Category Archives: Uncategorized

Seems a good time to read some C. P. Cavafy

Posted on June 10, 2022 by Peter Schmidt

Candles The days of the future stand in front of us Like a line of candles all alight—Golden and warm and lively little candles. The days that are past are left behind, A mournful row of candles that are out; … Continue reading →

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Henry Louis Gates, Jr., on the values of literature

Posted on October 30, 2021 by Peter Schmidt

Amen, brother! Read this talk of his. I’m also struck by the contrast between this essay in the NYTimes Book Review (Oct. 31) and Marjorie Perloff’s depressing and deluded essay in a recent issues of the LA Review of Books … Continue reading →

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Donald Rumsfeld Tries to Enter Into Heaven

Posted on July 3, 2021 by Peter Schmidt

(as retold later by the Devil) … into the known       unknown or maybe it’s       an unknown  unknown       Donald comes to the Gates       unrepentant. A large book       swings open hard to see       the pages but it seems       they hold long lists … Continue reading →

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download Ecotone and/or Spleen (my 2 new poetry chapbooks)

Posted on May 11, 2019 by Peter Schmidt

Ecotone // 14 poems by Peter Schmidt, about wandering through the natural world … A downloadable pdf, from Pixel Press / Swarthmore You may also download SPLEEN (political poems protesting + reimagining the fate of society and nature). =====For either or … Continue reading →

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On Contradictions in Nathaniel Rich’s “Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change.”

Posted on August 4, 2018 by Peter Schmidt

Nathaniel Rich’s issue-long essay in this week’s New York Times Magazine receives a title worthy of a play: “Losing Earth: The decade we almost stopped climate change. A tragedy in two acts.” It’s definitely worth an hour or two of … Continue reading →

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Garbage In / Garbage Out: Why is Facebook Using Its Powerful Resources To Help Teachers Teach Bad Common Core Standards In AP English Classes?

Posted on May 13, 2017 by Peter Schmidt

Facebook on its Summit Learning Resources Site for K-12 English & Language Arts teachers is now promoting ready-made lesson plans for teaching Common Core standards. Sounds good, right? But many of the lesson plans are screwed up because so many … Continue reading →

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On Canons and “Headcanons” in Cultural Studies

Posted on March 23, 2017 by Peter Schmidt

Yes, “headcanons” (one word) is a term. Has been for awhile. Interesting conundrum: while the idea of an agreed-upon “canon” has been treated with increasing skepticism in literary studies (though not by all parties), the concept thrives in popular culture, … Continue reading →

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Why Judith Butler is Overrated

Posted on September 20, 2016 by Peter Schmidt

One of many reasons why Judith Butler is grossly overrated: Here’s a passage from her new book Notes Toward a Performative Theory of Assembly, followed by 2 brief comments of mine, one a translation of Butler-ese into regular English. Overall, … Continue reading →

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On Colson Whitehead’s new novel, _The Underground Railroad_

Posted on August 8, 2016 by Peter Schmidt

Three chapters of Colson Whitehead’s new novel, The Underground Railroad, were published as a special print supplement to last Sunday’s New York Times (Aug. 7). What’s so extraordinary about the novel’s vision is not that he makes the “underground railroad” … Continue reading →

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Brief comments on Terry Eagleton’s latest book, Culture (2016)

Posted on July 20, 2016 by Peter Schmidt

See Culture by Terry Eagleton My rating: 4 of 5 stars Lucid and concise readings of Burke, Swift, Herder, Austen, Marx, Wilde, and T.S. Eliot, among others. The book is less focused and persuasive when Eagleton traces the long and … Continue reading →

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