Matthew Arnold’s influence on how we view literature has a benign and a reactionary strain, both of which can be seen in current discussions about the value of literature.
Monthly Archives: September 2015
Donald Trump as Willie Stark
Donald Trump calling out the GOP establishment is like Willie Stark calling out the Democratic establishment in “All the King’s Men.”
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged All the King's Men, Donald Trump, Fox News, GOP, Republican primary, Robert Penn Warren Comments closed
Liberal Arts–Only for Elites?
Frank Bruni and Fareed Azkaria may be guilty of Matthew Arnold-type class superiority as they argue that a liberal arts education is useful for power elites.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Culture and Anarchy, elitism, Liberal Arts, Matthew Arnold Comments closed
Fearing that the Men Will Break
Work provides our lives with existential meaning. That is why economic reversals can be so psychologically devastating.
Posted in Uncategorized Comments closed
A Guest Worthy To Be Here
Jesus learned to accept a Canaanite woman at his table and George Herbert learns that he belongs at that table. We can use them as models as we face refugees and immigrants.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "Love(3)", George Herbert, immigrants, Jesus, Pope Francis, refugee crisis, refugees, Spirituality Comments closed
How Poets Are the Legislators of the World
Shelley saw great literature as changing the way we see reality. Sometimes, however, it takes hundreds of years for this to be evident.
The End of Summer
As we look back at the summer that is coming to an end, did we lose ourselves in a time of innocence or did we worry that time was passing too fast? This Rachel Hadas poem suspects the second.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "End of Summer", Rachel Hadas, Seasons, summer, summer vacation Comments closed
Why It’s Good To Offend Students
An entering Duke student has refused to read Alison Bechdel’s “Fun House.” A professor comes partially to his defense.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "Burning of the Books", Alison Bechdel, Bertolt Brecht, censorship, college life, Franz Kafka, freshman orientation, Fun House, homosexuality, reader response Comments closed
