Friends – I’ve been putting off talking about one of the most problematic and fascinating figures of Enlightenment writing. I mean the author who my husband and I love to hate, and hate to love – the philosopher, social theorist, novelist, pedagogy expert, and memoirist, Jean Jacques Rousseau. Where to begin with this guy? Of … Continue reading February 27th 2017, Reading the 18th Century: Who are we really? Notes on human nature before civilization, after civilization, and the social contract by a weird Swiss guy who wrote about society but couldn’t actually bear to live in one. In other words, welcome to the world of Jean Jacques Rousseau, part 1
Tag: Voltaire
When satire gets serious about human rights: Encountering CANDIDE
As I mentioned in my last blog post, my friend Kathy and I are struggling through a very boring book for French class at a fancy private school in 1969... Kathy has news for me about this book. “It’s got cutting off asses in it,” Kathy whispers to me at the library. “What?” I reply … Continue reading When satire gets serious about human rights: Encountering CANDIDE
Got dystopia? The history of our hunger for the nightmare society
Dear Magically Real: I have some questions for you. What’s a dystopia and where does the first one show up? What do you think of the Hunger Games? Are you excited about the movie? I love the way those people look in the trailer they are showing! They remind me a little of the Marie … Continue reading Got dystopia? The history of our hunger for the nightmare society
Stephanie Barbé Hammer Writing (Un) Real 