Showing results for "Popular Culture" in Art

A Room with a View by E. M. Forster. The 1908 novel A Room With a View is the story of Lucy Honeychurch, a young English girl traveling to Italy for the first time. While staying in Florence, Lucy meets the unconventional George Emerson, with whom she shares a single passionate kiss, much to the horror of her chaperone, her spinsterish cousin Charlotte. Back in England, Lucy finds she must choose between George and her rather stuffy fiance Cecil Vyse. Forster's wonderfully comic romance satirizes turn-of-the-century English culture (as did his other major novel of the period, Howards End).

The Call of the Wild by Jack London. Buck, a magnificent mix of St. Bernard and Scotch shepherd dog, rules contentedly at Judge Miller’s place in California’s Santa Clara Valley. But 1897 brings the Klondike Gold Rush, and Buck is the perfect kind of dog to service sleds—so he is stolen and spirited away to the Northland. There he learns a hard life at the hands of tough men and competing sled dogs, which sharpen his instincts and survival skills. Thousands of miles of grueling sled travel and toil nearly wear Buck out, until chance in the form of John Thornton saves him. This “ideal...

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. Heart of Darkness is a novella written by Joseph Conrad. Before its 1903 publication, it appeared as a three-part series (1899) in Blackwood's Magazine. It was classified by the Modern Library website editors as one of the "100 best novels" and part of the Western canon. The story centres on Charles Marlow, who narrates most of the book. He is an Englishman who takes a foreign assignment from a Belgian trading company as a river-boat captain in Africa. Heart of Darkness exposes the dark side of European colonization while exploring the three levels of ...

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. If it is a truth universally acknowledged that a good-looking girl cannot fail of attracting a clever young man does it follow that the reverse is also true? If the man comes of a terrifyingly dysfunctional family and the girl in question likes to see spooks and horrors round every corner, yes. Morland by name, Lackland by nature, Catherine, not altogether addicted to the heroine role in general, finds this greatness thrust upon her in the (fortunately, principally financial) fantasies of her would-be inamorato's father, the General. When the General finds ...

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. Emily Brontë's only novel, published in 1847 under the pseudonym Ellis Bell, tells the tale of the all-encompassing and passionate, yet thwarted, love between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, and how this unresolved passion eventually destroys them and many around them. Now considered a classic of English literature, Wuthering Heights met with mixed reviews by critics when it first appeared, with many horrified by the stark depictions of mental and physical cruelty. Though Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre was originally considered the best of the Brontë...

Heidi by Johanna Spyri. Hear Heidi if you've ever longed to see the Swiss mountain slopes. This story transports the listener from the fine air and freedom of the mountaintop to the confines of Frankfurt, back to the peaks again, bounding in flowered fields with goats at your heels and sky utterly surrounding you. We meet Heidi when she is 5, led up the mountain by her aunt who has raised the orphan but must leave now for a position in Frankfurt. In a mountain cottage overlooking the valley is Heidi's grandfather, and there with him the girl's sweet, free nature expands with the vista. The...

The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells. The Invisible Man (1897) is one of the most famous science fiction novels of all time. Written by H.G. Wells (1866-1946), it tells the story of a scientist who discovers the secret of invisibility and uses it on himself. The story begins as the Invisible Man, with a bandaged face and a heavy coat and gloves, takes a train to lodge in a country inn whilst he tries to discover the antidote and make himself visible again. The book inspired several films and is notable for its vivid descriptions of the invisible man--no mean feat, given that you can't see him!

The Story of 'Mormonism' by James E. Talmage. A few years before James E. Talmage was called to serve as an apostle for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the "Mormon" church), he gave a series of lectures at universities such as the University of Michigan and Cornell, describing the history of the Church. These lectures were later compiled and published as 'The Story of "Mormonism."' It is a concise, yet informative summary for all interested in learning the history and beliefs of the "Mormon" church.

The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli. The Prince is a 16th-century political treatise by Niccolò Machiavelli, serving as a practical guide for rulers on acquiring and maintaining power, often through ruthless or immoral means, which introduced the concept of realpolitik. Published posthumously in 1532, it argues that a ruler must be willing to use deceit, force, and cunning to achieve political ends, prioritizing effectiveness over idealistic ethics. The work is famous for its pragmatic, often controversial, advice and has influenced political thought for centuries.

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel DeFoe. Daniel Defoe’s The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe of York, Mariner (1719) is considered by many the first English novel. Based on the real-life experiences of the castaway Alexander Selkirk, the book has had a perennial appeal among readers of all ages-–especially the young adult reading public–-who continue to find inspiration in the inventive resourcefulness of its hero, sole survivor of a shipwreck who is marooned on an uninhabited island. Especially poignant, after more than two decades of unbroken solitude, is the ...

Paradise Lost by John Milton. Paradise Lost is an epic poem by John Milton that retells the biblical story of the Fall of Man, focusing on Satan's rebellion against God, his temptation of Adam and Eve, and their subsequent expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Written in blank verse, it is considered one of the greatest works in English literature, exploring themes of free will, obedience, temptation, and the nature of good and evil through its complex characters, particularly the charismatic Satan, who is often seen as a tragic hero.

''Tell It All'': The Story of a Life's Experience in Mormonism by Fanny Stenhouse. Fanny relates the experiences of a 19th century missionary as she and her young husband proselytize throughout Europe in search of converts to the new Mormon faith. Her religious zeal is sorely tested upon receipt of news from America revealing that their religion has adopted the practice of polygamy as the means to exaltation. The couple is summoned to Utah only to find themselves firmly ensconced in Brigham Young's inner circle and called upon to practice plural marriage or risk a fall from family, friends, ...

The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells. H. G. Wells wrote The War of the Worlds in 1898, when there was much speculation about life on the planet Mars. The book is considered to be one of the first science fiction novels. In the story, an English gentleman narrates the events of a violent and fast paced Martian invasion. The frightening images of people fleeing from gigantic tripod machines and the prospect of life under Martial rule have served as a bottomless well of inspiration for popular culture. The novel has served as a template for many derivative or inspired works, including comics,...

George Sand by Bertha Thomas. "Famous Women: George Sand" by Bertha Thomas is a historical account written in the late 19th century. The book explores the life and accomplishments of George Sand, a prominent 19th-century French writer known for her distinct literary voice and unconventional lifestyle. It aims to provide a concise overview of Sand's multifaceted life, emphasizing her literary career and personal experiences, shedding light on her as an extraordinary figure in the realm of women's history. The opening of the text sets the stage for George Sand's life, revealing her noble ...

Persuasion by Jane Austen. Eight years ago, Anne Elliot fell in love with a poor but ambitious young naval officer, Frederick Wentworth. The Elliots were dissatisfied with Anne's choice, feeling he was not distinguished enough for their family, and her older friend and mentor, Lady Russell, acting in place of Anne's deceased mother, persuaded her to break off the match. Now 27 and considered a spinster, Anne re-encounters her former fiance, now a captain, as he courts her spirited young neighbour, Louisa Musgrove. The self-interested machinations of Anne's older sister Elizabeth, of ...

Candide by Voltaire. Candide, by Voltaire, is a satirical novella published in 1759 that critiques philosophical optimism, particularly the idea that "all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds". The story follows the naive protagonist, Candide, as he endures a series of horrific and absurd misfortunes, leading him to reject his tutor Pangloss's optimistic teachings and ultimately conclude that the key to happiness is to "cultivate one's garden". It is a sharp, witty, and often dark satire of religion, government, philosophy, and human nature.

Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche. First published in 1886 at Nietzsche's own expense, the book was not initially considered important. In it, Nietzsche denounced what he considered to be the moral vacuity of 19th century thinkers. He attacked philosophers for what he considered to be their lack of critical sense and their blind acceptance of Christian premises in their considerations of morality and values. Beyond Good and Evil is a comprehensive overview of Nietzscheâs mature philosophy.

The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. The Divine Comedy (Italian: Commedia, later christened “Divina” by Giovanni Boccaccio), written by Dante Alighieri between 1308 and his death in 1321, is widely considered the central epic poem of Italian literature, the last great work of literature of the Middle Ages and the first great work of the Renaissance. A culmination of the medieval world-view of the afterlife, it establishes the Tuscan dialect in which it is written as the Italian standard, and is seen as one of the greatest works of world literature. The Divine Comedy is composed of ...

This podcast explores Popular Culture in the Americas, hosted by Dr. Melissa Maldonado-Salcedo. Pablo G. Alvarez produces it. This course is offered at New York University in the department of Anthropology at New York University. To download the syllabus and study guides or to read more about my work, please visit: www.melthestorydoc.com

The Science of Being Great by Wallace D. Wattles. The Science of Being Great, published in 1910 by Wallace D. Wattles, is a self-help book that teaches readers how to achieve personal greatness through self-awareness, right thinking, and spiritual development, focusing on aligning one's life with an inner, "pure idea" of power and greatness. It's a practical guide for unlocking potential, emphasizing obedience to the soul and abandoning outdated ideas to live a more powerful and purposeful life.