Author Archives: Glynn Marshes

Starbucks Goes Kitsch

Posted on March 20, 2015 by Glynn Marshes

Glynn Marshes writes: Okay, I’m going to say it: when Starbucks worked, as a cultural phenom, it worked because the experience was something close to art. Yes, we sophisticates quickly wearied of the Starbucks experience. The damn franchise has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Personal reflections | 9 Comments

Back to … the Marshall McLuhan Future

Posted on December 31, 2014 by Glynn Marshes

Glynn Marshes writes: A couple days ago, University of Tennessee law professor Glenn Reynolds, a.k.a. the blogger Instapundit, penned a column for USA Today titled “Politicians benefit from American tribal warfare.” Tribalism, Reynolds writes, “is the default state of humanity.” … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Media, Politics and Economics, Technology | Tagged Marshall McLuhan, media, politics, technology, tribalism | 15 Comments

It’s a Crazy Book and I Didn’t Mean to Write It…

Posted on November 22, 2014 by Glynn Marshes

Glynn Marshes writes: I did not know this. Another major, and separate contribution to the confusion surrounding the Celts was begun in 1944 by one of the greatest modern English poets and historical novelists, Robert Graves. In three weeks during … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Publishing and Writing, Philosophy and Religion | 2 Comments

What We Throw Away, The Lit Edition

Posted on November 11, 2014 by Glynn Marshes

Glynn Marshes writes: Observations by indie writer Dan Meadows, who regularly patronizes his library’s used book sales. I find the post interesting not only because I watch the book industry, but also in terms of cultural anthropology in a broader … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Publishing and Writing | 9 Comments

omg…it’s a twitter essay!

Posted on August 19, 2014 by Glynn Marshes

Glynn Marshes writes: And I didn’t even know twitter essays were a thing. Topic: social contracts, protests, and whether contemporary police theories about crowd control are a throwback to 19th century mob violence literature. In seventeen numbered 140-character tweets. With … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Economics | 3 Comments

On The Menu: Lobster Tail with a Side of Delightful Writing

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Glynn Marshes

Glynn Marshes writes: Albert Burneko. Deadspin. How To Cook Lobster Tails: A Guide For People Who Don’t Have Butlers To Do All The Work. A taste: The truth about lobster is this: It is less flavorful, less sweet, more bland … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and health, Humor | 1 Comment

Four Critics Walked Into a Book . . .

Posted on May 29, 2014 by Glynn Marshes

Glynn Marshes writes: Highly recommend The Norton Critical Edition of Goethe’s Faust, if you’re in a lit-nerd mood. The translation (Walter Arndt) is more-than-approachable and the interpretive notes (Cyrus Hamlin) are terrific. And as an added bonus, the last 180 … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Publishing and Writing | 2 Comments

Absolute Perfection

Posted on March 22, 2014 by Glynn Marshes

Glynn Marshes writes: Let’s be quite clear about this: I do not like my Martini mucked about with; I guess, in exactly the same way that Dad did not want ice or lemon peel in his Gin and French. Traditional … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and health | 3 Comments

Fear Factor

Posted on February 24, 2014 by Glynn Marshes

Glynn Marshes writes: I find this heartening. In an op-ed on France for the LA Times, Pascal Bruckner cites fear as one of the most significant factor’s in that country’s unsettling decline. For the French have become afraid of everything: … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal reflections, Politics and Economics | 1 Comment