Category Archives: Uncategorized

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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Freedom and Fate in Game of Thrones, “The Door”

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Peter Schmidt

For Game of Thrones fans, please don’t read this until you’ve seen Season 6, Episode 5 (“The Door”). Normally stories about time travel dramatize the power of human agency, our potential ability to know and intervene in past events and … Continue reading →

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On David Bowie’s Bluebird

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Peter Schmidt

Re David Bowie’s “Lazarus,” from his brilliant final album, Blackstar, the New York Times has this to say: “The song is a man in total distress, and then finding a way out, in his imagination, so he could still be … Continue reading →

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On Philip K. Dick’s The Man in the High Castle, 1962 and 2015

Posted on December 13, 2015 by Peter Schmidt

My recent essay on Philip K. Dick’s 1962 novel, comparing it with Amazon’s 2015 The Man in the High Castle‘s 10 episodes. Summary: Amazon’s adaptation of Dick’s novel is a brilliant transformation of it just right for America’s flirtation with … Continue reading →

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on Valeria Luiselli’s novel The Story of My Teeth

Posted on October 14, 2015 by Peter Schmidt

Christina MacSweeney, translator and collaborator. (Minneapolis: Coffee House Press, 2015). An insouciant blend of Gogol, Calvino, and the metaphysical conundrums of linguistic sign-theory, this novel is one of the funniest books I’ve read in ages—in part because it’s so deadpan … Continue reading →

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“Open Carry” Dildo Protest over Concealed Carry Gun Law, UT Austin

Posted on October 11, 2015 by Peter Schmidt

In August 2015 UT Austin student Jessica Jin organized a satiric “open carry dildo” protest. It was open to male and female students, UT employees, alums and any others. The protest targeted a new law (Senate Bill 11, signed by … Continue reading →

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Some quick thoughts on current debates about higher education

Posted on August 14, 2015 by Peter Schmidt

“Everyone Thinks the Current State of Higher Education is Awful. Who is to Blame?” Daniel W. Drezner, The Washington Post, 14 August 2015. This article summarizing some current debates about higher education is worth reading. In the U.S. we’re definitely … Continue reading →

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Reducing the Bull: the NYTimes Gets It Wrong Equating Apple Design and Picasso’s Art

Posted on August 11, 2014 by Peter Schmidt

Brian Chen’s NYTimes’ August 11th article on design training at Apple is fun and informative, particularly the anecdote about design decisions that led to a Google TV remote control with 78 buttons (all the design teams got what they wanted) … Continue reading →

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Freedom of expression or the need to speak against oppression in a single voice? Coetzee and Gordimer debate

Posted on July 25, 2014 by Peter Schmidt

This 1988 debate between Coetzee and Gordimer (RIP) is eloquent and important, and VERY relevant for current debates in 2014. It’s given a fine overview here. The debate is notable for their focus on the _principles_ at stake; their disagreement … Continue reading →

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Satirist George Saunders Strikes Again

Posted on June 18, 2014 by Peter Schmidt

… and none of yer nostalgia-y haze is safe. Makes me almost forgive Mr. Bob Dylan’s own liner notes. I’m just sorry George had to leave off mentioning ELO’s “concept” albums, or Jethro Tull’s, or the majestick edifices of that … Continue reading →

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