Monthly Archives: May 2015

Is Don Draper a Modern Faustus?

By Robin Bates | Published: May 20, 2015

In the finale of “Mad Men,” Draper may enter into yet another Faustian bargain, trading a vision of peace for a catchy Coca-Cola jingle.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus, Don Draper, Mad Men | Comments closed

10 Memorable Poetic Pick-Up Lines

By Robin Bates | Published: May 19, 2015

10 memorable pick-up lines from poetic greats. Try them at a bar near you.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged "Flea", "Phyllis Be Gentler", "The Lover", "To His Mistress Going to Bed", "To the Virgins to Make Much of Time", Andrew Marvell, Aphra Behn, Cyrano de Bergerac, Edmond de Rostand, Jane Austen, John Donne, John Wilmot, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, Pride and Prejudice, Robert Herrick, Rover, To His Coy Mistress, Twelfth Night, William Shakespeare | Comments closed

Hamlet Instructs the Class of 2015

By Robin Bates | Published: May 18, 2015

Our commencement ceremonies included a reading of Hamlet’s advice to the players.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged acting, commencement speeches, Hamlet, William Shakespeare | Comments closed

Scorn No Vision That a Dewdrop Holds

By Robin Bates | Published: May 17, 2015

Eva Gore-Booth finds divinity with a dewdrop here, and twilight hour there. The “One” can be found in “the gentle Light that shines behind the storm.”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged "Quest", Eva Gore Booth, nature poetry, Spirituality | Comments closed

Obama Tells Black Graduates to Soar

By Robin Bates | Published: May 15, 2015

Michelle Obama used images of flight in a recent commencement speech at Tuskegee University. It was reminiscent of the way Toni Morrison uses flight in “Song of Solomon.”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Civil Rights Movement, commencement speeches, First Lady, Michelle Obama, Song of Solomon, Toni Morrison, Tuskegee airmen, Tuskegee University | Comments closed

The Real Victims of Deflategate

By Robin Bates | Published: May 14, 2015

Two characters from “Hamlet” have been invoked in Tom Brady’s deflategate scandal. Can you guess which ones?

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged deflategate, Football, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Sports, Tom Brady, Tom Stoppard, William Shakespeare | Comments closed

Poetry that Reclaims Women’s Bodies

By Robin Bates | Published: May 13, 2015

A former student, in her senior project, used feminist poems as the basis for art workshops designed to help women feel better about their bodies.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged "Rising Venus", Adrienne Rich, eating disorders, Feminism, Kelly Cherry, Lucille Clifton, Self esteem, Sylvia Plath, women's bodies | Comments closed

Toppling Shakespeare from His Pedestal

By Robin Bates | Published: May 12, 2015

“Bardolatry,” the worship of William Shakespeare, can get in the way of truly appreciating him.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged "shakes", bardolatry. teaching, Rg Gregory, William Shakespeare | Comments closed

Does Lit Blind As Well as Enlighten?

By Robin Bates | Published: May 11, 2015

Novelist Rachel Kranz argues that great literature does not only enlighten. It can also keep us from seeing certain possibilities.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments closed