Of course, when asked to go for an image from the art of World War 1 I go for one that is anti-war and undermines heroism, without being Wilfred Owen (who is well enough known). This is an image from Paul Nash illustrating a Richard Aldington poem. My comment from course board: Undermining the heroic … More A new course from the University of Leeds on heroism in World War 1 and the assessment/participation methodology used.

‘Faced with madness, we bury our heads and willingly pass off the problem to psychiatrists so we do not need to confront the challenge it poses.’[1] Do we as a society need, and can we dare, to acknowledge the needs of those already abandoned at the door of our collective ignorance of their causes and … More ‘Faced with madness, we bury our heads and willingly pass off the problem to psychiatrists so we do not need to confront the challenge it poses.’ Reflecting on Owen Whooley (2019) ‘On The Heels of Ignorance: Psychiatry and the Politics of Not Knowing’

‘There is an odd but revealing phrase – ‘in the flesh’ – for seeing art in reality, not reproduction’.[1] What do we ‘pursue’ in the ‘pursuit of objects of art. Reflections on Martin Gayford’s (2019) The Pursuit of Art London, Thames & Hudson. I admire Martin Gayford quite a lot. However, the brief and rather … More ‘There is an odd but revealing phrase – ‘in the flesh’ – for seeing art in reality, not reproduction’.[1] What do we ‘pursue’ in the ‘pursuit’ of objects of art. Reflections on Martin Gayford’s (2019) ‘The Pursuit of Art’

‘You have to begin there, with the oppression, to understand why the gay subculture is the way it is, otherwise your book is going to be another crock of academic shit.’[1] Felice Picano on why describing gay culture is neither value-free (if indeed any claim to ‘objectivity’ ever is) and that its values are political. … More ‘You have to begin there, with the oppression, to understand why the gay subculture is the way it is, otherwise your book is going to be another crock of academic shit.’Felice Picano on why describing gay culture is neither value-free and that its values are political. Reflecting mainly on ‘The Lure’ (1979)

‘If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?’.[1] Waiting for the return of a long-awaited (and expected to be popular) art exhibition and the fate of those who wait. Reflections on art exhibitions and the substitutes for them in and after lockdown based on reading the 2020 translated novel by Catherine Cusset (translated Theresa Lavender … More ‘If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?’. Waiting for the return of a long-awaited (and expected to be popular) art exhibition and the fate of those who wait. Reflections based on reading the 2020 translated novel by Catherine Cusset (translated Theresa Lavender Fagan) ‘David Hockney: A Lif upe London’ & Martin Gayford’s (2021) ‘Spring Cannot Be Cancelled: David Hockney in Normandy’.

‘I see him. Thomas Müntzer! And he is no longer the little Thomas of before, … the son of the dead man, no longer even an object of study’ he is a man, any fleeting life’.[1] What or whom is the subject of Éric Vuillard’s The War of the Poor? Reflection on Éric Vuillard [trans. … More ‘I see him. Thomas Müntzer! And he is no longer the little Thomas of before, … the son of the dead man, no longer even an object of study’ he is a man, any fleeting life’. What or whom is the subject of Éric Vuillard’s ‘The War of the Poor’? Reflection on Éric Vuillard [trans. by Mark Polizotti] (2021) ‘The War of the Poor’

Supporting a child who is undergoing institutionalised healthcare will involve, of course, a primary attention to the most appropriate and correct research on the physical, mental and social experience of the illness. Treatment still needs to be fast and efficient and focused if it is not to be counterproductive. This will involve some primary engagement … More Write 350-500 words on “Children’s illness – how to support them”. Assignment 1 University of Cape Town MOOC on ‘Health and the Humanities’ via Futurelearn.

‘ All those patently depraved, noxious, flaccid, gross, womanish beings, perverted and imperfect in moral nature and in even their bodily tissues. Those homosexual legions that are the straw-chaff of society; …’.[1]: Sex/Gender politics and the enforcement of  oppression from within. The horrible roots of the LGB Alliance in the early ‘gay’ novel – reflecting … More ‘ All those patently depraved, noxious, flaccid, gross, womanish beings, perverted and imperfect in moral nature and in even their bodily tissues. Those homosexual legions that are the straw-chaff of society; …’: Sex/Gender politics and the enforcement of  oppression from within. The horrible roots of the LGB Alliance in the early ‘gay’ novel – reflecting on Edward Prime-Stevenson’s [ed. James J. Gifford] (2003) ‘Imre: A Memorandum’ (first published 1906 in Naples)

Giving to my husband all he deserves Every nerve would strain. All those nerves Operating in concert are not enough For the rich symphony of fine stuff, Failure to avoid: no option I’d say As a celebration of this birthday. Time passes my dearest at such a pace Each year of our marriage I’d again … More To Geoff, my husband, 80 today. With love, Steve.

‘ “Will you walk a little straighter?” said a clergyman I knew’.[1]: On Stephen “Tommy” Tomlin and why sexual categories can be so confusing when used to summarise a life! Reflecting on : The Bloomsbury Stud: The Life of Stephen ‘Tommy’ Tomlin by Michael Bloch & Susan Fox (2020) London, M.A.B. Available direct from publishers … More ‘ “Will you walk a little straighter?” said a clergyman I knew’.[1]: On Stephen “Tommy” Tomlin and why sexual categories can be so confusing when used to summarise a life! Reflecting on : ‘The Bloomsbury Stud: The Life of Stephen ‘Tommy’ Tomlin’ by Michael Bloch & Susan Fox (2020).

Justice demands that your birthday be sung Under Princely order, it must be done. So let the royal name give way to one That shows that artists over monarchs shone. In this light your birthday glitters pure  joy.  No-one may sing like him, but this! our Boy. This verse is not strong, not enough to … More To Justin on his birthday.