A long time ago I met a young lady who became, for a short time, a good friend. I liked her. For me, liking someone was a rare occurrence. To cut a long story short, my friend, Bob, called so as I couldn't pronounce her Greek name, gifted me a book. A book I'd already … Continue reading Steppenwolf: then one thing led to another.
Marcel Duchamp’s Mona Lisa with a Moustache
L.H.O.O.Q. Marcel Duchamp Marcel Duchamp’s L.H.O.O.Q., infamously known as Mona Lisa with a Moustache, is an audaciously irreverent assault on Leonardo da Vinci's iconic masterpiece. This ready-made work, embodying Duchamp's signature brand of Dadaist mockery, transforms the serene visage of the world's most famous painting into a spectacle of absurdity and defiance. Let us delve … Continue reading Marcel Duchamp’s Mona Lisa with a Moustache
A Frolic through Fitzgerald’s Kaleidoscope
John Anster Fitzgerald: The Painter's Dream c. 1857 First of all I have conflicting sources that title this painting differently: one is The Artist's Dream and another, The Painter's Dream. I'm not going to cry about it but some of the sources I've looked at were a waste of time - not including the sources … Continue reading A Frolic through Fitzgerald’s Kaleidoscope
Death of a Salesman
Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman stands as a colossal testament to the fragility of the American Dream, the perils of self-delusion, and the enduring complexity of human relationships. Like a masterful chef, Miller concocts a heady stew of pathos and tragedy. So, grab your briefcase and your existential dread, as we delve into this … Continue reading Death of a Salesman
Mr. Chips: A Toast to the Unsung Hero
Published in 1934, James Hilton’s Goodbye, Mr. Chips is the charming tale of a schoolteacher whose life at Brookfield, an English boys' boarding school, is as rich as an afternoon tea and as enduring as the late Queen’s corgis. The novella takes us through the ups and downs of Mr. Chipping - known affectionately as … Continue reading Mr. Chips: A Toast to the Unsung Hero
