Metonymy

I highly recommend the book, Drift (2012) by political commentator/host Rachel Maddow. In it Maddow introduces and defines an intriguingly cogent argument for the increasing detachment the United States’ civilian population feels towards the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars as well as towards the armed services, in general. Using incredibly compelling evidence, Maddow cites the U.S. … Continue reading →

Just a thin piece of tissue separates our adult selves from our childhood selves. A piece of tissue that lingers, woven and threaded, bordering on a realization nearly achieved by adolescence and coming into full fruition at young adulthood. At that time the tissue is strong, decorous and resilient to attack of consciousness both social … Continue reading →

When it comes to assessing a ‘good’ definition of history there are multiple answers, reactions and interpretations.  The fact that history is not a staid entity—but an ever-evolving, dynamic process probably contributes to this lack of consensus, even among some of its most noted scholars. The often ambiguous and confusing ideas regarding the many manifestations … Continue reading →

The media often displays modes of representation that both perpetuate and reflect the bias and stereotyping that is pervasive through out Western culture. In the 2008 presidential election, these stereotypes were chiefly expressed through the media’s representations of Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton. During the primaries, Clinton held the stage on equal footing with her … Continue reading →

Marshall McLuhan and Norman Mailer, circa 1968

During the final month of the 2008 presidential campaign it came to light that the Republicans spent more than $ 150,000 (Leonard, 2008) on clothes for vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin. It is arguable that a candidate who calls herself a “hockey mom” and claims an affinity and identification with the “every woman” of middle-America is … Continue reading →

The meteoric rise of Sarah Palin from that of a little-known governor of Alaska to Republican vice-presidential candidate in the 2008 election has been marked by a lot of attention, controversy and not a little ideology.  Although her post-election future in high-level American politics remains as yes undetermined—there is but little doubt that from the … Continue reading →

After a week of reading and discussing Marshall McLuhan I got to thinking about the possible ‘physical’ texture of certain television shows. Having dreamed about “The Andy Griffith Show”—I woke up this morning considering its ‘texture.’ I’ve conferred a rough feeling texture to Andy Griffith—something consisting of a loose, coarse weave– like sackcloth.  Then I … Continue reading →

The Autistic Experience: Communication on its Own Terms One of the most outstanding and defining aspects of classic autism is the delay or total absence of typical human communication development, with vocal channels usually the most adversely effected (DeVito 9). Many nuances of the human information processes that are necessary for successful communication—such as perception, … Continue reading →

Having had a 24-hour moratorium on what has essentially become the ‘silly season’ in the realm of American presidential politics—where lipstick-enhanced pigs fly and fight along side steaming hot bowls of moose stew and other diversionary tactics for sound bytes within a cable news culture—perhaps we can finally address some of the real issues and … Continue reading →