Education
Education
Flutes in History
Flutes are the oldest instrument in the world. Hollowed bird bones, with holes cut for tone changes, have been found in archaeological sites as old as 40,000 years. Early man may have heard wind whistling across the tops of reeds and designed an instrument that produced the same sound. Early flutes were played vertically, with
Joseph Campbell on Schopenhauer, Will, and Life’s Composition
In his splendid essay called “On an Apparent Intention in the Fate of the Individual,” Schopenhauer points out that when you reach an advanced age and look back over your lifetime, it can seem to have had a consistent order and plan, as though composed by some novelist. Events that when they occurred had seemed
Ten Reasons to Enjoy Shakespeare’s Works
In Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human, Harold Bloom argues that Shakespeare did more than just shape the structure and content of the English language—he created human nature as we understand it today. As James Shapiro explains, “Shakespeare remains so popular and his most memorable characters feel so real because through them Shakespeare invented something that hadn’t
Some Advice for Professors Everywhere
Following is some advice for professors everywhere that should serve as a useful reminder. I offer it with respect and good intentions, knowing full well that we don’t always live up to these standards. Still, it never hurts to try. Check your ego at the door. Earning an advanced degree and securing part- or full-time
Japanese Women Are Rolling into Careers as Sushi Chefs
Times are changing for Japanese women, and the changes are profound. Traditionally, young Japanese boys and girls followed firmly established paths. For instance, as a young boy, Ono went out into his community to find a willing teacher to take him in and allow him to learn an art or trade as an apprentice. He
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Novels and Collected Works
The Science of Peeling a Hard Boiled Egg
All twenty-four sets of eyes watched me closely as I lit the match. I lit the paper on fire, placed it in the bottle, and put a hard boiled egg on the opening. As the paper burned and smoked, the egg, slowly at first then more quickly, squeezed itself into the bottle as if some
Ten Reasons to Avoid Confirmation Bias
Confirmation bias is a tendency to seek out and interpret evidence that confirms one’s existing opinions while overlooking or dismissing opposing beliefs. In other words, it’s a form of applied prejudice at the expense of objectivity. Following are ten reasons to avoid confirmation bias. In group settings, carefully examining alternative viewpoints while challenging our own
Ten Reasons Why Writers Should Publish Regularly
“Procrastination is the thief of time. Collar him!” Mr. Micawber, David Copperfield Charles Dickens often generated 90 pages of quality text a month, and he published novels like Great Expectations chapter by chapter in weekly periodicals. No doubt, Dickens was a rare breed, but he set a standard that every serious writer should consider. There’s no
Ten Reasons to Write a Poem
Poetry is far from becoming a cultural artifact regardless of the Information Age’s dry mechanical demands. The discipline serves too many vital functions to be avoided or overlooked for any extended period of time. In fact, everyone should write a poem, and soon. Following are ten reasons why. When you write a poem, you participate
Making It New (Again)
When the poet and critic Ezra Pound issued his famous literary proclamation to “make it new,” he uttered a phrase that became so identified with modernist literature that it’s difficult to imagine modernism happening without it. Of course, like many fitting pronouncements, over the years this one’s become a cliché, having been extensively quoted and