer students, are you? 

Raquel: Nope. 

Hai Rong: You're not very good at subterfuge. 

Raquel: Wanna know what I am good at?

Hai Rong: Fuck. Oh, can you turn that off? Or are we making a different kind of podcast? 

Raquel:  Oops. Yeah, that's um, second date material.

Modes of Thought in Anterran Literature. This podcast is made possible by Harbridge University, a grant from the National Endowment for Humanities, the Peeler Prize in Archaeological Literature, and the Harbridge Family Trust. For more information and a reading list, please visit wlfdr.com