Autumn, Childhood, and the Art of Storytelling

At the mere mention of the autumn season, a plethora of images, memories, and sensations are invoked. These images of the season connect me with nostalgia and warmth as I imagine my Ohio childhood with memories of running around my molting backyard, feeling the crisp, sharp air fill my lungs while the rattling whirl of dried leaves plays in the background. I remember embarking on … Continue reading Autumn, Childhood, and the Art of Storytelling

Meditation on Memory

Several old journals sit on my bookshelf here, ranging in age from ten years to a few months, several of them worn and stained, some with small mementos, slips of notepaper, receipts, and sketches, all tucked between the pages or inside their covers. Whenever life seems to be taking a rather unexpected turn, I feel compelled to revisit these old, familiar books.  I always wrote … Continue reading Meditation on Memory

Comic Heroes of the Demos

Captain America, Luke Skywalker, and Harry Potter are ideal “heroes” for what Nietzsche would call a “democratic” soul. These caricatures of childhood imagination encourage a reversion to puerile notions of unearned self-importance among their devotees. The protagonists of these stories come from common backgrounds but are, within the first quarter of the film, serendipitously granted magical powers and a world-changing mission. To their audience, these … Continue reading Comic Heroes of the Demos