Why Is Othello Black?

To us today, the word “black” carries with it a specific cluster of associations informed by history, culture, stereotypes, and literature. Othello may have started in conversation with Shakespeare’s definition of blackness, but today, he speaks with ours. A much more interesting question, really, is: Why is Othello black? Why did Shakespeare write a domestic…

One of my students is demonstrating the perceived value of brand-name vs no-name products. The Oreos are gone. She can't give away all the off- brand.

  Similar:Another #steampunk interior. High tech garden gazebo or away team dropship? Why not both? … AestheticsEach of these #retro #neovictorian #steampunk control panels takes me about an hour. #gree…AestheticsThe Girl at rehearsal (where else?).PersonalFaculty/staff orientation begins @setonhilluniversity PersonalAnother day, another 10 square centimeters of #steampunk control panel. #blender3d #blende…AestheticsIn a hole in the ground there…

Celebration of Writing — a big presentation day for freshman writing classes.

Similar:Mostly German, sometimes refreshing my high school Latin.PersonalVisiting the KLBE Air MuseumPersonalCome see Carolyn as “The Girl” in The Fantasticks, Oct 18-27.  CultureFirst page of a student’s Texture project. (This made me laugh.) This clever freshman writing student…AcademiaLooking forward to this! @thepublicpghLooking forward to this! @thepublicpghDramaThey've got magic to do. Carolyn is the Leading Player.…

Audisee Presents: The War of the Worlds

As new age synthesizer music, a rich baritone narrates: “Audisee presents: The War of the Worlds. The year is 2015 A.D. From the first launching into space, in 1961, to the establishment of a base on Jupiter this year, man has not encountered extraterrestrial life forms.” When I was about 10 or 11, I loved…

Amazing show. Young lovers, a witty (but often stupid) servant, speeches, rants, exaggerated "takes," and no villain at all, just misunderstanding upon misunderstanding.

  Similar:Stage Right's production of 'Secret Garden' is heart-tugging showIn the Stage Right production, the role …Current_EventsThe Penance of Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester, by Edwin Austin Abbey.This painting was inspired by the scene …AestheticsWoodward dismisses CNN's lawsuit against the White House; Fox sides with CNNBob Woodward, half of the Washington Pos…CultureAfter a successful piano recital.CulturePlease…

Where is the tipping point?

What if universities stopped buying academic journals, and put the money towards hiring editors who helped their faculty publish their scholarship in their own free, open-source journals? I don’t know how much labour goes into running a prestigious journal, but let’s say all the universities that really need those specialised mathematics journals sat down and…

Most Christians don’t actually care about Starbucks cups. Here’s what we do know.

No Christians in my social media feed care about the design of that cup. Lots of people in my social media feed have reposted stories critical of the silly Christians who get all worked up about the design of the cup. Full disclosure: I don’t drink coffee. [C]ontrary to a few breathless media reports, most Christians…

Reading should not carry a health warning

Similar:▶ Taylor Mali on "What Teachers Make"I find that re-watching this every year …CultureWhat the police really believe: Inside the distinctive, largely unknown ideology of Americ…“That whole thing about the bad apple? I…CultureA trend story about millennials, by The New York Times“When it comes down to it, life is reall…AmusingWhen is Donald Trump kidding? When…

Hanging with the rude mechanicals @setonhilluniversity

A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Similar:Dani Girl (Geyer/13Players)https://youtu.be/5k06Z1_azMo Dani Gir…CultureRing Theory Helps Us Bring Comfort In … and “dump” our own stuff out.I spent some time listening to someone w…CultureI can't really articulate why i enjoy crafting #steampunk control panels, but it's been a …AestheticsHelp! I may be running out of excuses for not wearing…Help! I…

Surprise: Humanities Degrees Provide Great Return On Investment

The conventional wisdom is that humanities majors are wasting all that tuition money and dooming themselves to lives of underemployment. The conventional wisdom is wrong. Humanities degrees are actually worth well more than the cost of college. […] The present value of the extra earnings that graduates in humanities majors can expect over their lifetime…

Seton Hill takes on Shakespeare’s ‘Dream’

Students in my Shakespeare class will be attending this play. Student actors at Seton Hill University are off on a journey through one of William Shakespeare’s most popular romantic comedies, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Not even the writing style of the Bard — sometimes difficult to master for those new to the playwright’s poetic verse…

Editors and editorial board quit top linguistics journal to protest subscription fees

When I publish as a scholar, my goal is not to make money, but to share my intellectual creation. That’s part of my job description, so my university writes my paycheck with the expectation that I will publish. My publications will have more impact if more people read them. Hiding them behind subscription paywalls will…