Monthly Archives: October 2017

Putin as Murakami’s Boris the Manskinner

Murakami’s Boris the Manskinner has an unsettling resemblance to Vladimir Putin and wannabe authoritarian Donald Trump. Without strong beliefs, one cannot stand up to him.

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Mockingbird Discomfits the Wrong People

If teachers should teach controversial lit to discomfit their students, is “To Kill a Mockingbird” a good choice? There’s a problem if those most discomfited are black students.

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Rightwing Evangelicals Bind with Briars

Studies show that college does not turn young people away from religion. In fact, literature and humanities courses can strengthen faith.

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Foes of Mockingbird Have a Point

I’m somewhat sympathetic with the Biloxi parents who want to ban “To Kill a Mockingbird” in an 8th grade classroom. At the very least, I want it supplemented with works by writers of color.

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Wild Accusations of Witch Hunts

Wild accusations of witch hunts by Donald Trump and Woody Allen are not what Arthur Miller had in mind when he wrote “The Crucible.”

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Ishiguro Anticipated Brexit, Trump

Recently Nobel laureate Kazuo Ishiguro anticipated the return of tribal hatreds in the developed world.

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Kelly as Coriolanus? Dear God, No!

John McCain is John of Gaunt to John Kelly’s Coriolanus. Guess which one loves his country more.

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How Owen Meany Comforts the Bereaved

In his interactions with friends and family of slain Green Beret Sgt. La David Johnson, Trump is making the issue about himself. “Prayer for Owen Meany” reminds us that we should focus instead on the mourners.

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Religion in Class? Teach It, Don’t Preach It

Is academe biased against religion? Maybe to a degree, but religious background is essential for understanding most of the literature we teach.

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