21st Century PilgrimsMany years ago, I took college courses that discussed the history of pilgrimage sites around the world. It was disappointing to discover…Oct 18, 2024Oct 18, 2024
In Praise of Flawed MemorialsNot long ago the artist and designer Maya Lin was an invited speaker at a Central Texas university. She focused primarily on recent and…Nov 1, 2023Nov 1, 2023
A Reluctant Ode: Reflections on DFW International AirportWriting an ode to any airport, much less DFW, is a chore. After all, I have had many unpleasant experiences there, and the thought of…Jun 26, 2023Jun 26, 2023
The Meditative Qualities of “Jeanne Dielman”It is reassuring when I hear people younger than me complain that so many local movie screens are monopolized by comic book stories. It…Jan 27, 2023Jan 27, 2023
Photographing Writers (or Writers Being Photographed)Recently I pulled the book Writers from my shelves by the photographer Sally Soames. I believe it must have been the year it was published…Nov 15, 2022Nov 15, 2022
On Masks and PersonasIn the 1950’s the photographer Bruce Davidson visited a circus and took pictures of performances as well as life back stage and during down…Jun 15, 2022Jun 15, 2022
Old Masters, Photography, Beasts, and BirdsIn the 1990’s the photographer Alessandra Sanguinetti spent time on a farm in Argentina to photograph animals and the interactions they…Apr 15, 2022Apr 15, 2022
Reimagining Poe: Notes on Fellini’s Toby DammitThe short movie Toby Dammit takes its name from the main character of Edgar Allan Poe’s story Never Bet the Devil Your Head. For those of…Dec 2, 2021Dec 2, 2021
