monbus

I’m not familiar, but it sounds fascinating. I’ll definitely have to look into that. I do love Dore’s engravings; they really capture the spirit of the text in my mind.

Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. The Divine Comedy is beautiful in English, even more so in Italian if you are able to appreciate it. And I would agree with Beetlejuice being a great movie to watch with friends, for a sleepover or a Halloween party especially. A little spooky but a great laugh as well.

I’m glad to see an advocate of Wilde, particularly of this book. I think your points are well-made and compelling. I actually read this in eighth grade, and it was one of the first pieces of Victorian (even classic) literature I had encountered. It left such a huge impression on me I remember it well today, and cherish the memory. I’ve seen the 1945 film, and I’m sorry to say nothing stands up the the original book, which is a piece of art in its own right.

You drew some excellent links between literature and fine art. I think the connection between literature and the artistic movements that dominated the creative environment in which they were written is an important part of understand the significance of that literature, yet it is often overlooked. I would be interested to hear your analysis of other artistic movements such as Dada and if they had a bearing on the literature of that period.

I really appreciate the distinction you draw between the public and private. It seems, however, that that distinction is slowly being broken down; acts that were once considered off-limits are now exploited to the public (just watch an episode of Desperate Housewives). It seems like that can’t be healthy, if only because getting to a total breakdown would require a mass consumerist operation of the sort you point out. Hopefully, though, if we stop and reflect where we’re at on occasion, it will never get to that point. Superb article.

I really appreciate the distinction you draw between personal relationships fostered by social media and the “throwing oneself to the masses,” so to speak, that we see in Huxley’s book. It does seem, however, like that distinction is breaking down, and I wonder how far off we are from a total inversion of social norms. I think you can see this clearly evidenced in the way private issues are often exploited (just try watching an episode of Desperate Housewives); in fact, there seem to be few acts that remain strictly off-limits to the public. Hopefully, it will never come to Huxley’s portentous novel, and if we stop and reflect on where we’re at occasionally, there’s a better chance it won’t. Superb article.

Thanks! Everyone should have to read Dante. Better than most horror films.

That’s one of the largest ways in which Beetlejuice differs from Inferno–in its lack of order. But the fact that there is no rhyme or reason to it makes it all the more “lifelike” in a weird way, when you consider how little we understand of our own existence. And yes, I guess that does allow brothels to spontaneously crop up out of the ground.