Oxford University Press's
Academic Insights for the Thinking World
In Kafka: A Very Short Introduction, author Ritchie Robertson dedicates an entire section of the (very short) book to Kafka’s famous Letter to His Father. When reading the letter and the VSI together, it’s almost as if Franz rests on the couch and Robertson takes notes.
Kathryn Kalinak is Professor of English and Film Studies at Rhode Island College. Her extensive writing on film music includes numerous articles and several books, the most recent of which is Film Music: A Very Short Introduction. You may remember her from an Oscar season interview on WNYC’s Soundcheck, when she accurately predicted a win for Michael Giacchino’s score in Up. Now, she has been asked back to the show (today at 2pm ET) to discuss the score in the new Robin Hood movie, starring Russell Crowe. Kalinak shares her thoughts after the jump.
Donald Ritchie looks at common misperceptions about Roosevelt and Congress.
Kathryn Kalinak reflects on the the 2010 Oscar “Original Score” presentations and results.
Kathryn Kalinak makes her predictions for the 2010 Oscar “Original Score” category, and a chance to submit your guesses.
Adam Silverstein compares the study of Islamic history to the performance of magic.
An excerpt from Drugs: A Very Short Introduction by Prof. Les Iversen, the new chairman of the UK’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.
Martin Stannard, author of the ODNB’s new entry on Muriel Spark, and of Muriel Spark: The Biography (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2009), writes about how he first met Spark.
Anatoly Liberman’s weekly post.
Donald Ritchie’s favorite book is True Compass.
Mark Maslin kicks off the OUPblog Countdown to Copenhagen.
Rathbone writes, “I had fallen in love with a tart, a very pretty tart, but a tart with stony heart.” Read why South Africa has been his “Place of the Year” for quite some time.
HIV/AIDS expert Alan Whiteside on the recent HIV vaccine trails in Thailand.
Andrew Robinson, author of Writing and Script: A Very Short Introduction on the internet and language.
Professor Hermione Lee talks about her new book Biography: A Very Short Introduction.
Joseph Siracusa on whether nuclear weapons make us safer or not.