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The Sequence of Versions

I read Future Ex Buys Pajamas before I listened to Future Ex Buys Pajamas and I think think this sequence of delving into the work is rather important.  The first paragraph of the textual version leaves be believing that Bresland, if we are to believe that he is the narrator, is a highly ironic, cynical, but interesting man.  In these first few sentences, I don't perceive anything markedly strange about our narrator, other than that he likely screams "American" or "tourist" to his fellow airplane passengers.  In some sense, I empathize with his remarks about not understanding French, that everyone seems very French, and that he is in this unfamiliar part of the world.  His observation of lingerie shops does not strike me in any obscure way.  If you have ever walked into Victoria's Secret, you see this same sort of emotional response on the husband's/significant others of wives/femals who are dragging them around the mall or, those men who need a gift for that certain someone.  No, that first moment that makes me go "hmm" is when he begins to show signs of unworthiness and confusion that he is somehow a victim.

This is in stark constrast to that first "hmm" moment that I have when listening to the audio version.  I am caught off guard by the choice of music and his vocal tone.  Perhaps he is more cynical and uncomfortable than I had first imagined.  This continues throughout the audio progression as his feelings towards being an outsider and being different, physically and on the baseline as an American human, seem more dramaticized.  The reason I say that the sequence in which I experienced these versions is important is because the text reading me was more open minded and willing to consider multiple reasons for Bresland's tone.  I don't think I would have been able to overcome my feelings about the audio versions before reading the text, and my observations would have remained firm and been consistent when my eyes hit the page.

 

 

 

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