Monthly Archives: September 2015

Arnold’s Benign/Reactionary Legacy

By Robin Bates | Published: September 9, 2015

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.

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Donald Trump as Willie Stark

By Robin Bates | Published: September 8, 2015

Donald Trump calling out the GOP establishment is like Willie Stark calling out the Democratic establishment in “All the King’s Men.”

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Liberal Arts–Only for Elites?

By Robin Bates | Published: September 7, 2015

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.

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Fearing that the Men Will Break

By Robin Bates | Published: September 6, 2015

Work provides our lives with existential meaning. That is why economic reversals can be so psychologically devastating.

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A Guest Worthy To Be Here

By Robin Bates | Published: September 5, 2015

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.

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How Poets Are the Legislators of the World

By Robin Bates | Published: September 3, 2015

Shelley saw great literature as changing the way we see reality. Sometimes, however, it takes hundreds of years for this to be evident.

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An ABC of Our Attack on the Earth

By Robin Bates | Published: September 3, 2015

In his “ABC of Radical Ecology,” Scott Bates sets forth an alphabet primer for various environmental ills.

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The End of Summer

By Robin Bates | Published: September 2, 2015

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.

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Why It’s Good To Offend Students

By Robin Bates | Published: September 1, 2015

An entering Duke student has refused to read Alison Bechdel’s “Fun House.” A professor comes partially to his defense.

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