Emmy Award winner and freelance photographer, producer and occasional camera operator working and collaborating in various documentary projects as well as productions with the world’s leading media companies.

I am a storyteller focusing on under-reported issues and current events, while also ...

The metaphor of the domesticated lover in Florencio Conde by José María Samper

11 Jul 2023  |  Dialnet  |  Spanish  |  Literary Analysis

The article examines the portrayal of a freed slave in the post-Independence period of New Granada in José María Samper's novel 'Florencio Conde. Escenas de la vida colombiana' (1875). It explores the character Segundo Conde as an economic subject and a 'racialized lover,' whose freedom is retracted, reinstating a slave regime and the master's desire. The analysis highlights the aesthetic attempt to construct a rational yet docile citizen, exemplifying mestizaje within the nation's foundation and new production relations. The novel's depiction of interracial romance challenges the era's norms, suggesting a future of racial blending and social acceptance. The study supports the thesis that the novel represents a literary artifact through which 19th-century Hispanic American elites began forming a national literary tradition reflecting racial, cultural, and social convergence.

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Literary Analysis Post-Independence Era Racial Dynamics

Informative

Factuality Scale

Center-Left

Political View

Jacky Chan is a journalist based in Zhengzhou, China.

Reading 'The Waste Land' 100 years on

03 Feb 2022  |  cherwell.org  |  English  |  Literary Analysis

Reflecting on the centenary of T. S. Eliot’s The Waste Land and James Joyce’s Ulysses, the article explores the contemporary relevance of these literary modernist works, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Waste Land is analyzed for its themes of fragmentation, hope, and redemption, with the author arguing that the poem offers a nuanced perspective on post-crisis recovery. The text critiques the UK government's 'live with the virus' approach and suggests that Eliot's work encourages a more reflective and cautious path forward.

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Literary Analysis Modernism COVID-19 Pandemic

Interpretive

Factuality Scale

Center-Left

Political View

Paul Collins is a journalist based in Kampala, Uganda. Worked for International media houses and has great experience in documentaries. He is also prolific in reporting about different events.

Jefferson’s Lump of Coal

24 Dec 2006  |  www.nytimes.com  |  English  |  Historical Analysis

Clement Clarke Moore, best known for his poem 'A Visit From St. Nicholas,' also authored a lesser-known polemic against Thomas Jefferson's 'Notes on the State of Virginia.' Moore's pamphlet criticized Jefferson's geological and proto-evolutionary ideas, as well as his views on race, accusing him of debasing African Americans. Despite Moore's own family's history with slavery, his critique was more about opposing Jefferson politically. While Moore's Christmas poem became a beloved classic, his anti-Jefferson pamphlet faded into obscurity.

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Literary Criticism Historical Analysis Racism

Balanced

Factuality Scale

Center-Left

Political View

William Dunbar is a journalist based in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Tragedy and Trauerspiel: John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi

01 Oct 2023  |  www.connotations.de  |  English  |  Literary Analysis

The article explores the complex genre classification of John Webster's play 'The Duchess of Malfi,' examining its elements of tragedy and Trauerspiel. It discusses the historical and critical reception of the play, highlighting the protagonist's death, lack of anagnorisis, and the chaotic fifth act. The analysis draws on Walter Benjamin's concept of Trauerspiel to offer new insights into the play's structure and themes, suggesting that Webster's work is a generic transaction between classical tragedy and baroque Trauerspiel. The article also considers the play's historical context, including the decline of the aristocracy and the evolving role of women in Jacobean society.

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Literary Analysis Theatre John Webster

Informative

Factuality Scale

Jorge Garcia is a journalist based in Miami, United States of America. Work in radio and TV Miami. Univision Radio,Telefutura, WDLP-TV, Gen-TV, TVC/TV, CV Network, Metro Traffic and News

Thefts and Strategies of Appropriation and Concealment in the 'General Description of the World' (1684) by Pedro Cubero

23 May 2022  |  Dialnet  |  Spanish  |  Literary Analysis

In 1684, the renowned missionary Pedro Cubero published 'Descripción general del mundo' in Naples, claiming to provide a comprehensive overview of world history and geography. However, the text is largely incoherent and focuses almost entirely on the origins and conquest of Tahuantinsuyo. This inconsistency is attributed to Cubero's extensive plagiarism of Miguel Cabello Valboa's 'Miscelánea Antártica.' The study aims to analyze the methods Cubero used to appropriate and conceal Valboa's work and speculate on the possible reasons behind this maneuver, considering Cubero's life and literary career.

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Literary Analysis Plagiarism Historical Texts

Balanced

Factuality Scale

Hai-Di Nguyen is a Vietnamese multimedia journalist based in London. She grew up in Vietnam, moved to Norway at the age of fifteen with her mother as a political refugee, and later moved to the United Kingdom. She has written for several years for Vietnamese-language Tre Magazine (based in Dallas) ...

In Search of Lost Time Vol.2: the girls at Balbec; the narrator being repellent

01 Nov 2022  |  thelittlewhiteattic.blogspot.com  |  English  |  Literary Criticism

In Part 2 of 'Within a Budding Grove' from 'In Search of Lost Time', the narrator forms various relationships at Balbec, including with Robert de Saint-Loup, Bloch, Baron de Charlus, and Albertine. The narrative delves into the complexities of these characters, particularly focusing on the girls at Balbec. The author critiques the narrator's behavior and character, finding him repellent and manipulative. The text also explores themes of perception and the multifaceted nature of individuals, highlighting the contrast between appearances and underlying traits.

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Character Analysis Literary Criticism

Interpretive

Factuality Scale

Thi Nguyen is a writer and translator based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

A Compartmentalized World: The Enduring Relevance of Vu Trong Phung's 'Dumb Luck'

20 Dec 2023  |  saigoneer.com  |  English  |  Literary Analysis

The article provides an in-depth analysis of Vu Trong Phung's novel 'Dumb Luck' (Số Đỏ), a seminal work in Vietnamese literature that was once banned but is now part of the country's high school curriculum. The novel satirizes the Europeanization of Vietnamese society through the story of Red-Haired Xuan, who rises from poverty to become a symbol of modernity. The author discusses themes of modernity versus tradition, the impact of colonialism, and the superficiality of societal changes. The article also touches on the relevance of Phung's critiques in the context of contemporary neo-imperialism and neoliberalism. It examines the novel's commentary on the commodification of women's liberation and the spectacle of modern life, drawing parallels with Guy Debord's theory of the society of the spectacle. The analysis suggests that while the novel mocks the Vietnamese bourgeoisie's obsession with Western standards, it also questions the binary of Western modernity versus Eastern tradition without idealizing the latter.

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Literary Analysis Postcolonial Literature Vietnamese Culture Cultural Critique

Kartikeya Shankar is a journalist based in Delhi NCR, India.

Diving into the world of Roald Dahl

17 Mar 2024  |  The Times of India  |  English  |  Literary Analysis

The article discusses the unique aspects of Roald Dahl's children's literature, highlighting how he diverged from traditional storytelling by incorporating themes of the grotesque, revenge, and the darker sides of human nature. Dahl's works, such as 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory', 'James and the Giant Peach', and 'Matilda', are noted for their appeal to both children and adults. Critics like Amanda Craig and Michael Rosen comment on the presence of misogyny and sadism in Dahl's books. Donald Sturrock, Dahl’s biographer, provides insight into Dahl's personal life and his complex relationship with children. The article suggests that despite the dark themes, Dahl's stories resonate with children and often conclude with a triumph of innocence, reflecting a restoration of faith in humanity post-World War II.

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Literary Analysis Children's Literature Roald Dahl's Themes