On Political Anger

Josh and I have been discussing Pound's angry letter in response to an editor's critical comments on Joyce's manuscript of Portrait of the Artist. We've been using this letter as a proxy for our larger, ongoing debate about the uses and abuses of anger in contemporary (mostly political) discussion. But, as it stands, this way … Continue reading On Political Anger →

Ezra Pound Defends James Joyce Against an Early Critic

I'm a fan of polemical writing, whatever the subject-matter. In fact, my reading of Joyce's letters and biographies has tipped me off to a future project: reading more Ezra Pound, those excerpts which have been included having been so creatively acerbic. Pound's is a name I've heard here and there but I don't really know that … Continue reading Ezra Pound Defends James Joyce Against an Early Critic →

Magritte – The Human Condition

What is Magritte saying about "the human condition" (this piece's title)? I'm not sure. I invite you to say what you think within the comments. I especially encourage you to answer if you don't want to read the rest of the post, or if you've never commented before, or both! There is an exhibition at the … Continue reading Magritte – The Human Condition →

Unger on Philosophy

Philosophers struggle with an intellectual/academic/disciplinary version of low self-esteem. A recent victim is Peter Unger, who recently gives an interview-cum-advertisement for his latest book in philosophy, the central thesis of which is that philosophy is at best an enjoyable diversion and at worst an utter waste of time. (We're to assume, I suppose, that the … Continue reading Unger on Philosophy →

Dubliners (and Joyce’s early career struggles)

My rereading of Dubliners was as enjoyable as always. That book reminds me of a great band's first album. Not the sort of band whose first album is their only good one, but the sort of band that, even though they go on to produce other great (even great-er) work, you always retain a soft … Continue reading Dubliners (and Joyce’s early career struggles) →

Best Opening Section of a Philosophy Essay???

Here's my entry, from David Lewis' "Void and Object": The void is deadly. If you were cast into a void, it would cause you to die in just a few minutes. It would suck the air from your lungs. It would boil your blood. It would drain the warmth from your body. And it would … Continue reading Best Opening Section of a Philosophy Essay??? →

Joyce’s Earliest Writings

I'm making my way through Richard Ellmann's biography, along with the three volumes of Joyce's letters, and then also stopping to read everything else he wrote along the way. I've read most of these texts (except the letters and the biographies) many times, but re-reading brings new perspectives. The main reason for this re-reading is … Continue reading Joyce’s Earliest Writings →

Listening to Beethoven and the Beatles with My Newborn

Obviously having a child brings a lot of change, but one thing that's stayed the same - when I get up on weekends, I still listen to a record or two and enjoy my apartment while my wife gets herself up a little later. With a big difference though: now, while my wife gets some … Continue reading Listening to Beethoven and the Beatles with My Newborn →

Reading Homer on the Metra

οἳ δὲ πανημέριοι μολπῇ θεὸν ἱλάσκοντοκαλὸν ἀείδοντες παιήονα κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν [Iliad I.472-473] "And then all day they pleased the god with dance, the sons of the Achaeans singing a beautiful paean." Last year I spent some time (about 30 minute each morning on the train) making my way through the Iliad in the original Greek. I had some notion I'd read the whole book this way - Nates … Continue reading Reading Homer on the Metra →

Pin the Tail on the Racist

Michael Richards... Paula Deen... Cliven Bundy... Donald Sterling... That's obviously a much shorter list than I could have given - to be honest, I've already forgotten about some of the people who belong on it. This is media sport, made much easier to play by the proliferation of recording devices regularly surrounding us. And the structure … Continue reading Pin the Tail on the Racist →