Duke professor Jedediah Purdy makes a counter-argument to Kathryn Schulz’s “Pond Scum” essay in The New Yorker, which criticized Henry David Thoreau both as a writer and as a person.
Tag Archives: Arts & Entertainment
Aaron Douglas’s Magisterial Aspects of Negro Life
This text provides an overview of Harlem Renaissance painter Aaron Douglas. Click the images on the left to view some of his work in more detail and watch the video at the bottom for more background.
How Animal Farm Gave Hope to Stalin’s Refugees
Ukranians oppressed by the Soviet Stalin regime managed to smuggle in a translation of George Orwell’s indictment of Stalinism.
Up, Up, and Oy Vey!
An old joke goes that if you meet a guy whose name has “man” at the end, either he’s from a Jewish family or he’s a superhero. A rabbi digs into the Jewish roots of our most popular superheroes.
Robert Frost’s Christmas Cards
Although these greeting cards started as a way to celebrate the winter season, poet Robert Frost was encouraged to continue them as an annual holiday tradition. Find out which of his famous poems were used as the verses for these unique cards that are collectors’ items today.
What Is Fashion?
Why do we wear what we wear? How is fashion a way of making your voice heard? This article on fashion provides insights into these questions.
Modern day Canterbury Tales refreshes Chaucer to tell the lost stories of refugees
In June 2015, a group of academics set out to re-create The Canterbury Tales by walking 80 miles across the North Downs in England and telling the stories of refugees along the way. Their goal was to give a voice to those who are often unheard.
Mark Twain’s Eternal Chatter
Author Ben Tarnoff analyzes the celebrity of Mark Twain and critiques the writer’s autobiography, which was published in several volumes starting in 2010.
A Wild, ‘Burning’ Journey Back To Old Mexico
Author Oscar Casares reviews the work of Juan Rulfo, who covered themes of violence and how it affected the behaviors of individuals in his writing. An excerpt from Rulfo’s The Burning Plain and Other Stories is included.
The Life of the Buddha
Read about the events of the Buddha’s early life that lead him to preaching about a different way of living.
Stephen Crane
This biography of author Stephen Crane includes an analysis of some of his work. Click the “Poems, Articles, & More” tab to read some of his poetry.
Review: Kate Tempest, a Young Poet Conjuring Ancient Gods
Kate Tempest followed up her powerful piece “My Shakespeare” with award-winning poetry and breathtaking rap performances.
Langston Hughes: Biography
American poet, playwright, and novelist Langston Hughes was an influential contributor to the Harlem Renaissance. Discover how his voice expressed in writing the feelings and beauty of African American lives in the 1920s.
Floods, Fires, Storms are Fodder for Centuries of Poems
Poet and editor Jeffrey Yang reminds us how disasters can stimulate creativity. In this video he discusses a collection of poems about how we heal after disasters and how the beauty and power of nature can help.
Acrophobia
Why are people often naturally afraid of heights? Why are some more fearful than others? This article explains what acrophobia is and how sensible fear of heights is.
Top 8 Special Animals in Greek Mythology
These mythological creatures are not your usual pets. Find out about a three-headed dog, a chimera, and other strange animals that appeared in ancient Greek tales.
Walt Whitman’s war
Self-published in 1865 and then consolidated into other volumes of poetry, Walt Whitman’s Drum-Taps, a collection of 69 poems, is now seeing new life 150 years later.
Conversing With the World: The Poet in Society
Read about the role of protest and political poetry throughout American history.
Phillis Wheatley
American Colonial poet Phillis Wheatley was brought from Africa to the United States as a child. Though a slave, she was taught to read and write and became a renowned poet for a time.
‘Map: Collected and Last Poems,’ by Wislawa Szymborska
Read this review of a recent collection of poetry by Wislawa Szymborska.