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This Anomalous Experiment

Started by tomwatson · 11 months ago

New Criticism was a movement among early 20th century writers and critics of English that argued a strict adherence to a series of absolute truths, the most important of which was that everything that can be known about a work of literature can be found in its published text. Almost a century late ... Continue reading »

5 comments

  • Good luck Tom. Venture far and wide.
  • Cultural observations hold the possibility of a far more wide-ranging spectrum of opinion than do political observations. Because, really, political discussions come down to two points:

    1.)Our opponents have screwed things up.
    2.) We can do a better job if given a chance.

    I participate in such discussions (as do we all) and appreciate them for their merits, but they are ultimately limited.

    A round-table, free-wheeling discussion of popular culture, on the other hand, can spin off in an infinite number of directions. It can take you from poetry to music to television, to literature, to film, to sociology and psychology, to marketing and persuasion, to technology and its role in the future.... I suspect your dinner last November touched on most, if not all, of those areas, and more besides.

    Popular culture is not a trifle, or an idle diversion. It is like water to a fish; it surrounds us and, to a large degree, it defines us. But unlike our finny friends, we can actively participate in evaluating and determining the quality of our environment. Which I suppose is what you have in mind.

    Good luck! I'll be back.
  • roxtar - very well said indeed! in fact, better than me...you've hit it exactly, just what i'd like to to try and accomplish - drop me a note if you want to author...
  • Tom, this is a great idea for a group blog. I can't wait to see what comes of it.
  • I like it. Look forward to reading more... -a new reader
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