Oscar Wilde’s satirical wit and critique of late Victorian society are well-known, but what is often overlooked is his vision of a radically different, more just society—one that he not only believed was possible but also worth striving for. In his political essay The Soul of Man Under Socialism, Wilde laid out his political ideals,… Continue reading Oscar Wilde’s vision of a better world
Ulysses deriding Polyphemus’ is an 1829 work by Turner which depicts the tale from Book IX of Homer’s Odyssey of Ulysses (Odysseus’ name in latin) and his encounter with the cyclops Polyphemus which results in Ulysses blinding the one-eyed giant andsailing away, taunting the son of Poseidon, an action which comes back to bite him… Continue reading Turner’s Ulysses Deriding Polyphemus – a reading
Throughout Paradise Lost, the reader is made aware of Milton’s tendency to use depictions of nature as a form of commentary onthe human state, on the soul and morality of Man and also as a way to subtly shape their characters for the reader, using nature as a vehicle to explore mythical allusions and political… Continue reading Nature and nocuousness – An exploration of Milton’s presentation of prelapsarian Adam and Eve
The United States judicial system, with the Supreme Court at its apex, is a cornerstone of American democracy. Its decisions reverberate not only within the country’s borders but also across the globe, influencing legal standards and norms worldwide. This article delves into the structure of the federal judiciary, the pivotal role of the Supreme Court,… Continue reading The US Judicial System and the Supreme Court: Shaping Domestic Policy and Global Standards
In 1954 Algeria held a unique place in France’s national psyche being both part of France and something totally barbarous or alien. Considered French territory, yet filled with Arabs who in their eyes were not French. Those not of the Gallic ethnicity were the majority Arab population. According to the elite in Paris, they were… Continue reading Ghosts of Algiers
Born in Florence in 1386, Donatello was, and remains to be, celebrated as one of the most skilled sculptors of the Renaissance. Studying under the likes of Ghiberti and Brunelleschi, he developed a style influenced heavily by the Classical language of architecture but not restricted to this. He used materials ranging from wood to bronze… Continue reading What makes Donatello’s sculptures so compelling?
Since ChatGPT was released, many commentators are sounding the alarm about an artificial intelligence (AI) takeover, suggesting that professors will soon be out of a job, or that the student essay is dead. This is reactionary and misguided. ChatGPT, by its very nature, cannot do the kinds of things we ought to want student essays to do. ChatGPT… Continue reading Has ChatGPT killed the student essay? Philosophers say no
How does self-identification lead to the formation of relationships? Self-perception can be one of the most unreliable sources of one’s character; I will show how relationships are based on one’s idea of themselves, rather than who they actually are. I would like to illustrate how the ego prevents one to seek friendships of whom they… Continue reading The friendship contract of a murderer – examining friendships and self-perception in Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment
Who are the characters really against in Shakespeare’s Revenge Tragedy Titus Andronicus? Though we see the main conflict to be between Titus (a male leader) versus Tamora (a female leader), one may extend the bigger issue to be surrounded by gender conflicts. There is an issue of gender politics, though not in the form of… Continue reading The female chess piece – exploring femininity in Shakespeare’s most gruesome play
Katabasis: ‘A going down’ – etymology: καταβαίνειν, Greek, ‘to descend’, from ‘κατα᾽, down, and ‘βαινω’, I go. This essay deals with the question of how Classical literary elements and mythology can be utilised in a way which enhances the critical and provocative in poetry which seeks to cut ties with tradition, in what at surface… Continue reading Classical katabasis in Allen Ginsberg’s ‘Howl’
