Mingling the temporal and eternal is inherently dangerous. Our mortal existence is exactly that: rough magic, an often-tragic alchemy. Conjuring a new school of literary theory with the same elements is no exception. Vacuous spiritual-hubris is our Charybdis; double-minded literary conservatism is our Scilla. We may be tempted to arrogate an air of omniscience and [...]
Discovering corroboration for an independently pursued course of thought or action is always pleasurable but it is especially flattering when it comes from a respected authority. My ego got just such a boost yesterday as I watched a FAIR conference address delivered by Terryl Givens on YouTube. I had previously seen his opening remarks in [...]
God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to [...]
I’ve been listening and re-listening to an introductory course on Literary Theory delivered by Dr. Paul Fry at Yale University in 2009 that will likely be the impetus for many forthcoming posts on this site. Having arrogated the role of “Founder of Discursivity” by creating this site, the least I can do is begin an [...]
Years ago, I heard a quote from psychologist Heinz Kohut: “Love is the very painful realization that other people are real.” I had no idea what she meant by that until recently. In fact, I suspect that I cast it by the wayside with some silent, even subconscious accusation that it was overly-esoteric nonsense; all [...]
As you’ll recall, I sent an email to you a few weeks ago after finding your contact info at the bottom of the MLDB and Mormon Literature websites, both of which have been very useful to me for some time. Among other things, I wrote: My only critique of these sites deals with the layout [...]
I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge [...]
By Andrew McKnight …the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth. (D&C 1:30) And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. (Moroni 10:4) Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning by study and also by faith. (D&C [...]
Where to begin… Brian Doyle is one of my favorite essayists so far, and his recent reading at BYU completely delivered, if you ask me. I heard one professor felt Doyle’s reading was fluffy and under-informative, that he entertained without edifying. I disagree. Not only did I feel his presentation was entirely appropriate for such [...]
A Jungian interpretation might claim Charlotte Bronte was subconsciously attempting to restore balance between the masculine and feminine psychological elements of the culture she lived in—as symbolized by Rochester and Jane respectively—and that our enduring interest in the novel stems from a similar subconscious impulse, but Bronte’s deeply religious novel, with its countless scriptural allusions [...]
April 29, 2013
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December 1, 2012
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