tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91018591386489550332024-03-16T14:29:06.766-04:00Lance Strate's Blog Time PassingA blog for passing time, and passing messages about media, about media ecology which is the study of media as environments, about language and symbols, about technology, about communication, about consciousness, about culture, about life and the universe, about everything and nothing, about time...Lance Stratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13033954765699126246noreply@blogger.comBlogger835125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9101859138648955033.post-72252715136127816672019-10-31T16:56:00.002-04:002019-10-31T16:56:54.517-04:00Going Golem<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Going Golem" was the title I gave to this op-ed, which was published on June 14th in the <i>Jewish Standard</i> under the title, <a href="https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/going-golem-or-moving-the-letters-around/" target="_blank">Going Golem… Or Moving the Letters Around</a>. Can you remember back that far, when the <i>Game of Thrones</i> series had just wrapped up in a dissatisfying manner?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In any event, here it is now here on Blog Time Passing:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The recent controversy over the final season of the HBO series <em>Game of Thrones</em> brings to mind the essay by Michael Weingrad published in the Spring 2010 issue of the <em>Jewish Review of Books</em>: “Why There is No Jewish Narnia.” </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Weingrad poses that question, noting that fantasy literature
represents “an entire literary genre—perhaps the only such genre—in
which Jewish practitioners are strikingly rare.” He goes on to note that
he “cannot think of a single major fantasy writer who is Jewish, and
there are only a handful of minor ones of any note. To no other field of
modern literature have Jews contributed so little.” </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Weingard
speculates on the reasons for our lack of representation in this area,
which include our historical memory. While Christians retain a romantic
image of the medieval period as a time of knights in shining armor
following a code of chivalry, Jews were shut out from this aristocratic
system and often victimized by Crusaders claiming to be on a mission
from God. For our people, modernity represented the moment of
emancipation and acceptance as citizens in newly formed republics, with
progress in politics following progress in science and technology. No
accident, then, that there have been a great many Jewish science-fiction
writers, not the least of them Isaac Asimov, the most prolific writer
in any genre in American history.</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">While the question of whether there ever will be a Jewish <em>Chronicles of Narnia</em> or <em>Game of Thrones</em>
remains to be seen—I imagine that someday there will be—for now I do
want to point to one Jewish legend that has enormous fantasy
potential—the golem.</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">There are many variations of the legend. The gist of it is a story
about a human being creating an artificial being. A golem’s body
typically is made out of clay, following the description in the Book of
Genesis of God creating Adam’s body out of clay. In the story of
Creation, God breathes life into Adam’s body. In Hebrew, the words
denoting breath and wind also mean spirit and soul; breath is intimately
associated with life itself, and also with speech.</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">A golem typically is brought to life not by breath or speech, but by
the written word—it may be a series of letters in the Hebrew alphabet or
God’s name inserted into the body. Letters also are used to spell out
the Hebrew word for truth, <em>emet</em>. Usually they’re on the golem’s
forehead. The golem can be deactivated by erasing the first letter, the
aleph, leaving the Hebrew word <em>met</em>, meaning death. This
reflects the idea of the Hebrew alphabet as sacred, and certain
inscriptions as holy, for example, the Torah and mezuzahs.</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">A golem is not human. In some versions it cannot speak—speech is the
defining characteristic of our species—while in others eventually it
turns on its creator, sometimes because it follows instructions too
literally. The story of the golem, then, often is a story of hubris, of
human beings trying to play God, of trying to harness power that is
beyond our control. It often is a story of unintended effects.</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The best known version of the story takes place in the city of Prague
during a time of oppression and pogroms. The golem there is brought to
life by Rabbi Judah Loew to protect the Jewish community. We can
understand the wish fulfillment fantasy behind this variation. <em>Der Goylem</em>
by H. Leivick, a Yiddish dramatic poem and play, identifies Rabbi
Loew’s golem with the legend of the Messiah ben Joseph, the messiah from
the House of Joseph, who will precede the messiah from the House of
David, and sometimes is associated with conflict and war.</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The legend of the golem in all probability influenced Mary Shelley in
the creation of what often is considered to be the first
science-fiction novel, <em>Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus</em>.
Prague, after all, is not too far from the setting of Shelley’s story,
Geneva, and the Czech connection undoubtedly influenced Karel Čapek in
the writing of the play <em>R.U.R.</em> The initials stand for <em>Rossumovi Univerzáln’ Roboti</em>, translated as <em>Rossum’s Universal Robots</em>.
This play introduced the term robot, which is a Czech word for worker,
and the narrative follows the classic trajectory of a slave rebellion,
with our own creations turning against us.</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The golem narrative is even more resonant today, given the cutting
edge of contemporary technology. On the one hand, there has been a great
deal of attention paid to the development and implementation of
artificial intelligence, from self-driving cars to facial recognition
and surveillance to the easy generation of fake videos that appear to be
utterly authentic. It’s not just about killer robots, terminators, and
homicidal HAL; Google searches and Amazon recommendations also are types
of AI. All these applications are brought to artificial life by a form
of writing—this time not a holy word or name or sacred letters, but the
zeroes and ones of computer code, which again follow instructions to the
letter, entirely literally.</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">And when it comes to the question of <em>emet</em> or truth, our
social media platforms, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and so on come to
mind as mechanisms that are so very effective at disseminating
falsehoods, making them forms of computer code that have turned a
blessing into a curse.</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">On the other hand, we have unlocked the code of life, DNA, and gained
the ability to edit our own genes. Just recently it was revealed that a
Chinese scientist engaged in gene editing to create “CRISPR babies”
resistant to HIV infection had inadvertently shortened those children’s
likely lifespans. DNA is in a sense the sacred script inside our bodies
that animates us, and the question of whether clones have souls also
could be framed as whether clones are golems. But with gene editing, we
are in the process of turning our children and so ultimately ourselves
into modern golems.</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Admittedly, all this better fits in with science fiction than the
fantasy genre, but my point is that a fantasy story featuring the
concept of the golem is one that would have great relevance for the
present day, just as Tolkien’s war of the ring appealed to post-World
War II readers, and <em>Game of Thrones</em>, with its cynical view of
conniving characters and political machinations, turned out to be the
perfect narrative for the McConnell, Ryan, and Trump era.</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Whether the golem legend can serve as the basis of the kind of grand
fantasy that Tolkien or Lewis created, or even the more mediocre version
written by George R.R. Martin, will depend on the inspiration and
imagination of Jewish writers.</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">But I would suggest that the story, like the golem itself, has a life of its own, and sooner or later it just may write itself.</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<div class="banner-p-2 moved">
<div class="banner b300x250 BTF_MPU_1" id="div-gpt-ad-BTF_MPU_1">
</div>
</div>
</div>
Lance Stratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13033954765699126246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9101859138648955033.post-51264590525124891722019-08-23T15:45:00.000-04:002019-08-23T15:45:33.336-04:00Talking Tom Wolfe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Since my last few posts have been on poetry and the theater, it strikes me as appropriate, or at least not altogether inappropriate, to continue with a literary theme. And yes, I know that technically there is a world of difference between the literature and performance, but they do tie together as art forms that are based, more or less, on the word. And anyway, I'm just looking for an excuse, after all, to get this post off the ground.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, I want to take this opportunity to share another <a href="https://nysgs.org/" target="_blank">New York Society for General Semantics</a> program that was held on June 27th of 2018. The program was devoted to discussing Tom Wolfe, who had passed away the previous month. And I want to note here that I had the opportunity to meet Tom Wolfe for the first time in 1999, when he gave a Marshall McLuhan Lecture at Fordham University, preceded the evening before by a special dinner at the Canadian Consulate. We also corresponded and spoke on the phone on several occasions, and he generously allowed us to include his poems inspired by McLuhan in the anthology I co-edited with Adeena Karasick, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0985557753/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0985557753&linkCode=as2&tag=lanstrsblotim-20&linkId=cd16a19d1dc6141cb37938562578dde0" target="_blank">The Medium Is the Muse [Channeling Marshall McLuhan]</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lanstrsblotim-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0985557753" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was, therefore, sad news indeed to learn of Wolfe's passing, and it seemed altogether appropriate to organize a program paying tribute to him. The session, entitled, <b>Tom Wolfe, Man of Letters, Man of Words</b>, had the following write-up on the <a href="https://nysgs.org/News/6687660" target="_blank">NYSGS website</a>:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On May 14th, the world lost one of its most celebrated, talented, and accomplished authors, Thomas Kennerly Wolfe, Jr., best known simply as Tom Wolfe. Wolfe earned his PhD in American Studies from Yale University in 1957, and worked as a newspaper reporter for a decade, writing for periodicals such as the <i>Washington Post</i> and the <i>New York Herald-Tribune</i>, as well as <i>New York</i> magazine and <i>Esquire</i>. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wolfe pioneered the use of a personal, literary style in news reporting and feature writing that became known as the New Journalism. A best selling author, his nonfiction works include <i>The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby</i> (1965); <i>The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test</i> (1968); <i>The Pump House Gang</i> (1968); <i>Radical Chic & Mau-Mauing the Flak Catchers</i> (1970); and <i>Mauve Gloves & Madmen, Clutter & Vine</i> (1976). His examination and critique of the contemporary American art scene, <i>The Painted Word</i> (1975), proved to be extremely controversial. His history of the early space program <i>The Right Stuff</i> (1979), was adapted as a feature film by Phillip Kaufman in 1983. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">His book, <i>In Our Time</i> (1980), featured his own artwork, while From <i>Bauhaus to Our House</i> (1981), as a follow-up to <i>The Painted Word</i>, took on the topic of American architecture. Wolfe turned novelist with the publication of <i>The Bonfire of the Vanities</i> (1987), which was followed by <i>A Man in Full</i> (1998), <i>I Am Charlotte Simmons</i> (2004), and <i>Back to Blood</i> (2012). <i>Hooking Up</i> (2001) collected several works of his short fiction coupled with several of his essays. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tom Wolfe was an early promoter of media ecology scholar Marshall McLuhan, famously posing the question, "What if he's right?" in a 1965 essay published in <i>New York</i> magazine, and comparing McLuhan to the likes of Newton, Darwin, Freud, Einstein, and Pavlov. Wolfe's last book, <i>The Kingdom of Speech</i> (2016), a critique of Noam Chomsky's approach to linguistics, was awarded the Institute of General Semantics's S. I. Hayakawa Book Prize at last year's [2017] annual Alfred Korzybski Memorial Lecture, which was co-sponsored by the NYSGS. </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am going to interrupt the quote here to state that it was truly a privilege to have Tom Wolfe with us at the 2017 Alfred Korzybski Memorial Lecture. And his brief acceptance speech upon receiving the Hayakawa Book Prize was itself quite memorable, and fortunately preserved on video:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UpMR0_KEWnQ" width="560"></iframe><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And now, let me return to the NYSGS program description:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wolfe is credited with coining a number of terms, including <b>the right stuff</b>, <b>radical chic</b>, <b>the Me Decade</b>, <b>good ol' boy</b>, and <b>statusphere</b>. As an author and journalist, he was truly a man of letters, to invoke an old fashioned phrase that fits well with the famous man in a white suit, as he was known. And as a student and scholar of language, art, media, and communication, as well as a writer, interviewer, and raconteur, he most certainly was also a man of words. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On June 27th, 2018, the New York Society for General Semantics honored his contributions, creative and intellectual, and celebrated his achievements with a special panel discussion on select aspects of his career and publications. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The participants on this program were: </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Thom Gencarelli</b>, Professor and Chair of the Communication Department at Manhattan College, member of the Board of Trustees of the Institute of General Semantics, and the Board of Directors of the NYSGS, and the new editor of <i>ETC: A Review of General Semantics</i>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Martin Levinson</b>, author of several books on general semantics including a forthcoming new edition of Practical Fairy Tales for Everyday Living, President of the Institute of General Semantics and Treasurer of the New York Society for General Semantics. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Lance Strate</b>, author of several books including the award-winning <i>Media Ecology: An Approach to Understanding the Human Condition</i>, Professor of Communication and Media Studies at Fordham University, Trustee of the Institute of General Semantics, and President of the New York Society for General Semantics. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The program was moderated by <b>Jacqueline Rudig</b>, Treasurer of the Institute of General Semantics, and member of the Board of Directors of the New York Society for General Semantics. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was a thoughtful and belletristic discussion!</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And here now is the recording of the program:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a08CuW56QOY" width="560"></iframe></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And I have to say that, in my opinion, this was one of the best programs we've had since I've been organizing them for the society. Don't you agree?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Lance Stratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13033954765699126246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9101859138648955033.post-61023899826106710052019-08-09T23:01:00.000-04:002019-08-09T23:01:20.000-04:00Theatre Talk<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My previous post, <a href="http://lancestrate.blogspot.com/2019/08/with-words.html" target="_blank">With the Words</a>, featured a poetry performance of mine from April of 2018, and since we're on the subject of performance, not to mention recordings of <a href="https://nysgs.org/" target="_blank">New York Society for General Semantics</a> events, why don't I follow up with the panel discussion that followed up our poetry program. This one took place on May 2nd, 2018, and the title was <a href="https://nysgs.org/News/6573925" target="_blank">Language, Symbol, and the Theatre</a>, and I think it was a really great discussion, if I do say so myself. And that's because of the participants, not on account of the moderator, which was yours truly, although I do take credit for bringing these folks together.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Anyway, here's the write-up:</span></span><br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">General semantics is concerned with the ways in which language and symbols function as representations of our outer environment and our innermost feelings and thoughts. These representations function as maps of our external and internal realities. They help us to understand what we perceive and experience, they guide us in evaluating and navigating our world, and they give us tools for thought and action.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Different representations or maps may be more or less accurate or more or less useful in helping us to achieve certain ends. But different representations or maps may also help us to learn about different aspects of our reality, providing us with different perspectives, and abstracting out of external events different parts of the greater whole. What scientific modes of representation tell us about the world, for example, is quite different from what literary modes reveal, but each one provides us with knowledge that the other cannot.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The theatre is one of our oldest forms of literary expression, one that has an extraordinary influence on our use of language and symbol, from the Attic playwrights of ancient Greece and the introduction of the proscenium arch, and the unparalleled creative production of William Shakespeare in Elizabethan England, to the avant-garde experimentation of Bertolt Brecht in 20th century Germany, and Lin-Manuel Miranda's combination of hip hop and history in the Broadway hit <i>Hamilton</i>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">It follows that it is worth considering questions such as, what is unique to theatre as a mode of representation? What are its advantages and limitations, its problems and potentials? What are the relationships between dramatic performance and language and symbol, spoken and written word, play and script? Importantly, what role can theatre play in helping us to understand our world, in education, in social and political commentary?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Given that programs for the New York Society for General Semantics are held in the historic <a href="http://www.theplayersnyc.org/" target="_blank">Players Club</a>, founded by Edwin Booth, the greatest dramatic actor of the 19th century, as a social club "for the promotion of social intercourse between the representative members of the dramatic profession and the kindred professions of literature, painting, sculpture and music, and the patrons of the arts," a panel discussion on theatre was especially appropriate. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The participants on this program were:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>Robin Beth Levenson</b>, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at LaGuardia Community College, CUNY, and author of <i> Acting Chekhov in Translation: 4 Plays, 100 Ways</i> (Peter Lang) , published in 2018. A graduate of the Media Ecology Doctoral Program at New York University, with an MFA from the University of California at Riverside, her articles have been published in journals such as <i>Dialogues in Social Justice</i> and <i>Communications from the International Brecht Society</i>. Her research explorations include how language influences thought and behavior, and the nature of performance.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>Emily Lyon</b>, a Brooklyn-based theatre director and dramaturg who recently created a theatrical piece, <i>How We Hear</i>, inspired by Neil Postman's <i>Amusing Ourselves to Death</i>. Her other directing work includes <i>The Summoning</i> (Best Direction, Best Production: sheNYC), <i>Sword & the Stone/The Tempest</i> tour (Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival), <i>The Secret in the Wings</i> (Hedgepig Ensemble), <i>Women of Williams County</i> (Best Ensemble: Manhattan International Theatre Festival), <i>Interior: Panic</i> (FringeNYC), Max Frisch’s <i>The Arsonists</i> (DCTV Firehouse), <i>Some of the Side Effects</i> (Best Premiere: UnitedSolo), and <i>As You Like It</i> (Geva Theatre Directing Fellow). </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>S. Brian Jones</b>, Director of Operations for The Players, recently completed his masters in the Masters of Applied Theater program at CUNY School of Professional Studies. He has served as a Teacher in Residence and Arts Administrator with schools, regional theatre companies and social service agencies, conducted credential training workshops for teachers with Delaware Institute for Arts in Education, served as an advocate for Arts Education within the educational and government systems, and worked at Foundation Theatre, Freedom Theatre, Delaware Theatre Company, Christina Cultural Arts Center, New Castle County Parks and Recreation, La Jolla Playhouse, Horton Grand Theater, Ensemble Arts Theatre, Creative Management Group, Dorwell Productions, Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services, the 1199 Child Care Corporation, The Artist Playground Theater and Inside Broadway. Most recently, he worked as the Education Programs Manager for the award winning Off-Broadway Company, Epic Theatre Ensemble. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>M*** S*******</b> is a New York based actor, director and writer. As a performer, he has appeared on Broadway in the <i>39 Steps</i> and off Broadway in <i>Small World</i> at 59east59, <i>Checkers</i> at the Vineyard Theatre, <i>Tryst</i> at the Irish Repertory Theatre, <i>As Bees In Honey Drown</i> at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. His directorial work has been seen at The Alley Theatre, the Fulton Opera House, Virginia Stage, the Westport Country Playhouse, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, George Street Playhouse and many others. His play, <i>The Dingdong: or How The French Kiss</i>, an adaptation of Feydau’s <i>Le Dindon</i>, premiered Off Broadway and has played around the country. His adaptation of <i>A Christmas Carol</i>, which he will also direct, premieres this December [2018] at Florida Repertory Theatre. He is a graduate of Brown University and received his MA in Communication and Media Studies from Fordham University, where he teaches film courses. *Name withheld by request.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The discussion was moderated by <b>Lance Strate</b>, Professor of Communication and Media Studies at Fordham University, President of the New York Society for General Semantics, member of the Board of Trustees of the Institute of General Semantics.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">It was a lively and dramatic discussion!</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And now, without much further ado, here is the recording:</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X8S4VEyOiFQ" width="560"></iframe></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And what more can I say? It was a class act, don't you think?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
Lance Stratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13033954765699126246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9101859138648955033.post-53855724612711875392019-08-03T18:15:00.000-04:002019-08-03T18:15:53.778-04:00With the Words<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In my previous post, <a href="http://lancestrate.blogspot.com/2019/07/without-words.html" target="_blank">Without the Words</a>, I filled you in about the poetry reading I took part in, and organized, at last month's <a href="https://media-ecology.org/" target="_blank">Media Ecology Association</a> convention. But all there was to share from it was a bunch of photographs, as no recording was made of the event.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fortunately, though, I can share a reading from last year, which was part of an event sponsored by the <a href="https://nysgs.org/" target="_blank">New York Society for General Semantics</a>. The poems are not the same ones I read last month in Toronto, I do have quite a lot of them after all, but hey, it's better than nothing, right?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The title of the program was The Language of Poetry 2, and here's how it's introduced on the <a href="https://nysgs.org/News/6375183" target="_blank">NYSGS website</a>: </span></span><br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Alfred Korzybski, founder of general semantics, wrote that, "poetry often conveys in a few sentences more of lasting values than a whole volume of scientific analysis" (<i>Science and Sanity</i>, p. 437). He understood that poetic language provides us with a set of tools for understanding, evaluating, and relating to our environment in ways that are different from and complementary to scientific language. Not surprisingly, then, since the start of its publication 75 years ago, the general semantics journal <i>ETC</i> has often featured poetry along with articles on language, perception, communication, and consciousness of abstracting. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">On September 28, 2016, the New York Society for General Semantics held its <a href="https://nysgs.org/News/4462239" target="_blank">first Language of Poetry session</a>, and we were happy to host our second such program on April 4th, 2018. The program was moderated by Teresa Manzella, a member of the Board of Directors of the NYSGS.</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I provided an introduction at the start of the event, and then turned it over to Terry Manzella, who introduced the participants, Patricia Carragon, Adeena Karasick, Marty Levinson, and me. If you want to listen to the other readings, you can do so over on the NYSGS website's <a href="https://nysgs.org/News/6375183" target="_blank">Language of Poetry 2</a> page. I won't mind. I'm there too for that matter. But as a service to my faithful followers, I'll share my reading here on Blog Time Passing:</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C3t-lmCaKrQ" width="560"></iframe><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And while I'm at it, I might as well share the introduction I did at the start of the program:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZlYTKt80TUE" width="560"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And wait, there's more! We had a question and answer session after the readings that I might as well throw into the mix on this post:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Pvq8lxXbEa0" width="560"></iframe></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And there you have it, words and all!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Lance Stratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13033954765699126246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9101859138648955033.post-71409375672105863302019-07-28T17:53:00.000-04:002019-07-28T17:53:47.508-04:00Without the Words<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In my previous post, <a href="http://lancestrate.blogspot.com/2019/07/the-road-untaken.html">The Road Untaken</a>, I shared my unused poetic statement for the poetry reading and performance held at last month's annual <a href="https://media-ecology.wildapricot.org/" target="_blank">Media Ecology Association</a> meeting at the University of Toronto. And I also included all of my unused Wordle word clouds that I had provided to go along with it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So now, to be totally fair, let me share what was used instead for the poetry event. The illustration was by Marshall Soules, and the blurb was excerpted and altered from what I wrote:</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4360iCftcR9DPJzvZ6o7QTkRqLbxOTcv8yGv56UfSsoPN0RRRi2zskum0TZNl2mciy1JYnVth8C9wHlvtuLDixrKIMZDzye2gZtDBDkh-IsWq5rV4aPUNwWFgusHhyphenhyphenRijzFQocw55Hg/s1600/Muse.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1237" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4360iCftcR9DPJzvZ6o7QTkRqLbxOTcv8yGv56UfSsoPN0RRRi2zskum0TZNl2mciy1JYnVth8C9wHlvtuLDixrKIMZDzye2gZtDBDkh-IsWq5rV4aPUNwWFgusHhyphenhyphenRijzFQocw55Hg/s640/Muse.tiff" width="494" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, this is the poster version, there were also postcards with the image on one side and the text on the other. And as you can tell, there were ten of us participating, which made for a great deal of variety, coupled with brevity, that the audience appeared to really appreciate.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Unfortunately, there was no video camera set up, so there's not record of the readings and performance, but </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">there was, </span></span>you might say ironically, a photographer taking pictures of us, so we have a record of the poetry event, just without the words.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">They shared the pictures with us, and since there were so many, I am just going to share the pictures form my turn at bat. And I hasten to add that I do not find the photos particularly flattering, no, not at all, but I include them here in the interests of documentation, as Blog Time Passing is my official blog of record. So here goes:</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihe5KPTOrlDZpKZ9iqqgbyxK90vRHBfmAbHPWTrdw80dEjDUOsvV32qJ0wtu06Mm-xVJA16tL_ArG9oh8shfJn8r_lHyqsChfHHk1sCxOavJOvvN_QBSkEA9j3jAM4l558e8eXrKKA-ao/s1600/AL4_6223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihe5KPTOrlDZpKZ9iqqgbyxK90vRHBfmAbHPWTrdw80dEjDUOsvV32qJ0wtu06Mm-xVJA16tL_ArG9oh8shfJn8r_lHyqsChfHHk1sCxOavJOvvN_QBSkEA9j3jAM4l558e8eXrKKA-ao/s200/AL4_6223.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTj2oJL6NLeqQBZQOxVKN9OQ7G1v8i1wkKyxEECvEbVAsplu0EcbjoRhhisdP90oMpcDUmkAtiNhLaj5N4Ne0vlQjqwjC2Mht6BsByp1YhycI4cZFTXkpRYOQnSLLs710uZ-ufEi_fqE/s1600/AL4_6224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTj2oJL6NLeqQBZQOxVKN9OQ7G1v8i1wkKyxEECvEbVAsplu0EcbjoRhhisdP90oMpcDUmkAtiNhLaj5N4Ne0vlQjqwjC2Mht6BsByp1YhycI4cZFTXkpRYOQnSLLs710uZ-ufEi_fqE/s200/AL4_6224.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRn42ME5T2Rx5NzWRPLKeh1n0sPyONDgs467vpUt0ilKDUmstCPV9FigUXJ4FGlZyPNolTXSiKUhOE5SgORQeMFdsDtcz9CuZfa7ZAstZetQeTjiTy5Xt4nPienBghCtkEOg4YCf_um4/s1600/AL4_6225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRn42ME5T2Rx5NzWRPLKeh1n0sPyONDgs467vpUt0ilKDUmstCPV9FigUXJ4FGlZyPNolTXSiKUhOE5SgORQeMFdsDtcz9CuZfa7ZAstZetQeTjiTy5Xt4nPienBghCtkEOg4YCf_um4/s200/AL4_6225.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdC1sLzzCtO8W4yQzR5HAX4RqepgNIAirXeC-2NBfsuZ71b-cdb2i0DgpRgugxsJpzSMG8oUrAGvYlVBN9l1SsA1eTi-qbowbmRRRK3OJ4bimTRJL-Qc6eu9kGZWH64gVoLhCIPFoVdks/s1600/AL4_6226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdC1sLzzCtO8W4yQzR5HAX4RqepgNIAirXeC-2NBfsuZ71b-cdb2i0DgpRgugxsJpzSMG8oUrAGvYlVBN9l1SsA1eTi-qbowbmRRRK3OJ4bimTRJL-Qc6eu9kGZWH64gVoLhCIPFoVdks/s200/AL4_6226.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZwGmxi-RTRHa0TEB9ymf3cQLiIC7HaGUIAu-m4it_rUd_wGpEDLOnTJo0CoQfpc5u0SBEmvA6eVvoP-XR1r4gTYoJHREgjvnVBlW5l5hgf2159trBqY0L8XywRFVfa-MOFGM2k3Dea4/s1600/AL4_6227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZwGmxi-RTRHa0TEB9ymf3cQLiIC7HaGUIAu-m4it_rUd_wGpEDLOnTJo0CoQfpc5u0SBEmvA6eVvoP-XR1r4gTYoJHREgjvnVBlW5l5hgf2159trBqY0L8XywRFVfa-MOFGM2k3Dea4/s200/AL4_6227.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViFerIBvv9UxrnwHt_wouV6nrt0aii4HoW6rf7UEr-Zzof2LlwesX_henng7_OnU2SNY3hiYLNG8t_z8D3cTqYxkbQyOo9wE91kEKcn10hUpsPEmRBf5pi5nVe20-uvrOf1f1zWnqEB4/s1600/AL4_6228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViFerIBvv9UxrnwHt_wouV6nrt0aii4HoW6rf7UEr-Zzof2LlwesX_henng7_OnU2SNY3hiYLNG8t_z8D3cTqYxkbQyOo9wE91kEKcn10hUpsPEmRBf5pi5nVe20-uvrOf1f1zWnqEB4/s200/AL4_6228.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKo5hQMzwk4g-4uGz8DJSforLTNgibhEIK-R0_lRWIk6RwdwqQ1Yob5lSw9ceI1Al9QXZHaX6CD3C67SEht_9PUwKyIm63FwL2XKRP6IMXfYLzJLmA8uGPEs9MWNzAoyDB0YmN2pMksxI/s1600/AL4_6229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKo5hQMzwk4g-4uGz8DJSforLTNgibhEIK-R0_lRWIk6RwdwqQ1Yob5lSw9ceI1Al9QXZHaX6CD3C67SEht_9PUwKyIm63FwL2XKRP6IMXfYLzJLmA8uGPEs9MWNzAoyDB0YmN2pMksxI/s200/AL4_6229.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKo5hQMzwk4g-4uGz8DJSforLTNgibhEIK-R0_lRWIk6RwdwqQ1Yob5lSw9ceI1Al9QXZHaX6CD3C67SEht_9PUwKyIm63FwL2XKRP6IMXfYLzJLmA8uGPEs9MWNzAoyDB0YmN2pMksxI/s1600/AL4_6229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKo5hQMzwk4g-4uGz8DJSforLTNgibhEIK-R0_lRWIk6RwdwqQ1Yob5lSw9ceI1Al9QXZHaX6CD3C67SEht_9PUwKyIm63FwL2XKRP6IMXfYLzJLmA8uGPEs9MWNzAoyDB0YmN2pMksxI/s1600/AL4_6229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now, you may notice that all that I have in front of me is a music stand and a microphone, and I should also add that there was a small stage, just a couple of steps up, so slightly elevated. And there were very bright stage lights, so bright that I could not see the audience at all. Anyway, back to the photos, which include a couple of audience shots:</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92xnwvxcW1bdbF4lgRvcqAAP2g_-AKp_Q1PVuV9oE4ZTLBY2GxWBeB9RfftVoQwWAM0GhjFQABkAcX_uTalxiheJf2gvDRH9_Qe4FYcEfC4eMnIYOZW8AgEA9O7YsdjdAhJbo54_3IwU/s1600/AL4_6230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92xnwvxcW1bdbF4lgRvcqAAP2g_-AKp_Q1PVuV9oE4ZTLBY2GxWBeB9RfftVoQwWAM0GhjFQABkAcX_uTalxiheJf2gvDRH9_Qe4FYcEfC4eMnIYOZW8AgEA9O7YsdjdAhJbo54_3IwU/s200/AL4_6230.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRz-CCNRO1e0TLc-t9wyhQegk80UmiUkjNGGIe3Z39Po_kXQ5cWK9gRM8eHuJQ__orMIfw-aagCMvD47vwNyjodT6vD0Uy22hEfHwpR3YYosQGIWMH5uOZWoFSXckIk-lYUDEvDFb_LcQ/s1600/AL4_6231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRz-CCNRO1e0TLc-t9wyhQegk80UmiUkjNGGIe3Z39Po_kXQ5cWK9gRM8eHuJQ__orMIfw-aagCMvD47vwNyjodT6vD0Uy22hEfHwpR3YYosQGIWMH5uOZWoFSXckIk-lYUDEvDFb_LcQ/s200/AL4_6231.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTWYxfa455rkYTByUCWflxy3CnXyO6KIlCZ-H3S0FFwyex5uyOKzjeMi_LHSvGKAA0_okrVzIf3dt66kD81QVNtWSD_4FFKkjR-8zUUY6fU2UQdVZi7gIge7EfbF9v8b1oBz5LM_nbX8/s1600/AL4_6232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTWYxfa455rkYTByUCWflxy3CnXyO6KIlCZ-H3S0FFwyex5uyOKzjeMi_LHSvGKAA0_okrVzIf3dt66kD81QVNtWSD_4FFKkjR-8zUUY6fU2UQdVZi7gIge7EfbF9v8b1oBz5LM_nbX8/s200/AL4_6232.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVeIVO-p4Iw0U5hgHOp1rBSSjUiDNVexNfli3uptRvPUA4LVAnujS6OPxerIwYYhXeNvfslW-8tMa3WMIH3xXQl8ZoU1R2KclwCG82KOv2dBpylTS9ccG2w3OHVTtDvAw4vmNe_1J1hE/s1600/AL4_6233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVeIVO-p4Iw0U5hgHOp1rBSSjUiDNVexNfli3uptRvPUA4LVAnujS6OPxerIwYYhXeNvfslW-8tMa3WMIH3xXQl8ZoU1R2KclwCG82KOv2dBpylTS9ccG2w3OHVTtDvAw4vmNe_1J1hE/s200/AL4_6233.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtowcUP5BSps_7OEc6cYMEEvCpm-62pTKifsOFQ4UNfJgYRyq1dW8DdcveBA0dRTfj9TBWYHcBhvk28t_veSo7ABwQV2bn0JMP4gpK6UYBEYtThNOgJj6JwaS8pstyiSXn-YgeutBhfs/s1600/AL4_6234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtowcUP5BSps_7OEc6cYMEEvCpm-62pTKifsOFQ4UNfJgYRyq1dW8DdcveBA0dRTfj9TBWYHcBhvk28t_veSo7ABwQV2bn0JMP4gpK6UYBEYtThNOgJj6JwaS8pstyiSXn-YgeutBhfs/s200/AL4_6234.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDVeo2s_EExM1tAPk4BNawpAl4Mtp8r3v2UFmvJPzp5u404r89X2jy1OcPFwOfeEMHYb7NMUl7c3J0CR7ANMoCizrRgYh3f5qpOYQNmSIt25XGNb03AuXLOiYRnlsDgbvHa5zao9Vp6M/s1600/AL4_6235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDVeo2s_EExM1tAPk4BNawpAl4Mtp8r3v2UFmvJPzp5u404r89X2jy1OcPFwOfeEMHYb7NMUl7c3J0CR7ANMoCizrRgYh3f5qpOYQNmSIt25XGNb03AuXLOiYRnlsDgbvHa5zao9Vp6M/s200/AL4_6235.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdgUH6soTHCYmTngmeChm_AWUNXXfraou_lTP4b3kO55f0Y2v2n0-jd2Y1qAo_97skhyuYihyk0WxCiaFHqNLbgnBE3Q_2Vn2LO_T0Q2kmrI-oufWlYorFnEyCBjQkjrfzmErXfsUVjF0/s1600/AL4_6236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdgUH6soTHCYmTngmeChm_AWUNXXfraou_lTP4b3kO55f0Y2v2n0-jd2Y1qAo_97skhyuYihyk0WxCiaFHqNLbgnBE3Q_2Vn2LO_T0Q2kmrI-oufWlYorFnEyCBjQkjrfzmErXfsUVjF0/s200/AL4_6236.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmW02Kly9H3-W0BQqXxWzqPhHIlZRKZa12NP4upblrBp0L2Y9lIUDJEUYbl-_AOYW0eToN4HId9aPCorlQur7dTZNb9xhAZq2fGxaWxfeS-0vBsOuUfpRriIzcP3yGaEonzYd13JD6UOI/s1600/AL4_6237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmW02Kly9H3-W0BQqXxWzqPhHIlZRKZa12NP4upblrBp0L2Y9lIUDJEUYbl-_AOYW0eToN4HId9aPCorlQur7dTZNb9xhAZq2fGxaWxfeS-0vBsOuUfpRriIzcP3yGaEonzYd13JD6UOI/s200/AL4_6237.JPG" width="133" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1eHm9sE9U7aHzltT_X9uBrRUlRs2d5CPLi2fbT2TGG2El_mu4mkgzDgVWEQSuV2SN-QlFX7fhMyEmBiTgiFJvu5GfetxivK4j5gDpMvdh8GYdHzGE6fIgfS95M-DcjuIkDgRypqSVcwk/s1600/AL4_6238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1eHm9sE9U7aHzltT_X9uBrRUlRs2d5CPLi2fbT2TGG2El_mu4mkgzDgVWEQSuV2SN-QlFX7fhMyEmBiTgiFJvu5GfetxivK4j5gDpMvdh8GYdHzGE6fIgfS95M-DcjuIkDgRypqSVcwk/s200/AL4_6238.JPG" width="133" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5V29k_K5eOWc8SKqnl2xqUrzhT_2lPa9ZXBKDwDZewa6zX0bslgDdPfVUpYhAVy0rPqQfN72EbYmHyOLqLcN2UPWuUnK7sF0XAykwV1i10KMf0svuOOpm_W9s23KkH4YHR5F7BWwH4zg/s1600/AL4_6239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5V29k_K5eOWc8SKqnl2xqUrzhT_2lPa9ZXBKDwDZewa6zX0bslgDdPfVUpYhAVy0rPqQfN72EbYmHyOLqLcN2UPWuUnK7sF0XAykwV1i10KMf0svuOOpm_W9s23KkH4YHR5F7BWwH4zg/s200/AL4_6239.JPG" width="133" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKVwGKLlCHkz3UaqOAMt4LzoXPgU5dR0Jb4hDYiQLv8S4oduJUqOWq00OTx1em31Ouu2G-ZwEMSz0DbR3Elb9mjMO7W7Gm2iBXIR7djColo4kw7BWeSz7u0504NNfL-8RBtqxaVnU-MM/s1600/AL4_6240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKVwGKLlCHkz3UaqOAMt4LzoXPgU5dR0Jb4hDYiQLv8S4oduJUqOWq00OTx1em31Ouu2G-ZwEMSz0DbR3Elb9mjMO7W7Gm2iBXIR7djColo4kw7BWeSz7u0504NNfL-8RBtqxaVnU-MM/s200/AL4_6240.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpAZoDZSFr5dlF0yMBX7S2C2iumcV5HoNdl-kIbnpjQpMSSD46bo-JXm0wH5Y6R9FLsVH4xY8WM7vT0xmaanZfJ1qjW3wcPQsQgqiwGYImPfF4SpWFI6mYcMpPI7-uawUfL8Gye0Db5A/s1600/AL4_6241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpAZoDZSFr5dlF0yMBX7S2C2iumcV5HoNdl-kIbnpjQpMSSD46bo-JXm0wH5Y6R9FLsVH4xY8WM7vT0xmaanZfJ1qjW3wcPQsQgqiwGYImPfF4SpWFI6mYcMpPI7-uawUfL8Gye0Db5A/s200/AL4_6241.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">At this point, I'd just like to note that for a couple of the poems that I read, I used hand gestures, which the photographer captured here and there:</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfEwvwdKcIbSLvFw8NWNvG0kzahv2Y6DmfD86GzfkOmsouWJMqtiaD24Vq8zPanLlpGxlWdWL0E5taRGDNw02C8hpVng8LDyUJUu7XxqtyKVWwX8T4D8evUhYOcM-aVCu6LFSSZGM0Mk/s1600/AL4_6242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfEwvwdKcIbSLvFw8NWNvG0kzahv2Y6DmfD86GzfkOmsouWJMqtiaD24Vq8zPanLlpGxlWdWL0E5taRGDNw02C8hpVng8LDyUJUu7XxqtyKVWwX8T4D8evUhYOcM-aVCu6LFSSZGM0Mk/s200/AL4_6242.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeTcqXn-pX0VP6k04Kr2Y-52811JHeINN7Tf4zjQHPYiuiWn19fqkaHkIy8W6HPFSVTW7_6IOaDWzH6SxLnxcggUGL403aFEf2sr9rAonDXCTWPQNCCl0co4TvdQWUWFynAEl_SBmWPA/s1600/AL4_6243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeTcqXn-pX0VP6k04Kr2Y-52811JHeINN7Tf4zjQHPYiuiWn19fqkaHkIy8W6HPFSVTW7_6IOaDWzH6SxLnxcggUGL403aFEf2sr9rAonDXCTWPQNCCl0co4TvdQWUWFynAEl_SBmWPA/s200/AL4_6243.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0yzLvRZxgrdv-oeULmQo02oMORzomJfvA7H9BylCbjTGuCZVTsQ1WwHx9HOESH0kK9ks2rf2dePM4KuivmsjTOJunS0zOXhQgL05sATUhsBHgWfhIRkeTAmZ3fdX1_oAUlQLuKqGS1g/s1600/AL4_6244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0yzLvRZxgrdv-oeULmQo02oMORzomJfvA7H9BylCbjTGuCZVTsQ1WwHx9HOESH0kK9ks2rf2dePM4KuivmsjTOJunS0zOXhQgL05sATUhsBHgWfhIRkeTAmZ3fdX1_oAUlQLuKqGS1g/s200/AL4_6244.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigX7d7HS3qatfW8f3mNlUalTJlqEnc8xiAyl_s0YLSlzueT0IP1Y0-Q0pYgCWgyKIjV5c7yg3_uxk-lDmSaSbywZKI3xpIdIUiTac3ymH0OAPDvGeBEItZMtyE4C8xzpuwIGmxL6Y98Hk/s1600/AL4_6245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigX7d7HS3qatfW8f3mNlUalTJlqEnc8xiAyl_s0YLSlzueT0IP1Y0-Q0pYgCWgyKIjV5c7yg3_uxk-lDmSaSbywZKI3xpIdIUiTac3ymH0OAPDvGeBEItZMtyE4C8xzpuwIGmxL6Y98Hk/s200/AL4_6245.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWiPVwj2Z2R9TJ-Qc3W5jOuLgi_NQ9o0XWiO7tqZAFAaHYS1zvIC8Jmgqg6-nytKBc_AHv88jaRm9emlEayjse5XBR5Tcn2dvLxPkFkhiJnsnYaLHuyY1aHQxERvGzOc1WE9vXVWFl4w/s1600/AL4_6246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWiPVwj2Z2R9TJ-Qc3W5jOuLgi_NQ9o0XWiO7tqZAFAaHYS1zvIC8Jmgqg6-nytKBc_AHv88jaRm9emlEayjse5XBR5Tcn2dvLxPkFkhiJnsnYaLHuyY1aHQxERvGzOc1WE9vXVWFl4w/s200/AL4_6246.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlys45hbhZ2LWJgGd_EC50Z3lHaMqjX7QmE0kp4UcnX5BnFnMiw2CUiOpK8Z7fPEJS9qFt8RGXkv993_frw9QhfFmCJZeyKOQ7sgAEwZ2ihQojOk_Ra08fKDYTC4K0FXNFdnkZ5ufeso/s1600/AL4_6247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlys45hbhZ2LWJgGd_EC50Z3lHaMqjX7QmE0kp4UcnX5BnFnMiw2CUiOpK8Z7fPEJS9qFt8RGXkv993_frw9QhfFmCJZeyKOQ7sgAEwZ2ihQojOk_Ra08fKDYTC4K0FXNFdnkZ5ufeso/s200/AL4_6247.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8EZHNqmmSMj9Kt14QkZBInOZyocVNfSXNZlTtyB8PAcYhhGw4jRxAGqVa6pHGPBojKxHvwh0g0W6XMQsHIVpVrdnlU9mi663kMwBPoLY0tJswVgSvirD9f_vwdk6uz2ZxV2R11ohMuM/s1600/AL4_6248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8EZHNqmmSMj9Kt14QkZBInOZyocVNfSXNZlTtyB8PAcYhhGw4jRxAGqVa6pHGPBojKxHvwh0g0W6XMQsHIVpVrdnlU9mi663kMwBPoLY0tJswVgSvirD9f_vwdk6uz2ZxV2R11ohMuM/s200/AL4_6248.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUUs2uLI_NeBYqQsLa-cG3tPlAF7d6qqGQek9sxktYK1742GfNTAgwIqiZ5par4ucizourYUA7Jbc8dAuQx48_2FWx8maJ7hQr9wsmCZu6oFSqtslQAsCH3DPBd4mklDbwhVyX7vOh9s/s1600/AL4_6249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUUs2uLI_NeBYqQsLa-cG3tPlAF7d6qqGQek9sxktYK1742GfNTAgwIqiZ5par4ucizourYUA7Jbc8dAuQx48_2FWx8maJ7hQr9wsmCZu6oFSqtslQAsCH3DPBd4mklDbwhVyX7vOh9s/s200/AL4_6249.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBxCPM7F79RVbgX1rtaVERDz4up0kXLGr-XQZ-FrflmLF1LS7Uqzf-vvM_GvKWaZte3RA3M5yayqLG4dfD17K1W_OqmN-LQLvdk2WbdYnZ7EYKKZNDgfdkoHps6gkzr4fvWxOf96N1iI/s1600/AL4_6250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBxCPM7F79RVbgX1rtaVERDz4up0kXLGr-XQZ-FrflmLF1LS7Uqzf-vvM_GvKWaZte3RA3M5yayqLG4dfD17K1W_OqmN-LQLvdk2WbdYnZ7EYKKZNDgfdkoHps6gkzr4fvWxOf96N1iI/s200/AL4_6250.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91TeEXYgkXFZ3BWFkDP17SUD33LHU_4bKfJzyPWt5d8RKJUbty26eIVewNiobk_g4DjUf9idigAuyxc2HHnXyguMJu2dstTvDiPP3eAgwG6edcMl2-okuj82VdFyvZaol3rypbFsBWRw/s1600/AL4_6251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91TeEXYgkXFZ3BWFkDP17SUD33LHU_4bKfJzyPWt5d8RKJUbty26eIVewNiobk_g4DjUf9idigAuyxc2HHnXyguMJu2dstTvDiPP3eAgwG6edcMl2-okuj82VdFyvZaol3rypbFsBWRw/s200/AL4_6251.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7B9oYYgLt7iiuuCA_IDtXTRflajYsQkkTZbO92H9RzOvgCelyWAkxjmD7rKGgDG1Yy2_pR6M0mGPIHMOeF8r06rT6hWCaTwfjJ9z868i0c7809akOp8jE_ngiE0tqogLKxFqRpmR_dew/s1600/AL4_6252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7B9oYYgLt7iiuuCA_IDtXTRflajYsQkkTZbO92H9RzOvgCelyWAkxjmD7rKGgDG1Yy2_pR6M0mGPIHMOeF8r06rT6hWCaTwfjJ9z868i0c7809akOp8jE_ngiE0tqogLKxFqRpmR_dew/s200/AL4_6252.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdc_XeF5VGxbrxShg2N6qoL8xsxH13iH6VDeCg7x7RsQcbCjgThBEVQHe6-PjUXd-Ec9ztsDR1yYKboNoaxBpXYOKV7yoLKq7paKLFxapTbuWEVXv-T0imBwMNZlXc_n3ZFC7GZf6EG5Y/s1600/AL4_6253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdc_XeF5VGxbrxShg2N6qoL8xsxH13iH6VDeCg7x7RsQcbCjgThBEVQHe6-PjUXd-Ec9ztsDR1yYKboNoaxBpXYOKV7yoLKq7paKLFxapTbuWEVXv-T0imBwMNZlXc_n3ZFC7GZf6EG5Y/s200/AL4_6253.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Svg05ldpX2EkGoJznFL4dseDr1UCTVrMeHbM4QxfMJ_ie4C2eUYKuH0roAWpvWsKhgs4FDAW1Y5KgAUQvdwwNxLaEQF4OvsWJLEMqzsrHGC5ugB7NeThdYuLvDrFkXN6G_3Cd_njq9o/s1600/AL4_6254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Svg05ldpX2EkGoJznFL4dseDr1UCTVrMeHbM4QxfMJ_ie4C2eUYKuH0roAWpvWsKhgs4FDAW1Y5KgAUQvdwwNxLaEQF4OvsWJLEMqzsrHGC5ugB7NeThdYuLvDrFkXN6G_3Cd_njq9o/s200/AL4_6254.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88Vmkl950_uvs4KBF4fzqt_eoNKimiW8lbdvb8IWyg3RgKk9bq4c0pNLbQECOAeKRUTpzI7dB76VDYFoOyTuzT8PHn0sSSPtfgaoTMNVXfN72ww50yHm_me7mq8HW7re72HfJ_K2v-U8/s1600/AL4_6255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88Vmkl950_uvs4KBF4fzqt_eoNKimiW8lbdvb8IWyg3RgKk9bq4c0pNLbQECOAeKRUTpzI7dB76VDYFoOyTuzT8PHn0sSSPtfgaoTMNVXfN72ww50yHm_me7mq8HW7re72HfJ_K2v-U8/s200/AL4_6255.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwsFDIOZTsdR5_HXRUK3Fwf4BMf4nfh8amtuEZBG84om73GKQKRxpSMmUfpGTi5SuzPw4Jp8flQ1xlC89kEHj9fmSuny7Bgb8NnzQY7GhrMxj_hwxaDmbEU6WIoxqqWejYFZ9zDgUFYM/s1600/AL4_6256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwsFDIOZTsdR5_HXRUK3Fwf4BMf4nfh8amtuEZBG84om73GKQKRxpSMmUfpGTi5SuzPw4Jp8flQ1xlC89kEHj9fmSuny7Bgb8NnzQY7GhrMxj_hwxaDmbEU6WIoxqqWejYFZ9zDgUFYM/s200/AL4_6256.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5b_yy3NJP8mOF2_9HNyOxsp-t-dQUc93P3FlJM4B974ncHHqzp68hZsQR5_PRE8b4r4cw6mRMqhU-df_6Qrr2pDXCZVjlgjbOY4UZKVS1YJaVFFi1szd6VCz7-xVy8bL9SHb-P9YqSkc/s1600/AL4_6257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5b_yy3NJP8mOF2_9HNyOxsp-t-dQUc93P3FlJM4B974ncHHqzp68hZsQR5_PRE8b4r4cw6mRMqhU-df_6Qrr2pDXCZVjlgjbOY4UZKVS1YJaVFFi1szd6VCz7-xVy8bL9SHb-P9YqSkc/s200/AL4_6257.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZoH8rb-Cu8scod8pPZY5SOwbqUS_QJt80FqrM7C3Pbwa8S1WIS0b0rvVPzwTIaa7T9PCLaCVgPSItTp8OiaZQd650-JEZ3q3CLCaTUBcPX6s2E-Ucwatb4iasM-CKkHimmNhYjdirc4s/s1600/AL4_6258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZoH8rb-Cu8scod8pPZY5SOwbqUS_QJt80FqrM7C3Pbwa8S1WIS0b0rvVPzwTIaa7T9PCLaCVgPSItTp8OiaZQd650-JEZ3q3CLCaTUBcPX6s2E-Ucwatb4iasM-CKkHimmNhYjdirc4s/s200/AL4_6258.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOy0jdubi7B5QZ4JeqI5S6e2vE-0KhkS1spByI0F6LNr_7HAO8R3bhpngGkFZb98XHWBnDFX3mGGbIShnwLIGKpLPOiR-vDBAXKpiQ4SHPN8OQq2g-xNO1TCFL0_db71auO0sfRysAkA/s1600/AL4_6259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOy0jdubi7B5QZ4JeqI5S6e2vE-0KhkS1spByI0F6LNr_7HAO8R3bhpngGkFZb98XHWBnDFX3mGGbIShnwLIGKpLPOiR-vDBAXKpiQ4SHPN8OQq2g-xNO1TCFL0_db71auO0sfRysAkA/s200/AL4_6259.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmElv6fWB8csxVGebTVKl9Wr5N8MxvqX6AELmdEFMknm9TXM8djrtJKCL6mgg5RCHnkwY0ztSkWd3WRU76ikZPhXJkR8prLYhtlWRVAlshEzxRqiLsvitA847pA-F2BLtfAcIl_ldlmI/s1600/AL4_6260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmElv6fWB8csxVGebTVKl9Wr5N8MxvqX6AELmdEFMknm9TXM8djrtJKCL6mgg5RCHnkwY0ztSkWd3WRU76ikZPhXJkR8prLYhtlWRVAlshEzxRqiLsvitA847pA-F2BLtfAcIl_ldlmI/s200/AL4_6260.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-wSuWLj5c4_K40s3oXGSTZYDNoYeFNkhS8xHwD0oNH_XTrH_zu3nm8tIiUpwQoHUE9K66Koji2R6Uqb3UIw-RgwOiesO0glP8Vw-gL702B6S8tIzyDkBB6_4xooMArGFAVDwik-l8eg/s1600/AL4_6261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-wSuWLj5c4_K40s3oXGSTZYDNoYeFNkhS8xHwD0oNH_XTrH_zu3nm8tIiUpwQoHUE9K66Koji2R6Uqb3UIw-RgwOiesO0glP8Vw-gL702B6S8tIzyDkBB6_4xooMArGFAVDwik-l8eg/s200/AL4_6261.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7UOl0kbHAA-kUG9E_JZvPBbpDMrP1fZmien6Me6tkzIQz1364bmNE4gQCbo5hbC0VNVGufSnc4SmdDDdeGM-egieeqS9jIppGahyphenhyphenEiEy61HIkWyAwOhjgvoZrvqZ_ft3vSuwut3nyeU/s1600/AL4_6264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7UOl0kbHAA-kUG9E_JZvPBbpDMrP1fZmien6Me6tkzIQz1364bmNE4gQCbo5hbC0VNVGufSnc4SmdDDdeGM-egieeqS9jIppGahyphenhyphenEiEy61HIkWyAwOhjgvoZrvqZ_ft3vSuwut3nyeU/s200/AL4_6264.JPG" width="133" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdR_6qHi4T2etDuCL3fDnOYfUIHO479527o7IAo-Yx48yFDBUC_IFzIqEDSMe7FpPPW4MLZXUEDJ_pePSriK03B_MK6lGbFtKq5M2ISieq2gRnsf3qvGJ2T6A0CvDLDLsO38qiDeycbY/s1600/AL4_6265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdR_6qHi4T2etDuCL3fDnOYfUIHO479527o7IAo-Yx48yFDBUC_IFzIqEDSMe7FpPPW4MLZXUEDJ_pePSriK03B_MK6lGbFtKq5M2ISieq2gRnsf3qvGJ2T6A0CvDLDLsO38qiDeycbY/s200/AL4_6265.JPG" width="133" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAu6jXq-hhbz8fp1bLazQf1u719SDipnRiae_yiKbE8gAJ9nB9Vm1DwKJXIeziIr0W5n0Z698pg0v-NR6sXUxaWXxi4kLKqDXiJUYKoPeLfdGYJ2uI6FDkF_oB4YbDfdK1VfbFAW2fuqk/s1600/AL4_6266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAu6jXq-hhbz8fp1bLazQf1u719SDipnRiae_yiKbE8gAJ9nB9Vm1DwKJXIeziIr0W5n0Z698pg0v-NR6sXUxaWXxi4kLKqDXiJUYKoPeLfdGYJ2uI6FDkF_oB4YbDfdK1VfbFAW2fuqk/s200/AL4_6266.JPG" width="133" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhWPfslhxG8zCBUSDo4TC0QyETfD7aFp6-eXDo8qLxenPABc7rhX4yB6QfIxDewQcXtGOqUWZ0Rsb8DvBcg2IK4IFmyRwbVqCx-hnPX49vA7ptLbdZzFwmVR2yerJiIw96UqGldKmPRE/s1600/AL4_6267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhWPfslhxG8zCBUSDo4TC0QyETfD7aFp6-eXDo8qLxenPABc7rhX4yB6QfIxDewQcXtGOqUWZ0Rsb8DvBcg2IK4IFmyRwbVqCx-hnPX49vA7ptLbdZzFwmVR2yerJiIw96UqGldKmPRE/s200/AL4_6267.JPG" width="133" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzrKvcLdZJTKGb_i0MTmxrpE0C3GVziRRtx1nJZKQCpqVGaI1dT7eqfjyxrMAsQd3ibjLQ2Mb3afi_PEgQgxx6HWltaDwp8VLP8UXCy5ZiYKtu-4iClLbyxHNe0-DeTULvRaRO58DUWf4/s1600/AL4_6268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzrKvcLdZJTKGb_i0MTmxrpE0C3GVziRRtx1nJZKQCpqVGaI1dT7eqfjyxrMAsQd3ibjLQ2Mb3afi_PEgQgxx6HWltaDwp8VLP8UXCy5ZiYKtu-4iClLbyxHNe0-DeTULvRaRO58DUWf4/s200/AL4_6268.JPG" width="133" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4DoLI0H7mQQr-I0NvST8RKyc3K9h-tgkylkNHJ48W4gGboMqR22cwj224yg5KeW91o87jLCzzqYsKfrh8VmPzmQoGxUQPkW5R8j2EmwTrxefboY3KpRWNae5Si3EG4CzzcIJN67N0s-w/s1600/AL4_6269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4DoLI0H7mQQr-I0NvST8RKyc3K9h-tgkylkNHJ48W4gGboMqR22cwj224yg5KeW91o87jLCzzqYsKfrh8VmPzmQoGxUQPkW5R8j2EmwTrxefboY3KpRWNae5Si3EG4CzzcIJN67N0s-w/s200/AL4_6269.JPG" width="133" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipuCkDNcHCd75ZW7wUWNSpGvcY7yjRidBen17RCIn0nUPt1qGLDDOLgQrxeO275uuVtqdUmm3ezh1M-5CIzNM64CT065e5oAAkGsS_sMkYPCACilR3PZ9toOnzb0lVnPIKGOUPC756nXQ/s1600/AL4_6270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipuCkDNcHCd75ZW7wUWNSpGvcY7yjRidBen17RCIn0nUPt1qGLDDOLgQrxeO275uuVtqdUmm3ezh1M-5CIzNM64CT065e5oAAkGsS_sMkYPCACilR3PZ9toOnzb0lVnPIKGOUPC756nXQ/s200/AL4_6270.JPG" width="133" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCw3ccitBOuvjpeokbrjkIPdWjHB_eMxL_nKLDdkmjtPE_2THth7X8ePpoTmn1t42UrJB0cVzdEE0l_CVtRMf2cxJt7OQf1dtJTQeN9dqUoLuwhexM-HAeuQ0nEHxQ-SYxUZGKdU50Jk/s1600/AL4_6271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCw3ccitBOuvjpeokbrjkIPdWjHB_eMxL_nKLDdkmjtPE_2THth7X8ePpoTmn1t42UrJB0cVzdEE0l_CVtRMf2cxJt7OQf1dtJTQeN9dqUoLuwhexM-HAeuQ0nEHxQ-SYxUZGKdU50Jk/s200/AL4_6271.JPG" width="133" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHckwdhrKNvGHi7X0KrUXFTRIY5guVPfpzyRU4kAmBO84hT5gLCoCCuPFbeLjJqTR-gy-Hu7RjjVrb4TBs9vyMMJUlA_Su1fnz30nboyalLeEeLkcc7vU0mb4ePHNqT94fuLIXmHV0mg/s1600/AL4_6272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHckwdhrKNvGHi7X0KrUXFTRIY5guVPfpzyRU4kAmBO84hT5gLCoCCuPFbeLjJqTR-gy-Hu7RjjVrb4TBs9vyMMJUlA_Su1fnz30nboyalLeEeLkcc7vU0mb4ePHNqT94fuLIXmHV0mg/s200/AL4_6272.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDdypJIWAJsX7MRLGs2UEfeaBx99mKV_U9vpwwihR0Z0aPW7gM2Jwj7Ngs6m1gYw7f52AYt8ws2YJLobc0Puu5KyakwGodO6sk6jnSSg8zE5kIMutm3sw-1bYLIOIJbGmLy4v0SUcvz0/s1600/AL4_6273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDdypJIWAJsX7MRLGs2UEfeaBx99mKV_U9vpwwihR0Z0aPW7gM2Jwj7Ngs6m1gYw7f52AYt8ws2YJLobc0Puu5KyakwGodO6sk6jnSSg8zE5kIMutm3sw-1bYLIOIJbGmLy4v0SUcvz0/s200/AL4_6273.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegqsinLZN_G8Vet3BshdBODOIoiGSohSFVz2LlqKejO1xmQKGGl1ZIJYnitM-Ua8IBDggki01WoEWCpL-DfLEWShFCBqI5zKR-riA1MgbHsUpPgQTG8Ky35hyASLiA2xsX8hKzo9Xa3Y/s1600/AL4_6274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegqsinLZN_G8Vet3BshdBODOIoiGSohSFVz2LlqKejO1xmQKGGl1ZIJYnitM-Ua8IBDggki01WoEWCpL-DfLEWShFCBqI5zKR-riA1MgbHsUpPgQTG8Ky35hyASLiA2xsX8hKzo9Xa3Y/s200/AL4_6274.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Whew! I know that was a lot, and I wouldn't exactly call it poetry in motion, or in still life, but there you have it. And since this is something of a photo essay, let me add one more:</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1A2s-irMOCiqkD3OlCDsybFjf7lwM0qNOzfloCeraM9a_V-zMBFzYlxXQz-RSWSJWWkEOu2zZVI4h_o-Fk7oehZHZSjphBjb79Po9BchV-DlSfHQEb6zXjBaq1pzrUK73JpAkK3q7Ug/s1600/AL4_7550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1A2s-irMOCiqkD3OlCDsybFjf7lwM0qNOzfloCeraM9a_V-zMBFzYlxXQz-RSWSJWWkEOu2zZVI4h_o-Fk7oehZHZSjphBjb79Po9BchV-DlSfHQEb6zXjBaq1pzrUK73JpAkK3q7Ug/s640/AL4_7550.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">That's a snapshot of me with Paolo Granata, the convention organizer and MEA Vice-President. No words necessary here.</span></span> </div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
Lance Stratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13033954765699126246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9101859138648955033.post-66454929688568180462019-07-22T17:10:00.000-04:002019-07-22T17:10:22.572-04:00Talking Trauma<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It just occurred to me that, while I shared a few more of the <a href="https://nysgs.org/" target="_blank">New York Society for General Semantics</a> sessions that I've organized, I have not recently extended an invitation to subscribe and attend.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, you don't have to be local to subscribe, although it certainly does help if you want to attend the sessions. But you can subscribe to get updates and stay in the loop, no matter where you are. The subscription form is on the home page to the </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://nysgs.org/" target="_blank">New York Society for General Semantics</a> website.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And whether you live in the New York Metropolitan Area of within shouting distance of Manhattan, or maybe are visiting, you are cordially invited to attend whenever a NYSGS program is being held. All that we ask is that you register online, via the </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://nysgs.org/" target="_blank">New York Society for General Semantics</a> website, so you'll be on the list given to the person at the door. Because the events are held at a private club.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now, on to this particular post, about a very meaningful session we held over a year ago, on February 21st, 2018. The title of the session was <b>Trauma: Semantics Reactions, Reflections, Retentions</b>, and here is the write up:</span></span></span></span>
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">General semantics is concerned with how events translate to perceptions, how they are further modified by the names and labels we apply to them, and how we might gain a measure of control over our own responses, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Trauma can be defined as an event that is experienced as deeply disturbing and distressing. Typically, psychological trauma is distinguished from physical trauma which involves some kind of bodily injury, wound, or harm, although psychological trauma can lead to somatic effects, and physical trauma is often accompanied by its psychological counterpart.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">How can we better understand the experience of trauma? What are the roles played by perception, language, and memory in our experience of traumatic events, and their aftereffects? How is trauma recognized, and repressed? What are the therapeutic approaches to coping with trauma? Is it possible for us, as human beings, to prepare ourselves for the possibilities of traumatic encounters?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">These and other questions will be taken up by our panelists as we discuss a topic that deserves serious consideration.</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As for the participants on this panel, there were listed as follows:</span></span><br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Michelle S. Kramisen</b> has her MA in Literature with a concentration in war literature and trauma theory from State University of New York, New Paltz. Currently based out of New York City, she teaches college writing and research courses including a course this semester on zombies and trauma, at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Her chapter, “Confronting Trauma in the Zombie Apocalypse: Witnessing, Survivor Guilt, and Postmemory,” was recently published in a collection on media studies. She has presented on trauma, war literature, and media studies at conferences around the country.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Lori Ramos</b> earned her PhD in Media Ecology from New York University. Her early research and scholarship explored the role of media in shaping conceptions of and attitudes toward literacy. More recently, her interests in communication have evolved to include psychotherapy and the impact of trauma. She has received an MSW from Fordham University with a focus on clinical social work and also completed EMDR training for trauma therapy. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Media Studies at William Paterson University in New Jersey and a staff therapist at Blanton-Peale Institute and Counseling Center in New York City.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Matthew Butler</b> enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1994, was assigned as a Combat Correspondent and attended the Defense Information School studying basic journalism, photojournalism, and military public relations. He is a combat veteran with deployments to Fallujah, Iraq, Helmond Province, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa and South America. Matt's decorations include two Meritorious Service Medals, Joint Commendation Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals and two Humanitarian Assistance Medals for response to humanitarian crisis in Djibouti and Kenya on two separate occasions. After retiring from the Marines in 2014, Matt completed his undergraduate degree in Organizational Leadership and is now the Director of Military and Veterans' Services at Fordham University where he assists service members and veterans with transitioning from the military to higher education, supports academic integration, career preparation and planning, health and wellness support, and connecting veterans with mentors, both student veteran mentors, and corporate partners. Matt has hosted panel discussions about PTS and Moral Injuries and continuous to be a strong advocate for veterans. Matt works closely with New York City's Department of Veterans' Services and is Executive Member of Veterans on Campus NYC, a public-private venture to support service members and veterans making the transition to colleges and universities in New York City. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The discussion will be moderated by <b>Lance Strate</b>, Professor of Communication and Media Studies at Fordham University, President of the New York Society for General Semantics, member of the Board of Trustees of the Institute of General Semantics, author of several books including <i>Media Ecology: An Approach to Understanding the Human Condition</i> (2017), and <i>On the Binding Biases of Time and Other Essays on General Semantics and Media Ecology</i> (2011), and co-editor of several anthologies including <i>Korzybski And...</i> (2012).</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And here it is:</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6rjXD_jnRvU" width="560"></iframe></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It was a program that tackled a topic of profound significance and concern!
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Lance Stratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13033954765699126246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9101859138648955033.post-36712665118993377282019-07-16T22:53:00.000-04:002019-07-16T22:53:13.276-04:00The Road Untaken<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, the annual Media Ecology Association convention was held on June 27th to 3oth, hosted by the University of Toronto, and specifically, Saint Michael's College, where McLuhan was an English professor, once upon a time. And in conjunction with the event, there was an evening of poetry reading and performance that I helped to organize.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The convention organizer, Paolo Granata, wanted to use the title of the poetry anthology I co-edited, <i>The Medium is the Muse</i>, for the event, and asked me to provide a description for the program, and come up with an image to go with it.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Which I did. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But he didn't like my stuff. So rather than let it go to waste, I thought I'd share it here on Blog Time Passing. And by way of explanation, when he asked me to write something, I thought, what's there to say aside from poetry reading or performance?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So I decided to produce something that was, in its own right, poetic. That is, to show rather than tell. And I'm not saying it's my best work, I did it on the fly to be honest, but for what it's worth, here it is:</span></span><br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Medium is the Muse</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">An evening of poetry, the primordial medium, the message of the muses, the music of the medium, all the muse that’s fit to print, all the young muse carry the news, boogaloo muse, singing the blues, primeval media, the extensions of manifesto, the mimesis of the soul, hot and cool primal scream and final whispers, rebel yell and communal bell, rang sang bang a gong jongleur, spirit song, lung sung and sprung written rhythmic read out loud, spit it out, our utterance, outer rants, utter limits, what she said, what he said, what we sing, what they heard, eavesdroppings and adam’s choppings, tribal drumbeat and village idiom, echoes and dreams, audible visions, intoxicating voices, ear quake, aura of the aural-oral, singing aural-lee, the prism of oralism, primary orality, primarily oral, primed to oratorical apogee, epic epideictic vituperation and fulsome praise, art formed in waves and particles, auditory art and artifice of the spoken word, the word made flash, mighty winded words winding on and on, words shaken not stirred, verbal chowder, linguistic stew, mythic morsel and mouthful for audience appetites, technology of the throat, lyrics of the larynx, lip glossolalia, angelistic tongue in atavistic cheek, essential elemental vocalization, true talk and simulacrum of speech, bard speak, ritual drama, dance of language, the human refrain, cry of the incarnate and incarcerated, liberated lines and unrestricted rounds, freed verse and meter made madness, narcissistic narcotic, psychedelic science of the stanza, consciousness expansions, bridge over the bicameral mind, interplay of the hemispheres, interzone of the interior landscape, interface to the unconscious, monsters from the id, rhyme that brings forth reason, rebel with formal cause, mnemonic pneumonic noise, call to collective memory and commemoration, memorable thought and symbolic act, first histories and final plans, prayers of supplication and anticipation, vocal sanctification, chant of enchantment, sacred sonic space and profane performance plane, acoustic ecosystems, soundscrapes, the sound heard round the walled, so sing to me O muse, sing to medium O meme, of morphemes and phonemes, you singers of tales and heads embodied, a’musing ourselves to breath, to breathe, to laugh and love and weep and rage, a’musing ourselves to life!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, what do you think? In any event, the next problem was what kind of image to go with that? I explained that it was inappropriate to use the cover image from <i>The Medium is the Muse</i> book, because this was not readings from that book, and most of the participants were not contributors to the book, some were but not all. And I also said it didn't make sense to use a picture of McLuhan because it wouldn't be all poetry inspired by McLuhan, again as opposed to our edited collection.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Well, it seemed to me that poetry is all about language, words, so what could be better to illustrate it than a word cloud? So I turned to my old friend <a href="http://www.wordle.net/" target="_blank">Wordle</a> to create one, having earlier discovered that you now need to download it to make it work. Anyway, I came up with a bunch of possibilities drawing on the words in the poetic description I just shared with you. So, here goes, lucky 13 of them:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRmPxGqLTCxX3tDvNF2jPoaf83KtMhhmhXDxkz34mti47X79qEJTC04X4sBouKZ4kXBJTUj1rEgJNNxYazhsHUVjSMd9M7acfyqiV28RuGp_ghra0ngnYClhzTfebkSwCy1QMIOPZpTI/s1600/wordle.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="755" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRmPxGqLTCxX3tDvNF2jPoaf83KtMhhmhXDxkz34mti47X79qEJTC04X4sBouKZ4kXBJTUj1rEgJNNxYazhsHUVjSMd9M7acfyqiV28RuGp_ghra0ngnYClhzTfebkSwCy1QMIOPZpTI/s640/wordle.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-w1HhQ9VvzYJiInnz80EaDfSW10z0LkAp4zPEuGH9fEEpc4E19BibRoge7gi5_QYqg0J1mgoVwmO_01OOe-9yp9V4INgtxKupV6PwRyImhPK5QKDY3cioHr7aYpZ33IHbQ_hXdMhOYq8/s1600/wordle+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="755" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-w1HhQ9VvzYJiInnz80EaDfSW10z0LkAp4zPEuGH9fEEpc4E19BibRoge7gi5_QYqg0J1mgoVwmO_01OOe-9yp9V4INgtxKupV6PwRyImhPK5QKDY3cioHr7aYpZ33IHbQ_hXdMhOYq8/s640/wordle+2.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRgAXkEET1nZ5SNGNNahnEWECrknQLS2PYeL1t5VxkzQU5lGj2zJN3HZoH1jJX3_rBnhMLz1Hat_0Z5jOiRLyjDA1ebcMIo2ZNAgyMCwXty-cmpMDVxIIfz1B81EhRGzSyNPpCje7RE4/s1600/wordle+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="755" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRgAXkEET1nZ5SNGNNahnEWECrknQLS2PYeL1t5VxkzQU5lGj2zJN3HZoH1jJX3_rBnhMLz1Hat_0Z5jOiRLyjDA1ebcMIo2ZNAgyMCwXty-cmpMDVxIIfz1B81EhRGzSyNPpCje7RE4/s640/wordle+3.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQRPzW8Zc30EOY16I0Zd60OaH_9hEPooyJTdVnymS9qbMr4qeoRIWR0jCkN5wseRI3kjjUudh7AlGQ1ByfplvjfKhL5YjaNqk7yC9byUTcdLMkh5yY3C5zodxobPj6B0wRCyfPdrBCvQ/s1600/wordle+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="755" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQRPzW8Zc30EOY16I0Zd60OaH_9hEPooyJTdVnymS9qbMr4qeoRIWR0jCkN5wseRI3kjjUudh7AlGQ1ByfplvjfKhL5YjaNqk7yC9byUTcdLMkh5yY3C5zodxobPj6B0wRCyfPdrBCvQ/s640/wordle+4.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="755" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QncnSuTuZY18ocmXiO_AVhmb8p2kaL2BRr8Lht-Y65g09vAk4h5V915_L0ITZooSlEmwIFlZcPEnT2Azx5iGtsv4sIs-2NDcfH_OZh659EK7GUZdyj7PKV7d_6sgG2mKc2Btbby3VBc/s640/wordle+5.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAEZTR6O8gJ65i32dITQG1ewwc5mJfA4kiqYTMejTa8c-4Lhfs5N8eaFLu0gLLzC1ZuGCxds1K6NxNp54JKapMug9llqEEz-YQyGP8TSTN443c76FRvP5nj6H2lxGhXMPlcAyG-4TsUE/s1600/wordle+6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="755" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAEZTR6O8gJ65i32dITQG1ewwc5mJfA4kiqYTMejTa8c-4Lhfs5N8eaFLu0gLLzC1ZuGCxds1K6NxNp54JKapMug9llqEEz-YQyGP8TSTN443c76FRvP5nj6H2lxGhXMPlcAyG-4TsUE/s640/wordle+6.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">6</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-X3sjV-200opEcwwEH48aus3_6TX80_cBG8a-E08fC1DGbk3DjgiLLQwdtGwsKhirnX_G5wT9EnIKIF67z7kdNbMEdENs-w2jehxziyeJcCEc23zHp71fF6mvL2nptqY5M3VSUoICJ4g/s1600/wordle+7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="755" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-X3sjV-200opEcwwEH48aus3_6TX80_cBG8a-E08fC1DGbk3DjgiLLQwdtGwsKhirnX_G5wT9EnIKIF67z7kdNbMEdENs-w2jehxziyeJcCEc23zHp71fF6mvL2nptqY5M3VSUoICJ4g/s640/wordle+7.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">7</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="755" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8SfyM-xeLfZMe4r-7D15YKayTvKbmzmo4bvakl2yW0K9AAo4vRkFpot_JUL3g03M-Q8WZSP0ObKkuFC8M4ixbV8RiLZkx02WfVacm0VLmqcyrTzViy4qAiilvG2TEft15f06zaryR6A/s640/wordle+8.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">8</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMVKcBOLSqgUqXrtp4lM1S-l-jK4-C5i3ezM8bZHpV8IWVNngxs8IeAIGrEcWyDJrzRilFn7-qQxyyvegcRZCXfEVfRasQmfv55r_bZEfxxJyENSnzzXK9MLUU9S2q-Ef5O-kbvPmGKc/s1600/wordle+9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="755" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMVKcBOLSqgUqXrtp4lM1S-l-jK4-C5i3ezM8bZHpV8IWVNngxs8IeAIGrEcWyDJrzRilFn7-qQxyyvegcRZCXfEVfRasQmfv55r_bZEfxxJyENSnzzXK9MLUU9S2q-Ef5O-kbvPmGKc/s640/wordle+9.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">9</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="755" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPdnYd3q3Q8Mj8QH2DqjbjIozNo2CLxcqRfgRP3OyB-Vq2UEMWIVNpybRPxY9jeIA-2ljPrqQb0WA-4zUWb1o-Sd4jeQXZ2TdJw7a9I_PjhNkl0Z0HLt0i7lq5wFMPbDv04lsqHH7o2E/s640/wordle+10.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">10</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="755" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HCCUwxvqYgn6N9e5mnGIdqiDHAz9qcxn54rLWLMunbdMd3Guq4cdoUmI5e7qSdE8yBBF5UYKjKoO5lGqwfiRYWmDk-T0D6on1sTKj0pd5wXc3kuM9bS1jV4tIyvtcODHkzridyKLGPE/s640/wordle+11.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">11</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="755" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCiVva_1OD0VXLYU-rdGQ6_jGAnVvUU2WdMmggrRS6yQCj4g5UB5l5FyBhGxSBsTfVcPCLs1lKLO0RUD3fjtxTPye3nZm4Iqi3bT1dGZqgJD-Uu03V2R5A_gjl0vA76pe-0XDvPBftiK4/s640/wordle+12.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">12</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVveY2LGSd1TtsIhAqRJMzKKz05Np-UxdyUmnFNT7hyA3rNb8LPO2oGYLvVYWK-Ore6CM86ZCslMDplPP3REX7Y8LFGNYSCRJYCe1pUFwS3Mi8gKtPHhB8hUcIlC4D2sd2EzOk_AeYOq8/s1600/wordle+13.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="755" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVveY2LGSd1TtsIhAqRJMzKKz05Np-UxdyUmnFNT7hyA3rNb8LPO2oGYLvVYWK-Ore6CM86ZCslMDplPP3REX7Y8LFGNYSCRJYCe1pUFwS3Mi8gKtPHhB8hUcIlC4D2sd2EzOk_AeYOq8/s640/wordle+13.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">13</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So yeah, it's a lot, but I couldn't choose, and so I said choose whichever you like, and of course whichever would work best with the program. Which one would you pick?</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">That's okay, you don't have to answer, And in any event, none of these were used, which is only appropriate as they reference the poetic description which wasn't used.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So what can we conclude from all this? That there's no accounting for taste? Maybe. That Vogon poetry is alive and well. Maybe. That McLuhan would have understood? I think so. That blogs mean never having to say you're sorry? Most definitely.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
Lance Stratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13033954765699126246noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9101859138648955033.post-81757623688307311432019-07-07T18:07:00.000-04:002019-07-07T18:07:25.670-04:00Reformed English Curriculum Revisited 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In my last post, <a href="http://lancestrate.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-reformed-english-curriculum.html" target="_blank">The Reformed English Curriculum Revisited</a>, I filled you in on a session I organized for the <a href="https://nysgs.org/" target="_blank">New York Society for General Semantics</a> last year, a discussion related to the origin of media ecology. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And even though there were several unrelated programs that followed, I thought I'd jump ahead here on Blog Time Passing and post about the follow-up session we did towards the end of last year. In contrast to the initial program, this one consisted of all local participants, mostly with an intimate knowledge of Neil Postman's work.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here's the write-up:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On January 26th, 2018, we held the <a href="https://nysgs.org/News/5770692" target="_blank">first panel discussion</a>
on this topic, and promised to follow it up with a second program held
on November 28th, 2018, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Neil
Postman's formal introduction of the term <em>media ecology.</em> <span>The occasion was</span> the
58th annual meeting of the National Council of Teachers of English,
held in Milwaukee on November 29, 1968. Neil Postman gave an address
entitled "Growing Up Relevant" as the main part of a program session
entitled <em>Media Ecology: The English of the Future</em>. This talk was later published as a book chapter in the anthology, <em>High School 1980: The Shape of the Future in American Secondary Education</em>, edited by Alvin C. Eurich, where it appeared under the title of, <a href="https://nysgs.org/page-1075266" target="_blank">The Reformed English Curriculum</a>.</span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In his 1968 address, Postman introduced media ecology as a field of inquiry that he defined as <em>the study of media as environments</em>. A year later, in <em>Teaching as a Subversive Activity</em>, co-authored
by Charles Weingartner, he introduced “the
Sapir-Whorf-Korzybski-Ames-Einstein-Heisenberg-Wittgenstein-McLuhan-Et
Al. Hypothesis … that language is not merely a vehicle of expression, it
is also the driver; and that what we perceive, and therefore can learn,
is a function of our languaging processes.” And in conjunction with the 1974 Alfred Korzybski Memorial Lecture sponsored by the <a href="http://www.generalsemantics.org/" target="_blank">Institute of General Semantics</a>, Postman delivered an address entitled, <a href="https://nysgs.org/Media-Ecology" target="_blank">Media Ecology: General Semantics in the Third Millennium</a>, in which he described media ecology as "general semantics writ large."</span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This
50th anniversary offered us the opportunity to take up questions such
as, what has media ecology and general semantics contributed to the
field of education, to teaching and schooling, and what might be
contributed in the future? What has media ecology and general semantics contributed to the study of language and the subject of English, and what might be contributed in the future? What
can we learn about Neil Postman in particular, and his views on
education, communication, and culture? To what extent have things
changed over the past half century, and to what extent do they remain
the same?</span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span>As for the participants on this program, here's the listing:</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Thom Gencarelli</strong><strong>, </strong>Professor and Chair of the Communication Department at Manhattan College</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Terence P. Moran</strong>, Professor of Media Ecology, New York University</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span><strong>Michael Plugh</strong>, Professor of Communication at Manhattan College</span></span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong style="background-color: transparent;">Madeline Postman</strong>, <span>Teacher
in the New York City school system for over 20 years, currently
teaching at the Corona Arts and Sciences Academy in Queens</span></span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
and the program was moderated by NYSGS President <strong>Lance Strate</strong>, Professor of Communication and Media Studies, Fordham University</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And here now is the recording of the session for you to look and listen:</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8OjfjJZkJSY" width="560"></iframe></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> All things considered, it was an instructive and enriching discussion!</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span> <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span></span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></div>
Lance Stratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13033954765699126246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9101859138648955033.post-55186103038970183242019-06-22T17:55:00.000-04:002019-06-22T17:55:11.087-04:00The Reformed English Curriculum Revisited<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It has been a while since I shared one of our <a href="https://nysgs.org/" target="_blank">New York Society for General Semantics</a> sessions here on Blog Time Passing. Yeah, I know, it's been a while since I've shared much of anything, you don't have to tell me. So let's reach back into the archives for this one, and for once a session that did not include me on the panel, although I do provide a bit of an introduction.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This goes back to January 26th, 2018, and the program title was <a href="https://nysgs.org/News/5770692" target="_blank">The Reformed English Curriculum Revisited: A Panel Discussion</a>. It was the evening before the annual board meeting of the Media Ecology Association, so I took advantage of the fact that we had a bunch of folks from out of town. And last year represented another significant milestone for media ecology, which I explain in the description of the program, which I'll provide here now:<br />
<br />
</span></span><br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At the 58th annual meeting of the National Council of Teachers of English, held in Milwaukee on November 29, 1968, Neil Postman gave an address entitled "Growing Up Relevant" as the main part of a program session entitled Media Ecology: The English of the Future. This talk was later published as a book chapter in the anthology, High School 1980: The Shape of the Future in American Secondary Education, edited by Alvin C. Eurich, where it appeared under the title of <a href="https://nysgs.org/page-1075266" target="_blank"> The Reformed English Curriculum</a>.</span></span> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In conjunction with the 1974 Alfred Korzybski Memorial Lecture sponsored by the <a href="https://www.generalsemantics.org/" target="_blank">Institute of General Semantics</a>, Postman delivered an address entitled, <a href="https://nysgs.org/Media-Ecology" target="_blank">Media Ecology: </a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" target="_blank">General Semantics in the Third Millennium</a>, emphasizing the link between the two. A similar connection was made in the 1969 book he co-authored with Charles Weingartner, Teaching as a Subversive Activity, which introduced “the Sapir-Whorf-Korzybski-Ames-Einstein-Heisenberg-Wittgenstein-McLuhan-Et Al. Hypothesis … that language is not merely a vehicle of expression, it is also the driver; and that what we perceive, and therefore can learn, is a function of our languaging processes.”</span></span> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Postman's 1968 address marks the formal introduction of the term media ecology, which Postman used as the name for a field of inquiry that he defined as the study of media as environments. As this year marks the 50th anniversary of that talk, it seemed only fitting to revisit "The Reformed English Curriculum," and the equally seminal, "Media Ecology: General Semantics in the Third Millennium," as our first NYSGS event of 2018. What can we learn about the history of media ecology as a field, its relation to general semantics, to the study of language and the subject of English? What can we learn about Neil Postman in particular, and his views on education, communication, and culture? To what extent have things changed over the past half century, and to what extent do they remain the same?</span></span> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We had the rare opportunity of presenting a program consisting entirely of out-of-towners who have converged on New York City to attend the annual Media Ecology Association board meeting. </span></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As for the participants on this program, here's the listing:<br />
</span></span><br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
Stephanie Bennett, Professor of Communication and Media Ecology and Fellow for Student Engagement at Palm Beach Atlantic University in South Florida, and author of the <i>Within the Walls</i> trilogy, which employs fiction to explore the future of digital media, relationship sustainability, and community.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
Fernando Gutiérrez, head of the Division of Humanities and Education at the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (State of Mexico Campus), and author and co-editor of several titles about media.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
Paolo Granata, holder of the Marshall McLuhan and Print Culture professorship at St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto, after spending 15 years at the University of Bologna, Italy, and author of <i>Arte in Rete</i>; <i>Arte, Estetica e Nuovi Media</i>; <i> Mediabilia</i>; and <i>Ecologia dei Media</i>.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
and moderating the discussion, Edward Tywoniak, Professor of Communication, Director of the W. M. Keck Media Lab and Program Director for the Digital Studies major at Saint Mary’s College of California, Trustee of the Institute of General Semantics, editor of <i>ETC: A Review of General Semantics</i>, and President of the Media Ecology Association.</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />And here it is for you to see and hear:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
<br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7rOqbhAZQ74" width="560"></iframe></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><br />It was an evening that was intriguing and unique!<br /><br /><br />
</span></span></span></span></div>
Lance Stratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13033954765699126246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9101859138648955033.post-32360079299716167992019-06-07T01:00:00.000-04:002019-06-07T11:54:50.515-04:00My Take on Game of Thrones <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, like many folks out there, I watched <i>Game of Thrones</i> on HBO, from its debut in 2011, to its final episode on May 19th. And yeah, it was <i>must see TV</i> for me. And I know the end of </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrn8dLmjm0q7LuoMRCCr-mThhhvdkjtoV4_Jzzjf9R9bZNfXpDTKsno_jZAR0GF0QMPExoR_DIFHLQGzRHJqdWgKZa3_NZG8UkWaxtc9WDthh4WJYFFokcxiZXfJIBsJ9FhpSfo6hgKgI/s1600/game-of-thrones-logo-728x409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="728" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrn8dLmjm0q7LuoMRCCr-mThhhvdkjtoV4_Jzzjf9R9bZNfXpDTKsno_jZAR0GF0QMPExoR_DIFHLQGzRHJqdWgKZa3_NZG8UkWaxtc9WDthh4WJYFFokcxiZXfJIBsJ9FhpSfo6hgKgI/s320/game-of-thrones-logo-728x409.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the series was disappointing for many fans. But for me, it was just a relief that it was finally over.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now, I do agree that the quality of the writing declined, not just this season, but over the past two seasons at least. And my friend Alex Kuskis shared an article over on Facebook that I think is very relevant: <a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/the-real-reason-fans-hate-the-last-season-of-game-of-thrones/" target="_blank">The Real Reason Fans Hate the Last Season of <i>Game of Thrones</i></a>, by Zeynep Tufekc. Here is his main point, in his own words: </span></span><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">After the show ran ahead of the novels, however, it was taken over by powerful Hollywood showrunners David Benioff and D. B. Weiss. Some fans and critics have been assuming that the duo changed the narrative to fit Hollywood tropes or to speed things up, but that’s unlikely. In fact, they probably stuck to the narrative points that were given to them, if only in outline form, by the original author. What they did is something different, but in many ways more fundamental: Benioff and Weiss steer the narrative lane away from the sociological and shifted to the psychological. That’s the main, and often only, way Hollywood and most television writers tell stories.
</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">His argument also has some relevance for media ecology, as can be seen from the following comment:</span></span><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I encounter this shortcoming a lot in my own area of writing—technology and society. Our inability to understand and tell sociological stories is one of the key reasons we’re struggling with how to respond to the historic technological transition we’re currently experiencing with digital technology and machine intelligence</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I won't go any further in discussing Tufekc's arguments, except to note that science fiction narratives often are sociological rather than psychological, which is why they are often criticized as narratives. And also to recommend that you read the article, as it is truly one of the more insightful discussions of <i>Game of Thrones</i>, and the fantasy genre.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Where Tufekc and I part company, however, is on the point of whether <i>Game of Thrones</i> was a very good narrative at all, at any point. And my view is that it was not. Now, you may ask why, if that was the case, did I continue to watch the program over the better part of a decade. And my answer is, I liked the spectacle, I enjoyed the genre, and of course being a cool cat, it was curiosity that did me in. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And hey, I watch a lot of stuff that isn't great. That's the thing about TV, isn't it?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And let me be upfront about where I stand: I adore J.R.R. Tolkien, I think he was brilliant, and my favorite books of all </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMNXVKo12aqyN8gA6xA4oi4t_HIRXiZeqQaeB7sc2BHfSfM17NYpr0FrxnwCyXmK2fAB9x6Xv8tOeMDNiLQKvaXybiMOFj9LTlUtDlAjC82EI0_sJ1N3SfQgGbiQE8BuigOVR7fvBJss/s1600/a5193a5fcaf83a3f85dee59529852378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="424" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMNXVKo12aqyN8gA6xA4oi4t_HIRXiZeqQaeB7sc2BHfSfM17NYpr0FrxnwCyXmK2fAB9x6Xv8tOeMDNiLQKvaXybiMOFj9LTlUtDlAjC82EI0_sJ1N3SfQgGbiQE8BuigOVR7fvBJss/s640/a5193a5fcaf83a3f85dee59529852378.jpg" width="424" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">time are <i>The Hobbit</i> and <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>. And let's be honest here, George R.R. Martin was clearly inviting comparisons in using the double R middle initials. I mean, who does that? Was it necessary? I think not.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, how do they compare? Tolkien was a literary genius. Tom Shippey nailed it with the title of one of his books about Tolkien: <i>Author of the Century</i>! And </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tolkien</span></span> was a professor and a scholar, and a media ecologist. That's all pretty impressive. If you want to know more on this point, you might want to read the post I published in the second month of this blog's existence, which consisted of my conference paper, <a href="http://lancestrate.blogspot.com/2007/04/tolkiens-of-my-affection.html" target="_blank">Tolkiens of My Affection</a> (a revised and finalized version is included in my book, <i>On the Binding Biases of Time</i>).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As for Martin? Well, I'm tempted to say that he's a hack. And maybe that's too harsh. Let's just say he's unexceptional, maybe mediocre, maybe just a hair above average. What do I base this on? Frankly, I only read the first book in his <i>A Song of Ice and Fire</i> series, which is entitled <i>A Game of Thrones</i>. And my reaction to it was a profound and distinct, <i>meh!</i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Martin's fans can therefore criticize me for not giving him enough of a chance, and I will certainly grant that he has excelled in regard to volume of verbiage. But the first book didn't hook me, I found nothing compelling about the prose, nothing aesthetically pleasing, just straightforward storytelling. You might say that's a good thing, but it's the kind of writing that does not make him stand out as an author. There's no literary artistry, no poetry, just bland exposition. And that would be okay if the narrative made up for it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Having spoken to others who have read as much of the series as he's published so far, I know that the complexity of the story is what some favor about his writing. And I understand that, but complexity for its own sake doesn't do anything for me. Sorry.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I should also mention that, while I did not read <i>A Game of Throne</i>s until after seeing the first season of the HBO series, I have had prior exposure to George R.R. Martin's writing. Back in 1987, he published the first volume in the<i> Wild Cards </i></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNomoTv5A5XAD4BTE1AGGR1y59asqfDhH69OxZVVZLuX-UoV3G2iuKgfoDzU78hadQ9brmgwHmUmMCUphiENdQUwD-waylgPOdbIHPSdt0ELfU84aA_gAgTpLpih2e7iMDyXqJkAjrC6I/s1600/Wild%252BCards%252B1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="217" data-original-width="400" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNomoTv5A5XAD4BTE1AGGR1y59asqfDhH69OxZVVZLuX-UoV3G2iuKgfoDzU78hadQ9brmgwHmUmMCUphiENdQUwD-waylgPOdbIHPSdt0ELfU84aA_gAgTpLpih2e7iMDyXqJkAjrC6I/s320/Wild%252BCards%252B1.png" width="320" /></a></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">anthology series. He edited the book, and wrote one of the stories. Back then, I used to regularly check out the Science Fiction and Fantasy section of bookstores, saw it, picked it up, and read it. I followed the series into the mid-90s, and along the way, Martin added Melinda Snodgrass as co-editor, and stopped contributing his own stories.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Wikipedia entry on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Cards" target="_blank">Wild Cards</a> indicates that after the last book I read, the 15th in the series, published in 1995, a bunch of new volumes were published, starting in 2002. Who knew? And maybe more to the point, who cares? I don't, not anymore.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And when I did read these books, I never paid much attention to who the author of the stories were. I'm sorry, but nobody stood out, and that includes Martin. And as editor, well, nothing much to say there either. The main thing is that the series was his creation.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
So, what was it all about? Simply put, <i>Wild Cards</i> is based on the comic book concept of the superhero, the idea being to try to tell more realistic stories about what would happen if some people gained superpowers. This of course meant that the stories would go against the heroic archetype prevalent in comics. An original idea? </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZvV5vKkkl_rp0xOTqEMhfvomFG3wSFry3nPTG_PNpNYUhYMEB_7MDNa0Pbnsh49gVHJ6uwHHZJI1K-2g6jlUTp82fgZ_nGABbSelG80BifZODnW25wu9ftGOoWVskKBTcBe-DnrtUuE/s1600/220px-Watchmen%252C_issue_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="343" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZvV5vKkkl_rp0xOTqEMhfvomFG3wSFry3nPTG_PNpNYUhYMEB_7MDNa0Pbnsh49gVHJ6uwHHZJI1K-2g6jlUTp82fgZ_nGABbSelG80BifZODnW25wu9ftGOoWVskKBTcBe-DnrtUuE/s320/220px-Watchmen%252C_issue_1.jpg" width="205" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2_erI-MioIQNzbfWwkhDJyRXAYYcXPudXxpS3H8Fw6-w8rHIqJKf_QN8nt-_47LwViN4mzRQn3bgu9WuLJc9dqm_vTDypdWBgsp2ncmSQgty743Pb7SMhJRoXFmmxfAAt9cWVjeDH7E/s1600/811iJhTKnfL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="659" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2_erI-MioIQNzbfWwkhDJyRXAYYcXPudXxpS3H8Fw6-w8rHIqJKf_QN8nt-_47LwViN4mzRQn3bgu9WuLJc9dqm_vTDypdWBgsp2ncmSQgty743Pb7SMhJRoXFmmxfAAt9cWVjeDH7E/s320/811iJhTKnfL.jpg" width="210" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Well, Alan Moore's <i>Watchmen</i> comic series debuted in 1986, and when it comes to comics and the superhero genre, Moore's work is simply brilliant. Not on the level of Tolkien, mind you, but exhibiting an amazing insight into the concept of the superpowered individual. Prior to that, Moore
delivered a shocking take on a British Captain Marvel (aka Shazam) knockoff, <i>Marvelman</i> (later retitled <i>Miracleman</i>). A lesser but still significant attempt at superhero realism was </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Frank Miller's</span></span> <i>The Dark Knight Returns</i>, also 1986. </span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The point here is that <i>Wild Cards</i> did not break any new ground in setting up an alternate reality with superpowered individuals. And while the source of powers was a virus, it otherwise has much in common with Marvel's mutant characters, especially as the <i>X-Men</i> comics evolved following the publication of <i>Giant-Size X-Men</i> in 1975. The narratives </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTSaYBCkJdW6B6XBsP0mO3cbakzwEVjea_mutIMb-Pf_j6ooyVQymd7YkxxuoJ1aFbbTwrOYGJjhXVN7ynJ5tjsLq1Ss4O2RfXQgWUekKv2UWYmLkvDFe5ARP5PhW-8LTKhe3dWwkwlI/s1600/220px-Giant-Size_X-Men_%2528no._1_-_cover%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTSaYBCkJdW6B6XBsP0mO3cbakzwEVjea_mutIMb-Pf_j6ooyVQymd7YkxxuoJ1aFbbTwrOYGJjhXVN7ynJ5tjsLq1Ss4O2RfXQgWUekKv2UWYmLkvDFe5ARP5PhW-8LTKhe3dWwkwlI/s320/220px-Giant-Size_X-Men_%2528no._1_-_cover%2529.jpg" width="206" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">that followed introduced characters who were mutants, but neither heroes nor villains, and some mutations were more along the lines of disabilities rather than powers. <i>Wild Cards</i> follows the same pattern in having the virus turn some individuals into "Jokers" who are characterized by "crippling and/or repulsive physical conditions" to quote the Wikipedia entry, as well as the "Aces" who gain superpowers.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Okay, so what about the idea of a collaborative work, different authors contributing stories within a shared universe? Well, <i>Wild Cards</i> followed the example of <i>Thieves' World</i>, created by Robert Lynn Asprin, launched in 1978, </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">edited by him and also Lynn Abbey. This was a fantasy genre series, much like <i>Game of Thrones</i>, with some very impressive contributors, and gained a good amount of attention in its time, as well as resulting in several spin-offs. For more on this, see the Wikipedia entry on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thieves%27_World" target="_blank">Thieves' World</a>. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih185Zd0QBMa_KupzvDA0r2QT6TxpRD1dLPbPwpSYr95wXnA0UJh5D5F4oGeDT9JzKEaDxNzFJByr_cOKY632fFYHrwvQgEkdNcrPQjihCZumuByqVBZ6BPYeCg_5dnWL0iundH1xXAes/s1600/1878395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="283" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih185Zd0QBMa_KupzvDA0r2QT6TxpRD1dLPbPwpSYr95wXnA0UJh5D5F4oGeDT9JzKEaDxNzFJByr_cOKY632fFYHrwvQgEkdNcrPQjihCZumuByqVBZ6BPYeCg_5dnWL0iundH1xXAes/s320/1878395.jpg" width="190" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And I'm not saying this was great literature, but it was fairly original, in being a collection of short stories set in a common world and with characters interacting with one another across the stories. Clearly, this was the model that <i>Wild Cards</i> followed, and moving towards a more realistic take on the fantasy genre than, say, Tolkien, or <i>Conan the Barbarian</i>, it must also have been an influence on <i>Game of Thrones</i>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Preceding these short story anthologies, there have been collaborative work that took the form of novels by different writers. I'm not that familiar with this phenomenon, so I would direct you to the Wikipedia entry on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shared_universe" target="_blank">Shared universe</a>. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When it comes to the creation of a shared universe, the medium of comic books immediately comes to mind. The best known examples are the DC and Marvel universes. But both universes formed from the bottom up, with characters making guest appearances in other characters' comics. In the case of Marvel, this was more deliberate, as Stan Lee and Jack Kirby started out with the idea that the various heroes they created lived in the same world. But they did not start out by creating the universe itself. The DC and Marvel universes were formed and evolved piecemeal, bit by bit. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Later creations, like Marvel's New Universe launched, again, in 1986 (with about the same success as New Coke), not only tried to create more realistic scenarios, but also more coherent explanations for the appearance of superpowered individuals. Whereas the older universes were wonderfully eclectic, combining aliens, mutations, serums, chemical reactions, technological innovations, magical creations, mythological origins, and romanticized, idealistic notions of specialized physical training, the new universes tried to provide a single, coherent, monocausal explanation for the existence of extraordinary individuals. Not as much fun, as it turns out.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, <i>Wild Cards</i> was one such new universe, and obviously the shared universe of superhero comics was an inspiration. But wait, there's more. And this something I was completely unaware of until I read that Wikipedia entry on </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Cards" target="_blank">Wild Cards</a>, specifically the following: "The series originated from a long-running campaign of the Superworld role-playing game, gamemastered by Martin and involving many of the original </span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjai8U5hrbh2Ek9YvM2ww6LLi5JPsFn7Apmnrtn4fQRIJ7Ln_kZyQtTxMRJhlXolOhg_0EGqOqWUcR_0pA5GI235WCwVs_T37XM4gbIxvIeOCRAPpZni3ThkiP45Ddb28uhlAh2ubwflG0/s1600/51MLInXHJHL._SX374_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="376" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjai8U5hrbh2Ek9YvM2ww6LLi5JPsFn7Apmnrtn4fQRIJ7Ln_kZyQtTxMRJhlXolOhg_0EGqOqWUcR_0pA5GI235WCwVs_T37XM4gbIxvIeOCRAPpZni3ThkiP45Ddb28uhlAh2ubwflG0/s320/51MLInXHJHL._SX374_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="241" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">authors." Superworld originated in 1983, so it couldn't have been all that long-running, but anyway, if you want to read more about the game, you can go to the entry on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superworld" target="_blank">Superworld</a>, I don't mind.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Let me just spell out the connections here. Superworld is based on the original Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. Oh, you want a link for that entry too? Okay, here it is: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons_%26_Dragons" target="_blank">Dungeons & Dragons</a>. Now, that game is based on the fantasy genre in literature, notably on the work of Tolkien, <i>The Hobbit</i> significantly featuring both a dungeon, inhabited by goblins, and a dragon, named Smaug. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The game is also has a connection to the fantasy writing of Robert E. Howard, creator of the <i>Conan the Barbarian</i></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_DelQ0vOmTqahSpA9r9HyUffkR7sth8K_vudue9CkCUvbtZPLbYpwkO4kUJbC2J0lkRFIjVFw7fCODl2KGcnJ4rmu-Gt9HwUCXWFnJr1tn2RmQZtjP_i4LfYtoqPnX12BWGWyKK3BI28/s1600/Conan_the_Barbarian_novel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_DelQ0vOmTqahSpA9r9HyUffkR7sth8K_vudue9CkCUvbtZPLbYpwkO4kUJbC2J0lkRFIjVFw7fCODl2KGcnJ4rmu-Gt9HwUCXWFnJr1tn2RmQZtjP_i4LfYtoqPnX12BWGWyKK3BI28/s320/Conan_the_Barbarian_novel.jpg" width="189" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i></i></span></span></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxfVG1TrN4SYMXc0cXCrSsR2ewEKcUA8H4RWVergAX3x7oMyYdd0d9VBnLqnCELhiqu50jnAtG2BXFeHgtJD0fPn88VRcoXIlT8dIM4ClQ7L8EV8STuloB87UtTJDMsNJ0wqe80VhiPg/s1600/61YjCwr2fjL._SX309_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="311" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxfVG1TrN4SYMXc0cXCrSsR2ewEKcUA8H4RWVergAX3x7oMyYdd0d9VBnLqnCELhiqu50jnAtG2BXFeHgtJD0fPn88VRcoXIlT8dIM4ClQ7L8EV8STuloB87UtTJDMsNJ0wqe80VhiPg/s200/61YjCwr2fjL._SX309_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="124" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> series, the basis of the sword and sorcery take on fantasy writing. Like Tolkien, Howard single handedly created a fantasy universe, Howard's being more of the pulp variety as opposed to literary art, although I do recall reading somewhere that Tolkien expressed a favorable opinion regarding Howard's work. By the way, when it comes to shared universes, while Howard made some reference to the fantasy-horror universe of H.P. Lovecraft and his Cthulu mythos, Lovecraft being a fellow pulp writer, and it's probably worth noting that C.S. Lewis made reference to the universe of his fellow inkling Tolkien, in Lewis's <i>Space Trilogy</i>. But I digress.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The point I was getting at is that role-playing games, Dungeons & Dragons and Superworld, were the basis of Martin's earlier work, <i>Wild Cards</i>, and this obviously also influenced his later work, the </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>A Song of Ice and Fire</i> series. I mean, the first book is, after all, <i>A Game of Thrones</i>. Get it, get it, a <i>game</i>. And if you approach it that way, you have a bunch of characters, all of them pursuing their own goals which may at any point result in conflict or cooperation. That accounts for the complexity of the stories.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But games are not narratives. And what makes for a good game is often at odds with what makes for a good story. And what we get on the HBO series is the complexity of game play, but a narrative that has no satisfying resolution. It probably would have worked better as a never-ending story, along the lines of a soap opera.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Speaking of which, another important source of shared universes is, in fact, the television series, especially in the American tradition of commercial TV. This is in contrast to British television, where dramatic series in particular have often been created with more of an extended literary structure, with a beginning, middle, and end clearly in mind. Our TV, on the other hand, has traditionally been episodic. This is most obvious in the case of situation comedies. You create the situation, add some characters, and produce a series of stories that have little or nothing to do with one another, apart from the situation and characters. This results in the oddity of early TV in which the situation resets at the end of the episode, with no effect on subsequent episodes, something often made fun of on <i>The Simpsons</i>. But it's not just comedies that have situations, so do dramatic programs, whether they are entirely episodic or the ongoing set of intertwined narratives that constitute a soap opera.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Even when episodes have no effect on what comes next, there is a need to maintain consistency in regard to the situation, and the characters, so TV series typically have some sort of <i>bible</i>, a manual that goes over the characteristics of the situation, what is and is not possible, and the traits of the characters, what they can and cannot do. These constitute guidelines for the writers, directors, actors, and producers. In other words, the situation is the program's shared universe.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2eAAudJSiGzas3_zFOa_UYMOcJ1lfjZ8Yid6w37J0BdWJb7NruKwbPq1QhjFnTZ7QO9Ouiq8yy_MYytA931Qo4VO-x755e_7Tv79nU6Xp8gqy3CIdKfWA9qSVBtcvqoR8_QqxTtV46o/s1600/91z-oDWLzGL._RI_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2eAAudJSiGzas3_zFOa_UYMOcJ1lfjZ8Yid6w37J0BdWJb7NruKwbPq1QhjFnTZ7QO9Ouiq8yy_MYytA931Qo4VO-x755e_7Tv79nU6Xp8gqy3CIdKfWA9qSVBtcvqoR8_QqxTtV46o/s320/91z-oDWLzGL._RI_.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, as American television shifted from the episodic and soap operatic formats to more traditional narratives, with greater complexity, some problems began to appear. One that existed before is how to end a series. Many just stopped without any closure. No one really considered the series to be a narrative that required an ending. Some followed a narrative arc that came to an end, but then were obliged to continue the series, whereas their British counterpart would have just ended it. Some say this happened with <i>The Sopranos</i>. I know that David Lynch was pressured to end the main narrative arc of <i>Twin Peaks</i> before he wanted to, and what followed was a let down. At other times, the initial success and popularity of a series led to the producers slowing down the plot developments and stretching out the narrative. This happened to <i>Lost</i> and the relaunched <i>Battlestar Galactica</i>, and both lost some of their audience because it. But at least in some instances it seems as if the creators of the series came up with a great situation, often involving a mystery, but never arrived at a strong sense of how the series should end. And that's not to mention all the series that have debuted, especially on network TV, set up an intriguing mystery or engaging situation, and then got cancelled, leaving the story line unresolved.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Even if the creators start out with an idea of what the ending will be, that doesn't mean it's a good idea. It's much easier to set up a mystery than to solve it in a way that satisfies, and that has us realizing that we could have solved it, that the clues were all there if only we had put the piece together properly.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sometimes you may have an idea of what the ending should be, but as you get to it, you realize it doesn't quite work, or the characters took off in a different trajectory, or it's just ending with a whimper rather than a bang. In the case of <i>Game of Thrones</i>, we know that Martin provided a sketch, an outline, but that doesn't mean the ending was fully thought out and developed.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And after all, there are only so many ways that a story can be resolved. When you start out, you are opening up a myriad of pathways, but you have to shut them down to get to the final end. But all this is somewhat besides the point, my point being that it's not just the ending, but the entire series that just wasn't that good. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So far, I've noted one reason is that <i>Game of Thrones</i> is, literally, a gamer narrative, with Martin in effect playing a role-playing game with himself. I'll refrain from the obvious double entendre about playing with yourself, and just note that actual game play of this sort is never very satisfying as game play, and neither is it a good approach to constructing a narrative.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Granted, Martin does create a complex scenario and a large number of characters, and this does pull people into the narrative. But the problem is that it is a scenario without a satisfying end point. This is the problem with stretched out narratives, that there is no clear conclusion that the narrative is working towards, and that even when there is some ending in mind, it is not of substantial weight given the massive build up of the elongated story line.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As I've mentioned, given the multiplicity of characters, Game of Thrones in some ways resembles a soap opera, and probably could have worked well in that kind of format. For example, the most celebrated prime time soap in American TV history, one that gained a global following, was <i>Dallas</i>, </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6cBUEmEug57Fu4yPexvrhRMEMV0D72l4ae1QC_v4zg65j5Vicm9EuOtceQRxyWNKwF33AiknYkLTQKe3Z-27z2GhqRBmXeGgbK7xNp5rC5MnKkVNlq_0BfUztt0LDHigz_5VWJHn8QA/s1600/220px-Dallas_%25281978%2529_Season_7_DVD_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6cBUEmEug57Fu4yPexvrhRMEMV0D72l4ae1QC_v4zg65j5Vicm9EuOtceQRxyWNKwF33AiknYkLTQKe3Z-27z2GhqRBmXeGgbK7xNp5rC5MnKkVNlq_0BfUztt0LDHigz_5VWJHn8QA/s1600/220px-Dallas_%25281978%2529_Season_7_DVD_cover.jpg" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">which featured the Ewing family and lots of feuding within that clan. The second major example was <i>Dynasty</i>, which featured the Carringtons, and lots of familial fighting. In a more contemporary vein, <i>Empire</i> features the Lyon family in ongoing conflicts. And there are many more examples. <i>Game of Thrones</i> is in many ways a story about families at war with one another, sometimes with themselves, and that's a story that could go on indefinitely with great success, rather than wrapping up in a manner that cannot help but be inconclusive.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mystery stories, on the other hand, are all about the ending, and how you get there, and again, whether readers/audiences can recognize the clues and either put them together to figure out the ending, or after getting to the ending, can see how the they could have figured it out from the clues if they had only figured out how they fit together. And while <i>Game of Thrones</i> is not a mystery story, it is a story with a set of mysteries and </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">clues, but one that never resolves them all satisfactorily. Again, this sort of thing can be seen in other TV series, notably <i>Lost</i>, and the first season of <i>True Detective</i> on HBO.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHppaYAIItUA_04zVCDA_MFUcoFmDDWmsA8V1SRjDfwYHnfq1hu2gSuAKVOOeXkUnTc8mFggTtqGhlrKbZwGS3G_9K81hf3U1Xw_OrFopKMHyRgUYVLHFBJhQGKMa0WalXClZ8BbPJjw/s1600/lost-tv-series-4k-wallpaper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHppaYAIItUA_04zVCDA_MFUcoFmDDWmsA8V1SRjDfwYHnfq1hu2gSuAKVOOeXkUnTc8mFggTtqGhlrKbZwGS3G_9K81hf3U1Xw_OrFopKMHyRgUYVLHFBJhQGKMa0WalXClZ8BbPJjw/s320/lost-tv-series-4k-wallpaper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27S-EJvOWIXcj0vjLhLNIDBbaMDWuxjESUMO5HH5v05vK6A9MHS6iM76x8lbRctpWLX8I_i7BB9ii-uUIFZhZorx2P2Gt0eqonZokJSNswKggmx-Cq2Io2ThcQciySZwlOXCGrygVigk/s1600/250px-True_Detective_season_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27S-EJvOWIXcj0vjLhLNIDBbaMDWuxjESUMO5HH5v05vK6A9MHS6iM76x8lbRctpWLX8I_i7BB9ii-uUIFZhZorx2P2Gt0eqonZokJSNswKggmx-Cq2Io2ThcQciySZwlOXCGrygVigk/s1600/250px-True_Detective_season_1.png" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Another genre that comes to mind is the horror genre. Horror narratives, especially in recent decades, generally involve individuals getting killed one by one, often in ways and at times that are unexpected, startling, shocking, and yes, horrifying. <i>Game of Thrones</i> does include something of that sort of thing, but the horror genre typically involves a very limited number of characters, often stuck in a situation that they cannot easily escape, some kind of confined setting, quite the opposite of <i>Game of Thrones</i> with its large number of characters and sprawling fantasy world. Horror and fantasy are closely related and often overlapping genres, but both usually feature some sense of a hero, in horror being the person who turns the tide against the evil force, or the sole survivor. Ripley in <i>Alien</i> comes readily to mind, so that while </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfhTcq3DOBiHs09qTDEJXedinDjvfX8KGUlVqxSNvVqEghZjIDh4mW-NFoB3RBS3JOoYRZBDLbQ0udjSIhNEpr6foQg9XtcXHsJGY60KWyV_I6KZyP9sSB1QdX6p0E5_UHcUbt5ES9vU/s1600/s-l1600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1248" data-original-width="1600" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfhTcq3DOBiHs09qTDEJXedinDjvfX8KGUlVqxSNvVqEghZjIDh4mW-NFoB3RBS3JOoYRZBDLbQ0udjSIhNEpr6foQg9XtcXHsJGY60KWyV_I6KZyP9sSB1QdX6p0E5_UHcUbt5ES9vU/s320/s-l1600.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">we are led to identify first with Kane, before the face-hugger gets him, and then with Dallas, before the fully grown alien gets him, we ultimately identify with Ripley as the only survivor of the ordeal. And horror stories often involve a bit of a morality play, in that the characteristics associated with the victims are shown to be undesirable, even bad or mad, and the characteristics associated with the hero or survivors are shown to be desirable. Sometimes no one survives, a kind of nihilistic resolution. <i>Game of Thrones</i> has some horror elements, notably in the form of the White Walkers most of whom resemble zombies, and other forms of supernatural and human evil, but again, no resolution appropriate to the horror genre.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Game of Thrones</i> has many moments that, in my view, are mainly there for shock value. There's a great deal of violence, nothing new there, the <i>Spartacus</i> series on Starz comes to mind for its over-the-top violence, in its own way comic book-like, and its was also notable for its graphic nudity. <i>Game of Thrones</i> certainly followed this example. Shock value and graphic nudity attract audiences, sex and violence is a longstanding formula. For getting those oh so essential eyeballs. Attracting attention, building audiences. But that's not the same thing as composing a noteworthy narrative. It's all about the spectacle. Amusing, of pruient interest, perverse perhaps, but a passing fancy, not an experience of enduring value.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUjxmDq8Ud2RtBtU93l46KCTNcSoMGxKvxYruJ0o71M9KvURysxBHe1rjxkeGjJvdbM3Oyz-DTPiBSx4ZxniPuTgEm7CBhmzPeyvwlX2PUm4g9xna-zz49kUfxOJOR2aHAgVe8O04NxC8/s1600/Spartacus-TV-series-posters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="506" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUjxmDq8Ud2RtBtU93l46KCTNcSoMGxKvxYruJ0o71M9KvURysxBHe1rjxkeGjJvdbM3Oyz-DTPiBSx4ZxniPuTgEm7CBhmzPeyvwlX2PUm4g9xna-zz49kUfxOJOR2aHAgVe8O04NxC8/s320/Spartacus-TV-series-posters.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In its early going, <i>Game of Thrones</i> uses shock value but also deliberately defies expectations, as important characters that appear to be the hero of the narrative, and invite us to identify with them, are offed. Killed unexpectedly, horribly, violently. Not tragically, because that requires being the architect of your own doom, rather out of stupidity or naivité. But on the point of defying expectations, the series <i>24</i> comes to mind. The first season was amazing, because they expertly set up expectations and then defied them, leading viewers to make assumptions about characters and plot that turned out to be mistaken. I was blown away by it, I have to admit. The second season, a little less so. The third season even less so, and by then I had come to expect the formula of misdirection. Alfred Korzybski, founder of general semantics, used to say, whatever you say a thing <i>is</i>, it <i>is not</i>. In the same way, on <i>24</i>, whatever you thought was going on, was not. The person who appeared to be a villain turned out to be a good guy. The innocent victim turned out to be a highly competent spy. And while it wasn't always possible to predict what was coming, it was a predictable formula that there would be reversals during almost every episode. So when they came, they were no longer surprising, or as entertaining as before. Same thing with <i>Game of Thrones</i>, once you get used to it, you know to expect the betrayal, the fall from grace, the hero getting offed, the continual defying of whatever expectations seem to be set up. Again, it's a case of diminishing returns, making the final seasons less and less satisfying, also because the reversals kind of dried up.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But of course, when it comes to genre, Martin's </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>A Song of Ice and Fire</i> series and HBO's <i>Game of Thrones</i> clearly falls into the realm of fantasy, where Tolkien's influence as a writer looms large, and the success of Peter Jackson adaptations have obviously generated interest in similar kinds of cinematic productions for movie theaters and television (by which I mean traditional, cable, and streaming/on demand online services). No doubt, either HBO said, we need to do our own fantasy series, or producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss pitched the idea as Tolkien, but with sex and violence, and HBO bought it. High concept!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And thinking of how <i>Game of Thrones</i> was sold, going back to how Martin's book series would be pitched, I'm sure what was said was, it's like Tolkien, but more realistic. And that's what Martin set out to do. Just like <i>Wild Cards</i> was like superhero comics, but more realistic. The problem is that fantasy is all about, well, the <i>fantastic</i>! About something other than the ugliness of the real world. Martin brings that ugliness back into his fantasy narrative, making it just another story about war and politics. Given the events of the past few years, that kind of story hits all too close to home.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fantasy has heroes. They need not be paradigms of virtue or perfect heroes. Maybe a barbarian thief, like Conan. Maybe an orphan of no apparent means like Harry Potter. Maybe a frivolous hobbit like Bilbo Baggins. Or maybe like Frodo it's a hero whose heroic act is to be doomed to failure but to continue anyway through faith and self-sacrifice. Often, the characters grow, gaining abilities but also developing character. You can even have an antihero like Michael Moorcock's creation, Elric of Melniboné. And by the way, those are stories that deserve to be brought to life on film and/or TV, and would have been a much better choice for HBO than Martin's series. And again, this is because Martin has all of his heroes killed. <i>Game of Thrones</i> is not about an antihero, it is fundamentally anti-hero.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiev5yyArMB8i1FFD9Amu3jpc5MyMFvcFc3VmjAJyTOA6lmwEQ2zK520e8HtkvjQah5hBUc5U_tMmOy2o8-OpzRrJT1F6Xk7CBiHAOqvT-fJpyir6MUzDIO-hia1RRoLgDdOP4jOoCG6XM/s1600/1c26d6493f05f6d5d3e051d8eccb7045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiev5yyArMB8i1FFD9Amu3jpc5MyMFvcFc3VmjAJyTOA6lmwEQ2zK520e8HtkvjQah5hBUc5U_tMmOy2o8-OpzRrJT1F6Xk7CBiHAOqvT-fJpyir6MUzDIO-hia1RRoLgDdOP4jOoCG6XM/s320/1c26d6493f05f6d5d3e051d8eccb7045.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The realism in </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Game of Thrones</i> is political and economic, so that there is no moral center, no spiritual quality, nothing transcendent or inspiring about the story. Well, unfortunately, we have plenty of that in real life. That's why we need fantasy! Not for dragons and demons! There's a cynical quality to </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Game of Thrones</i> that makes it too much like the world we live in.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In a 2011 essay in the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/14/books/review/george-r-r-martin-and-the-rise-of-fantasy.html" target="_blank">New York Times Book Review</a>, David Orr, who mostly speaks well of Martin's book, although with some criticisms, states, "</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Martin’s books are essentially the War of the Roses with magic." That's 15th century England, a war between two noble houses, the Lancasters and the Yorks, hence Martin's Lannisters and Starks. Historian Tom Holland, in a 2013 article in the <i>Guardian</i> aptly entitled, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/mar/24/game-of-thrones-realistic-history" target="_blank">Game of Thrones is More Brutally Realistic Than Most Historical Novels</a>, explains that the historical sources are a bit more eclectic, for example Petyr Baelish as based on 16th century England's Thomas Cromwell. Explaining that Cersei is based on the 15th century Queen of England, Isabella, known as the <i>she-wolf of France</i>, he goes on to state<br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When a fleet attacks her capital only to be annihilated by liquid explosives, the obvious parallel is with the "Greek fire" deployed by the Byzantines in their defence of Constantinople against the Arabs. Different events–and different periods–elide to consistently potent and surprising effect. In <i>Game of Thrones</i>, episodes from the history of our own world lie in wait for the characters like booby traps.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />And later, </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The default mode is high medieval, but alongside all the tournaments and castles there are echoes as well of earlier periods. Offshore, a recognisably Viking kingdom boasts a fleet of longships; Westeros itself, like dark ages England, was once a heptarchy, a realm of seven kingdoms; the massive rampart of ice which guards its northernmost frontier is recognisably inspired by Hadrian's wall. Beyond Westeros, in a continent traversed by a Targaryen would-be queen, the echoes of our own world's history are just as clear–if more exotic. An army of horsemen sweeps across endless grasslands, much as Genghis Khan's Mongols did; memories of a vanished empire conflate Rome with the legend of Atlantis.
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><game brutally="" historical="" is="" more="" most="" novels="" of="" realistic="" span="" than="" thrones=""></game></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
<br />
Funny thing, when the first season of <i>Game of Thrones</i> premiered on HBO on April 17, 2011, </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">the series <i>Camelot</i> had <br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">already premiered on the Starz cable network on April 1st, and <i>The Borgias</i> premiered on Showtime on April 3rd. I watched all three, and it made for an interesing juxtaposition, between the historical drama based on the 15th century Machiavellian pope and his offspring (promoted as a crime family a la <i>The Sopranos</i>), the attempt to portray the well known medieval legend of King Arthur in fairly realistic historical manner, and the Martin fantasy series. Watching one program after another, it seemed to me that <i>Game of Thrones</i> was too much like <i>The Borgias</i>, too little like <i>Camelot</i>.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBWdEJwYn0nBD2CN0wrpP6jn1TxN1qDRrmnI7uDU-3PrXKLS6DK7oVWtnTlDgaxuiLQDJzGftB1refEe7AlhjoPuBQWi3sYkgPearsCWDvBjhgLcXCBw9MIQuethFHN35y4FEMZIH_C8/s1600/MV5BMTU1NDMxMjI1OV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNzQ4MjQ1NA%2540%2540._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBWdEJwYn0nBD2CN0wrpP6jn1TxN1qDRrmnI7uDU-3PrXKLS6DK7oVWtnTlDgaxuiLQDJzGftB1refEe7AlhjoPuBQWi3sYkgPearsCWDvBjhgLcXCBw9MIQuethFHN35y4FEMZIH_C8/s320/MV5BMTU1NDMxMjI1OV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNzQ4MjQ1NA%2540%2540._V1_.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFXEg3GnLdsvndCJwBiJH-27fUKFOpyrbW4j09ogt0SHoNtM-ujCVeVwLUgIOpFxkSxJ2-PUrVPnSHKHZQvIsYfmpgWQUamumfEtwXrr5yRdahTUBdNX84PqnzFKa0UJmnBB9iRc7Yn0/s1600/915dMnKpFwL._SY445_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="308" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFXEg3GnLdsvndCJwBiJH-27fUKFOpyrbW4j09ogt0SHoNtM-ujCVeVwLUgIOpFxkSxJ2-PUrVPnSHKHZQvIsYfmpgWQUamumfEtwXrr5yRdahTUBdNX84PqnzFKa0UJmnBB9iRc7Yn0/s320/915dMnKpFwL._SY445_.jpg" width="221" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And let me note at this point that I am not entitely against the attempt to inject some realism into a fantasy narrative. As I mentioned, <i>Alan Moore</i>'s <i>Watchman</i> is brilliant. And I've been watching <i>The Magicians</i> on the SyFy network, based on novels that are a more realistic take on a Harry Potter-like scenario, adding sex, drugs, and yeah, rock and roll, and also violence and death, even child molestation, dealt with seriously, but the series on the whole is fun, has a sense of whimsy, is, dare I say it, magic. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4T4bFJuY-atZ__W2cPdJijAphngZwfCH3tgLpBAV6K_KaIVNBEpg3S7vkyH60KPwqBjqBc90PcHrDLeOzHieykuyKjJTr_1FiNR09dnq1vbLZ8R8Q9Uw_1S4JgoMFhfAUbqMlC-Zk2rQ/s1600/81UzjFGOPKL._RI_SX380_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="380" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4T4bFJuY-atZ__W2cPdJijAphngZwfCH3tgLpBAV6K_KaIVNBEpg3S7vkyH60KPwqBjqBc90PcHrDLeOzHieykuyKjJTr_1FiNR09dnq1vbLZ8R8Q9Uw_1S4JgoMFhfAUbqMlC-Zk2rQ/s320/81UzjFGOPKL._RI_SX380_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Game of Thrones</i> has magic in its content, but not in its form. It's too much like real history. Depressingly real. That's not good fantasy.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> And yes, Martin has been praised for having created this whole elaborate history for his fictional world. But real history, as the saying goes, is one damn thing after another. It has no teleology, no plan, no meaning. That's secular history of course, as opposed to mythology and religious history. And Martin's narrative follows the pattern of secular history, which again is why there is no satisfactory closure at the end of the series. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i> </i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Another comparison comes to mind, that of Frank Herbert's </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmXqyTVXhGcpJpqgVQ0CuFcugVr-ljLUvk_SspWbkWUOuzdGka0PKEajNMHgsFX8oU88FWm9fdhZVRQlNCNpxrSOyA5sjYIb6yN7vYv31eeB8MH4U-UFz_33J0QWldAvUyTnlDfWbafA/s1600/51cKQR4dRFL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmXqyTVXhGcpJpqgVQ0CuFcugVr-ljLUvk_SspWbkWUOuzdGka0PKEajNMHgsFX8oU88FWm9fdhZVRQlNCNpxrSOyA5sjYIb6yN7vYv31eeB8MH4U-UFz_33J0QWldAvUyTnlDfWbafA/s320/51cKQR4dRFL.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Dune</i> novels, and the sequel and prequel novels by his son Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, that fully realized Herbert's vision. I wouldn't be surprised if Herbert, who was influenced by general semantics by the way, via S.I. Hayakawa, and whose novels influenced George Lucas in his creation of <i>Star Wars</i>, was also an influence on Martin. His stories were very much about a grand sweep of history, in this case, being science fiction rather than fantasy, a history set in the far future. There's a return to a feudel type of society on a galactic scale, with much emphasis on court politics, religious uprisings, and much warfare, and there also are heroes who turn out to be somewhat ambiguous. And there are unexpected setbacks and mistakes that greatly complicate the ongoing series of events. But with all that, there still is the sense of something transcendent, some great purpose to it all, that is fundamentally missing from Martin's storytelling.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Speaking of <i>Star Wars</i>, while the films are great fun, and very much in the fantasy genre of magic (the force) and characters who are good and evil, those narratives take place "a long time ago" and "in a galaxy far far away" which takes them out of any clear relationship to us. They are not in our historical past, or future for that matter, not in a part of the universe we can locate in any manner. The stories have no relation to us here and now. And that makes them less significant, less compelling, than they might otherwise be.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The same is true for Martin's </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>A Song of Ice and Fire</i> series, and HBO's <i>Game of Thrones</i>. They are realistic in one sense, and a completely fictional world on the other. So what is that world's relation to us? What's at stake in their trials and conflicts? No relation, nothing at stake, apparently. It an imaginary world, but unimaginative at the same time. As fantasy goes, it's a bit of a bait and switch.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now, you might want to argue that the fantasy genre has no need to relate to our world, but you'd be wrong. Others, like Moorcock, explain that their worlds are in another dimension. Harry Potter is in our present-day world. And Tolkien? His stories were an attempt to create a pre-history for our world. They are in our own past, a forgotten past, but one with traces that connect to our remembered myths and legends, folk tales and fairy tales, and of beings such as elves, dwarves, goblins, wizards, and the like, as well as sunken Atlantis.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You see, Tolkien matters, his stories mean something to us because they are about us, about remembering who and what we are. No wonder a whole new kind of spiritual movement has arisen around Tolkien's tales. I don't see anything like that happening for Martin's stories. They're good for role-playing games, without a doubt. But they are not life-affirming or life-modeling.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWxCXqGZDzf43PAxczK25Fwe46ykrVa9ipsgze3exKGBkenbdGsIjCbpXPidVicirxOKj9KCemqqyEzQkEIXBiTMwwwoF3vZIpiL-oGW_6T-t8D0d7d64gi1wKJKWwBDIR8XAMfKKlJ4/s1600/shakespeare-thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWxCXqGZDzf43PAxczK25Fwe46ykrVa9ipsgze3exKGBkenbdGsIjCbpXPidVicirxOKj9KCemqqyEzQkEIXBiTMwwwoF3vZIpiL-oGW_6T-t8D0d7d64gi1wKJKWwBDIR8XAMfKKlJ4/s1600/shakespeare-thumb.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span id="goog_1312748904"></span><span id="goog_1312748905"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, I know that many disagree with me, and one thing I want to make clear is that I am not saying that Martin should have just done a Tolkien knock-off. Not at all. What I am saying is that his stories may be popular, the series may have been very successful, but like his White Walkers, it's all kind of souless, zombie-like storytelling, eminently forgetable, a passing fad, or in the words of the bard, it's all just sound and fury signifying nothing. </span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
Lance Stratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13033954765699126246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9101859138648955033.post-84322532984298599132019-05-25T19:39:00.001-04:002019-05-25T19:39:59.801-04:00Hello Again!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, this is the longest I've gone without an entry since I first set up this blog back in '07. Did you miss me?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It's not that I wasn't thinking about good old Blog Time Passing, I did now and then. I kept saying I need to get back into the swing of things. I just never could seem to find the...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">...time.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My last post was July 3rd, 2018, and the reason I stopped blogging was that it was at that point that my mother went into a steep decline, and she passed away less than two weeks after that, on July 16th. While this was not unexpected, she had been slowly declining for a number of years, and she was quite elderly, still it was a difficult loss for me.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I wanted to tell her story here, and hopefully I will in another post later on, but for now, I just wanted to say, I'm back, and I hope to get back to blogging regularly now. Of course, there's the old Yiddish saying that translates to, <i>man plans, God laughs</i>, and the John Lennon quote, <i>life is what happens to you while you're making other plans</i>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So no guarantees or promises, just an expression of hope and intent, and we'll see where it goes. Certainly, one of the advantages of the medium of blogging is that you can stop and start whenever you like, end and begin and again, pick up where you left off, leave off where you picked up, and all that. So, thanks for reading, and we'll just see what the future holds for us, won't we?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
Lance Stratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13033954765699126246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9101859138648955033.post-10518032236652486962018-07-03T18:16:00.000-04:002018-07-03T18:16:42.747-04:00A View From Germany<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, back in 2015 I was interviewed for <a href="https://www.zdf.de/dokumentation/zdfinfo-doku" target="_blank">ZDFinfo</a>, which is a German public television outlet, for a documentary they were making about Twitter. It was aired as a special program entitled, <i>Twitter: Revolution in 140 Zeichen?</i> (Twitter: Revolution in 140 Characters?). The film was broadcast on March 21st, 2016, which was the 10th anniversary of the launch of Twitter.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, yeah, ok, it's taken a long time to get around to it here on Blog Time Passing, but there were some technical issues that are not worth going into, and anyway, better late than never, right?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, anyway, what I did was to edit together my four brief segments on the film to make one YouTube video that's about 2 1/2 minutes long. As most of what I have to say is inaudible because of the German translator's voiceover, I offer this to you as something of an amusement. You can hear some of my comments, though, and it's possible to get some sense of what's being said in German as well.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I should note that, while the documentary is somewhat celebratory, it does make room for critical views such as my own. One reason for the positive outlook of the film is that it was made before all the concern about Russian interference in elections was well known, and at a time when it looked like Trump did not have a chance to win the Republican nomination, let along the presidency (I knew otherwise, but that never came up). </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Much of the documentary looked back on Obama's use of Twitter, and did so in a favorable context. My criticisms echoed what I had written in <i>Amazing Ourselves to Death</i>, published back in 2014, and are about the negative effects of the medium, regardless of the political positions and ideologies of the users.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, now, here's the video, for what it's worth:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fm6yz9DNh1c" width="560"></iframe></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I used the title, A View From Germany, for this post to echo a blog post I published back in 2015, </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://lancestrate.blogspot.com/2015/07/a-view-from-japan.html">A View From Japan</a>. That featured a similar video, drawn from interviews for a Japanese public TV special on the history of broadcasting, on the occasion of their own 90th anniversary. Those excerpts are similar in the presence of a voiceover, while also providing a rare glimpse into the chaos of my office. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
Lance Stratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13033954765699126246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9101859138648955033.post-80669919778719392802018-06-14T22:24:00.000-04:002018-06-14T22:24:17.935-04:00Power As Arbitrary and Conventional<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Following the sickening spectacle of President Trump in conflict with our closest allies, single-handedly undermining the western alliance that has been in place since the end of the Second World War, and then cozying up to the dictator of North Korea, arguably a monster on a par with Hitler and Stalin, albeit on a smaller scale, I was reminded of what was said about the Nazi concentration camps. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It was not just that the Nazis were cruel and inhuman, or used a mechanism for committing genocide with a factory-like efficiency. It was also that survivors described how guards and officers meted out punishments and rewards with no particular rationale, no sense of what kind of behavior was approved or disapproved of. There was no sense to their actions, no way to make meaning out of the misery they inflicted, no inkling of order within the chaos. It was a deliberate policy of confusion, a method of effecting complete and utter desperation and despair.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In other words, their actions were arbitrary. They had no rationale. They appeared to be entirely random in how they approached acts of reward and punishment. This made their actions utterly unpredictable. And this served to make their power essentially absolute.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Rules of any sort function as constraints, limitations. Imposing rules on what can or cannot be done help to make actions relatively predictable, at least to reduce their unpredictability. For this reason, rules serve as a counter to power, a way of constraining and limiting the exercise of power. They are a grammar governing human behavior.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Considering Trump's recent actions, they appear to be almost entirely arbitrary. Treating Canada as an adversary. Doing a 180 from threatening North Korea with nuclear devastation to giving them an unequivocal win on the world stage in exchange for nothing concrete, not to mention the leap frog from South Korea's initiative to meet with the North Korean dictator to Trump completely bypassing our South Korean allies. Sure, we can find explanations here and there for these moves, pundits can rationalize them in both positive and negative terms, but the bottom line is that are essentially random, arbitrary, and unpredictable.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The unpredictable nature of Trump's actions are key here. Everyone is taken by surprise, even in taking into account that he is unconventional, narcissistic, and seeking to undo everything that his predecessor accomplished. Even knowing all that, everyone is always surprised by his actions. And this, more than anything, serves to demonstrate his power.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Being arbitrary, being unpredictable, shows that he is free from any rules or conventions, any constraints or limitations, on his power.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrf3tLhiBAYOWrgbhLBpqK3izzdKIbxmFHYDxY2WnXV-dpaDY2tMKpAevGjIA68hqEgiKsj4bOwAriXZWYHUZDUIEXETN9KvhgELpPl2wOwdMKKbdd4mG-EaLdHAZjSbN3mepTzfFPDJI/s1600/theylive-messages.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrf3tLhiBAYOWrgbhLBpqK3izzdKIbxmFHYDxY2WnXV-dpaDY2tMKpAevGjIA68hqEgiKsj4bOwAriXZWYHUZDUIEXETN9KvhgELpPl2wOwdMKKbdd4mG-EaLdHAZjSbN3mepTzfFPDJI/s1600/theylive-messages.png" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">At this point, I want to go back to Hannah Arendt's arguments about power as it relates to violence. I wrote a series of blog posts about that topic back in 2011: <a href="http://lancestrate.blogspot.com/2011/11/violence-and-technology.html">Violence and Technology</a>, <a href="http://lancestrate.blogspot.com/2011/11/violence-and-power.html">Violence and Power</a>, <a href="http://lancestrate.blogspot.com/2011/12/violence-and-identity.html">Violence and Identity</a>, and <a href="http://lancestrate.blogspot.com/2011/12/violence-and-unity.html">Violence and Unity</a>. The key point that Arendt makes is that violence stands in polar opposition to power. That is, the presence of violence represents a lack or loss of power, an attempt to compensate for its absence. Power requires acquiescence, obedience, the absence of resistance, whether violent or not.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Power, therefore, is demonstrated by the absence of the use of force, by the absence of any need for enforcement. What this means is that power is symbolic rather than substantive. You could call it rhetorical, or ideological (although that tends to be poorly defined), but mainly it's that power is a form of symbolism. It's not simply that symbols, language, discourse, etc., reflect the power relationships that exist in society, as folks like Foucault maintain, but that power itself is a form of symbolic communication. Power exists in the relationship between symbol and referent, signifier and signified, or in general semantics terms, between map and territory, between word and what the word represents.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It is, of course, basic communication 101 that a symbol is arbitrary and convention. It is arbitrary because it bears no necessary relationship to what it represents. Saying the word "fire" out loud has no actual connection to the phenomenon of burning. This is in contrast to the presence of smoke, for example, which always is a product of burning. That's why shouting "fire!" in a crowded theater can be a false alarm, and why the same phenomenon can be represented by saying words like, "feu,""feuer,""fuego," "brand," "zjarr," "hixs,""ahi," "srefah," "kaji da,""may ba-giy," "unlilo," etc. The connection between smoke and fire is causal, and the connection between a picture of fire and the phenomenon of flame is one of resemblance. But the connection between the word "fire" and the phenomenon is purely conventional, purely based on the unspoken and largely unconscious agreement that the word will "stand for," "point to," in other words represent the actual phenomenon (or concept that in turn represents the phenomenon).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Symbols are characterized as arbitrary and conventional. Power in its purest sense is arbitrary in nature, being fundamentally divorced from force, and violence. Power therefore is a form of the symbolic. The existence and expression of power is based on the acceptance of everyone concerned, those who "have" power" and those who do not, those who "wield" power and those upon whom that "power" is directed and exerted, the dominant and the subordinate. Power, in other words, is a product of convention, is conventional in the sense that it depends upon its acceptance by everyone involved.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcr7a8gXqF3UToIvsJf7eFUVAhG0DN84mcJqCoKctWPcWfqPsRHjFftJpeV-9d4d8TJ-M3Sqz8rIvnG-R199o02ic0fKB8GqbIy4QtlsaJKfyFKxh7sRsWmx__Egvy3PIZff7dSo9KtCc/s1600/ak5ejwle2li01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcr7a8gXqF3UToIvsJf7eFUVAhG0DN84mcJqCoKctWPcWfqPsRHjFftJpeV-9d4d8TJ-M3Sqz8rIvnG-R199o02ic0fKB8GqbIy4QtlsaJKfyFKxh7sRsWmx__Egvy3PIZff7dSo9KtCc/s640/ak5ejwle2li01.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The symbolic interactionist and sociologist Hugh Dalziel Duncan argued that societies are held together by symbols, and that it is only when people stop believing in their shared symbolic environment, when they question and reject its conventional meanings, that societies go into decline, and disintegrate, whether by revolution or other means. Power is conventional, based on agreement, as well as arbitrary. That is why power can evaporate quite suddenly, shockingly so. Think of the downfall of many a dictator. Think of the sudden dissolution of the Soviet Union.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But convention is also a kind of constraint, and therefore places some form of limitation and constraint on power. What this means is that there is a kind of dynamic tension between the arbitrary character of symbols/power, and their conventional aspect. In the absence of conventions, meaning cannot be established, purposeful communication breaks down, legitimacy is lost, and power vanishes, replaced by violence.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Trump's main motivations seem to include the demonstration and exercise of power, and in flouting established conventions regarding presidential conduct, he has been trying to establish that he is not bound by rules and norms, by constraints and limitations, that he is able to wield power in ways that his predecessors could not, that his power is near absolute. This is consistent with him wielding power in ways that seem random and unpredictable. He has an intuitive sense of the symbolic nature of power, and is seeking to maximize his hold on it by amplifying its arbitrary nature.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The problem is that he appears to be ignorant of the fact that the arbitrary exists in dynamic tension with the conventional. Trump not only bulldozes through existing conventions, having razed them to the ground, he does not replace them with new conventions, and in all probability is incapable of doing so. After all, it takes a truly great leader, like Abraham Lincoln, or Franklin Delano Roosevelt, to accomplish that sort of thing.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It might be argued that the dynamic tension between the arbitrary and the conventional became unbalanced some time ago, leaning too far on the side of the conventional, and therefore biased toward stasis rather than change. But Trump, in shifting the balance in the other direction, threatens to go too far, and as conventions are eliminated, he moves closer and closer to destroying the symbolic order that keeps our society together. The result could be anarchy. Certainly, as the symbolic order is undermined, power will give way to violence.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ironically, the very device that Trump uses to try to demonstrate his power may ultimately result in its evaporation. And as much as many of us would like to see that happen to Trump, I think we have to be aware that he may take our entire society with him on the way down.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Am I saying this purely to spread some doom and gloom all around? No, not really. Because if we understand what is going on, we can think of what we need to do. In this case, it is not enough to expect things to spring back to normal once Trump is gone. As much as the American experiment has proved to be resilient, permanent damage has been done, and this should not be, cannot be ignored.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Whoever follows Trump will have to pick up the pieces and put them back together again. Whoever follows him will have to re-establish conventions, not expect them to be restored on their own. Whoever follows him will need to establish new conventions as well, a tall order and an enormous opportunity. We will need someone on the order of a Lincoln or a Roosevelt at that time. For now, we can only pray that we get someone like that when the time comes. And that the time will come sooner, rather than later.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>Lance Stratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13033954765699126246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9101859138648955033.post-59220444336922699992018-06-12T21:18:00.001-04:002018-06-12T21:20:17.652-04:00What is 'Medium' & Why is It the Message?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Back in April, I posted one of the outcomes of my visit to Saint Mary's College of California in March of last year: <a href="http://lancestrate.blogspot.com/2018/04/if-not-then-e-studio-version.html">If Not A Then E (Studio Version)</a>, featuring a video that was produced there based on my PowerPoint presentation, with my recorded voiceover.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, as part of my visit, which by the way was as a Roy E. and Patricia Disney Forum Fellow, I also delivered a public lecture, entitled "What We Mean By 'Medium' (And Why it is the Message)". It's similar to talks I've given before, and after, but the addition of PowerPoint makes a bit a different than some. And of course, there's also the introduction given by my good friend and fellow media ecologist, Ed Tywoniak, Professor of Communication at Saint Mary's. And a Q&A that followed, those are always unique forms of improvisation.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So anyway, for whatever it may be worth, here's the recording of my address, recorded in beautiful Moraga, California, on March 14th of 2017.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mh6IhzZUV_c" width="560"></iframe></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We also did an interview while I was out there, and maybe I'll share that as well in a future post. Maybe. We'll just have to see... </span></span><br />
<br />
</div>
Lance Stratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13033954765699126246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9101859138648955033.post-16839628782163634962018-06-04T21:06:00.000-04:002018-06-04T21:06:40.440-04:00The Prophet Einstein<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, it's about time I shared my op-ed which was published on March 9th in the <a href="http://jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com/">Jewish Standard</a>. This was one I had in mind to do for a long time now, and finally got around to do it. Significantly, and appropriately, it finally turned out that the timing was right. The title it was published under was,
<a href="http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/seven-reasons-why-albert-einstein-is-a-prophet/">Seven Reasons Why Albert Einstein is a Prophet</a>, and as you may recall, I have been willing to include Einstein within the field of media ecology, which is to say as a media ecologist, notably in my book <i>Echoes and Reflections: On Media Ecology as a Field of Study</i>.
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=lanstrsblotim-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1572737255&asins=1572737255&linkId=f2b2a7ee2531705595ead8603bb0499e&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe></span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Of course, that's a minor point here, my argument being more theological and philosophical. For what it's worth, here it is:</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The number 139 is not one we are likely to pay attention to, so this anniversary may not get a great deal of attention. We tend to sit up and take notice when the anniversary is a </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">multiple of 100, or 50, or 10, or even 5.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotRrdb9mZHnVUHJn4wn1gVYFkFiOKgxBxbuHKyqm6j1dW6lPkRv5Y8ft2YhZcx2xoM3qFR8QYjPJ0weUSDnQXLXu58LIGfpBLfnTjiGvCvw2tLnt1jqSrpJMcvV_WOpWYYiO0giQQhI8/s1600/Einstein_1921_by_F_Schmutzer_-_restoration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1219" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotRrdb9mZHnVUHJn4wn1gVYFkFiOKgxBxbuHKyqm6j1dW6lPkRv5Y8ft2YhZcx2xoM3qFR8QYjPJ0weUSDnQXLXu58LIGfpBLfnTjiGvCvw2tLnt1jqSrpJMcvV_WOpWYYiO0giQQhI8/s320/Einstein_1921_by_F_Schmutzer_-_restoration.jpg" width="243" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">At the very least, we have a psychological bent toward even numbers, and 139 is decidedly odd. But if Einstein were still with us, he might point out that 139 is more than odd; that it is, in fact, a prime number, which makes it quite significant in its own right. He also no doubt would point to the arbitrary nature of anniversaries, and of calendars for that matter. Einstein’s date of birth on the Hebrew calendar was the 19th of Adar in the year 5639. This year, Adar 19 corresponded to March 6, last year it was March 17, next year is a leap year so it will be February 24 for Adar 1, and March 26 for Adar 2.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I suspect that the differences between the solar calendar of secular society and the lunar calendar of Jewish tradition had some influence on Einstein’s thinking. After all, when we say, for example, that Chanukah is coming late in a given year, it is just as true to say that Christmas and New Year’s are early. The experience of living with two so very different calendars could not help but point to the relativity of time.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmoXxdsn-huTqdWsE5Um9cet7v9Af8Lih0y14JWQ3CuIZN7MrGj6CwjJ8J24aJ9ca8Jxocjhd5TjbKgqsjtcCn7ukkIlSNlCT7f3PXzFqoQWL1_sm5Qu-eOhZIUjv1_xFx4Yqb4dqz9Y/s1600/1101991231_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmoXxdsn-huTqdWsE5Um9cet7v9Af8Lih0y14JWQ3CuIZN7MrGj6CwjJ8J24aJ9ca8Jxocjhd5TjbKgqsjtcCn7ukkIlSNlCT7f3PXzFqoQWL1_sm5Qu-eOhZIUjv1_xFx4Yqb4dqz9Y/s320/1101991231_400.jpg" width="242" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And as we remember Einstein, we do so, along with the rest of the world, for his contributions to science, as the recipient of the 1921 Nobel Prize in physics, and the person named in 1999 as <i>Time</i> magazine’s Person of the Century. More than anyone else, Einstein was the person responsible for the paradigm shift in science that replaced Newton’s mechanistic view of the universe with a relativistic understanding of space and time.</span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And we also remember him as an especially noteworthy member of the Jewish people, one of our many gifts to the world, a prime example of what we sometimes refer to as <i>yiddishe kop</i>, intelligence born out of a tradition of literacy and learning, one in which teachers and sages are seen as heroic. And we may also recall that as a Jew, Einstein was forced to flee Nazi Germany as a refugee, and that he was a supporter of the Zionist movement and the State of Israel.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVXZ-ov0qBh6_ezzn0EMmXukOxYoqPI_UQZvjNJvbe-Iicwzz67g5ojZEhloZkdQ878Dlf6qZXK-216GUsABVKA7tXZ_fV36pK7XqNoWho4Bgo5JUg5dSqmT3rOfp_9P4r2OuiEj1Ujg/s1600/albert_einstein.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVXZ-ov0qBh6_ezzn0EMmXukOxYoqPI_UQZvjNJvbe-Iicwzz67g5ojZEhloZkdQ878Dlf6qZXK-216GUsABVKA7tXZ_fV36pK7XqNoWho4Bgo5JUg5dSqmT3rOfp_9P4r2OuiEj1Ujg/s400/albert_einstein.png" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We do not remember Einstein in a religious context, however; he was not a rabbi or talmudic scholar or theologian. I want to suggest, however, that we should remember him as a prophet. Admittedly, in our tradition we consider the age of the prophets to have ended long ago, but we cannot rule out the possibility of modern prophets altogether. And while we would tend to be suspicious of anyone claiming to be a prophet today, Einstein never made any such claim, so he cannot be rejected as a false prophet.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But I do think a case can be made, and I hope you will consider the possibility as I put forth seven reasons for naming Albert Einstein as a modern-day prophet.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1oFhwpKM9lvZuTJVZBFjXXya2NFj-GkcSEm_kfXwn8YziHK4g5PqUG6Ej3ESWEGY8zrC09QhX8WVmbcrFttDOnhW2IYtHH2n9yXC7w-IK0UQZPb32cwHjPNEACe94Lcu2aVMNSei9Dg/s1600/Albert-580x297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="580" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1oFhwpKM9lvZuTJVZBFjXXya2NFj-GkcSEm_kfXwn8YziHK4g5PqUG6Ej3ESWEGY8zrC09QhX8WVmbcrFttDOnhW2IYtHH2n9yXC7w-IK0UQZPb32cwHjPNEACe94Lcu2aVMNSei9Dg/s640/Albert-580x297.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">1. Einstein’s name has become synonymous with genius. We typically say that a given individual “is” a genius, but everyone who truly fits the description will more accurately refer to “a stroke of genius” in the sense
of something coming from outside of themselves. The word “genius” originates from ancient Rome, and refers to a guiding spirit or deity, a supernatural source, like a guardian angel. (Prophets are the recipients of divine revelation, some form of communication, or we may call it inspiration, which literally means, “to breathe into,” which is how God brings Adam to life in the Book of Genesis.)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4MssgYx2IPx2TmCKrCZk9xwoVmOE7VKMpzbRvLhyRoYuoCTF1MtR-QEgMNI7InpqKXxvrsqoYH_N_gXfIoTXpyjRMeYJovw-nl3hA7myN0Yeh9HmP_cIt6W47c0AKhHS6oMDoJHqD6w/s1600/zc919u3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1418" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4MssgYx2IPx2TmCKrCZk9xwoVmOE7VKMpzbRvLhyRoYuoCTF1MtR-QEgMNI7InpqKXxvrsqoYH_N_gXfIoTXpyjRMeYJovw-nl3hA7myN0Yeh9HmP_cIt6W47c0AKhHS6oMDoJHqD6w/s400/zc919u3.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">2. As a teenager, Einstein imagined himself chasing after a beam of light, which led to his understanding that light cannot be slowed or stopped, that the speed of light is constant, and that it is time, instead, that must vary. This thought experiment was the foundation that led to his special theory of relativity. Other thought experiments followed,
</span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">notably </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">the difference in what we </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">would
observe when standing on a train vs. standing on a platform as bolts of
lightning strike the train. (Prophets are known to receive revelation
via visions, as in Jacob’s ladder, Joseph’s dreams, the chariot of fire
that appeared to Elijah, and Ezekiel’s wheel within a wheel.)</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSztUczp6NC9aOrHlX_BwvpZD4EjpyInyBUEasBS2GBPckEQ3EY1O16LQoBEZIMJQFz7LslIkPW4FpnNKcwcOKCjOZ9otyfYRHI1N6lAIZbnX7GZTzlBCGhi6bE6kd1LajOhgOVhIgFHQ/s1600/einstein-mysterious-quote-w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="640" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSztUczp6NC9aOrHlX_BwvpZD4EjpyInyBUEasBS2GBPckEQ3EY1O16LQoBEZIMJQFz7LslIkPW4FpnNKcwcOKCjOZ9otyfYRHI1N6lAIZbnX7GZTzlBCGhi6bE6kd1LajOhgOVhIgFHQ/s640/einstein-mysterious-quote-w.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">3. One of Einstein’s most significant achievements was</span> determining the nature of light as consisting of quanta, aka photons, and that light has a dual nature, as both waves and particles. Clearly, he had a unique relationship to the phenomenon of light. (Prophets are closely associated with light and enlightenment, Genesis famously says that light was the first of God’s creations, Moses has a halo when he descends from Mount Sinai after speaking to God face-to- face, a direct encounter with the divine countenance that we pray may shine upon us.)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Y9ettnsW3pW4wrNd1bm1YlP50NciumQB7aojk8oALxBRGf4im024kBDAV6U4FXvOoKpf_Sp8b9SuYXn5MIRtAcVdNUOhjHHc7RMxVRv2TaJ-9HbODAJXa9EqKQOb7FoBjzGFHm9dX0A/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Y9ettnsW3pW4wrNd1bm1YlP50NciumQB7aojk8oALxBRGf4im024kBDAV6U4FXvOoKpf_Sp8b9SuYXn5MIRtAcVdNUOhjHHc7RMxVRv2TaJ-9HbODAJXa9EqKQOb7FoBjzGFHm9dX0A/s640/images.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">4. Einstein gave us a new way of understanding the universe, of space and time as a single phenomenon, spacetime. (Prophets teach us about the nature of Creation to better understand the Creator, and our place in the world.)</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mnIa5n-lMDn1AqyCb6qqIV8YrZrYxNyu6w60PtMppajZ8S8pZo0xr02Oj4c-bwawKBZK5STtbrWiUupqPVAqRhpNcLWNJTFksab2LgrSXlOJ73savoeMVsqBaqdxCAeQ44inneuXyxs/s1600/quote-i-believe-in-spinoza-s-god-who-reveals-himself-in-the-lawful-harmony-of-the-world-not-albert-einstein-35-36-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="850" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mnIa5n-lMDn1AqyCb6qqIV8YrZrYxNyu6w60PtMppajZ8S8pZo0xr02Oj4c-bwawKBZK5STtbrWiUupqPVAqRhpNcLWNJTFksab2LgrSXlOJ73savoeMVsqBaqdxCAeQ44inneuXyxs/s400/quote-i-believe-in-spinoza-s-god-who-reveals-himself-in-the-lawful-harmony-of-the-world-not-albert-einstein-35-36-05.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3sfnaoT_FEcL7nykWQhgj_aailjxKrX_fwCE6aw5Jw2D4fi2PF8J5Y_cDUcFXYcoPKWE3v6_-JDNEDLxJRaKPp7402irb0GiAw2i8npO3X_t5zYxQWiooV5rdHPUsKddqVDQQ1aHLICM/s1600/quote-at-any-rate-i-am-convinced-that-he-god-does-not-play-dice-albert-einstein-282678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3sfnaoT_FEcL7nykWQhgj_aailjxKrX_fwCE6aw5Jw2D4fi2PF8J5Y_cDUcFXYcoPKWE3v6_-JDNEDLxJRaKPp7402irb0GiAw2i8npO3X_t5zYxQWiooV5rdHPUsKddqVDQQ1aHLICM/s1600/quote-at-any-rate-i-am-convinced-that-he-god-does-not-play-dice-albert-einstein-282678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3sfnaoT_FEcL7nykWQhgj_aailjxKrX_fwCE6aw5Jw2D4fi2PF8J5Y_cDUcFXYcoPKWE3v6_-JDNEDLxJRaKPp7402irb0GiAw2i8npO3X_t5zYxQWiooV5rdHPUsKddqVDQQ1aHLICM/s1600/quote-at-any-rate-i-am-convinced-that-he-god-does-not-play-dice-albert-einstein-282678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3sfnaoT_FEcL7nykWQhgj_aailjxKrX_fwCE6aw5Jw2D4fi2PF8J5Y_cDUcFXYcoPKWE3v6_-JDNEDLxJRaKPp7402irb0GiAw2i8npO3X_t5zYxQWiooV5rdHPUsKddqVDQQ1aHLICM/s1600/quote-at-any-rate-i-am-convinced-that-he-god-does-not-play-dice-albert-einstein-282678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">5. Einstein invoked the philosophy of the Enlightenment founder Baruch Spinoza in explaining his own view of a pantheistic God. That is a view that traditionally has been seen as heretical, but is consistent with some
approaches to Kabbalah, God as the <i>Ein Sof</i>, and certainly is acceptable within Reform Judaism. Above all, it is a view consistent with science; as Einstein famously remarked, “science without religion is lame, religion
without science is blind.” His resistance to the uncertainty principle of quantum theory was famously expressed in the quote, “God does not play dice with the universe,” asserts that Creation is governed by laws<span style="font-size: large;"> that are rational and ultimately discernible, as well as based on an underlying monotheism, as God would have no one to play dice with. (Prophets often have been critics of established religious authority, in favor of a direct encounter with God via nature.)</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
</span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo26lo8jwvij9KsoFHY1DJgh5ozEbn78GbBtVJXMG9H6P-ZORxewiJT97N3nWrGoHhMc4x7jhVNIy9I5-ve1FU26yvVr9cAh4nC9_KgLrwBZUozxpo95OQrlbwgUmyiEHxeneLNPozPfY/s1600/quote-at-any-rate-i-am-convinced-that-he-god-does-not-play-dice-albert-einstein-282678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="850" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo26lo8jwvij9KsoFHY1DJgh5ozEbn78GbBtVJXMG9H6P-ZORxewiJT97N3nWrGoHhMc4x7jhVNIy9I5-ve1FU26yvVr9cAh4nC9_KgLrwBZUozxpo95OQrlbwgUmyiEHxeneLNPozPfY/s400/quote-at-any-rate-i-am-convinced-that-he-god-does-not-play-dice-albert-einstein-282678.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">6. Einstein spoke out for social justice. He did so on behalf of his own people, in opposition to Nazi Germany, and in favor of Zionism and the State of Israel, but also as a strong critic of racism and supporter of the civil rights movement in the United States. He also was quite critical of capitalism, arguing on behalf of socialism and advocating for a</span> democratic world government and pacifism after the conclusion of World War II. (Social justice is one of the primary themes of the Prophets section of the <i>Tanach</i>.)</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8WJOaXXd5wMvB_JCNnKV2PqLJcP11hbKkyqCeBYB5GJfpEIdnmCPXqQrjcQsc4z0QBa9Bq6pE1PwcQjlfR2t0rH1ZdGE_ozScK4PACZ7fVd-rM2VvhEwyR-TdfYrZ0IztX6e_0OjcHk/s1600/quote-striving-for-social-justice-is-the-most-valuable-thing-to-do-in-life-albert-einstein-37-33-25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="850" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8WJOaXXd5wMvB_JCNnKV2PqLJcP11hbKkyqCeBYB5GJfpEIdnmCPXqQrjcQsc4z0QBa9Bq6pE1PwcQjlfR2t0rH1ZdGE_ozScK4PACZ7fVd-rM2VvhEwyR-TdfYrZ0IztX6e_0OjcHk/s400/quote-striving-for-social-justice-is-the-most-valuable-thing-to-do-in-life-albert-einstein-37-33-25.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">7. Einstein warned President Roosevelt of the danger of Nazi research into the development of the atomic bomb, leading to the Manhattan Project. He later became an outspoken critic of nuclear weapons. His warnings largely have fallen on deaf ears, at least as far as governments are concerned. In 1947, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists introduced the image of the Doomsday Clock, setting it to seven minutes before midnight. On January 25 of this year, the minute hand was moved up to two minutes before midnight, the closest it has ever been, mainly because of North Korea and our president’s</span> threatening remarks, and not taking into account Putin’s recent statements about Russian nuclear missile capability, and his animated image of the bombardment of
Florida. (The biblical prophets issued warnings about the destruction of Israel and Judea, and the name Jeremiah has become synonymous with pronouncements of doom.)</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5yyJ8EcpxbzWTkYiYjfXEOmrfojFcr7Y6uvKpVL8plS6Hmu-MfR9JZpXXYdS_Pkh8iyLGqVwiWzVCgvIIsgQd2zb6bWmOAMgL7Y_Sxpwul3KXM_uNgVEdv6KSA6UH84RoMbosEQp-K8/s1600/duJnm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="1023" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5yyJ8EcpxbzWTkYiYjfXEOmrfojFcr7Y6uvKpVL8plS6Hmu-MfR9JZpXXYdS_Pkh8iyLGqVwiWzVCgvIIsgQd2zb6bWmOAMgL7Y_Sxpwul3KXM_uNgVEdv6KSA6UH84RoMbosEQp-K8/s400/duJnm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Einstein’s predictions in the realm of physics continue to be supported by astronomical observation and experimental evidence. Perhaps his predictions about society and politics ought to be taken seriously as well?</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Why bother arguing for Einstein as a prophet?</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">•</span></span> Because American culture always has had a strain of anti-intellectualism, one that includes resistance to many aspects of science, notably Darwinian evolution.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">•</span></span> Because climate change is at least as great a threat as nuclear war, and is being met with denial, dismissal, or disinterest from significant portions of the population, and all too many in leadership positions.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">• </span></span>Because facts and logic are under assault by religious fundamentalists, cynical political opportunists, and corporate executives with eyes only for short term profits.</span></span></span></span></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As Rabbi Barry L. Schwartz makes clear in his recently published book, <i>Paths of the Prophets: The Ethics-Driven Life</i>, our prophetic tradition is of vital importance, one that always has and always will be relevant for us.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
</span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=lanstrsblotim-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0827613091&asins=0827613091&linkId=7bcc36b1ae5fabbb52c2507c2addf35e&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
</span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Naming Albert Einstein a prophet should not detract from this tradition, but rather enhance it, by adding a dimension that we need now more than ever: the truth that ethics cannot be divorced from an understanding of the world, of reality, in all its complexity, and glory.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Lance Stratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13033954765699126246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9101859138648955033.post-69447567537765330262018-05-30T20:09:00.000-04:002018-05-30T20:09:37.764-04:00On the Role of Play for Learning & Language<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, how about another New York Society for General Semantics session? Sure, why not, you say, and I thank you for being so agreeable! This one took place on December 6th of 2017, and the result was a really interesting discussion, at least I think so.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here's the description of the program:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Play, Learning, and Language</span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
A Panel Discussion </span></span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
General semantics has long been concerned with the uses, misuses, and abuses of language. As the primary form of human symbolic communication, language is a tool through which we learn about our environment, make sense of our surroundings, evaluate and act upon our world. Language is the foundation of human intelligence and time-binding, our capacity for learning, both individually and collectively. <br /><br />
The processes of learning and education are also among our most central concerns. Over the years, leading educationists such as Neil Postman, Ashley Montagu, and Jerome Bruner have been associated with general semantics. And that should come as no surprise since general semantics represents an educational movement in its own right, one devoted to incorporating the benefits of the scientific method to human relations, improving our methods of evaluation and understanding, and maximizing human potential.<br /><br />
Early in the 20th century, play was recognized as an important part of our learning processes, one that is closely connected to our capacity for symbol use, language learning, and cognitive and emotional development. The role of play and creativity in education has gained increasingly greater emphasis in recent decades, along with greater interest in the interactions and interdependencies among speech and language, literacy and media, and art and play, as they all relate to learning.<br /><br />
Our panelists discuss the relationships between play, learning, and language, and these related topics. It was a program that was most certainly elucidating and enlightening!</span></span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The participants on this program were:<br /><br />
</span></span><br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Robert Albrecht</b>, Professor of Media Arts at New Jersey City University, author of <i>Mediating the Muse: A Communications Approach to Music, Media, and Cultural Change</i> (2004), and a musician and songwriter, his two CDs are <i>A Tale of Two Cities</i> (2012), consisting of original songs about Jersey City and Hoboken, and <i>Song of the Poet</i> (2008), consisting of poems by Walt Whitman, Edgar Allen Poe, and others set to music. He is currently co-authoring a book tentatively entitled, <i>The Arts as Pedagogy in the Age of Digital Technology: Teaching as a Creative Activity</i>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Margaret M. Cassidy, Professor and Chair of Communications at Adelphi University and Past President of the New York State Communication Association, author of <i>BookEnds: The Changing Media Environment of American Classrooms</i> (2004), and the recently published <i>Children, Media, and American History: Printed Poison, Pernicious Stuff, and Other Terrible Temptations</i> (2017).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Michael Plugh, Professor of Communication at Manhattan College, Immediate Past President of the New York State Communication Association, Internet Officer and Executive Board member of the Media Ecology Association, and member of the New York Society for General Semantics Board of Directors, currently researching innovative initiatives in schooling.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Oh, and the moderator was none other than yours truly. And here's the video:</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dlw3aQJoWFE" width="560"></iframe></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I think this was one of my all time favorites NYSGS sessions! </span></span> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span>
Lance Stratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13033954765699126246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9101859138648955033.post-51967781481050132862018-04-14T19:32:00.000-04:002018-04-14T19:32:52.031-04:00Communication and Disruption<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, how about another post about one of our <a href="https://nysgs.org/" target="_blank">New York Society for General Semantics</a> sessions from last year? Interested? Of course, you are!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This one is a little different from some of the others, as it involves one extended address, followed by a few shorter responses. And it features my colleague from Manhattan College and co-founder of the <a href="http://media-ecology.org/" target="_blank">Media Ecology Association</a>, as well as fellow trustee of the <a href="http://generalsemantics.org/" target="_blank">Institute of General Semantics</a>, not to mention NYSGS board member, Thom Gencarelli.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I should also mention that Thom is a fellow past president of the New York State Communication Association, as well as the MEA, and this all starts with him being selected as a fellow Wilson Fellow at NYSCA in 2016, which obligated him to deliver a Wilson Scholar Address at our last meeting, this past October. Which he did, and it was outstanding, which was why I asked him to give it again as part of a NYSGS program.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, anyway, here's the write up for it:</span></span><br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;">Last year, Thom Gencarelli received NYSCA's John F. Wilson Fellow Award, based on his record of scholarship and service. Other scholars previously named as John F. Wilson Fellows include Neil Postman, Gary Gumpert, Dan Hahn, Deborah Borisoff, Susan Drucker, James W. Carey, Lance Strate, Susan B. Barnes, and Brian Cogan. In conjunction with his selection, he delivered this year's John F. Wilson Fellow Lecture on October 13th, at the 75th anniversary meeting of the New York State Communication Association:<br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">
<b>"Dark Nets and Disruptive Practices"</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
All too often, people outside the academic discipline of communication and media studies consider what we do to be little more than a special interest, rather than the study of something that is central to, and one of the primary defining features of, the human experience. As a case in point, the Presidential election of 2016, the most disruptive event of all disruptive events in our contemporary experience in the U.S., can be explained from a media perspective, and an historical one at that. Beginning from Gutenberg’s invention of the mechanical, movable-type printing press and through our contemporary innovations in mobility, social media, and Tor, this presentation argues that all inventions and innovations in media are a disruption, and that the evolution of media by which the citizenry in a democratic society inform themselves can explain, in full, exactly what happened to us in 2016. <br /><br />
On November 3rd, Professor Gencarelli reprised his Wilson Lecture as the main event of our NYSGS program, and following the lecture, as an added bonus, additional reflections, comments, and responses were delivered by </span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">MJ Robinson, Professor of New Media and Journalism and Media Studies, Bernard N. Stern Professor of Humor, and Graduate Deputy Chair for the Media Studies MS program in the Department of Television and Radio at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York; </span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;">Michael Plugh, Professor of Communication at Manhattan College, Immediate Past President of the New York State Communication Association, and Internet Officer and Executive Board member of the Media Ecology Association; </span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">and</span> Lance Strate, Professor of Communication and Media Studies at Fordham University, Past President of the New York State Communication Association, Editor of Explorations in Media Ecology and Executive Board member of the Media Ecology Association, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Institute of General Semantics, and President of the New York Society for General Semantics.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
Thom Gencarelli, Ph.D. (NYU, 1993) is Professor and the founding Chair of the Communication Department at Manhattan College in Riverdale, New York. He is a Past President of the New York State Communication Association, the Media Ecology Association, and New Jersey Communication Association (twice), and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Institute of General Semantics. He researches and writes about media literacy/media education, media ecology, and popular media and culture with an emphasis on popular music. He is co-editor (with Brian Cogan) of <i>Baby Boomers and Popular Culture: An Inquiry into America’s Most Powerful Generation</i> (ABC-Clio/ Praeger, 2014), and is currently at work on a book about language acquisition and cognitive development. Thom is also a songwriter, musician, and music producer, and has released two album-length works with his ensemble <a href="https://www.facebook.com/blueraceband/" target="_blank">bluerace</a>, <i>World is Ready</i> and <i>Beautiful Sky</i>. The group’s third, as yet untitled effort is due out in 2018.<br /></span></blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/j5lBY1KP_mw" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It was a program that most certainly shed light on our contemporary semantic environment!
</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />Lance Stratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13033954765699126246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9101859138648955033.post-66514544814379846872018-04-10T19:07:00.001-04:002018-04-10T19:07:23.367-04:00Jedi and the Jews<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, my January 12th op ed for the <a href="http://jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com/" target="_blank">Jewish Standard</a> was given the title, <a href="http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/jew-vs-jedi-may-the-schwartz-be-with-you/">Jew vs. Jedi: “May the Schwartz Be With You”</a>, and here it is for the first time on Blog Time Passing:</span></span> <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>The Last Jedi</i> is one of the best, if not the best, of the Star Wars cinematic series that first exploded onto theater screens in 1977. The film franchise, originated by George Lucas, was sold to the Walt Disney Company in 2012, and revitalized in 2015 by the first installment in the new trilogy, <i>The Force Awakens</i>, directed by J.J. Abrams. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMD7ut-PliR-iEGsTG9_AzY-bhWK1LLi67eawy2l01Xg9W9zvZzkifGaAXbWBDwnS7sMQPDmCUR0lj1goX3Y0VBU5NanoTYC2OZxUT-wVBaHYtvtKPHcHVh_z9S2lxTnyRkF546Q3umU/s1600/star-wars-the-force-awakens-quad-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMD7ut-PliR-iEGsTG9_AzY-bhWK1LLi67eawy2l01Xg9W9zvZzkifGaAXbWBDwnS7sMQPDmCUR0lj1goX3Y0VBU5NanoTYC2OZxUT-wVBaHYtvtKPHcHVh_z9S2lxTnyRkF546Q3umU/s640/star-wars-the-force-awakens-quad-poster.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Although it was a huge commercial success and generally well received, many fans were unhappy with the shift to a more progressive outlook in <i>The Force Awakens</i>, and expressed dissatisfaction with the casting, which deviated from the previous films, which were all but monopolized by white males. In this new trilogy, the lead heroic role of Rey is given to a young woman, while another main character is played by a young African-American man. Even when the sentiments expressed were not overtly racist and sexist, those undercurrents were apparent, especially given that the plot of <i>The Force Awakens</i> was quite consistent with the original <i>Star Wars</i> film. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></blockquote>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFE7z0ZjI1d_MEQa7FLmKquVT-J6_kZqAKnl_7vfhrvGgQ3zwssT2AtP2vEHeFfNv9WxP4UJaP4YoYnHnkTpQKMc0sOL2ctp-UyiFcqHGZD6m1AfJiXUfV3eVtEhbnLQlhlGkQZyLHTh4/s1600/Star-Wars-The-Force-Awakens-D23-cast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="1600" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFE7z0ZjI1d_MEQa7FLmKquVT-J6_kZqAKnl_7vfhrvGgQ3zwssT2AtP2vEHeFfNv9WxP4UJaP4YoYnHnkTpQKMc0sOL2ctp-UyiFcqHGZD6m1AfJiXUfV3eVtEhbnLQlhlGkQZyLHTh4/s640/Star-Wars-The-Force-Awakens-D23-cast.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Star Wars The Force Awakens cast Harrison Ford; Daisy Ridley; Bob Iger; J.J. Abrams; John Boyega; Lupita Nyong'o; Oscar Isaac</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>The Last Jedi</i>, directed by Rian Johnson, extended the new sensibility by highlighting female leadership, including the late Carrie Fisher as the leader of the resistance and Laura Dern as a self-sacrificing admiral of their decimated fleet, while introducing a significant new character played by Kelly Marie Tran, the child of Vietnamese immigrants. Consistent with this move toward greater diversity in casting, the film also emphasized the progressive theme of breaking with the past.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBruDXg8QvveZ14C2ubhprmixHzzQx2KiWDQ21tzSObXeubUWCO0H-dNCCGt2bfaTmmIrtAQR0G2MyTBvXjb0JH5pAvP8lKsWmVzlQnZvPskWvsFXeTT72zlo-nB2TvIi27kpEAzpnAk/s1600/star-wars-the-last-jedi-poster-700x1037-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="1240" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBruDXg8QvveZ14C2ubhprmixHzzQx2KiWDQ21tzSObXeubUWCO0H-dNCCGt2bfaTmmIrtAQR0G2MyTBvXjb0JH5pAvP8lKsWmVzlQnZvPskWvsFXeTT72zlo-nB2TvIi27kpEAzpnAk/s640/star-wars-the-last-jedi-poster-700x1037-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cAnQYX7Rp-NiQTMNACSG-IMo2fUx0Ymqyn1Z2Frosg-7IqR4zT0ar9JVEDp7sr93zDV3oe8BDYVDQE3d4DQwGZClNmloymVXNAP0o-IgCQkIwgQeYcZbpPAfuaSaMuBDEtVWNYm3Z6A/s1600/ufvaq4jd5v9z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="979" data-original-width="1600" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cAnQYX7Rp-NiQTMNACSG-IMo2fUx0Ymqyn1Z2Frosg-7IqR4zT0ar9JVEDp7sr93zDV3oe8BDYVDQE3d4DQwGZClNmloymVXNAP0o-IgCQkIwgQeYcZbpPAfuaSaMuBDEtVWNYm3Z6A/s640/ufvaq4jd5v9z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Given the reactionary mentality of most disgruntled Star Wars fanatics, I was disturbed to read Liel Liebovitz’s December 18 piece in <a href="http://www.tabletmag.com/" target="_blank">Tablet</a> magazine, called “<a href="http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-arts-and-culture/251727/reform-jediism" target="_blank">Reform Jediism</a>.” Liebovitz explains his reaction to the film:</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I felt a torrent of anger I haven’t known since gazing at the calamity that was Jar-Jar Binks. That’s because the movie, while otherwise engaging and enjoyable, introduced a radical new take on the Jedi religion. Call it Reform Jediism.</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Anger is consistent with right-wing screeds against any form of liberal politics, but in this instance the target was Reform Judaism. As he puts it,</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">for American Jewish audiences… <i>The Last Jedi</i> can feel almost like a documentary, a sordid story about a small community eager to trade in the old and onerous traditions for the glittery and airy creed of universalist kumbaya that, like so much sound and fury, signifies nothing.</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As a Reform Jew, I am deeply offended by Liebovitz’s disdain for those of us who practice a form of Judaism different from his own. And I have to wonder what it is about us that makes him so afraid. In the words of the Jedi master Yoda, who presumably represents Liebovitz’s idea of Orthodox Jediism, “Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” Don’t we know this to be true? Isn’t our world big enough for different forms of Jewish worship, different modes of Jewish identity? Does he really want to open up an irrevocable schism in the Jewish population?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmIgxmqJU9YYGwHJ2LFVocnvfOCDB5VjU2OscSnG4BmBguv5Gg1mqG73o52ZnVHGVRwLpZCH9J6WrhAHE04Sg3mUefxTTJiuBtHlluadPerrzplmVPYig1_ReCC4-3JxnqyrTRoEzJdw4/s1600/DRW9m_-VwAAShyg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="750" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmIgxmqJU9YYGwHJ2LFVocnvfOCDB5VjU2OscSnG4BmBguv5Gg1mqG73o52ZnVHGVRwLpZCH9J6WrhAHE04Sg3mUefxTTJiuBtHlluadPerrzplmVPYig1_ReCC4-3JxnqyrTRoEzJdw4/s320/DRW9m_-VwAAShyg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Responses from readers both sympathetic to his general outlook and supportive of the Reform movement have taken Liebovitz to task for misinterpreting the meaning of <i>The Last Jedi</i>, ignoring important details in the film or just getting them wrong, forcing facts to fit his views instead of vice versa. For my part, I find the entire conversation absurd. Its original sin is Liebovitz’s equating Jew and Jedi.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The <i>Star Wars</i> universe was created by George Lucas, who was raised a Methodist. The film’s underlying Christian sensibility is apparent in its emphasis on a savior figure. In the original trilogy, the messianic character is Luke (evoking the Gospels) Skywalker (paralleling walking on water). In the prequels, Anakin Skywalker is born via immaculate conception on the part of the Force and identified as the “chosen one” of prophecy, before falling from grace and becoming the equivalent of the Christian Satan, Darth Vader.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIQtRJrsW0svTzoq8z8SSfTcqssbKifVykHUHeLsp8XFmA0tSPClrGzudgljZIgevRPAhbQg2rDRZcyq_5pcv6XJ6KWi-P0OxPTb4m6EAOY4-9lAQoVsDdeMdDOsL1zbWfPlBiRGkxkg/s1600/3653334524001_5381043941001_5379748916001-vs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIQtRJrsW0svTzoq8z8SSfTcqssbKifVykHUHeLsp8XFmA0tSPClrGzudgljZIgevRPAhbQg2rDRZcyq_5pcv6XJ6KWi-P0OxPTb4m6EAOY4-9lAQoVsDdeMdDOsL1zbWfPlBiRGkxkg/s320/3653334524001_5381043941001_5379748916001-vs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Jedi are referred to as an “order” rather than a religion. Judaism does not have any orders, but there are many within the Catholic tradition (e.g., Jesuits, Dominicans), as well in as other forms of Christianity including the Methodists, and also within Buddhism, a major influence as well on Lucas and his creation. The Jedi Order is monastic. Worldly attachments—notably marriage—are forbidden; that’s a rule also associated with Christianity and Buddhism.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A fully trained Jedi is referred to as a knight, and Jedi knights are all but invincible warriors, in some ways modeled after Japanese samurai, but also after holy paladins, not unlike the Arthurian knights of the roundtable in search of the Holy Grail of Christian legend. Jedi also are much like priests, Christian or Shaolin, with a direct connection to the godlike Force, one that ordinary people lack. They are nothing like the great rabbis of Jewish tradition, learned sages who study and interpret our sacred texts.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVqgmyEvyzm9ZXSoVmVOMBxjD_krsZguzgx_ShPFOC7YjJh7gAtuEFdaMDa9LGkCro6ul70QGAhvfoSgXiaQJFCHx9CDxrS77sVRAZPAi4jeobn8V19tx9Ib2aWWELnqUi2F45u4OxtQ/s1600/Jedi-Order_c0dfa281.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVqgmyEvyzm9ZXSoVmVOMBxjD_krsZguzgx_ShPFOC7YjJh7gAtuEFdaMDa9LGkCro6ul70QGAhvfoSgXiaQJFCHx9CDxrS77sVRAZPAi4jeobn8V19tx9Ib2aWWELnqUi2F45u4OxtQ/s320/Jedi-Order_c0dfa281.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Christian sensibility of <i>Star Wars</i> is especially apparent in its valuation of redemption and forgiveness. At the end of the original trilogy, Luke is able to convince his father, Darth Vader, to turn on his master, the evil emperor. Luke insists that there still is good in Vader, and this final act allows Vader to die in a state of grace, and to appear in ghostly form alongside the good Jedi who have also left the earthly plane. But the fact remains that Vader was guilty of untold atrocities, including destroying an entire planet in the first <i>Star Wars</i> film.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncRzdv6bzxm0h3OwVwz-NcOOIfXWoiJ5XVtH15Yl0Sf94xehRzUFWz5WN8RcU2r5POxBhfJ_XAXHI_I9reNMSo7GLDOb2b0duhDNgP7V5hGVlT2TetoQT92g089dyr8a2kkaEHCe9OLQ/s1600/Force-Ghosts-Featured-01118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="970" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncRzdv6bzxm0h3OwVwz-NcOOIfXWoiJ5XVtH15Yl0Sf94xehRzUFWz5WN8RcU2r5POxBhfJ_XAXHI_I9reNMSo7GLDOb2b0duhDNgP7V5hGVlT2TetoQT92g089dyr8a2kkaEHCe9OLQ/s320/Force-Ghosts-Featured-01118.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In <i>The Force Awakens</i>, Kylo Ren is introduced as essentially worshipping Darth Vader as well as following the evil Supreme Leader of the First Order, and engages in acts of patricide and mass murder. In <i>The Last Jedi</i>, Rey tries to turn Ren away from the dark side, just as Luke did with Vader, saying that it’s not to late for him. The idea that you can be forgiven for all of your sins as long as you repent in the end has its origins in Christian theology, whereas in our tradition, as expounded by Maimonides, some sins are so heinous that no forgiveness or redemption is possible.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I don’t mean to imply that <i>Star Wars</i> is based only on Christian elements. Lucas weaved together a variety of influences, including Buddhism, Japanese samurai films, westerns, World War Two movies, old movie serials such as Flash Gordon, and Joseph Campbell’s notion of the hero’s journey (itself more consistent with Christianity than Judaism). What I want to emphasize is that <i>Star Wars</i> does not reflect Jewish sensibilities, and does not make for a good analogy with contemporary Jewish life.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We still can appreciate and enjoy the movies, which above all are entertaining. But we also ought to be aware of Lucas’s failings as a storyteller. His movies have been criticized for portraying democratic institutions as weak and ineffectual, supported only by the elitist Jedi. Only a few people exhibit the force sensitivity needed to become a Jedi, and that trait is inherited rather than acquired through hard work or ethical conduct.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rB7kxCJwVAc" width="560"></iframe> <br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHg3-w9NGm-AXPTVyPAT8Maa4iv0M5HCiG8Rmc8eYU9Z3q9T1lRJtSsRITtYqXJvVBhD6W8AdLrmr1iK_-0mB_6WBxnTQ2wrv0AY_NnMvfAeZHAIDhqRTMU9np9f2jrI5wnX9Ww7p-uXg/s1600/nute-gunray-neimoi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="400" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHg3-w9NGm-AXPTVyPAT8Maa4iv0M5HCiG8Rmc8eYU9Z3q9T1lRJtSsRITtYqXJvVBhD6W8AdLrmr1iK_-0mB_6WBxnTQ2wrv0AY_NnMvfAeZHAIDhqRTMU9np9f2jrI5wnX9Ww7p-uXg/s200/nute-gunray-neimoi.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8q6NNDwAH6bFyy4MtQ66C18oSIE2WV3AGNUpweVa4tSb9mWyCkx4L-bqJAgjicyn21JgaFpyIYb4AkA1LTZdagWpjxGjnkqfc5QI99M6QHLasHH47S1Y0erF1COFbMzVFyGMRZpLAXpI/s1600/Star-Wars-Jar-Jar-Binks-banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="650" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8q6NNDwAH6bFyy4MtQ66C18oSIE2WV3AGNUpweVa4tSb9mWyCkx4L-bqJAgjicyn21JgaFpyIYb4AkA1LTZdagWpjxGjnkqfc5QI99M6QHLasHH47S1Y0erF1COFbMzVFyGMRZpLAXpI/s200/Star-Wars-Jar-Jar-Binks-banner.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lucas drew on many stylistic elements from the World War II era, some in disturbing fashion. For example, the final scene of the first <i>Star Wars</i> movie is based on a scene from the Nazi propaganda film <i>Triumph of the Will</i>. Worse, in the prequel trilogy, Lucas drew on offensive ethnic stereotypes, trying to displace them onto alien beings. The character of Jar Jar Binks, whom Liebovitz and many other fans criticized for being too silly, was based on African-American Stepin Fetchit stereotypes, with a Jamaican/Rastafarian speech pattern. The leaders of the evil Trade Federation were based on East Asian “yellow peril” stereotypes. And the greedy slave owner Watto is hook-nosed and speaks with a Yiddish accent.</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXw1INrsQT7jYQoeYsrYWtI3J-QcghWo5dgN3exLthdRYl_ZUl1-9Hl5pJIPveYfmTsqX_pSvpAuAXHxoHpjNQhQ9cW2TljLcfRxc6Zk8pp3bWjkeNBKzUno2cwXKmvwn1p1EZskxb9GI/s1600/toydarians-watto02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="450" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXw1INrsQT7jYQoeYsrYWtI3J-QcghWo5dgN3exLthdRYl_ZUl1-9Hl5pJIPveYfmTsqX_pSvpAuAXHxoHpjNQhQ9cW2TljLcfRxc6Zk8pp3bWjkeNBKzUno2cwXKmvwn1p1EZskxb9GI/s400/toydarians-watto02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Liebovitz is wrong in thinking that the earlier <i>Star Wars</i> movies emphasized tradition. No, they were exercises in nostalgia, romanticized images of the past. And they are profoundly ahistorical, set “a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.” The fairytale-like formula stands in stark contrast to the Jewish invention of historical narrative. The events that occur in the <i>Star Wars</i> universe have no connection to our world. How long ago did they happen? What is the connection between their time and ours? Are we the descendants of the human characters in these stories? Are they even human? For this reason, as well as the fact that there is no rationale given for the “futuristic” science and technology, purists argue that these stories are fantasy rather than science fiction.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnkbznP0jkF36FmgptMOPwb80CJT-OFR6AxZ3qCkNts773VQGW1dMU7LznDXi_wDLFB13APlM5IVsZ98xdXreL5ew6aatRqh5jOg6c4MUyXVD5CZANakWlipgeNIA6uZgw9kyh_I5owo/s1600/MPW-19404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnkbznP0jkF36FmgptMOPwb80CJT-OFR6AxZ3qCkNts773VQGW1dMU7LznDXi_wDLFB13APlM5IVsZ98xdXreL5ew6aatRqh5jOg6c4MUyXVD5CZANakWlipgeNIA6uZgw9kyh_I5owo/s640/MPW-19404.jpg" width="440" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As Jews, we believe in progress toward a better future as well as continuity with the past. The <i>Star Wars</i> universe is as disconnected from our tradition as it is from human history. We can enjoy the films as entertainment, certainly, and I would suggest that also we ought to applaud the more progressive approach associated with Abrams, Johnson, and Disney. As for a Jewish take on the franchise, I can think of none better than the 1987 Mel Brooks movie <i>Spaceballs</i>, which teaches us to live and let live and not take ourselves so seriously.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBtZVFUhPmfJoscs6WTUIy3IRyl9MW-J09hPhLIznHAfuQJkR_e94U5ej1FSdOyij8WMa8u5myVjDUcj4ZqamHjK8K5hk890di05lyBN4aN2vsPoBNn6Df1D0Q4YdAV3UTBOGcUmL9RDo/s1600/Schwartz.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="1013" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBtZVFUhPmfJoscs6WTUIy3IRyl9MW-J09hPhLIznHAfuQJkR_e94U5ej1FSdOyij8WMa8u5myVjDUcj4ZqamHjK8K5hk890di05lyBN4aN2vsPoBNn6Df1D0Q4YdAV3UTBOGcUmL9RDo/s640/Schwartz.tiff" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And so I say to Liebovitz and others like him, “May the Schwartz be with you!”</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
Lance Stratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13033954765699126246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9101859138648955033.post-4418462793980459092018-04-05T19:10:00.001-04:002018-04-05T19:10:19.246-04:00If Not A Then E (Studio Version)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So previously here on Blog Time Passing I posted my 2013 Keynote Address to the Media Ecology Association, a version of a talk I had first given at an Institute of General Semantics symposium. If you somehow missed it, here's the link: <a href="http://lancestrate.blogspot.com/2013/07/my-mea-keynote-if-not-then-e.html" target="_blank">My MEA Keynote (If Not A Then E)</a>.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That address, "If Not A, Then E," includes a creative use of PowerPoint, at least I think so, and in fact that was a key element of the talk. The recording of the keynote captures much of the visual presentation in the background, but not all of it. And the PowerPoint is the main point, visually speaking, you don't really need to look at me at all, you just need to hear me talk.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As a live event, that recording also includes my friend Thom Gencarelli introducing me, and the question and answer session that followed.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My friend Ed Tywoniak liked the address so much that he said he wanted to produce a video version. It took a few years to get around to it, but a little over a year ago, March of 2017, he had me over to his school, Saint Mary's College of California, as a Disney Forum Fellow (that's the Roy E. and Patricia Disney Forum), and one of the goals was to convert the PowerPoint to video, with me doing the voiceover.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">There were some challenges in making the conversion. You would think it would be easy enough, but there tends to be a loss of visual definition or quality in making the transfer from PowerPoint to video. To avoid that, this version does not include some of the transitions which were part of the overall aesthetic of the presentation. Still and all, Ed's students, Ryan Moran and Sean Wagner, did an outstanding job in putting together the video, setting up the sound recording, and putting it all together. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The end result comes in at 28 minutes, as there is no one introducing me as a speaker, and no Q&A session. And here it is:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0fCSKK2dt-c" width="560"></iframe></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'll share some other videos that came out of my visit another time. For now, this is me, signing off, from here on E-world.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
Lance Stratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13033954765699126246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9101859138648955033.post-31693585430432823122018-04-02T21:52:00.001-04:002018-04-02T21:52:30.973-04:00The Mind of a Mentalist<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, back again to report on another <a href="https://nysgs.org/" target="_blank">New York Society for General Semantics</a> program here on Blog Time Passing. This one took place last October 8th, and featured my old friend and fellow Media Ecology Program Moshe Botwanick, aka Marc Salem (his stage name). The title of the program was <a href="https://nysgs.org/News/5458353" target="_blank">Words, Mind, and Magic: A Talk by Mentalist Marc Salem</a>, and here's the write-up:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We all have wished for, at one time or another, the power to read minds and decipher the thoughts of others. And while true ESP may be out of reach, it is possible to interpret clues to what others are thinking, a power that leads to greater success at work, in relationships, and in every aspect of life. The key is to pay attention to aspects of our world that we typically overlook, find the hidden meaning in conversations, negotiations, and personal encounters, and understand the meaning of nonverbal communication.</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Marc Salem, aka Professor Moshe Botwinick, holds advanced degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, and New York University, where he earned his PhD studying with Neil Postman, Christine Nystrom, and Terence Moran, and has served as book review editor of <i>ETC: A Review of General Semantics</i>. He has been on the faculty of several major universities, was a director of research at Sesame Street Workshop where he studied the development and nature of mental processes, and is a world-renowned entertainer.</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
His show, <i>Mind Games</i>, has completed two successful runs on Broadway, as well as the Sydney Opera House, Singapore's Esplanade, London's West End, and the Edinburgh Festival. Salem has been profiled on 60 Minutes, and been featured on Court TV, CNN, <i>The O'Reilly Factor</i>, <i>Montel</i>, and <i>Maury</i>. The New York Police Department, and businesses across the country have turned to Marc Salem for advice.
He is the author of <i>Marc Salem's Mind Games: A Practical Step-By-Step Guide to Developing Your Mental Powers</i>, and <i>The Six Keys to Unlock and Empower Your Mind, Spot Liars and Cheats, Negotiate Any Deal to Your Advantage, Win at the Office, Influence Friends, and Much More</i>, soon to be published in a second edition.</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> And here's the video recording of his talk, minus a few mysterious, unexplained gaps:</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fhgXZraPzOU" width="560"></iframe></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">All in all, it was an evening that was nothing less than mind-blowing!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
Lance Stratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13033954765699126246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9101859138648955033.post-80998697612651595412018-03-28T17:57:00.001-04:002018-03-28T17:58:57.715-04:00Success and GS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> So, I know it's been awhile, another bit of a hiatus, life happening while I was making other plans, that sort of thing, but I will try to get back on track, at least a bit. And let me start with a post about a podcast interview that took place back in August, and was published on September 12th, 2017. Here's a rather cool and groovy preview video for the podcast:</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fVcBh-_80sc" width="560"></iframe><br /></span></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The interviewer was Jeff Bogaczyk, who was finishing up his PhD in communication at Duquesne University, and does a podcast series called <a href="http://www.mindforlife.org/" target="_blank">Mind for Life</a>. As he explains it:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Who Am I?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My name is Jeff Bogaczyk and I write about and produce a podcast on personal development. I am very interested in the intersection between our thoughts and actions and explore this in my writing and podcast. I hope you enjoy!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What is Mind For Life?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mind for Life is a podcast/blog designed with your best life in mind based on the idea that how you think greatly affects the way you live. This seems obvious at first glance but a deeper probe into the question reveals how important this fact is, and also how often it is forgotten in our daily activity. The majority of our life experience is done on “autopilot.” What this means is that our actual lived experience is comprised of thousands of things each day that affect what we choose to do, how we respond to people, the choices we make, and the actions we take. There are so many factors involved that we cannot consciously be aware of all of them and so our brains “choose” for us based upon past experiences and decisions. Our brains act for us and make “autopilot” decisions beneath our conscious awareness.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Of course some of these decisions are minor and don’t have major affects on our lives–we are tired of sitting so we stand, we stretch our arms, we fidget in our chair because we are uncomfortable. Usually, we aren’t aware that we are doing these things because it happens subconsciously. However, there are other decisions our brains make for us that have greater consequences in our lives. How we respond in a conflict situation with someone we love, for example. See, our brains have been “programmed” to respond in these instances based upon the past experiences in our lives. In other words, our environment has taught us how to respond simply by experiencing things and events. To use the conflict example–we usually respond to conflict the way we have been “taught”–not intentionally, necessarily–but by the examples of the people that we have been around and grown up with. Our parents, our household environment, our friendships, and other relationships all influence how we learn about managing conflict. So, if we have grown up and lived in an environment that has been characterized by shouting, slamming doors, demeaning others, etc. in conflict situations, we learn that unconsciously and that becomes the “default” for how our brains operate in similar situations.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We Can Change</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The good news is that we can change our default thinking patterns by establishing intentional, productive thinking processes in our life. Recent research into our cognitive development has shown that our brains have a quality called neuroplasticity. This basically means that our brains, our thinking patterns, our thought processes are still mold-able and can be adjusted and improved. This is good news because we all understand, if we are honest with ourselves, that we have areas in our lives where we can improve. Self-awareness is the ability to see those areas of weakness in our own lives. The challenge is finding ways to correct them. This is where communication can make a difference.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mindful Communication</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Really, if you think about it, thinking is simply a process of communicating with ourselves in a particular direction. When we think, we enter an internal dialogue with ourselves where we ask questions, provide answers, state premises’ and hopefully solve problems and come up with solutions and answers. This podcast/blog is basically about helping to turn our attention to this entire process as it is taking place in our lives and helping to establish proactive thinking patterns that will, in time, provide better outcomes and a better life. If our default thinking patterns in particular aspects of our life are dysfunctional due to bad experiences in our past, then the default thought process will result in a habitual action that results in a destructive outcome. Think of it like this. Though the “computer” model of brain function has many problems, in this area we might be able to say if the programming is bad, the output will be bad. Garbage in, garbage out as they say.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The solution? Though we can’t always fix what goes in, we can take steps to address these inputs in constructive and productive ways. Changing our thinking involves self-awareness–a realization in all facets of what has happened to us and where our areas of difficulty lie. Secondly it involves education–learning about what is really happening, how these processes are taking place and how we can respond positively and productively. This is what Mind For Life is all about. Join with us on the journey!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jeff has been doing very impressive work, and we originally connected via his interest in media ecology and participation in communication conferences. Given the nature of his series, it was only natural that the discussion emphasized general semantics, and it seemed only fitting to get into Wendell Johnson's general semantics concept of the IFD disease. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jeff incorporates the connection in his blog post related to the podcast: <a href="http://www.mindforlife.org/3-powerful-leadership-lessons-from-general-semantics-and-media-ecology/" target="_blank">3 Powerful Leadership Lessons From General Semantics And Media Ecology</a>. You can read what he wrote over on his blog, I'll just note here that the three lessons he mentions are: 1. Develop operational definitions; 2. Watch out for idealization; and 3. Avoid abstract jargon and leadership clichés. His explanation of these three ideas and the overall discussion leading up to it are worth reading, so I recommend checking it out.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As for the podcast itself, </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">can listen to it </span></span>via this link: <a href="http://www.mindforlife.org/022-2/" target="_blank">MFL 22–Dr. Lance Strate: Success and IFD Disease</a>. I do think it turned out rather well, don't you agree? And here's the custom pic he included:</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3PNmxTiqhuOrei67qneOp31jfN6DgRjOP71n-_ocJ5eqqiFzqaVYdLASjcR4j6ZozeOeO1Lw1kKDRn5zN1F3lxY62TLqtm85PYDBdSIj94QY_0NfChd1Eunu3oO4R25Pwofpo8OSbf4/s1600/Lance-Strate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3PNmxTiqhuOrei67qneOp31jfN6DgRjOP71n-_ocJ5eqqiFzqaVYdLASjcR4j6ZozeOeO1Lw1kKDRn5zN1F3lxY62TLqtm85PYDBdSIj94QY_0NfChd1Eunu3oO4R25Pwofpo8OSbf4/s1600/Lance-Strate.jpg" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You can download the podcast via that link, and there's a bio and list of my books on the same page, and some links, which I don't need to include here. But I think the following items Jeff also includes are worth a little cut and paste. The first is a list of Podcast Time Stamps:<br />
</span></span><br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Podcast Time Stamps</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[5:51] – Dr. Strate tells what Media Ecology is all about and explains General Semantics.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[7:48] – Lance describes how General Semantics can help us in thinking about words and how we use them in our lives.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[10:03] – Dr. Strate describes how General Sematics can help us when thinking about success.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[11:00] – Lance talks about IFD disease: Idealization, frustration and demoralization. A process that occurs when we use our words as high level abstractions instead of more specifically.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[17:13] – How operational definitions can help to prevent IDF disease. Operational definitions prevent us from idealizing any given term or goal in our lives.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[18:42] – How General Semantics is an attempt to take scientific method and generalize it to human relations.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[21:26] – Lance talks about his own personal “operational definition” of success. Specifically about looking at accomplishments and completing tasks as realistic expectations instead of idealized abstractions.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[24:00] – How pride and status are related to success and accomplishment. For Lance, it’s more about “going with the flow” and following the path that rose up before him.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[25:30] – There is also a component about being realistic about what you are able to achieve.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[26:22] – How Lance finds the motivation to write as extensively as he does – it’s about committing to things and leveraging his sense of obligation to deliver on what he promises someone.</span></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And the second is Jeff's list of Top Learning Moments:<br />
</span></span><br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Top learning moments</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Much of success is related to your definition of success. From a General Semantics perspective this has to do with creating an “operational definition” that allows you to pursue something that isn’t a generalization or abstraction.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">IFD disease – the idea of having “idealistic” expectations that will never come to pass turns into frustration and demoralization. If you find yourself frustrated or demoralized, ask yourself if you aren’t pursuing some idealistic end and then think about how you can make that more realistic and practical.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Committing to doing something leverages the psychological power of obligation. When we commit to something, we have a stronger tendency to accomplish it because other people expect it of us. So, to accomplish more, it may be helpful to say “yes” rather than “no” when someone asks us to do something outside of our comfort zone.</span></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /> </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">All in all, I'd say the outcome of this interview interaction was, indeed, a success!<br />
<br /><br />
</span></span></div>
Lance Stratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13033954765699126246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9101859138648955033.post-33364254464711341352017-11-02T18:01:00.000-04:002017-11-02T18:01:51.763-04:00Scenes From My Book Launch<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, let's get back to talking about my new book, shall we?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">😃</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> 😃</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> 😃</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> 😃 </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>😃 😉 </span> <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=lanstrsblotim-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1433131218&asins=1433131218&linkId=b9c2b327e34d1936efa43c334a7c37e9&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"> </iframe></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> 😉 </span></span></span>😃</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> 😃</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> 😃</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> 😃 </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>😃</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, back on September 8th we had a book launch event at <a href="http://www.theplayersnyc.org/" target="_blank">The Players</a> in Manhattan, hosted by the <a href="https://nysgs.org/" target="_blank">New York Society for General Semantics</a>. The event was held under the heading of <a href="https://nysgs.org/News/5291725" target="_blank">Media Ecology and the Human Condition: A Reading and Conversation with Lance Strate</a>, and was quite well attended for a NYSGS program. The write-up for the event included the following:</span></span><br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our first event of Fall 2017, held on September 8th, featured a book launch for <i>Media Ecology: An Approach to Understanding the Human Condition</i> (New York: Peter Lang, 2017) by Lance Strate, published on July 4th. Dr. Strate is Professor of Communication and Media Studies at Fordham University, a Trustee of the Institute of General Semantics, and the President of the New York Society for General Semantics. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thom Gencarelli, Professor of Communication at Manhattan College and a Trustee of the Institute of General Semantics hosted the event, which included a conversation, discussion, reading, book signing, and reception....</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was a gathering and celebration that was most certainly stimulating and thought-provoking!</span></span><br />
<br /></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And here are some photos taken by representatives from the publisher, Peter Lang, who were present:</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHoNTExY49HPMUt-ufAGyXqpn3cVj7HAu4S16C0_X0MXzh_f9ILdmaOF7NWScaSgIbHDkkrBVA3_HCIxV3GmtUuIwK_5ivWbALgRSGpG7CtfCDfZRbxZDFOY5yNGY7-25CgUJ5mtDwsQ/s1600/BookLaunch1.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="634" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHoNTExY49HPMUt-ufAGyXqpn3cVj7HAu4S16C0_X0MXzh_f9ILdmaOF7NWScaSgIbHDkkrBVA3_HCIxV3GmtUuIwK_5ivWbALgRSGpG7CtfCDfZRbxZDFOY5yNGY7-25CgUJ5mtDwsQ/s320/BookLaunch1.tiff" width="249" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17RjoHh_xWzi8FOTgZy2cJVJi26bd9JgXcupVh7mpttYak-W9inH-1_G46aYZELIe1s_xMi5l-G7yXy_YS6rbF8AcJL6sKBEnVNv9Bdz4MQ7esBW1gBFNU1Mj6T192WkLAEkz1QVs9ng/s1600/Book+Launch+2.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="632" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17RjoHh_xWzi8FOTgZy2cJVJi26bd9JgXcupVh7mpttYak-W9inH-1_G46aYZELIe1s_xMi5l-G7yXy_YS6rbF8AcJL6sKBEnVNv9Bdz4MQ7esBW1gBFNU1Mj6T192WkLAEkz1QVs9ng/s320/Book+Launch+2.tiff" width="251" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FQ6a5Nm6Hu41bobh_D4nROT8dKc9p1yr5W6HDNnNjsKlLPxXs9oNI-Z8-qeB98lV4AEGXKr5Thlno57uN66aAEwjioqquMkhx9dfi2GTyeQB-PQ495ct5cXNNvwuC6UF-81F4XVNPwE/s1600/Book+Launch+3.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="635" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FQ6a5Nm6Hu41bobh_D4nROT8dKc9p1yr5W6HDNnNjsKlLPxXs9oNI-Z8-qeB98lV4AEGXKr5Thlno57uN66aAEwjioqquMkhx9dfi2GTyeQB-PQ495ct5cXNNvwuC6UF-81F4XVNPwE/s320/Book+Launch+3.tiff" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> But we can do better than that! As you many know, we try to record every NYSGS program, and that includes this one. So you can get a sense of the conversation that took place, some of my readings, and the question and answer session that followed:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-R5OZzZTfec" width="560"></iframe><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As this was an NYSGS event, there was more of an emphasis on general semantics than you might find on other occasions. And I will be doing a book signing at the upcoming National Communication Association's annual meeting, in Dallas, Texas, on Friday, November 17th, from 2:45 to 3:15 PM. Look for me at the Peter Lang table in the exhibition hall!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Following the signing, there will be a program session on my book with commentary and reviews by Thom Gencarelli, Ronald Arnett of Duquesne University, Janie Harden Fritz also from </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Duquesne, and Robert Craig of the University of Colorado, Boulder. Ed Tywoniak of Saint Mary's College of California will be chairing the session, and I'll be responding to the panelists, responding to the responses, as it were. If you will be at the conference, this program is listed as taking place on the 3rd floor of the Marriott, in the Champagne Room (I suppose that's fitting in some way).</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQ85Bl2j8q3IVarEUoDZBFR3mnQEaWi4sH5hwyjMN0ThkwXg16b426xhaIMV8xXnWdDJkCcG1CoBHkBJnKStNnztNdPS0qtodbjXYbiWfnn5VroG4z09aSSkvpuHHuQi9Y-NlLCiVrbU/s1600/Book+Launch+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQ85Bl2j8q3IVarEUoDZBFR3mnQEaWi4sH5hwyjMN0ThkwXg16b426xhaIMV8xXnWdDJkCcG1CoBHkBJnKStNnztNdPS0qtodbjXYbiWfnn5VroG4z09aSSkvpuHHuQi9Y-NlLCiVrbU/s320/Book+Launch+3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And there's one last look at the pile of books from the book launch, before they were all sold out! Many thanks to everyone who came out that evening, especially those who bought copies, and to the New York Society for General Semantics, for a memorable evening and event!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
Lance Stratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13033954765699126246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9101859138648955033.post-91857205112550614742017-10-25T17:07:00.001-04:002017-10-25T17:10:09.528-04:00A Call to Disarms<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When it came time to write my latest op-ed for the <a href="http://jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com/" target="_blank">Jewish Standard</a>, I was preparing to write on another topic when the Las Vegas shooting occurred on the night of October 1st. After reading many other news articles and opinion pieces on the subject, I decided to add my voice to the chorus, albeit without much specific reference to this particular incident, because I want the arguments to be independent of any one event, to apply to all of the mass shootings that have occurred in the past, and will continue to occur in the future, until something is finally done about the gun culture in the United States.<br />
<br />I also wanted to get to the root of the problem, the reason why efforts at curbing gun violence are blocked time and time again, and that's the Second Amendment. I am far from the first to call for that Amendment to be abolished, but I do think it's time to stop acting as if the idea of a "right to bear arms" is somehow okay, normal, immune from any questioning or criticism.<br />
<br />
If we were drawing up the Bill of Rights today, instead of the late 18th century, we would certainly include First Amendment protections, maybe even strengthen them, as well as the right to a trial by jury, and <i>habeas corpus</i>, and we might even add a right to privacy, which is absent from the original ten amendments. We would probably include amendments prohibiting discrimination based race, gender, religion, creed, etc., and protections regarding voting rights. But would we include anything like the Second Amendment? Would we list packing a gun as a basic human right?<br />
<br />Sure, there would be a vocal minority who would say yes, but I think most American citizens would agree that guns are no more deserving of special protection than automobiles. And that's the point. The abolition of the Second Amendment would clear the way to setting up licensing and restrictions on firearms in the same way that we do so for cars, and trucks, and ships, and airplanes.<br />
<br />And yes, of course, this cannot happen quickly. But nothing is happening anyway. Nothing. At all. So it's time to start playing a long game, and working for a constitutional amendment, one of the longest games in American politics. But it's worth it. It may seem insurmountable today, but if folks keep working at it steadily over time, it can be done. And then, even though we have to live with the omnipresent threat of gun violence, maybe our children, or maybe their children, won't have to.<br />
<br />So, anyway, here is my op-ed, originally published on Oct. 13th, entitled, <a href="http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/a-call-to-disarm/" target="_blank">A Call to Disarm</a>:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Let me begin with a thought that might sound like heresy to some citizens of the United States: The Second Amendment to our Constitution is not scripture.
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Indeed, neither the Bill of Rights nor the US Constitution itself were handed down to us by God. Nor are they said to have been dictated from on high, or be the product of divine inspiration. Rather, they are the product of human beings, subject to human flaws and human error. And they are a product of a particular time and set of circumstances, some of which are no longer in effect, such as slavery, and some of which have changed radically, such as the likelihood of a solider being quartered in a private home, an infringement that is the subject of the Third Amendment.
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The founders of our republic clearly were aware of their own limitations by including Article Five of our Constitution, which allows for the possibility of amending our governmental framework, and lists the procedures to be followed in order to propose and ratify a constitutional amendment.
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Famously, new amendments have abolished slavery, granted voting rights to women, and lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. Infamously, the 18th Amendment prohibited the manufacture, importing, transportation, and sale of alcohol in the United States. Thirteen years after it was established, this amendment was repealed by the 21st Amendment, ending the period characterized by crime and violence known as Prohibition.
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We the people can amend the US Constitution, and we can amend our amendments. In theory, we can amend our amendments to our amendments, and so on <i>ad infinitum</i>, but the important point is that amendments can be repealed. And I want to join the chorus of sane and concerned voices calling for the repeal of the Second Amendment.
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Bret Stephens, in a recent <i>New York Times</i> op-ed arguing for repeal, concluded with the following: “The true foundation of American exceptionalism should be our capacity for moral and constitutional renewal, not our instinct for self-destruction” (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/05/opinion/guns-second-amendment-nra.html" target="_blank">"Repeal the Second Amendment"</a>).
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Everybody knows that the Second Amendment is written in a torturous manner that makes it impossible to determine its precise meaning: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Historians tell us that the first clause is the main point, to guarantee the right of individual states to maintain their own armed forces, as a matter of collective defense. In part, the motivation had much to do with skepticism about maintaining a standing army on the federal level. The idea that the Second Amendment refers to individual rights is a later interpretation, with its roots in the aftermath of the Civil War, and largely a 20th century innovation.
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Second Amendment is not scripture, and therefore should not have to undergo talmudic exegesis, just so that it can serve as a pretext for preventing any and all regulation of firearms. The initials NRA do not stand for the National Rabbinic Association, so that organization does not have the moral or intellectual authority to dictate its interpretation of the amendment to the American citizenry.
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And what about scripture itself? Of course, there were no firearms in the ancient world, but there are references to other weapons. Look at the famous words of the prophet Isaiah: “and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks,” in reference to warfare; in another Jewish context, the Christian Bible’s Gospel of Matthew has Jesus admonish one of his followers by saying: “all who take up the sword, will die by the sword.”
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Of course, we would expect to find messages of nonviolence dominating the sacred texts of our nation’s Judeo-Christian heritage. And we might well wonder how it is that so many people of faith in our country can resist any efforts to reduce gun violence so zealously. In another <i>New York Times</i> op-ed, David Brooks argues that “guns are a proxy for larger issues,” for “a much larger conflict over values and identity” (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/06/opinion/guns-soul-of-america.html" target="_blank">"Guns and the Soul of America"</a>).
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In other words, it’s the culture war, stupid.
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And let us make no mistake about it. Resistance to gun safety legislation is linked to the populist movement that gave us the Trump presidency, it is linked to the alt-right, to white supremacy and neo-Nazi movements, to anti-immigration sentiment, to Islamophobia, racism, and anti-Semitism. It should be pretty clear which side we ought to be on.
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If there is a passage in scripture that might be the ancient equivalent of the Second Amendment, it might be found in the Holiness Code in the Book of Leviticus, in the commandment “You shall not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor.” This suggests a right to self-defense that might translate to a right to bear arms. But it also implies a collective right to be safe and secure, the right implied by the prophet Micah, and alluded to by George Washington in his letter to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island, that “they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid.”
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Psalm 115 incorporates a polemic against idol worship, characterized as “the work of men’s hands,” concluding that “they that make them shall be like unto them, yea, everyone who trusts in them.” If people treat the Second Amendment as scripture, are they not in effect worshiping firearms as their idols? And consequently, doesn’t that transform them into instruments of violence, molded into the image of their molten gods, tools of their own invention?
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This summer I published a book called <i>Media Ecology: An Approach to Understanding the Human Condition</i>. One of my central arguments in that book is that our tools and technologies are never neutral, that they have inherent characteristics and tendencies that influence how they are used. Just as objects tend to roll down rather than up a hill, and stones are hard not soft, so guns are inherently designed as instruments of violence. This is a tendency, not an absolute. In some instances, the presence of guns may deter violence, it is true, but on the whole, the more guns in a situation, the greater the potential for violence, and the greater the frequency and harm of violent events.
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">⏣</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> ⏣</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> ⏣</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> ⏣</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> ⏣</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> ⏣</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> ⏣</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=lanstrsblotim-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1433131218&asins=1433131218&linkId=bd52699f80b77f22963e6d3bb1937747&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>
</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">⏣</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> ⏣</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> ⏣</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> ⏣</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> ⏣</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> ⏣</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> ⏣</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You may notice that I have made no reference to the specifics of the most recent mass shooting, and that is because the details do not matter. As of this writing, journalists covering the story are obsessed with the question of why it happened. In this instance, that question is proving to be harder to answer than usual. But in my view, the why is irrelevant. The why will always be different, individual, personal. Taking a media ecology approach, what matters is not why, but how. And the how remains consistent across the 131 mass shootings that have occurred over the past 50 years.
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It’s the guns, stupid. It’s the firearms.
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The answer to why often is some form of insanity, as if there were ever a sane reason to commit mass murder. But allowing for that, the same side of the culture war that defends the Second Amendment also opposes funding for research into the causes of gun violence, and funding for mental health in general, and funding for universal health care, which would aid the victims of gun violence. There is no moral equivalence between the two sides.
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And while one side argues for the Second Amendment in absolute or near absolute terms, the other asks, you might say begs, for modest modifications that might not make more than a modicum of difference. Is there any wonder that the outcome is more of the same, over and over again?
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is time for a new abolition movement, one dedicated to the repeal of the Second Amendment, because that in turn would open the door to substantial Federal gun safety legislation. This is not a call for a prohibition on firearms, but rather to open the door for reasonable safety measures, so that we all can sit under our vines and fig trees, in our concert halls and movie theaters and night clubs and malls, and in baseball fields and schools and houses of worship, and in our streets and homes, and none shall make us afraid ever again.
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span>
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span>Lance Stratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13033954765699126246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9101859138648955033.post-42893417603303093362017-10-23T16:48:00.001-04:002017-10-23T16:48:40.672-04:00Between the Map and the Territory<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, as you know, I've been putting together programs for the <a href="https://nysgs.org/" target="_blank">New York Society for General Semantics</a> over the past year, and this is one from last spring that I am particularly proud of. It also was the first one where, apart from introducing the program, I was not a participant, and got to sit back and enjoy the panel discussion.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You see, my friend Matt Baker is a professional tour guide, and a past president of the Guides Association of New York City. And given that the Korzybski quote, "the map is not the territory," is fundamental for general semantics, it seemed to me to be a match made in heaven, to have Matt invite a group of his colleagues to talk about their profession.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, now, here is the write-up from the blog entry I created for the event over on the <a href="https://nysgs.org/" target="_blank">NYSGS site</a>, <a href="https://nysgs.org/admin/website/system-pages/?pageId=1075143">Available for Viewing: Between Map and Territory: The Art of the Tour Guide</a>:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;">On April 26th, we hosted a fascinating program featuring a conversation with New York City tour guides. The panel discussion featured the following participants:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Matthew Baker</b>, owner of Beautiful New York Tours, past president of the Guides Association of New York City, and newsletter editor for the National Federation of Tourist Guide Associations.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ibrahima Diallo</b>, owner of All New York Fun, chairman of the GANYC Multilingual Guides Committee, and leader of the organization's delegation to Iran in a bid to host the 2019 convention for the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Robin Garr</b>, owner of R. Garr Tours, specializing in Equestrian New York, and tours that focus on sports history, racing history, and natural history, in addition to other more mainstream topics, and a member of the GANYC Awards Committee and Public Relations Committee.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Lee Gelber</b>, dubbed "the Dean of Guides" by the <i>New York Times</i>, a past-president of GANYC, and owner of Here Is New York Tours, and, after 23 years of guiding, recipient of the inaugural Guiding Spirit Award at the annual Apple Awards gala.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Kristin Singleton-Ferrari</b>, the owner of Kristin's Tours and A Brooklyn Experience, giving tours in English and Italian, and a member of the GANYC Awards Committee and Public Relations Committee.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Matt Baker served as the moderator of the panel, following a brief introduction by NYSGS president Lance Strate. And here is the program description:</span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Between Map and Territory<br />
<br />
The Art of the Tour Guide</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Alfred Korzybski, founder of the discipline of general semantics, famously insisted that <i>the map is not the territory</i>. This saying serves to remind us that words are not the things they represent, symbols are not the reality they stand for, and our perceptions of objects in our environment are not the same as the events that actually occur in the world.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The map is not the territory, but any given map may be a more or less accurate representation of any given territory, and may be more or less useful and effective in helping us to understand, experience, and navigate through that territory. Maps are visual representations, mediating the territory by way of hand drawn illustration, printed document, or electronic display.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Maps are guides that take us through a territory, and it seems only fitting to feature the human maps known as tour guides in a program that allows them to discuss their art, craft and trade. More than a living map, a tour guide is a performer, a storyteller and raconteur, a fusion of navigator and narrator.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was an all-star panel of tour guides talking about the ways in which they present and represent that unique terrain we call New York City.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And now for the recording of the program, which you can also find over on <a href="https://youtu.be/fuZUzESSEdQ" target="_blank">YouTube</a>: </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fuZUzESSEdQ" width="560"></iframe><br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was a great way to wrap up the first year of <a href="https://nysgs.org/" target="_blank">NYSGS</a> programming under my stewardship, if I do say so myself (and I do)! And our new season is already underway, but I'll get to that in another post, before too long, if I can find my way...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
Lance Stratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13033954765699126246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9101859138648955033.post-40800496349554405972017-10-17T14:28:00.001-04:002017-10-17T14:28:55.033-04:00A Noteworthy Nugget<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's a small item, but certainly blogworthy here on my official blog of record: This past summer, my new book, <i>Media Ecology: An Approach to Understanding the Human Condition</i>, was included in an online Fordham News piece entitled <a href="https://news.fordham.edu/university-news/new-and-noteworthy-from-fordham-faculty/">New and Noteworthy from Fordham Faculty</a>, featuring six new books.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The byline goes to Janet Sassi, and the item is dated August 9, 2017, with my book in the lead position. A picture of the book cover is included, and if you've read my previous posts, you know that I really love that cover, so let's include it here as well: </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9GXmpIkdA3222uTQA4knQaUOM3SuEVMd_GT_LtLoR86madvAttFm1iuhypg0AAgNQEop-p45jazBM7H22QalhSD1ZBPa48tJtxTr1lMqcEwBqeWQN0DYFaHmd02xoYwBL-uoK5Ax7IKA/s1600/MediaEcolimages-200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9GXmpIkdA3222uTQA4knQaUOM3SuEVMd_GT_LtLoR86madvAttFm1iuhypg0AAgNQEop-p45jazBM7H22QalhSD1ZBPa48tJtxTr1lMqcEwBqeWQN0DYFaHmd02xoYwBL-uoK5Ax7IKA/s320/MediaEcolimages-200x300.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And let's follow with the short piece, based in part on a brief phone interview with me: </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Media Ecology: An Approach to Understanding the Human Condition</i>, by Lance Strate, Ph.D. (Peter Lang, 2017)</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In his new book, Strate, professor of communication and media studies, examines how smartphones, apps, and social media shape us as human beings. He expands on an intellectual tradition, one spearheaded by Neil Postman and Marshall McLuhan (who taught at Fordham), that’s about much more than understanding any one particular medium.</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“It starts with the understanding that those things we pay attention to, like screens, are not just gadgets,” he said. “We think we can turn them on or off, but when you look at them as part of our environment, we can’t escape them.”</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Even people who don’t use social media will be inadvertently affected by it, said Strate, because its use is ubiquitous—much the same as persons who don’t fly and yet must contend with planes continuously flying overhead. “We are living in an environment that is full of these mediations that influence us.”</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“We all speak with a language we didn’t create. That influences how we express ourselves and in how we think,” he said.</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Oh, and by the way, before the six quick takes, this new and noteworthy item included a picture of four of us, which is also worth sharing here: </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQRFgyKUX_oWa7MgaHXaQQJ0vDHgR4pr8rPCrcciNRClTfvO4EFBA8s-9ue9reR8VnWmMnbLqpM2k6H5OIN5ZgEqPueIXcBbeQTEzEqxVbjDgxZ7VOuObRBgLIcFpZDA2a9BR3RyB6S4/s1600/1078TextbookFaculty-702x336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="702" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQRFgyKUX_oWa7MgaHXaQQJ0vDHgR4pr8rPCrcciNRClTfvO4EFBA8s-9ue9reR8VnWmMnbLqpM2k6H5OIN5ZgEqPueIXcBbeQTEzEqxVbjDgxZ7VOuObRBgLIcFpZDA2a9BR3RyB6S4/s1600/1078TextbookFaculty-702x336.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Maybe not my best angle, but we pull no punches here at Blog Time Passing! And don't worry, this won't be the last you hear about my book... </span></span><br />
<br /></div>
Lance Stratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13033954765699126246noreply@blogger.com0