The Trump Show Continues
As a dramaturgist, Trump is in a class of his own. I am trying not to pay attention everyday what he is doing to keep my mental health, but this morning I read the story in the NYT about this first cabinet meeting, and the role is handed to Elon Musk. Hats off. This is 
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[Read More] Love has Won
I recently came across the documentary Love Has Won, which tells the story of a young American woman who formed a cult around herself, convincing her followers that she was “Mother God.” The rise of smartphone technology after 2008, with the introduction of the iPhone and Android devices, has made documentary filmmaking significantly more accessible. [Read More]
Departures
For many years, I have recorded films that I want to see in a to-do list software called OmniFocus. There are 128 items on the films list. One of them is Okuribito (a foreign language film). It is in position No. 5, which means it was recorded many years ago. I searched for the film [Read More]
From Marx to MAGA
The WSJ published this beautiful essay by Jacob Berger, a professor of philosophy at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Why MAGA Folks Should Read Marx
Today’s conservative populists will find sympathetic ideas about the failings of capitalism in the writings of the great communist philosopher
On the campaign trail, Donald Trump promised to reform higher education, which he [Read More]
To live
This Chinese novel is deeply moving. The writing is very simple, but it manages to pierce through one’s heart. Set during the Civil War in China, it tells the story of a farmer who gambled away his father’s land and tries to make a living in an increasingly difficult context. First, he is forcefully inducted [Read More]
Romeo and Julia
Shakespeare wrote his play Romeo and Juliet in 1596. I just learned that there have been at least 30 major motion pictures of the play. I once read that there is a new Romeo and Juliet film every year, but I could not confirm this. In any case, Shakespeare’s genius lies in his ability to [Read More]
Sister Act
Sister Act is a wonderfully funny film that showcases the acting skills of Whoopi Goldberg, who can pull off comedy solely with her facial expressions. It reminded me of the more recent Pitch Perfect movies, where teenagers compete to be the best a cappella group. Here, it’s a choir of nuns in San Francisco who, [Read More]