If you are familiar with Kafka’s work, it challenges conventional wisdom with surreal glimpses into real human problems, like making connections in a hostile word, overcoming our desires to control and conquer, and dealing with systems too big and too irrational to wrap our heads around. Gregor Samsa is forced to come to terms with the transformation of his body to match his soul.
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Goethe’s Faust
Goethe’s Faust is a complex work of literature that is concerned with the place of humanity in the cosmos, the striving of its protagonist beyond his human confines, the implications of his going too far, and the consequences that his quest have on his community.
Molière’s Tartuffe
An overriding theme of Molière’s Tartuffe is not one of religion directly, but of that age-old concern of comme il faut, propriety, and appearance versus reality. The central problem that the play confronts is not with Tartuffe’s being a religious hypocrite, but with the fact that he uses his powers to manipulate others and — perhaps most importantly — the fact that his hypocrisy becomes known.
R.I.P. Norman Mailer
He played the writer’s part, Play’d the part that still looks back on the actor or actress, The same old role, the role that is what we make it, as great as we like, Or as small as we like, or both great and small. [Sent by PS. We'll miss you, Norman.]
Mailer Hospitalized Again
Some recent news about Norman Mailer’s continuing health problems. Get well soon.
Satan and Tech
The L.A. Times posted a review of Norman Mailer’s new book with Mike Lennon, On God: An Uncommon Conversation: Mailer’s new book, “On God: An Uncommon Conversation,” may best be read in such a context — although, in truth, it’s probably best not read at all. Framed as a series of Socratic dialogues between Mailer [...]
Mailer in SP Times
Norman Mailer and The Mailer Review are featured in today’s St. Pete Times: At 84, prolific author Norman Mailer shows no quit. The Mailer Review, a new literary journal edited by a USF professor, takes a closer look at the man and his work. They were supposed to use my photo, but didn’t. The AP [...]