Monthly Archives: January 2009

Reasonable Violence: A Reading of Yeats’ “The Second Coming”

The Second Coming William Butler Yeats Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the center cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are …

January 31, 2009 – 6:42 pm | By ashok | Posted in poetry, yeats | Comments (8)

Ah, the joys of libel…

…let’s play how many problems can you spot with this: However, a more intricate criticism is offered by the followers of Leo Strauss, who also believe in a hermeneutics of culture, and often echo many of Adorno’s criticisms of accessibility and art. Their critique rests on the anti-capitalist nature of Adorno’s orientation, arguing that while …

January 29, 2009 – 11:39 pm | By ashok | Posted in academia, personal | Comments (6)

Politics 101: 5 essentials for changing minds

Alright, I’m writing this, and then I’m off the computer for a while. I need to get a lot done. A few of you who are actively involved in politics have asked me [Note: I have no idea why. I guess I sound good?] what you can do beyond the usual, i.e. envelope-stuffing, going door-to-door …

January 27, 2009 – 12:10 pm | By ashok | Posted in politics | Comments (13)

My head is all over the place today…

…so I thought I’d update with what’s going on here. Right now, rereading Book 1 of Xenophon’s Memorabilia, which has 4 books total. I am playing with the idea that each book corresponds with a cardinal virtue – the order they might be in is moderation, wisdom, courage, justice. The trick is to get this …

January 26, 2009 – 4:10 pm | By ashok | Posted in personal | Comments (0)

Sensation (1st draft)

The books lie everywhere. Some open, some shut with marks within, and some simply closed, as if human touch were forgotten. A mind is sensed. It could be if all pages were read up to the point indicated we could reconstruct something. A personality would emerge, one sitting atop a mountain, waiting for the traveler …

January 25, 2009 – 11:20 am | By ashok | Posted in poetry | Comments (3)

English professor demonstrates why sitting around and being paid to muse can create really crappy articles

William Deresiewicz, whose “The Disadvantages of an Elite Education” article was excellent, has produced an absolute stinker in the Chronicle of Higher Education: “The End of Solitude” is a case study in how not to write. It’s far too long and very badly argued, and it is the latter I want to focus on, because …

January 24, 2009 – 7:19 am | By ashok | Posted in academia | Comments (2)

Links, 1/22/09

Dick Cheney – the most pro-gay VP in US history? Not as implausible as one might think. “My Language,” by Titos Patrikios (h/t Ario) – the translation, I suspect, leaves a lot to be desired. The wordplay in the Greek might be a lot richer. Still. Yet another review of Alex Beam’s book about the …

January 22, 2009 – 9:08 am | By ashok | Posted in links | Comments (0)

Collegium Cantorum of the University of Dallas sings “Sicut Cervus” by Palestrina

Some of you are curious how the choir I’m a part of sounds, and I know I’ve told a few of you to go over to Facebook, look up the “Collegium Cantorum of the University of Dallas” group, and check out the videos. There’s quite a few unofficial “recordings” (you couldn’t possibly use these on …

January 21, 2009 – 1:54 am | By ashok | Posted in music, personal | Comments (5)

Open thread for those sick of Inauguration Day before it’s even begun

Post whatever you like (within reason) in the comments. What’s directly below is just what’s on my mind. Re: conservative media. There’s plenty of it, and plenty of alternative media generally. The issue I’m not seeing addressed by any activists – and what’s strange is back when I was watching the Left regroup, I didn’t …

January 20, 2009 – 8:03 am | By ashok | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (21)

Growing to Love: On Amy King’s “I’ve Opted for a Heart This Mid-November Morn”

I’ve Opted for a Heart This Mid-November Morn (from Big Bridge) Amy King How to find ivory’s antecedent among these drifts of snow, restore the clover to its buried frozen form? And what about the girl with loneliness, her lush medium dressed in birds? Inside the dress embraces a range of mercurial gazes, an advanced …

January 19, 2009 – 9:57 pm | By ashok | Posted in poetry | Tagged | Comments (3)