Around the Common Room

by Travis

My review of Portus 2008
John Granger on Potter and medieval studies
Dark Knight fans: If you haven’t read Dave’s post on Joker and Voldemort yet, you should
Dark Knight fans (again): Here are two opposite perspectives on the film - Brant Hansen thinks it’s evidence of the utter boredom of our culture; Jeffrey Overstreet thinks it’s good mythmaking (guess which one I agree with…)
HP Progs put together the Mother of All Deathly Hallows Birthday Posts
In the category of interesting blogs I’ve found as a result of Portus 2008: Mythic Thinking, run by Priscilla Hobbs, is now in my RSS reader. Apparently, I “tickle her shadow.”
If anyone can find me or create for me a 50×30 image for Plurk (like the Twitter and Facebook icons you see to your right - something with the Plurk favicon “P” on it?), I’ll think you’re pretty cool. I’ve tried image searches and come up with nothing.
I’m heading into San Diego today and tomorrow, and I don’t know whether I’ll have internet access in my hotel room. When I get back, either Thursday or Friday, I’ll record the next podcast, which will include audio from the Jim Dale press conference. The audio is not great, and you’ll have to turn your speakers way up. It’ll be worth it.

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Tags: Dark Knight·Jeffrey Overstreet·Jim Dale·John Granger·myth·Portus 2008

1 Penny // Jul 23, 2008 at 10:28 am

Wow, thanks for the mention in the article, Travis
2 revgeorge // Jul 23, 2008 at 12:24 pm

Well, I read both reviews of The Dark Knight. I’m sure you agree more with Overstreet’s review, Travis. But I also wouldn’t dismiss the critique by Brant Hansen. I think he does also make some excellent points about our culture ala along the lines of Neil Postman’s Amusing Ourselves To Death. But he perhaps takes it too far & lets the violence & seeming chaos of the movie distract him from the deeper messages.

This point is hit upon in another review by Thomas Hibbs, found in First Things, which strangely enough I found on a libertarian web site. Go figure.

Here’s the link. I’ll also post it on the discussion of Dave’s essay.

http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/?p=1130
3 revgeorge // Jul 23, 2008 at 2:29 pm

Here’s another review on The Dark Knight that I think is good. It is from a libertarian perspective, but I think it also makes a commentary on villains & their flaws which would also apply to Voldemort.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/tucker/tucker101.html
4 Travis Prinzi // Jul 23, 2008 at 6:22 pm

Free wireless at the Ramada. Sweet. Overstreet linked that Hibbs review and another. Thanks for the links, revgeorge. I think you’ve summed up the weakness of Hanse’s review quite well.
5 Travis Prinzi // Jul 24, 2008 at 1:07 am

Testing something.