Required Reading – In Defense of Cliches

Ryan Cooper writes, This man isOrwellian. Writing is tricky business. And so it makes sense that writers are often prickly and opinionated about what makes prose good or bad. Thus, over at the Washington Post lives a very long list of clichés and stale phrases that are now verboten due to overuse: “The Outlook List of Things … Continue reading →

Required Reading – Richard Nixon was Jay Gatsby

“The lawn and drive had been crowded with the faces of those who guessed at his corruption – and he had stood on those steps, concealing his incorruptible dream.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby ***  John Aloysius Farrell writes: IIn April 1974, Richard Nixon went to the movies. His presidency was collapsing, a … Continue reading →

21st Century Buchanans

Even though it is merely mentioned in passing, Maureen Dowd’s article contains one of the most thought-provoking allusions I’ve seen in awhile.  Dowd compares the Clintons to the Buchanans of The Great Gatsby.  The two couples don’t strike me as having very similar personas (Hillary Clinton, especially, does not exude the same naivete or even … Continue reading →

Required Reading – Before ‘We Saw Your Boobs:’ The Sexism and Satire War from 1732

Karen Swallow Prior cites a pretty gross poem written by Jonathan Swift: The various combs for various uses, Filled up with dirt so closely fixt, No brush could force a way betwixt. A paste of composition rare, Sweat, dandruff, powder, lead and hair; A forehead cloth with oil upon’t To smooth the wrinkles on her … Continue reading →

The Meat Cleaver Sequester Approach

This morning on Meet the Press, Speaker John Boehner stated, “No one understands how the sequester is going to work.” Earlier this week, Arne Duncan backtracked on a statement about the sequester resulting in teacher furloughs: ‘Whether it’s all sequester-related, I don’t know.’ Confusion abounds over sequestration and its effects. Perhaps a catchy metaphor would … Continue reading →

Repost – Beating the Drum for Metaphor

Required Reading – Powerful Allusions in Obama’s Inaugural Speech

Concluding excerpts from James Fallows’ great article about the rhetorical purposes of Obama’s use of allusions: The rhetorical and argumentative purpose of the speech as a whole was to connect what Obama considers the right next steps for America — doing more things “together,” making sure that everyone has an equal chance, tying each generation’s … Continue reading →

Required Viewing – The Rumpus’ “Literary Puns”

Required Viewing – The Rumpus’ “Literary Puns”

Required Reading – The Pun Conundrum

Required Reading – The Pun Conundrum Examples, history, reactions, and purposes of puns.  The author argues that social media may create a resurgence of one of the oldest forms of word play, which would be sooo much pun!

Poetry for the Average Joe

You’re having an affair with your best friend’s spouse. And then people claim they saw you kill someone, and you can’t give your alibi because it’ll oust your lover. The plot could be one from a soap opera or a movie thriller. But it’s actually the storyline from a Chieftan’s song titled “Long Black Veil” … Continue reading →