When Ralph Ellison published Invisible Man in 1952, America was still congratulating itself on having beaten the Nazis and saved democracy. Yet here was a novel calmly pointing out that a good chunk of its own citizens were treated as if they didn’t exist - or rather, as if they existed only when they could … Continue reading Invisible, My Eye – Reflections on Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man
Tag: Life
Through Darkness, Light: A Reflection on Helen Keller
I sometimes wonder how many of our modern idols would survive without their filters. Strip away the stage-managed profiles, the publicists, the polished platitudes - and what are we left with? Often, very little. But every now and then, we encounter a figure whose inner world shines even brighter than their public image. Helen Keller … Continue reading Through Darkness, Light: A Reflection on Helen Keller
The Scent of Empire: On the Case of Princess Margaret Teresa
Velázquez paints her as an angel of empire; the nose might have told a different story. “For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ… and to the other the savour of death unto death.” – 2 Corinthians 2:15–16 Few things are so deceptive in art as cleanliness. And few things so tragic in … Continue reading The Scent of Empire: On the Case of Princess Margaret Teresa
Vivaldi’s Winter – A Reflection in Three Movements
It’s a while since I thought about a piece of music, so, let me remedy that. And it’s perhaps the wrong time of year for this piece, ah, but so what? I wrote this piece years ago after a freezing cold winter’s day at work. So, here we go. There’s something altogether mad about Winter. … Continue reading Vivaldi’s Winter – A Reflection in Three Movements
Foundations Built on Sand: The Perils of Planning Without Infrastructure
Preface: Why I’m Writing This I didn’t set out to become some kind of armchair town planner, nor do I claim to possess a degree in civil engineering, but I do possess a pair of eyes, a memory, and a moderately reliable toilet. And in recent years, all three have been sorely tested. This piece … Continue reading Foundations Built on Sand: The Perils of Planning Without Infrastructure
Wording 