Shows
Montana Classical CollegeWho Should Rule? Shakespeare's The TempestHello and welcome to Montana Classical College. Today I’ll be discussing Shakespeare’s The Tempest. This is part of our course, Shakespeare as Political Philosopher. Previously I covered Much Ado about Nothing with King Bolingbroke and then we did a 5 part series on King Lear. He won’t be with me this time, but I did listen to a helpful conversation that he recorded with Athenian Stranger that I will link to the page. I hope to have him back soon! Additionally I did a space on X with Rewire the West and Athenian Stranger which I also...2024-07-1352 min
Montana Classical CollegeKing Lear Act Five: Justice and WisdomKing Bolingbroke and I put a bow on our King Lear series! Previous discussions are linked below. He recently started a substack as well. You should read and subscribe to it!Act OneAct TwoAct ThreeAct FourI was compelled to head out of town last week, so the re-launch is off to a late start. Nevertheless, here is the first of regularly scheduled Wednesday / Saturday posts for the next month! This is a public episode. If you'd like to...2023-09-141h 25
Montana Classical CollegeKing Lear Act Four: Edgar, Education, and JusticeHere are our earlier conversations:Act OneAct TwoAct ThreeKing Bolingbroke and I walk through each scene and try to show how even the short ones seemingly designed to “just move the plot forward,” are artfully constructed and highly revealing. We discussed Edgar’s different approaches to guiding Gloucester and Lear; whether Cordelia has improved; the difference between reading and watching Shakespeare’s plays; and we broached the enormous question of what Shakespeare’s over-arching vision of human life is—among many other things. We hope that you enjoy!2023-07-191h 29
Montana Classical CollegeKing Lear Act Three: Lear and the Pagan-Christian CollisionHere are our discussions on Act One and Act Two. You might also enjoy a panel discussion that Bolingbroke contributed a lot to on Hamlet. Are you following his Shakespearean exhortations on twitter?Whereas we focused a lot on Kent last time, this time we relentlessly focused on the psychology of Lear. We discuss competing views of nature that are brought out and the increasingly large intrusion of Christianity into what at first appeared as a pagan cosmos. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers...2023-07-131h 29
Montana Classical CollegeKing Lear Act Two: Kent, Accelerationism, and the CoupHello and welcome to Montana Classical College! I was joined again by the charming and intelligent King Bolingbroke who by this point holds the endowed chair of Anonymous Shakespeare studies at MCC. We discussed Kent’s arc of action in both Act One and Act Two. Here is the article that we often referred to—I highly recommend that you check it out. It makes a strong case for Kent being “no less than he seems,” which is to say, that he is equal to or greater than he seems.Here is our discussi...2023-06-271h 08
Montana Classical CollegeKing Lear Act One: Nature, Politics, and Self-KnowledgeHere is the first of five sessions on King Lear! This was conducted with the noble King Bolingbroke who you should follow. You can find a recent new interview of his right here. We discussed Much Ado About Nothing here.Here is an outline:* Bolingbroke exhorts you to read Shakespeare.* I summarize Act One.* We discuss the ways in which Lear may understand himself as a kind of god.* We read out loud Lear’s “Meantime,” speech where he gives an account of why he wishes to split up his ki...2023-06-151h 10
Montana Classical CollegeOn Reason and Love in Shakespeare's Much Ado About NothingI had an excellent conversation with @kingbolingbroke (his twitter handle) on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. I’m sure that you will find his writings on contemporary politics to be of interest and they can be found here:* King of Twitter at American Mind* That Hideous Strength Animating Joe Biden at American Greatness.Here is a brief table of contents of our conversation:* I introduce Bolingbroke and he tells us why Shakespeare writes such good books.* I briefly summarize the play.* Bolingbroke announces the them...2023-03-271h 27