So many books, so little time! I’m enjoying having more time for reading for pleasure now I’ve finished my MA. It’s sometimes possible to feel guilty about going back to reread books, when I’ve got so many unread books waiting for me. But you never actually read the same book twice. You never have the […]
I’m in the last throes of finishing my dissertation, which is due in next week – I might resume somewhat more regular blogging once it’s handed in! “Throe” is a great word, by the way. The OED defines it as: 1. A violent spasm or pang, such as convulses the body, limbs, or face. Also, […]
I’m still very busy with my dissertation, but I’ve got an exciting break today: I’m off to London to the BFI preview screening of ‘Let’s Kill Hitler’, the first episode of the autumn series of Doctor Who! I’ll be reporting on it over on the Impossible Podcasts blog and Twitter account.
Well, it’s been a while since I updated my blog, mainly because I’ve been keeping very busy with my English Literature masters. I handed in my second set of essays a few weeks ago, which were titled “Childhood, colonialism and Christianity in Swiss Family Robinson and The Coral Island“ and “Faërie, art and magic in Sir […]
Originally printed in Gair Rhydd, 28th April 2011. There are three kinds of lies, the saying goes: lies, damned lies and statistics. One statistic has proved particularly controversial: the 2001 census found that 72% of the population described themselves as “Christian”. With the 2011 census, the fight is on to get it changed. “If you’re […]
I went to see the Cohen brothers’ film True Grit earlier. It’s based on a book by Charles Portis, but is apparently a remake of the 1969 film starring John Wayne. It tells the story of 14-year-old Mattie’s efforts to gain vengeance against Tom Chaney, who killed her father, by enlisting the services of Rooster […]
One of the modules I’m studying this semester is Tolkien’s Medievalism. J R R Tolkien was not only a fantasy writer, but also a distinguished scholar of medieval literature. His essay Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics remains influential to this day. The rich depth of his writing comes from his love of language and […]
Opinion piece for Gair Rhydd, published 15th November 2010. Believe it or not, I’ve never looked at porn. Far from being harmless “adult entertainment”, I believe porn degrades both women and men, and damages relationships and society. Defenders of porn say that people know the difference between porn and reality. But the unreality of porn […]
Article written for Gair Rhydd, published 11th October 2010:Cuts are everywhere, but the arts and humanities have their head against the block. With plans to cut its funding by as much as 25%, they are treated as an expensive luxury rather than a vital part of our national life. I’ve just returned to university to […]
I’ve been rather busy with my MA course over the last couple of months, but here are at last is the index to all the posts in my series on Christianity and Postmodernism. I hope to return to a more regular blogging schedule now that my essays have been written! Introduction My story What is […]
