"Dead Poets Society" and the Humanities

"The Dead Poets were dedicated to sucking the marrow out of life. That’s a phrase from Thoreau we would invoke at the beginning of every meeting. A few would gather at the old Indian cave and read from Thoreau, Whitman, Shelley, the biggies—even some of our own verse—and in the enchantment of the moment we’d let poetry work its magic…. We were Romantics. We didn’t just read poetry, we let it drip from our tongues like honey."

-- From the film Dead Poets Society

What is not to love about this movie, right? Well, Mr. Kevin Dettmar has some issues with it. He is apparently one of the very few people who have actually been successful in the humanities, and the title of his article tells you everything, "Dead Poets Society Is a Terrible Defense of the Humanities". According to Mr. Dettmar, the movie makes the humanities seem like a glorified book club, which also happens to be the way that the larger society sees it, and even more importantly, the people who fund chairs and endowments, as well as legislatures that allocate educational funds. I think there is much in what he says, and he is worth the read, but he is probably trying to revive a dead horse. There are not many people who are going to be able to make a living at it. One suspects that it will always be true that most of the people who get into it will do it for love, with money not being a real option.

[Source: Kevin J.H. Dettmar at The Atlantic]

Sleep Deficit

Like a five o’clock morning, except worse. But this was the cats’ fault. Probably Sammy. I remember that sweet period when they were content to have the office and were actually quiet all night long. I am running a serious sleep deficit. Not good.

Morning Walk

I was actually thinking about going for a late walk, after my sweet breakfast. It is so sunny out. In fact, the fierceness of the sun is too much, even against the cold morning air. I could imagine the hardship of reading under it. I know the shade of the trees does not work for me very well in the mornings. I must catch the angles with the trees all wrong in this hour of the day.

I can read here at the house and get to work on my grocery list. I need to read more “Lincoln” anyway, rather than spend the two hours on my novel. I don’t like showering in the evenings, but it doesn’t change the equation. Maybe if I had some cracked corn for the ducks, I might have gone ahead. Besides, with the warmer weather coming, my morning walk should become pretty regular again very soon, having only to work around the very rare rainfall.

Ukraine

The Russian tanks have not come storming into Kiev. Though, the Russians are holding a surprise massive military exercise on the border of Ukraine. More ominously, the Russian ethnics in the Crimea have seized its capital. It is tempting to see that the final play in this game may be a split off of Crimea from Ukraine, but it looks like we are only in the opening rounds of this geopolitical game.

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Kids

It sounds like the schoolkids are banging on the construction signs. Junior-highers, I think. It must be nice to feel big and see yourself as a new force in the world to be reckoned with.

I suppose I felt some of that too. “Another one bites the dust!” A footballer walking down the streets of a foreign country like an occupying army. Oh, man, a long time ago, over thirty years ago.

The Natural World

Random Pictures

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Grocery List

I don't finish the grocery list until a little after eleven. It is a big one, but I stayed late in the big room, since Pop was taking Lorie home. I'm ready to dive into bed. Remember, I did not get a good night's sleep last night, nor did I enjoy a decent nap this afternoon. I'm fried.