Search Our Writing:
Mad Men’s Beatitudes
Oct 27, 2013 | By Evy Behling TC '17
Thanks to Netflix and my (non)existing free time, I’ve recently started to watch Mad Men. The show, if you haven’t seen it, presents a compelling portrait of the dark side of the early 1960s, when America’s consumer culture was coming into full fruition. The main character is the continually frustrating Don Draper, portrayed by Jon Hamm. Don seems to be searching for a purpose beyond his grey-flannel-suit job as an ad man on Madison Avenue. He’s pretty disillusioned, between his difficult childhood and his participation in World War II as a soldier. Even when his long-lost brother tracks him down, Don pays him off to stay away. He is so clearly running away from his past and from himself. Advertising, to him, is a path to happiness:
Road Less Traveled
Aug 26, 2017 | Unknown
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
On Magic
Feb 14, 2014 | Unknown
Perhaps in the modern world we do not believe
in sorcerers or witchcraft. But we do know what Taylor
Swift means when she says that she was “enchanted”
to meet you. Magic and sorcery have not left this
world. We experience magic in modern love.
Perks of Being a Wallflower, a film based on the book
by Stephen Chbosky, ends with this beautiful, tumblr-
favorite voice-over by the main character, Charlie
(Logan Lerman): “This is happening, I am here and I
am looking at her. And she is so beautiful. I can see it.
This one moment when you know you’re not a sad story.
You are alive, and you stand up and see the lights
on the buildings and everything that makes you wonder.
And you’re listening to that song and that drive
with the people you love most in this world. And in
this moment I swear, we are infinite.”
A Letter to Yale
Nov 14, 2012 | By Evelyn Robertson TC '15
Inspired by Revelation 2-3: An Imaginary Letter from Christ to His Beloved Servants at Yale
These are the words of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords to my beloved ones at Yale, I know you perfectly (Jer. 1:5), every detail, every thought, every action (Ps. 139:2), for you were made through me (Col. 1:16), and still I also love you perfectly (Rom. 8:38-39), for you were made for me (Col 1:16). The Father has given you to me as a treasured possession (John 6:37) and I have pursued you with an unwavering love (Matt. 18:12-14) and through unimaginable sacrifice (John 10:11) to free you from sin and death. I am Yours, and You are Mine (Isa. 43:1-7).
Do Emotions Distort Knowledge Pt. 2
Sept 16, 2016 | By He Li TD '17
This danger of distortion, however, is only present when emotions sway the receptive mind during the reception of an idea. If the listener does not heed to such temperaments during the receptive process, then he is at no risk of obtaining distorted knowledge. The active and receptive intellects necessarily correspond with each other when they are free from emotion. The intellect is in fact the only receptive faculty used in human communication. Emotional faculties do not receive emotions; they respond to input received by the intellect by producing emotions.
Do Emotions Distort Knowledge Pt. 1
Aug 20th, 2016 | By He Li TD ‘17
When we communicate with one another, we wish by nature to do so in a manner that is not subject to distortion. We desire to attain an exact image of another person’s thoughts, just as they exist in his mind. Not only do we intend to understand the other person’s intellectual workings, we also wish to be fully receptive to the emotive aspects of his message.After all, sway of the heart may play just as crucial a role in a message as does sway of the mind. The active communicator often melds these two components together to form a complete idea.
Upcoming Events:
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Writing Voice Workshop
THURSDAY, JAN 22ND, 6:15-7:50 PM,
Elm Institute
This week, we will hone our writing voice in different styles.
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Editing for Writing with Voice Workshop
THURSDAY, JAN 29TH, 6:15-7:15 PM, Location TBD
Based on the previous week’s workshop, we will edit our pieces to hone our writing voice.
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Veritas Weekend
FEB 6-8TH, Boston
Save the date for Veritas Weekend in Boston! More information below!
Signup Date Passed
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Theme Introduction Meeting
THURSDAY, FEB 12ND, 6:15-7:15 PM,
Location TBD
Our theme this semester is… mirrors! We will be exploring the literary tradition and potential topics for mirrors.
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Theme Introduction at Elm
THURSDAY, FEB 19ND, 6:15-7:50 PM,
Elm Institute
We will be continuing our exploration of the theme of mirrors at the Elm Institute, with a session led by Peter Wicks.
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Writing Retreat
SATURDAY, MARCH 28TH
We will be adjourning to the countryside to spend a day dedicated to making progress on our drafts.