Month: October 2025

The Importance of Art as Resistance and Existence

A few weeks ago, someone told me about the work of neurologist and psychologist Viktor Frankl and his time in a concentration camp duroing World War II. After the person told me about Frankl, I sought out his memoir Man’s Search for Meaning where he lays out his ideas surrounding logotherapy. Frankl explains that logotherapy, which derives from logos, the Greek word for “meaning,” “focuses on the meaning of … Read More The Importance of Art as Resistance and Existence

I Don’t Hate the South: I Just Want a Better South

During my undergraduate career, even though I was not what you would call an exemplary student, I sat amazed at professors, specifically English professors, who would rattle off titles, authors, and quotes at will, linking them together like a tapestry above my head. I never thought I would be able to do that, but as the years have progressed and I have spent, at … Read More I Don’t Hate the South: I Just Want a Better South

+

“This ain’t us! We’re better than that!”: Denying Reality in S.A. Cosby’s “All the Sinners Bleed”

Inevitably, when some tragedy occurs, numerous voices rise up to proclaim, “This ain’t us! I can’t believe it — fill in the blank — happened here.” This line of thought requires blinders that work to shield individuals from the realities of the communities they inhabit. They see tragedies as happening elsewhere, outside of their own space. No matter what the tragedy, it’s always a … Read More “This ain’t us! We’re better than that!”: Denying Reality in S.A. Cosby’s “All the Sinners Bleed”

+

“The devil can quote the Good Book”: Religious Bigotry in S.A. Cosby’s “All the Sinner’s Bleed”

A couple of years ago, I walked through the library looking for a book to read during the winter break. I kept seeing S.A. Cosby’s All the Sinners Bleed, and as I passed it, I thought, “Now is the time to give it a read since I’ll be able to read during the break.” I devoured the book on the way to Louisiana to visit … Read More “The devil can quote the Good Book”: Religious Bigotry in S.A. Cosby’s “All the Sinner’s Bleed”

Nothing Happens in Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path”

As I was organizing my American literature survey course this semester, I knew that I wanted to center it on short stories. I did this because I wanted to provide students with a broad swath of literature and literary movements from 1865 to the present. With this in mind, I knew, as well, that I wanted to include Ernest Gaines’ “The Sky is Gray,” because, like … Read More Nothing Happens in Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path”