Max, your columns are shaping up be the constituent elements of a Master Class in Shakespeare's works, as translated into our current 'culture.' Honestly, the only other place where I see the kind of intellectual excellence is in Steven's offerings and Ammo Grrrl's work in the newly organized Powerline.
I read anything that Victor Davis Hanson posts anywhere I encounter it. Same for Thomas Sowell. And, I see a lot of similarities in your columns, which -- in my view -- is a high compliment to your work, and the effort that you put into it. I know you and you wife-columnist are very humble, and you might think that I'm laying it on too thick. IMHO, I am not. Just tellin' it like it is, my friend.
In some ways, because you are so technically talented, your use of the videos to make your points cleverly takes the reader into a level of understanding that Shakespeare could not ever have imagined. VDH also does a ton of videos, which are much like his written work. You are successfully muscling into some high cotton.
Earlier this morning, I commented on a column at Powerline, where it addressed a college president who got caught ruminating about replacing a member of their board ,who is Jewish, with a Muslim replacement. If the situation had been the reverse, the Media would beat the Islamophobia dead horse until its collective arms could not be raised about their waist.
The college president, one Ms. Shipman, issued an apology that was so farcical on its face that it merits only a huge guffaw, and a knowing, frustrated nod at the idiotic behavior. Of course, you raised the general issue of the progressive's inability to address their mistakes. I had a number of excellent examples from today's column, but this is the most relevant. "Now anyone can get things wrong, even that wrong. I’ve been wronger than that myself. But some self-awareness requires that, after events prove you wrong, you cop to your mistakes."
Believe it or not, I made the same point in my comment. Besides, It has always suited my personal career to simply say, "... I have no excuse, sir! I was wrong. I'll take my bathing like a man." This approach takes the post mess up phase into a far healthier environment for everybody. I know our progressive 'friends' would see my admissions as Cis Normal male, patriarchal behavior. But, then, and I'm certainly not a psychologist, they are bat -[expletive deleted] crazy. So who cares what they think?
You left out the most fun part of Sonnet 135, which is that in Shakespeare's day "will" was slang for sexual desire and the associated body parts of both men and women. This gives the poem a pretty dang naughty second reading.
Sometimes its nice not to be that important. At least then people won't hesitate to tell you your wrong. And if you don't have this giant ego you may even listen. Sometimes. To quote the rabbis as you sometimes do, Who is he who is wise, he who learns from everybody. Now frankly the Shakesperean sonnets were a little over my head. But the information about Shakespeares wife is fascinating.
Reading Max and Steve reminds me of arriving in med school, having been at the top of my class throughout my years of school—like everyone else around me—and realizing I would be fortunate to be fair to middling in that group!
But I would bet all I have that you were top in "compassionate listening to the patient" and so-called "bedside manner". And none too shabby in cardiology either. Can't fool us. But, yeah, it is a shock to be a biggish fish in a smallish pond and meet the ocean!
I'll be sure and pay attention, Max. Not gonna let you get away with nuttin. ;-)
To say that I'm no Shakespearean would be the understatement of the.., well, it would be an understatement. But to watch you weave that into some of our politics of the day was interesting.
"Greene’s bobble-headed agreement" - was my assessment of her segment with Tucker after some few 5 mins. That was enough. Don't know what has happened to Tucker but it is not pleasant to watch. And though I cancelled my subscription to TCN it doesn't actually cancel until it's renewal date in December - plus, most of what I paid for ends up on Rumble for free. So I'm staying in touch just to keep abreast of what he is up to. It seems to get stranger by the day. I seriously think he could benefit greatly from an abundance of 'some vacation time.'
I often say, to myself, that I am bold because I do not fear being wrong. Of course it is 'sometimes' bruising to the ego, but the healing strengthens the spot.
Thanks for a very interesting and intriguing post.
I haven’t looked at our read one of his sonnets since high school (long ago). This was a fascinating discussion. Almost makes me want to find a copy and read them all
Good idea to revisit them, Mr. Kaplan. I find them so incredibly human and moving that I often find my eyes leaking when I'm not even cutting onions. I stipulate that we get more emotional and sentimental as we get older, but some words just go straight to the heart.
On Tucker, I gave up on him when he declared to his audience that Kanye "wasn't crazy". Yet Tucker failed to disclose Kayne's antisemitic rant, even though his crew captured it.
Tucker sabotaged himself with this latest round of Iran bombing hysteria.
Bad things happen to journalism careers when the audience thinks you're not straight with them. With Tucker, it appears you first get his "spin", and a selective editing of fact to support his viewpoint.
I usually admire your articles, Mr. Vass. But this one was way off. You are being absolutely pedantic to talk about characters in fiction being incapable of self-awareness because, precisely as creations, they are capable of whatever their creator wants them to be capable of. Just like some fictional characters are capable of heroism & love or cowardice & hate. And you got off into the weeds with Tucker. Why bother with a person you, and most of us, consider an insecure poseur? But I salute your informative section on Will's wife and analysis of a couple of his sonnets. So, for me that gives you 2 hits, no runs, and an error.
I suspect the reason so little is known about the Bard's personal life is because Shakespeare was the pen name of Edward DeVere, 17th Earl of Oxford. Although I am certainly no scholar on the subject, it seems impossible that someone in that time period could openly write such piercing witticisms without losing their head.
As I continue with my allotted treat of 50 pages a day of your splendid book, it is obvious that RESEARCH is one of your long suits. However, Max is quite certain that Will Shakespeare lived and breathed and wrote every golden word. He also has looked into it quite closely. I look forward to you two having talks far into the night at CC4. Pistols at dawn? Nah...all convivial, respectful and FUN! AG
On the original pronunciation, that's a fair question. There are several techniques used, for example, from spelling: Does "proved" rhyme with "loved"? It did when Shakespeare wrote this couplet in Sonnet 116:
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.
The Globe and other theaters have mounted performances in OP, for example, of "Romeo and Juliet" and others. Audiences have responded favorably.
If you're interested, Ben and David Crystal have posted YouTube videos and written books on the subject.
Max, your columns are shaping up be the constituent elements of a Master Class in Shakespeare's works, as translated into our current 'culture.' Honestly, the only other place where I see the kind of intellectual excellence is in Steven's offerings and Ammo Grrrl's work in the newly organized Powerline.
I read anything that Victor Davis Hanson posts anywhere I encounter it. Same for Thomas Sowell. And, I see a lot of similarities in your columns, which -- in my view -- is a high compliment to your work, and the effort that you put into it. I know you and you wife-columnist are very humble, and you might think that I'm laying it on too thick. IMHO, I am not. Just tellin' it like it is, my friend.
In some ways, because you are so technically talented, your use of the videos to make your points cleverly takes the reader into a level of understanding that Shakespeare could not ever have imagined. VDH also does a ton of videos, which are much like his written work. You are successfully muscling into some high cotton.
Earlier this morning, I commented on a column at Powerline, where it addressed a college president who got caught ruminating about replacing a member of their board ,who is Jewish, with a Muslim replacement. If the situation had been the reverse, the Media would beat the Islamophobia dead horse until its collective arms could not be raised about their waist.
The college president, one Ms. Shipman, issued an apology that was so farcical on its face that it merits only a huge guffaw, and a knowing, frustrated nod at the idiotic behavior. Of course, you raised the general issue of the progressive's inability to address their mistakes. I had a number of excellent examples from today's column, but this is the most relevant. "Now anyone can get things wrong, even that wrong. I’ve been wronger than that myself. But some self-awareness requires that, after events prove you wrong, you cop to your mistakes."
Believe it or not, I made the same point in my comment. Besides, It has always suited my personal career to simply say, "... I have no excuse, sir! I was wrong. I'll take my bathing like a man." This approach takes the post mess up phase into a far healthier environment for everybody. I know our progressive 'friends' would see my admissions as Cis Normal male, patriarchal behavior. But, then, and I'm certainly not a psychologist, they are bat -[expletive deleted] crazy. So who cares what they think?
Hello TonyP,
Enjoyed this post. Great to see you around, here.
Jim
You left out the most fun part of Sonnet 135, which is that in Shakespeare's day "will" was slang for sexual desire and the associated body parts of both men and women. This gives the poem a pretty dang naughty second reading.
True, I did leave that out. Maybe some other post!
"There are three things extremely hard: steel, diamonds, and to know one's self." -- Ben Franklin
Sometimes its nice not to be that important. At least then people won't hesitate to tell you your wrong. And if you don't have this giant ego you may even listen. Sometimes. To quote the rabbis as you sometimes do, Who is he who is wise, he who learns from everybody. Now frankly the Shakesperean sonnets were a little over my head. But the information about Shakespeares wife is fascinating.
Reading Max and Steve reminds me of arriving in med school, having been at the top of my class throughout my years of school—like everyone else around me—and realizing I would be fortunate to be fair to middling in that group!
But I would bet all I have that you were top in "compassionate listening to the patient" and so-called "bedside manner". And none too shabby in cardiology either. Can't fool us. But, yeah, it is a shock to be a biggish fish in a smallish pond and meet the ocean!
AG
I'll be sure and pay attention, Max. Not gonna let you get away with nuttin. ;-)
To say that I'm no Shakespearean would be the understatement of the.., well, it would be an understatement. But to watch you weave that into some of our politics of the day was interesting.
"Greene’s bobble-headed agreement" - was my assessment of her segment with Tucker after some few 5 mins. That was enough. Don't know what has happened to Tucker but it is not pleasant to watch. And though I cancelled my subscription to TCN it doesn't actually cancel until it's renewal date in December - plus, most of what I paid for ends up on Rumble for free. So I'm staying in touch just to keep abreast of what he is up to. It seems to get stranger by the day. I seriously think he could benefit greatly from an abundance of 'some vacation time.'
I often say, to myself, that I am bold because I do not fear being wrong. Of course it is 'sometimes' bruising to the ego, but the healing strengthens the spot.
Thanks for a very interesting and intriguing post.
Jim
I haven’t looked at our read one of his sonnets since high school (long ago). This was a fascinating discussion. Almost makes me want to find a copy and read them all
Good idea to revisit them, Mr. Kaplan. I find them so incredibly human and moving that I often find my eyes leaking when I'm not even cutting onions. I stipulate that we get more emotional and sentimental as we get older, but some words just go straight to the heart.
Ammo Grrrll
On Tucker, I gave up on him when he declared to his audience that Kanye "wasn't crazy". Yet Tucker failed to disclose Kayne's antisemitic rant, even though his crew captured it.
Tucker sabotaged himself with this latest round of Iran bombing hysteria.
Bad things happen to journalism careers when the audience thinks you're not straight with them. With Tucker, it appears you first get his "spin", and a selective editing of fact to support his viewpoint.
I usually admire your articles, Mr. Vass. But this one was way off. You are being absolutely pedantic to talk about characters in fiction being incapable of self-awareness because, precisely as creations, they are capable of whatever their creator wants them to be capable of. Just like some fictional characters are capable of heroism & love or cowardice & hate. And you got off into the weeds with Tucker. Why bother with a person you, and most of us, consider an insecure poseur? But I salute your informative section on Will's wife and analysis of a couple of his sonnets. So, for me that gives you 2 hits, no runs, and an error.
I suspect the reason so little is known about the Bard's personal life is because Shakespeare was the pen name of Edward DeVere, 17th Earl of Oxford. Although I am certainly no scholar on the subject, it seems impossible that someone in that time period could openly write such piercing witticisms without losing their head.
As I continue with my allotted treat of 50 pages a day of your splendid book, it is obvious that RESEARCH is one of your long suits. However, Max is quite certain that Will Shakespeare lived and breathed and wrote every golden word. He also has looked into it quite closely. I look forward to you two having talks far into the night at CC4. Pistols at dawn? Nah...all convivial, respectful and FUN! AG
Please let me know when and where these conversations will take place. I would gladly forego a night’s sleep to be in that audience.
Sleep? Sleep? What means this word, sir, in the context of a 3-day confab with 100 of your favorite people???
AG
About the political part:
Pundit types don't need to be right to prosper. They just need a big enough cheering section. With that, they can be set for life.
About the authentic old accent: How do we know it's real? Time travel?
On the original pronunciation, that's a fair question. There are several techniques used, for example, from spelling: Does "proved" rhyme with "loved"? It did when Shakespeare wrote this couplet in Sonnet 116:
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.
The Globe and other theaters have mounted performances in OP, for example, of "Romeo and Juliet" and others. Audiences have responded favorably.
If you're interested, Ben and David Crystal have posted YouTube videos and written books on the subject.
I've seen other rhymes that looked good on paper.
When I was quite young, although exactly what age escapes me now, we were assigned poetry-writing in English class. Here is what I turned in:
I wrote a little poem.
Which wasn't very good.
Because it didn't rhyme,
The way that all poems should rhyme.
The future humorist and standup comic was not yet appreciated...
AG
Late appreciation is better than none. You’re getting lots of it now, sweetie !