Monthly Archives: May 2010

For Memorial Day

Posted on May 31, 2010 by profmondo

One of my favorite poems, by my favorite poet. Archibald MacLeish was an ambulance driver and artilleryman in World War I, and his brother, a naval aviator, was killed in 1918. This poem appeared in MacLeish’s collection Streets in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Literature | 2 Comments

Five Minutes in the 15th Century

Posted on May 30, 2010 by profmondo

Today was the 175th anniversary of the founding of the congregation I attend, and it was also Youth Sunday. This meant that the service was conducted by the middle and high school kids (overseen by the adult “youth leaders”), complete … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Family, Literature, Medievalia | 2 Comments

Subjecting Progressivism to Scruton-y

Posted on May 29, 2010 by profmondo

In the course of my ongoing debates with Maj. Mad Dog, I recently asked him, “If you see your cause as progressive (even Progressive), what are you progressing toward? How will you know when you get there?” His usual response … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 3 Comments

The Men Who Would Be Ruled

Posted on May 28, 2010 by profmondo

A line I’ve heard tossed around a lot is that the blowout and oil flow into the Gulf of Mexico is “Obama’s Katrina.” I’m inclined to agree, but not in the direction in which those folks are going. Actually, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Medievalia, Politics | 4 Comments

Pink-Collar Professoriate

Posted on May 27, 2010 by profmondo

A blurb in the Chronicle of Higher Ed today mentions a Dept. of Education study’s report that if current trends continue, female college students will make up 60% of the undergrad population by 2019. Similar gender breakdowns will be expected … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | Leave a comment

Geek Love

Posted on May 27, 2010 by profmondo

As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, a professor is simply a dork who has turned pro. Part of getting the Ph.D. is the dissertation, which is supposed to be an original contribution to the knowledge in the field. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Education, Music | Leave a comment

Law, Order, and Northrop Frye

Posted on May 26, 2010 by profmondo

“The use of archetypal myth in the creation of fiction is the literary equivalent of peddling dope.” — David Eddings, introduction to The Rivan Codex. I know I’m a day or so late to the party, but a TV show … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture | 1 Comment

“We’ve Got to Get Into Something Real”

Posted on May 25, 2010 by profmondo

“The final truth is there is no truth.” — Boomtown Rats I often tell my students that we live in an age of irony, and to make my point, I ask them when they last made it through a day … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Education, Why I Do What I Do | 5 Comments

Myths and Models

Posted on May 25, 2010 by profmondo

Yesterday at Phi Beta Cons, Jane S. Shaw noted a WaPo piece by Richard D. Kahlenberg that discusses what he sees as “myths” about admission to college, and particularly to elite colleges. While some of the information he presents is … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | 1 Comment

Micro and Macro

Posted on May 24, 2010 by profmondo

In my syllabi, I have a section that includes the following: YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO AGREE WITH ANY OF THESE WRITERS OR SCHOLARS. YOU ARE, HOWEVER, REQUIRED TO REGARD THEM WITH RESPECTFUL ATTENTION. IF YOU DISAGREE WITH THEM AND … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Education, Politics, Why I Do What I Do | 2 Comments