ON HISTORY AND MOVIES

Before they shift to the fall issue, I should alert readers to a recent piece I wrote for the Common Review (an important small literary magazine that's won awards recently). It's about the "horrors," to quote Brando in Apocalypse Now, of teaching classes dealing with history and movies. Here's the magazine address, and you can find my article there. If it's gone, check out archives. The article was in the Summer 2007 issue.

http://www.thecommonreview.org

I want to call attention to two good pieces that discuss Neil Jumonville's and my recent book, Liberalism for a New Century. The first appeared in the New York Times, the second in the Chronicle Review. Smart insights in both pieces, but then again, I'm kinda partial.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/02/arts/02left.html?_r=1&ex=1189915200&en=4da171590d55b3fd&ei=5070&oref=slogin

http://chronicle.com/temp/reprint.php?id=39g20r5pgts19x36n4l86mkfwjw4c01h

updating the website

I've asked an old student of mine, Matt Davis, to help update my website. In this section -- News from Kevin Mattson -- I'll offer updates about my writing or teaching. But I'm not really a blogger. At times, though, I'll send forth into the blackhole of cyberspace a few commentariats. So you can check back. In the mean time, hope you enjoy the new website.