Essays
1093 results
Page 105
Identity crisis in Salem, Mass.
A relatively inexperienced minister named Samuel Parris was woefully out of his depth in dealing with a communal psychological crisis that hit Salem Village in 1692. His descendants in “Witch City,” like Philadelphia’s tourist boosters, can’t seem to decide whether to embrace their past or reject it.
Essays
7 minute read
What TV ads tell us
Take it from a philosophy professor: If you’ve ever wondered why American society seems to be asleep at the wheel, TV ads have the answer.
Essays
5 minute read
Film, yes; digital photography no
Digital photography, argues this professional, by its nature is too easy. If a shot doesn’t work, you throw it out. It imposes no creative discipline. On the other hand, film makes me slow down and think— not only about the technical end but also about the images themselves, how they relate to each other and to my overall body of work.
Essays
4 minute read
Philadelphia Park's new casino
Where are all the pathological degenerate gamblers of yesteryear? The new casino at Philadelphia Park left me feeling downright wholesome. In that case, do we really need the Barnes or Verizon Hall?
Philadelphia Park Casino and Racetrack. 3001 Street Road, Philadelphia. (215) 639-9000 or www.philadelphiapark.com
Philadelphia Park Casino and Racetrack. 3001 Street Road, Philadelphia. (215) 639-9000 or www.philadelphiapark.com
Essays
3 minute read
A Tale of Two Philadelphias
The misnamed Youth Study Center is, frankly, a poor endorsement for the Museum Mile and its tony new high-rises. Here, on the pretext of making the Barnes Foundation’s art more accessible to the masses, was a perfect opportunity to raise another bulwark between the two cities, and to remove an uncomfortable reminder of those mean streets and playgrounds where Philadelphians actually live.
Essays
5 minute read
Demise of Antioch College
Once a haven for free inquiry, Antioch College deteriorated into a wary, secretive and suspicious parody of political correctness. To an alum who loved his alma mater, watching its demise firsthand was a painful experience.
Essays
11 minute read
My digital camera, myself
Hallelujah! No longer must I wonder if I’m in focus, if anyone blinked or whether my exposure was correct. And I can make my own prints, to my own idiosyncratic taste, without losing anything in the translation to some middleman.
Essays
4 minute read
Barry Bonds as drug scapegoat
Barry Bonds’s home run record has called attention to his likely use of illegal steroids. How many other lower-profile needle secrets of professional sports have been swept under the carpet? And why aren’t sportswriters and talk show hosts asking that question?
Essays
4 minute read
Let's talk about Jane Smiley's writing
I used to love Jane Smiley’s writing. Then she started posting on the Internet, revealing herself as yet another example of a writer who desperately needs an editor.
George W. Bush meets Oscar Wilde
Has any artist noticed, as I have, George W. Bush’s facial transformations since he first appeared on the national stage eight years ago?
Essays
1 minute read