Neil Gaiman and the late Terry Pratchett are beloved fantasy writers because they stand up for our humanity in dehumanizing times.
Monthly Archives: May 2018
How Fantasy Keeps Us Human
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged analysis, Good Omens, Neil Gaiman, partisanship, polarization, political extremism, politics, Terry Pratchett, Thief of Time Comments closed
Will “The Fat Man” Sell Out Jared?
Sounding like a character in “The Maltese Falcon,” Rudy Giuliani declared that Jared Kushner is “disposable.”
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Dashiell Hammett, Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, Maltese Falcon, Robert Mueller, Rudy Giuliani Comments closed
Are Blogging Scholars a Step Forward?
Is academic blogging good or bad for blogging? A podcast run by my two sons discusses the issue.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged blogging, scholarship, tech paternalism, techsplaining Comments closed
Trump, Like Macbeth, Does Murder Sleep
“Macbeth,” a psychological study of a tyrant, also illumines aspects of Donald Trump.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged authoritarians, Donald Trump, Macbeth, Richard III, tyrants, William Shakespeare Comments closed
Authentic Awareness vs. Reason
In Nicole Krauss’s “Dark Forest,” we see a character’s hunger for magic and mystery and her battle with Enlightenment Reason.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Age of Reason, Dark Forest, Descartes, Enlightenment, Nicole Krauss Comments closed
Which Fictional Death Still Haunts You?
In which I try to answer the question, “Which fictional death are you still not over?” Tess Durbeyfield tops my list.
Posted in Uncategorized Comments closed
Browning Describes Incel’s Misogyny
The Toronto van murderer claims to have been an “incel” (involuntary celibate) who acted out his rage against women. He resembles the creepy speaker in Robert Browning’s “Porphyria’s Lover.”
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "Porphyria's Lover", ISIS, Robert Browning, Terrorism, Toronto van killing Comments closed
Once More into a War, Dear Friends
Over the weekend, Trump’s new National Security Adviser sent strong signals that he wants a war with Iran. Shakespeare’s Henry V had similar advisers.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Battle of Agincourt, Henry V, Iran agreement, John Bolton, William Shakespeare Comments closed
Inducting Students into an Honor Society
Our English Department’s Sigma Tau Delta induction ceremony included passages from Willa Cather, Shakespeare, and Emily Dickinson.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "We never know how high we are", Emily Dickinson, Henry V, honor societies, Oh Pioneers!, Sigma Tau Delta, Willa Cather, William Shakespeare Comments closed
