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Two Cultures, Revisited
One of the most influential books of the late '50s and '60s was a book called The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution by British scientist and novelist C. P. Snow. It basically lamented the lack...
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McKee and Story as a “Material Force”
You can think of a “story” as a unit of entertainment, which would not be wrong. But a story is a lot more than that. If you ask me, it’s what’s holding together our fragile sense of identity and our...
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José Saramago and the Reconstruction of Novel as an Inner Monologue
After having weathered the post-modernist deconstructionist storm of the last fifty years, I think the novel format has found its reconstructionist master in the person of José de Sousa Saramago...
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Movie Review — Intermission (2003), a “romantic thriller” that parodies itself
Intermission, director John Crowley’s first film, is supposed to be a film about “life is what happens in between” two major events; that is, an intermission. But the ending proves the reverse – that,...
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Defending Western Civilization Against “Equality Before the Law” Fetishism
“Democracy is not a suicide pact.” – Amitai Etzioni Samuel Huntington's Map of "World Civilizations" I’m sick and tired of those bleeding-heart liberals who defend the most abominable cultural...
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Boundaries and Identity in the Age of Globalization
Boundaries are a must to preserve identity. Individuals need a boundary. And so do nations, football fans, and lovers. There are 2 ways in which a boundary can be violated: 1) Non-members cross over...
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Movie Review — Shutter Island (2010), a Psychological Thriller Masterpiece
A masterpiece by Martin Scorsese on the level of Taxi Driver and Goodfellas. The year is 1954. U.S. Marshal Edward “Teddy” Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio in his usual pedal-to-the-metal best) heads for the...
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Loneliness of Learning
Bruegel, Pieter de Oude, "Landscape with Icarus" I’m at a seaside resort somewhere in the Aegean. I’ve just visited the Temple of Apollo today. Built 2,700 years ago, the temple was surrounded by stone...
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America’s Real Treasure
US Supreme Court Justice David Souter Here is a commencement speech that every American (and every culture vulture, for that matter) should read. In this important speech retired U.S. Justice David...
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The American (2010) – A Cold Story Served Well Like Chilled Caviar
This is a cold movie. No, it’s a FREEZING cold movie! (WARNING: some story spoilers ahead…) The main character is steel cold. It opens up with a literally cold snowy scene. The warmest human...
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A Cinematic Feast: “Welcome to the Rileys” (2010)
Here is a tiny little film that barely earned $320,000 in total box-office receipts world-wide and screened only in 11 movie theaters when it was released. It’s one of those films that was tossed...
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