Poetry is unquestionably linked with speechwriting. The most memorable and effective addresses use literary devices to make policies palatable to the public. Yet many speeches rely on ornamental poetry alone. Though a clever turn of phrase or the use of words that strike emotional chords might move audiences briefly, poeticism is most potent when paired … Read more
Haruki Murakami: the Japanese author who has become the darling of disaffected college students in the English-speaking world. His surrealist writings spanning over two decades deal with lonely protagonists, mysteriously silent women who dress in navy blue, as well as a smattering of autobiographical themes and objects. Most all of the novels take place in … Read more
Crystal Ball “You get the word passed to you. ‘Hey, uh – make sure your food and water and ammo last – we’ve been cut off.’ “You’re like, uh, that’s not good – I’m kind of in a desert. There aren’t a ton of things around here that we could use. It’s like going back … Read more
Though the polls make it clear that Governor Christie wants this debate to be a game-changer, there’s little evidence to believe it will be. The era when we learned about actual policy stances or even personalities during the debates has long since passed—even the conventions became just another blip in the 24-hour news cycle. Can … Read more
You hear the phrases constantly. “The system is failing.” “We just can’t go on like this anymore.” So imagine this. No, that’s it. Just imagine. What would it look like? What would we do differently? And then instead of crowding your mind with the clutter of institutions and what is and is not possible, employ … Read more
In India, gender inequality begins before birth. A land of paradoxes, the nation that recently bade farewell to its first female president and boasts the likes of Indira Nooyi and Indira Gandhi as natives, was also ranked among the top five most dangerous countries for women. In an ironic twist of fate, the technology that … Read more
71 years. Since the PRI recaptured the presidency earlier this summer, news media outlets have reminded observers of the 71 years (1929-2000) that el tricolor dominated the Mexican political landscape through vote-buying and rigged elections. While understanding those 71 years is crucial to contextualizing Mexico’s contemporary politics, remembering the last twelve years, the years when a … Read more
In India, gender inequality begins before birth. A land of paradoxes, the nation that recently bade farewell to its first female president and boasts the likes of Indira Nooyi and Indira Gandhi as natives, was also ranked among the top five most dangerous countries for women. In an ironic twist of fate, the technology that … Read more