"So that happened..." What is the moral to T.C. Boyle's "Greasy Lake"?

Think about our conversations today about T.C. Boyle's "Greasy Lake"

Is there a moral to the story? Is there a lesson learned by the narrator?

In contemporary fiction (and society), are we resistant to a moral to the story?

Is life just a string of random events "that happened"?

What meaning as readers do we give this story?

What is the role of violence (in the story - and society), the influence of Hollywood films, and our attitude towards death?

What's T.C. Boyle's intention: parody, entertainment, or enlightenment?

Here's the scene, I mentioned in class. In David Mamet's film State and Maine, consider the moral in the first part of this clip which is juxtaposed with the significance of Alec Baldwin's line, "So that happened..."

HWK: Continue to revise and write your short story.

Remember to BRING both Fiction and Vocab books to class tomorrow.

• Story Writing Assignment: Due Next Friday, September 27th
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• It’s time for you to write your own original modern short story. The subject can be of your choosing.  But your story should have:
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• --a protagonist
• --an antagonist
• --at least 2 incidents in the rising action
• --a climax
• --falling action and a resolution
• --an epiphany (the epiphany can appear either in the climax or in the resolution)
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• Here are a few things you should not/cannot do:
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• --no supernatural activity
• --no profanity
• --no graphic sex or violence
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• Stories should be typed, double-spaced with 1-inch margins. Length should be 3-4 pages (5 pages maximum—you’ll be penalized if your story is any longer).  I will grade you on how well you adhere to the guidelines, and on the vividness and originality of your story.
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• Stories are due on Friday, September 27th^th.
• In addition to the work you do at home, you will have some class time (likely two class periods) to work on your stories.
• This assignment is worth 100 points.