Tag Archives: American culture
The Dying Art of Cursive in English Posted by Gary Locke on May 4, 2017
Cursive is any writing in which the letters are joined together in a flowing manner. In English, we call this penmanship in longhand. It is also known as writing in script. Whatever you call it, this is becoming a disappearing skill. The letters in English cursive writing always loop, eventually finding and connecting with each…
Reciting Poetry Posted by Gary Locke on Apr 7, 2017
Emily: Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it–every, every minute? Stage Manager: No. (pause) The saints and poets, maybe they do some. From “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder April is the month which brings us in the United States…
Where’d You Get That Drawl, Y’all? Posted by Gary Locke on Mar 17, 2017
Where did the famous Southern drawl of the American South come from, and why is it so often imitated? As I’ve mentioned before, I sometimes work in the theater. Lately, I’ve been in rehearsal for All the Way, a play about President Lyndon Johnson, and the passage of the United States Civil Rights Bill. I’m…
The “King” of Comic Books Posted by Gary Locke on Mar 9, 2017
If you’ve been to the movies in recent years, or even if you’ve been watching TV, you are probably aware of the popularity of comic book characters, and their influence on popular culture. Thor, Iron Man, Captain America, The Hulk and others are all figures in what is known as the Marvel universe. They are…
The 3 Best “Best Picture” Winners Posted by Gary Locke on Feb 24, 2017
It’s that time of year again, when Hollywood honors itself with the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences awards for excellence, otherwise known as the Oscars. Most years, the awards show is more memorable for the gowns and the teary speeches than for who won and who lost. But, not always. Sometimes, the award…
For the Holidays, a Rice Salad with the Colors of the Season Posted by Gary Locke on Dec 22, 2016
I like to entertain for the holiday season. I have hosted Christmas at my house for many years, usually have at least one holiday party, and may find myself cooking for other gatherings as well. Of all the things I serve, one recipe invariably gets shared with friends – my holiday wild rice salad. Wild…
Hygge and the American Dream Posted by Gary Locke on Dec 16, 2016
Hygge (n): a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being. It is regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture. The Oxford English Dictionary, as it does every year, selects a “Word of the Year” from a list of ten finalists selected by its editors. This year, the…