With Good Reason

Most Americans are only superficially acquainted with Middle Eastern music, as presented in movie soundtracks. However, music from the Arabic speaking countries is very diverse and is integral to the spiritual life of the people who listen to it. Anne Rasmussen (The College of William and Mary)leads an ensemble of music students who perform Middle [...]

“Intelligent Design” is the idea that the universe and human life are so complex, neither could have emerged without the guiding hand of a creator. Most scientists consider the idea of “intelligent design” more philosophy than science. Aaron Johnson (University of Virginia’s College at Wise) says the debate reflects the public’s confusion over what science [...]

William Faulkner was a rich presence on the University of Virginia grounds fifty years ago. Steve Railton (University of Virginia) discusses Faulkner’s influence on American literature and what the recordings from his time at UVa offer visitors to a current Faulkner exhibit. Also: Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald had a celebrity marriage during the Jazz [...]

Dan Kerr (James Madison University) says America has a homelessness crisis. To find out why, he spoke to homeless people on the streets and in the shelters of Cleveland, Ohio, and he has recordings of those conversations to share. He’s found that the causes of homelessness lie in the lack of affordable housing and the [...]

“Losers shop at Target.” That’s one of the messages coming through in ‘Gossip Girls,’ a popular teen book and TV series. Naomi Johnson (Longwood University) says these books are filled with product placements that try to convince young girls that the most important thing in life is to get a boy through buying and wearing [...]