As the World Worlds

This week in our Comp Lit class on the German philosophers, we're covering Heidegger's "Origin of the Work of Art."

There are moments when I feel guilty about all the studying I do, and I'm certain this contributes to my procrastination (yeah, I get housewife hangover after all these years). The only way I seem to be able to allay this anxiety is by showing Matt (el esposo) just what I have to deal with.

Reading random passages from Heidegger usually does the trick.

"Matt! Listen to this… Heidegger's talking about… here… the `thingly character of the thing, the equipmental character of equipment, and the workly character of the work.' But there's more. A little further on - this is even better - 'the world worlds.' You see what I have to put up with??"

Matt's eyes widen incredulously and he slowly shakes his head.

Am I grossly oversimplifying? Sure. Am I being dramatic? Of course.

Am I gloating? Hee-hee. Vindication!

I can now go back to my homework. A little less guilty about not doing the dishes at the moment. And eventually, a little less guilty about being behind on all the stuff I'm setting aside to attend to Heidegger's prose.