Music
Driven into Paradise: Some Notes on Kurt Weill’s Exile in America
After escaping Nazism, the much-acclaimed composer moved away from his German roots to make his mark in a very American field – New...
On Anna Maria della Pietà, a Violin Virtuoso of the 18th Century
For many centuries, opportunities for women to live their lives as professional musicians were scarce. There were, however, exceptions –...
Literature
“Twelfth Night”: Shakespeare’s Play and its Religious Subtext
Different readings of Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night have often emphasized cross-dressing and gender mix-ups as central themes....
Is Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” a Colonialist Novel?
Post-colonial writer Chinua Achebe eviscerated the story, interpreting it as a racist contrast between “civilized” Europe and “savage”...
Visual Arts
Painting, Sex, and Politics; or, the Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I
The Tudor monarch wielded an arsenal of tools and stratagems to navigate the perils of female statehood. Her most famous portrait, as...
A Question of National Pride: Gustav Klimt’s Beethoven Frieze
Already embroiled in controversy, Klimt sparked outrage when he unveiled his monumental painting. It divided opinion, and revealed the...
Society & Politics
“Why War?”: Rereading a Famous Letter from Freud to Einstein
With violent conflict raging around the globe, a look at the renowned psychoanalyst’s thoughts seems warranted. Although decidedly dated...
What is Hatred, and Is There Something We Can Do About It?
The powerful and dangerous sentiment may spring from many sources, from fear to former love. In light of all the threats it poses to our...
