In 2007, a film adaptation of Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass sparked a controversy that should never have happened. Critics condemned it for portraying religion—the Catholic Church especially—in a negative light. I’ve heard warnings ranging from its atheistic agenda to its being a story about two children who “kill God.”
Category: Satire and Essays
Musical Piracy: The Justified Sin
We’ve all heard the cheesy slogans and redundant warnings: “You wouldn’t steal a purse”; “Piracy is not a victimless crime”; “Illegal copying or distribution of this film is punishable by up to 5 years in prison or a $250,000 fine.”
Continue reading “Musical Piracy: The Justified Sin”Facebook: What’s Not to “Like”?
The expanding role of Facebook in the modern world is one of indeterminate limits and ever-growing prominence.
The Fantastic Nightmare
You know, a lot of people don’t seem to realize that the word “fantastic” isn’t always a compliment.
The Heartbreaking Truth
“I love you.”
What do these words mean? Well, depending on its context, the answer to this question varies. The word “love” could be attributed to the interior decoration of a person’s house, signifying deep admiration and approval. On the other hand, it might refer to the Greek Narcissus speaking to his own reflection, a high school student expressing appreciation for a close friend, a mother nurturing her children, Leonardo DiCaprio whispering to Kate Winslet aboard the Titanic, or King David from the Bible singing psalms about his supreme creator. Perhaps the word sometimes—even often—means nothing at all.
Continue reading “The Heartbreaking Truth”Approval: Earned or Won?
“Have you ever noticed that idiots tend to have a lot of friends?”
Marcus Zusak, author of I Am the Messenger, has been one of many to notice this trend. All human beings (not just teenagers) often find themselves focusing on one ambiguous goal: the approval of others. However, it never seems to occur to some that there is more than one method available to acquire that approval, and there is more than one type of approval that may be acquired.
Continue reading “Approval: Earned or Won?”Dr. Seuss: More Than a Children’s Author
I have examined a number of lists naming the works of literature most often recommended by scholars. These lists claim to officialize which novels, plays, and poems throughout history qualify as works of “literary merit.”
The Commonplace Notebook 