Monthly Archives: August 2012

A Summer Moment of Perfect Being

By Robin Bates | Published: August 14, 2012

Li Po’s poem captures the joys of a summer hike in the mountains.

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With Ryan as VP, Rand Seizes the GOP

By Robin Bates | Published: August 13, 2012

With Paul Ryan as Mitt Romney’s vice-presidential choice, Ayn Rand’s novels have taken over the GOP.

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Tess Reveals the Real Meaning of Baptism

By Robin Bates | Published: August 12, 2012

The unorthodox baptism in “Tess of the D’Urbervilles” gives us special insight into the power of the ritual.

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Usain Bolt as Shakespeare’s Puck

By Robin Bates | Published: August 11, 2012

Like Shakespeare’s Puck, Usain Bolt toys with his opponents.

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Sight and Sound’s “Greatest Films” Poll

By Robin Bates | Published: August 10, 2012

“Sight and Sound’s: once-every-ten-years poll is out, and “Citizen Kane” is no longer #1.

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Beauty vs. Violence – Who Wins?

By Robin Bates | Published: August 9, 2012

Yesterday I posted on the first part of an Elaine Scarry article where she discusses how the novel, by fostering empathy, has helped lessen violence–or so Steven Pinker claims in his book The Better Angels of Our Nature. Today I look at two other ways, according to Scarry, that literature contributes to a more humane world: […]

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Lit’s Role in the Decline of Violence

By Robin Bates | Published: August 8, 2012

The empathy fostered by novel reading may have played a role in the decline of violence.

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Murakami’s Emotional Blandness as Shield

By Robin Bates | Published: August 7, 2012

Haruki Murakami’s protagonists have a distinctive form of emotional blandness that helps them cope with the world.

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Lit Sightings in Political Op-Eds

By Robin Bates | Published: August 6, 2012

Pundits have recently been turning to literature to comment on the 2012 elections.

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