Critical theory, critical culture, & postmodern humanism
Seth MacFarlane’s performance as host of the Oscars failed less because of racism, sexism, and homophobia than because he forgot what satire is and how it works. The same could be said of the beleaguered Onion staffer who misfired the Continue reading Seth, Oscar, and Antiquity: The Fine (and Endangered) Art of Making Mockery
In a nutshell: While critical thinking implies certain intellectual values such as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation, it does not come prepackaged with political, ethical, or moral values. If we want critical thinking to be an instrument of a liberatory politics, Continue reading Critical thinking: what I mean by it, what I want from it
In a nutshell: Among the postmodern humanities, creative writing stands out as a field where teachers are generally active practitioners of the craft they teach. I invited poet Ada Limón to discuss the permeable boundary between her teaching and her Continue reading The Lighthouse: Structure in the Storm
In a nutshell: This short interview with veteran AIDS activist Peter Staley is a good introduction to the Oscar-nominated documentary, How to Survive a Plague, and to the way Act Up invented a new kind of direct action that transformed Continue reading How to change a culture (Act Up)
In a nutshell: February 11 marked 50 years since poet Sylvia Plath killed herself. Her posthumously published book of poems, Ariel, was a landmark of the new confessional poetry that helped change the face of contemporary verse. This audio piece Continue reading Sylvia Plath, 50 years later
In a nutshell: Critical culture is about the power of cultural forms to construct subjective identity and foster group solidarity. These poems composed by an American P.O.W. during his captivity in the Hanoi Hilton and later written down from memory Continue reading Identity, solidarity, and poetry at the Hanoi Hilton
In a nutshell: Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique is one of the great moments in the emergence of postmodern critical culture. Fifty years later, does it still resonate? At 50, Does ‘Feminine Mystique’ Still Roar? : NPRIn 1963 Betty Friedan Continue reading Betty Friedan’s Feminine Mystique turns 50
In a nutshell: Why didn’t I attend this thing? Oh, well, now I can read what I missed. And so can you. Judith Butler’s Remarks to Brooklyn College on BDS | The Nation| | | Editors Note: Despite a campaign Continue reading Judith Butler on BDS at Brooklyn College
In a nutshell: After a year of blogging, it turns out my blog is really about critical thinking, critical theory, critical pedagogy, and critical culture—not pedagogy per se. Hence, a new name for a new direction. This blog you are Continue reading Goodbye Pedagogishness, hello Criticality
In a nutshell: Great essay about lesbian poets and feminism in the latter part of the last century. I’m a bit confused as to what this is a review of, if anything; but in any case, it is nevertheless an Continue reading Poets as the legislators of the women’s movement