I just got word from the bookstore that the new copies of the course pack are in stock! If you’re around campus today, you should be able to pick yours up. If you can’t make it in before our next class meeting, I have the readings posted under the “Assignments” tab.

While you’re waiting, check out this short video from the New York Times of (amazing!) actress Fiona Shaw performing an excerpt from “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” A few years ago, she performed the whole thing at BAM. It gives me chills.

Fiona Shaw performs “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”

EDIT: You may also like this Onion article now that you are able to understand the joke!

Opium-inspired Ad Executive Composes Epic Tums Jingle

from Shaw’s UK performance of the poem

To supplement the reading for Tuesday, here’s a fun but informative video on the French Revolution, created by author John Green. As with anything I post here, you should feel free to comment or ask questions below. I’ll keep an eye on the comment section and bring up any questions during our class meeting.

This course blog will primarily be a central location to bring together course documents. (Over the course of the semester, you can check out the tabs above for the syllabus, assignment sheets, and other handouts.) I’ll also use this space to post images, audio, and video to complement our readings and discussion. From time to time, we may also use it to share responses to the texts or to review material.

If you ever have a question about the course, review the documents here first (especially the syllabus), and, if you can’t find an answer, send me an email.