ACTA's Must-Reads
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The Bard today
The Books section of the New York Times today carries a review of a new work by Marjorie Garber, the William R. Kenan Jr. professor of English and American literature and language at Harvard, entitled "Shakespeare and Modern Culture." According to the review, Garber looks at the way the Bard and his work is used--and misused--in contemporary pop language and discourse.
This review illustrates two overarching themes. First is the timelessness of Shakespeare's works; they draw on permanent truths about the human condition, thus giving them a universality that allows people of different generations, localities, and walks of life to connect to Romeo and Juliet, Henry V, and Macbeth. Second is the unfortunate fact that Shakespeare today is often misunderstood or only given a superficial reading. These themes underscore the importance of colleges and universities encouraging their students to study Shakespeare--especially English literature majors. But regrettably, many schools seem to be giving the Bard of Avon short shrift these days, as ACTA pointed out in The Vanishing Shakespeare.
Posted by Sandra E. Czelusniak on December 11, 2008 at December 11, 2008 02:05 PM
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Comments
I am thrilled to learn that ACTA is deeply troubled by today's news of a faculty no-confidence vote regarding New School president and distinguished public servant Bob Kerrey. The vote actually included many more faculty than was reported. Regardless, where is the respect for one's boss, one's job security, one's humanism. The faculty is behaving in a way that is perilous to all of us, and they are certainly not leading a "revolt" based on example most of us would never think to follow. Shame on the faculty for being merciless and behaving like spoiled, entitled children. This has escalated into a personal vendetta and is becoming a scandal where there impropriety has occurred. Bob Kerrey is quite unapologetically, a strong leader who has striven to improve and reform his institution. And I feel blessed to work at The New School under his leadership.
Posted by: new school employee at December 12, 2008 04:18 PM