Philosophy & Rhetoric
Philosophy and rhetoric have had a rocky relationship for a long time, going back to ancient Greece, but in this book a philosopher says they are not enemies. Donald Phillip…
Michelle Cann Dazzles at Symphony Concert
Michelle Cann was front and centre at the Austin Symphony this weekend. Fresh off two major awards in 2022 (the Sphinx medal of excellence, and the Andrew Wolf Chamber Music…
The Biggest Confidence Man in History
Review by Dr. M. Emanuele What is Donald Trump’s favourite book? Is it Dr Seuss? Is it the Bible (which he likes to hold upside down like a disciple of…
MONUMENTS: World Premiere Ballet in Austin
Ballet Austin gave the city a huge gift this month with its performance of a world premiere entitled I Am The Monument, composed by Artistic Director Stephen Mills. In creating…
Vignettes of Love
A hilarious musical comedy opened just in time for Valentine’s Day, and even though that big day has passed the musical is still on for your enjoyment. The title of…
Ridicule in Enlightenment Britain
“As intellectual historians have long emphasized, a key question in eighteenth-century philosophy was that of sociability or the extent to which humans were (or could be made) fit for political…
Sweeney Todd and Austin
We all know Austin is weird (just think of the local government response to the ice storm), but I did not realise until this week the fascination held by many…
Apples and Oranges
A man inclines himself towards The idea. He lifts it off the table and raises It to his mouth. His mouth opens and his teeth Are like thirty-two stars in…
Elizabethan English
Anyone who has heard a play by Shakespeare knows what a wonder on the ears it is. Elizabethan English is a delight, but also a challenge to the modern ear.…
Are the Humanities Dying?
It’s a tired topic by now that the humanities are dying. Some people say that this is because the humanities are an ossified way of looking at reality and at…