CW: Mentions of depression In “Ender’s Game,” kids play war games under the expectation that they are training. In reality, they are fighting a war. Without knowing it, they commit xenocide. What are the real stakes to the games we play? Dr. Jane McGonigal, director of game research and development
Author: Blake Plante
Sarah Lewis on three traits of creative success: Mastery, privation, and grit
In 1926, Shadrack Emanuel Lee was in the 11th grade at a public school in Brooklyn and wanted to know why his textbooks presented the concept of “excellence” in only one way. He wanted to know where African Americans were, where Latinos and indigenous Native Americans were — “where the
Academy award-winning director Lonergan speaks at Pomona
“There are some exceptions –– but the general Hollywood process is to make scripts into mincemeat.” Kenneth Lonergan is a filmmaker with a distinct voice. He knows what he likes and he knows what he doesn’t; he knows what he’s capable of and what he isn’t; he tries to pursue
Fay, DJ Spooky give new light to environmental adaptation
In an episode of “The Twilight Zone,” a timid bank teller who enjoys books has his life dictated to him by the outside world. With never enough time to read, he eventually sneaks a few books into a bank vault and closes the door behind him. Outside, a nuclear blast
Greil Marcus on failure, Nixon, and coming home
I’ll admit right off the bat that I haven’t read any of Greil Marcus’ work. But upon hearing him speak on the annual theme “Fail Better” for Pomona College Humanities Studio’s inaugural Speaker Series, I couldn’t help but feel entranced. Marcus, a music journalist and cultural critic, spoke with candidness