Flowers, humanity, and the use of the useless
What is "useless" serves to remind us of our humanity.
21
01, 2018
20
12, 2017
The poet and civilization: why does a poet write, and why does it matter?
Poets write not merely for themselves but more importantly for the world and civilization in which they live.
29
10, 2017
History as quarry: how chemistry uncovered the routes of medieval artistry (Nicholas St. Fleur, NY Times)
Chemistry provides the sleuthing in finding the historical path of the medieval art trade
19
10, 2017
Art, beauty, and freedom
Finding personality in the spirit of freedom through beauty.
2
08, 2017
Art abides while science passes
Art survives us and revives us in the time of science.
2
08, 2017
Cathedrals and science, or art in the disposable universe
What does art tell us beyond science about the human condition?
12
07, 2017
Medieval chivalry and the law of nations
Chivalry has enduring lessons for international law.
12
06, 2017
The open paths before us, always providing opportunity
The way open to opportunity.
2
04, 2017
Caravaggio, Galileo, and the artful science of blood spurts (ResearchGate / Huffington Post)
How Galileo's theory of parabolic motion leads to a new attribution of a 17th-C. painting.
7
03, 2017
On silence
On silence. Why poets, and others, look for quietude – with lovers, friends, or by themselves – in lieu of words Doodle: Good morning, Noodle. You appear deep in thought. Noodle: Thanks for the interruption. I’m puzzled by a poem. As a professor of the humanities, I’ve read a lot of poetry, and should be [...]