All The Things They Didn’t Say: Heated Rivalry and The Ugly Story Behind a Pop Song
I yearn to yearn. Do you?
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Essays
Where thoughtful analysis and well-crafted arguments find a home.
The Work That Disappears
“I do not want to make this essay too tidy. There is something hard about the kind of life I am describing. To work on systems that disappear when they succeed is to accept a particular relationship with recognition. You will not get a parade. You will, in many cases, not even get thanked. You will get the satisfaction of knowing that the thing you built is holding, and you will get the company of the small number of other people who understand what holding actually requires.”
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Erosion Has Become Assertion
A companion piece to “The Rise of Mussolini and Lessons for Modern Democracy,” July 2024
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The way we talk
This may not be the post for everyone. If you are in a mood for reflection, understanding and some mourning, this could be you.
Charlie Kirk: A Tragedy is a Tragedy
Look, Charlie Kirk is dead, and that’s horrific. Political assassination should revolt anyone with a functioning moral compass. But what’s happened in the aftermath – the media’s immediate rush to sanitize his legacy while firing anyone who dares provide context – that’s revealing something much darker about where we are as a society. Matthew Dowd
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There Is Trouble ‘Till the Robins Come
On February 2, 2025, at 7:30 pm, Theater 3 was the place people came to pay their respects to the recently deceased: director, artist, musician, and writer David Lynch.
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The Layup
“It was like the swivel chair I had been sitting in at the time had spun me around so fast I shot off into space, leaving the ethereal insides of soul and spirit to finish out the conversation.”
From Kung Fu to Anime Cosplay
“The influence of anime has seeped into various aspects of Black popular culture. Music videos by artists like Megan Thee Stallion incorporate anime aesthetics, while Black designers create streetwear inspired by favorite series. This fusion represents a unique cultural exchange, blending Japanese visual styles with Black American experiences.”
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A Window into the Present – Understanding Fascist Italy to Grapple with Fascist America
Yes, yes, I know that what I have written is quite long and that it might not be for everybody. I would still recommend you reading it in it’s entirety. However, as my children would say, the “too long, didn’t read” is please Vote!, Vote!, Vote! lest we go the way of the Italian, the
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Did We Forget that We Own this House?
Steven calls for active civic engagement in American democracy. He argues that voters have the power to demand better leadership and representation, urging participation beyond just voting. The piece explores how political incompetence gradually eroded public trust and outlines factors contributing to the current state of affairs. Despite acknowledging challenges, it concludes with a hopeful message, affirming belief in America’s capacity for positive change through collective action and informed citizenship.
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A Hero’s Journey
In the mountains of North Carolina lies a small town secluded by fresh green oak trees and lined with dirt paths called Murphy. In Murphy everybody knows everybody because ‘downtown’ consisted of five stores and two bars; in a town so small, there isn’t a lot of room for hostility. I’ll never forget a trip I took to murphy when I was five because it was one of the only trips I remember with my entire family.
Icked Out: A loveless Phenomenon
This serves as a formal apology to the Josiah’s of the world who yearn for the same human connection as the rest of us. You will find someone who looks past your icks and thinks its cute when you call the waitress by her name.
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Why Are They So Good At Selling Hate?
I’m getting really sick of the right selling their hateful rhetoric, man. Like it’s nonstop. But it works. Which is why they don’t stop. And it historically has worked. Which is why they historically haven’t stopped. But guess what? Hate is counterintuitive to human nature. Some whackjob tried to conduct a study to prove otherwise and failed. A few whackjobs, actually. Come and read about it.
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Divided We Fall
I think it’s fair to say that we’re all decent, hard-working people. We get up every morning and do something that is expected of us. Some of us go to school. Some go to work. Some, nothing at all. Each of us is just trying to get by and just be decent. There is a
Here is My Letter to all You Brave and Beautiful Beings
They are not lazy. They are not apathetic. They are putting their goddamn futures on the line. What have you done today? In fact, what have you ever done? That silver spoon has to be getting pretty damn rusty by now.
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Two Sides of the Same Damaged Coin
R. Joseph Acosta explores the profound impact of foundational relationships in shaping the lives of two of television’s most iconic antiheroes, Don Draper and Tony Soprano, in this compelling analysis. Through a deep dive into their tumultuous backgrounds—particularly their relationships with their mothers—the article elucidates how these complex figures embody the antihero narrative that has captivated audiences for nearly two decades. Acosta skillfully ties their personal traumas to broader themes of identity, masculinity, and the human psyche, showcasing how both characters’ struggles with their pasts illuminate the darker aspects of the human condition, while also reflecting societal expectations and personal failings.
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The Creative’s Manifesto
You’ve closed your eyes and let all of this happen to you. This is my plea for a change. This manifesto is your call to arms, your permission slip to unleash holy hell on the oppressive mainstream. Packed with blistering rage and revolutionary fire, it’s a Molotov cocktail begging you to wield your art as a weapon and get fucking hostile. Read it like you mean it – and then get creating like your life depends on it. Because it does.
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Echoes of a Fading Dream: “The Deer Hunter” in American Consciousness
Allston Alexander’s piece offers an exploration of ‘The Deer Hunter,’ delving into its depiction of post-Vietnam America, the shift from industrial to service economies, and the enduring impacts of war on mental health and community. It reflects on the film’s critique of the American Dream, highlighting its relevance in understanding societal shifts and challenges.
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The Much Needed Resurgence of Human Creativity in the Age of AI-Generated Art
Francis C. Sorvino explores the resurgence of human creativity in the age of AI-generated art. As AI-produced content saturates the advertising landscape, Sorvino argues that the value of authentic, emotionally resonant human artistry is paradoxically highlighted, leading to a renewed appreciation for the irreplaceable qualities of human-generated art.
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Jack Nicholson and the Supreme Art of Acting.
I am taking this opportunity to pay homage to one of my preferred American actors: Jack Nicholson. In my view, he represents a master of his craft. His greatness stemmed not from the commercial appeal of the characters he played, or the ease or popularity of its scripts, but from his highly crafted ability to bring to life whatever characters he embodied. Nicholson’s career spanned over the course of more than 50 years and over 60 films. Some of his most renowned films include One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), Chinatown (1976), The Shinning (1980), Terms of Endearment (1983) and As Good as It Gets (1997), among several others.
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I am the Mortal Immortal. And so are you.
This essay by Vespera Shelley explores the paradox of the Mortal Immortal, blending a rich tapestry of love, loss, and the quest for immortality. With flowery, unpolished prose and run-on sentences, it reflects on humanity’s dual desires and fears, using the protagonist’s eternal journey as a mirror to our own. It’s a youthful, ambitious attempt to grasp the complexities of existence and legacy.
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Willingly Conservative Women
For every woman who stands up for reproductive rights, equal pay, women’s right to education, and freedom from the strict social boundaries that gender can impose upon a women’s place in society, there may be another woman who believes that these are non-issues and that the feminist agenda is pushing society to ruin. But why do these women support systems that deny them rights and even actively fight against the feminist cause?
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The Loch Ness Monster is Very Real
Back in June of 2015, I was a senior in high school. I’d spent the majority of the last four years of my high school experience having next to no fun at all in the name of beefing up my college application. My days consisted of eight hours of IB and AP classes followed by
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This is How I Like to Talk About Poetry
Sandra Harkness pauses from writing poetry so she can write about poetry. In this essay, she embarks on a captivating journey through the evolving landscape of modern poetry. Exploring themes from the free-spirited forms of contemporary verse to the deep societal reflections in today’s poetic expressions, Harkness skillfully navigates the rich tapestry of identity, love, loss, and social commentary that defines modern poetry. With insightful observations on how the digital age has transformed poetic expression and accessibility, she sheds light on the diverse voices that resonate within this art form. Engaging and informative, this piece is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the dynamic world of poetry today
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The Maturation of the Lady Liberty: An Essay on Civil War Era Literature
The human affinity for the personification of various concepts, objects, and ideals is quite fascinating. As a collective, the citizens of the United States have done a particularly admirable job of assigning a human persona to this young nation. With all of its backgrounds, influences, moral corruptions, and philosophical contradictions, it is amazing that an
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An Essay on the Neubauer Experiments
Many people have argued that progress cannot be obtained without some kind of sacrifice. They teach us in economics that there is no such thing as a “free lunch”, meaning that something must be lost in order for anything to be gained. Newton’s laws of motion dictate the same principle on the physical level.
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Tribal Courts & Legal Innovation
Legal Technology: The Importance of Its Incorporation “Equal justice under law… is perhaps the most inspiring ideal of our society. It is one of the ends for which our entire legal system exists… it is fundamental that justice should be the same, in substance and availability, without regard to economic status”. These were the
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