The first female in America to address mixed crowds at a public event, Frances Wright was one of the first American feminists, and female abolitionists, a champion of worker’s rights, and a sharp critic of religious institutions. Frances was the first American to write eloquently of sexual passion as a wonderful pleasure, not a sinful … Continue reading
(This article by Ronnie Pontiac was originally published in the February/March 2004 issue of Newtopia Magazine) From Akhenaton, that granddaddy of all activist poets, through the ancient Greek legend of the murdered reformer and musician Orpheus, to the secret musical codes of Sufis and troubadours, throughout history poets have helped rally humanity to the cause … Continue reading
A lot of religious fundamentalists insist that all social traditions that prevailed in the time and place where their religion was born are essential to the religion itself. The family values and sexual roles from the respective holy lands must be imported into new lands, and must never be allowed to evolve. So I feel … Continue reading
The Master, 2012 Director: Paul Thomas Anderson Writer: Paul Thomas Anderson Original Music By: Jonny Greenwood Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams At first, I thought The Master was going to be a story about a man returned from war who, drowning in the terror of his own soul, becomes thwarted in his … Continue reading
July 1996, Boulder, Colorado. After Allen’s last class that summer, Kai Sibley, the photographer, surprised me by saying “Let’s get a photo of you together,” and Allen said, “Of course” and grabbed my hand to bring us closer—so we’re holding hands in this photograph of the last time we’d be together.” Introduction On its first … Continue reading
The Wind Will Carry Us, 1999 Written and Directed by Abbas Kiarostami Starring Behzad Dorani, Noghre Asadi, Roushan Karam Truly one of the most beautiful films I’ve ever seen. Despite taking place in a barren area of Iran, the gorgeous cinematography of The Wind Will Carry Us transforms its audience from simple movie viewers to … Continue reading
(This article by Charles Shaw was originally published in the July 2002 issue of Newtopia Magazine) The uncertain future and undeniable significance of skyscrapers in our culture It was New Year’s Eve. I was sitting against the window on the west side of the signature room on the 96th floor of the John Hancock center … Continue reading
Part 4: Frames of Reference-Exploring our Differences (Valerie Pierce: Copyright 2011) “When we are born our peephole opens. When we die our peephole closes.” Kurt Vonnegut (Valerie Pierce: Copyright 2011) At the end of my last chapter, I talked about exploring the role the ego plays in thwarting … Continue reading
Daoist Temple on Mount Huashan Debra Kaatz, author, acupuncturist, shaman, healer, musician, gardener, lives a life devoted to learning about healing. Her quest has taken her to far away lands and into the presence of famous masters. She has authored a western acupuncture classic Characters of Wisdom: Taoist Tales of the Acupuncture Points. She’s a … Continue reading
Chimpanzee, 2011, narrated by Tim Allen From deep in the dense rain forest of Africa’s Ivory Coast comes a new hero brought to a theater near you by way of Disneynature’s “Planet Earth” state of the art documentary filmmaking. If you like a surprising turn of events to be a real surprise then see Chimpanzee … Continue reading
