

Colin Mochrie’s Thoughts on Comedy
I asked Colin Mochrie to give my students his thoughts on comedy and film. Continue reading Colin Mochrie’s Thoughts on Comedy

Leah O’Rourke’s Thoughts on Comedy
Below is a video on Leah O’Rourke’s thoughts on comedy to my film class. Continue reading Leah O’Rourke’s Thoughts on Comedy

Everybody Wants to be “In the Loop”
What is the film satirizing? In the Loop (2009) is a satire about the lead-up to the Iraq War, gender politics, and International cultural differences, among other things. One way to think about the film is that it is satirizing the idea that those in a position of power act based on noble motivations, or that those in elite positions (in this case, high level … Continue reading Everybody Wants to be “In the Loop”

The Succession Poem, a cinematic montage of “Dream Song 29”
This is a cinematic montage of the poem “Dream Song 29” by John Berryman (1914-1972). The poem is associated with the television show “Succession” on HBO. Continue reading The Succession Poem, a cinematic montage of “Dream Song 29”

Succession (HBO) and Aristotle’s Characteristics of a Tragedy (The Poetics)
In this video, I explain how Aristotle’s ideas of what makes a tragedy help to explain the enormous success of HBO’s hit series, “Succession.” Continue reading Succession (HBO) and Aristotle’s Characteristics of a Tragedy (The Poetics)

The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England and the Movies that Should Come From Them
I recently finished the book, The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England, by Dan Jones. I’m now reading his follow-up book on The War of the Roses. Jones is an engaging writer, who mixes a type of informal academic content with a informal narrative style. This combination of formality and informality makes for an informative and engaging read. I’d recommend this book. … Continue reading The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England and the Movies that Should Come From Them

Inside Out: Why Can’t We Be Friends and Why Should We Read Medieval Literature?
Warning: Spoilers!!! Warning: Spoilers!!! Warning: Spoilers!!! Inside Out, a 2015 film that is both allegorical and naturalistic, dives into the consciousness of its main character, in ways both innovative and drawing on a 500 years old dramatic tradition. Let’s start with the film’s Emotion characters, who are embodiments of feelings–in other words, concepts depicted as characters. When I first started watching Inside Out, I was … Continue reading Inside Out: Why Can’t We Be Friends and Why Should We Read Medieval Literature?

Cosmos and Kairos: A Rhetorical Journey
Here’s my latest vlog post, this one on Carl Sagan’s 13 part television series, Cosmos and his use of kairos as a rhetorical technique in the famous program. Continue reading Cosmos and Kairos: A Rhetorical Journey

Monsters, Inc., (2001) Monsters, and Commonplaces
I’ve created my second vlog, this one over the 2001 film, Monsters, Inc., directed by Pete Docter. You can find it below. I hope you enjoy. If you do, please share! Continue reading Monsters, Inc., (2001) Monsters, and Commonplaces

Meet the Parents and Cinematography
I’ve made my first video blog, or vlog, as they say. It’s over the film, Meet the Parents, from 2000, directed by Jay Roach. I hope you’ll watch my short movie and tell me your thoughts, either about cinematography or Meet the Parents! Continue reading Meet the Parents and Cinematography