Category: culture
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15. Apollo 11: Flashbacks and Jump-cuts
In the visually stunning non-narrative documentary, ‘Koyaanisqatsi’ (1982), a Saturn 5 rocket is shown blasting off in slow motion. Against doom-like organ chords of the Philip Glass score, white flakes of insulation are shown drifting down through swirling fire. The title of the film translates as ‘world out of balance’ from the language of the…
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14. A Twisted Tribute to CBC Radio
Among the many despicable plans of the Trump administration is the proposed gutting of American public broadcasting services. The MAGA Republicans charge that PBS and NPR couple bloated budgets with “liberal bias.” Even Big Bird of ‘Sesame Street’ is suspected of being a “woke socialist.” It is not surprising that hard-line conservatives in Canada have…
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9. What Grounding for Poetry?
GMJ, a Professor of Education whom I had the pleasure of knowing in the 1980s-1990s, was a gifted raconteur. An immigrant from Wales, he had a sonorous voice and a sharp wit. A couple of times over “pints” (he preferred Britishisms) at the university pub, I heard his tales of teaching high school English in…
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S. A Few Pinches of Native Soil (con’d)
A Kentucky-born friend and I have joked about the commonalities of our respective boyhood territories. In growing up, we both found ourselves at odds with ole timey religion, country music and conservative ‘values’… Outside of Acadia, the Canadian Maritimes–– like southern Appalachia–– retains a dominant Scots-English-Irish population. There is considerable evidence that rural Maritimers are…
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S. A Few Pinches of Native Soil (intro.)
Introduction: About a decade ago, I planned to write a monograph about my oft uncomfortable relationship with the province of my origin. That project faltered with the usual exigencies. From the muddle of notes made in preparation for a first draft, I have pulled out pieces which I have hopefully, battered into some coherence……
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E. Glimpses of Predeparture (con’d)
In the staffroom at teatime this morning, Sister Chua told an anecdote that corroborated the rumours about how rampant crime is becoming of late. She said a thief recently broke into a convent in Tabora making off with a set of nuns’ habits… Unlike most criminals who flout the law with impunity–– the mwezi [thief]…
Coprolites in Amber (etc.) 