A Conversation on Spirituality and Rationality in Art

Joining us for this podcast is Eric Bess. Eric is a practicing representational artist. He is currently a doctoral student at the Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts and he also writes on art, culture, and philosophy. We will be discussing the dilemma between spirituality and rationality through the works of Kierkegaard, Hegel […]

Make Journaling Your New Year’s Resolution

I have been journaling for more or less than 20 years. My journey in journaling began with an English teacher I had in high school who assigned for us to write a journal entry every day for the whole school year. During that class, I began to see the benefits of journaling regularly. My teacher’s […]

Capturing our Dreams: The First Years of Film

Movies and film conjure, create, and bring our subdued minds, suspended in disbelief to wherever they may take us. For this magic trick to work, the scenes on the screen have to be believed. The stories have to sufficiently capture our attention and not let go, lest the magician’s trick fail and bring the audience […]

Developing an Ordered Soul: The Importance of Self-Esteem to the Ancient Greeks

According to the ancient Greeks, amongst all of the aspirations we could have in life, there is one, the most vital that is so often overlooked, it is the development of a dignified and healthy relationship with ourselves and the cultivation of a positive self-esteem. The definition of self-esteem is “confidence in one’s own worth, […]

Jesuit Priests: The Ambassadors Between King Louis XIV and the Qing Emperor Kangxi

Dignitaries from kingdoms around the world, from India, Vietnam, to Tunisia paid their respects to the Sun King, King Louis XIV of France, the principal Monarch in Europe during the 1600s. His supreme rule, his dutiful focus on all aspects of French society propelled the Baroque era and its arts to its heights and gave […]

Avoiding Calamity: A Lesson from the American Civil War

During this election in the United States, the country appears to be heading into another dark chapter. When we look at the United States’ history, many similar times of uncertainty have come about. The American Civil War (1861-1865) divided friend, neighbor, and family in the country to a degree surpassing the divisions that exist today. […]

Our Sacred Bonds – The Blind Girl, Pre-Raphaelite Movement

The Blind Girl (1856) is a painting by John Everett Millais from the Pre-Raphaelite movement. The scene was painted on the road just outside the quaint, medieval town of Wincheslea near the coast of southern England. What was Millas trying to capture in this painting. In 19th century England, John Everett Millais established the Pre-Raphaelite movement […]

Miracles of the American Revolution – Prayer at Valley Forge

Arnold Friberg’s painting “Prayer at Valley Forge” gives us an insight into the inner world of George Washington.  He was a man of deep conviction. According to Timothy Ballard’s book “The Washington Hypothesis” his faith had been rewarded with miracle after miracle that aided the continental army and the young country that was meant to […]

A Selfless Warrior: The Leadership Traits of Crazy Horse

Leaders are often defined as someone who takes command or shows the way for others. A good leader is often thought of as someone others would want to emulate and follow willingly, someone that would guide them in a positive and healthy direction, and who would put others needs first before their own. A good […]

Kindness Amidst Calamity: Artist Murillo Cared for Children During the Spanish Plague in 17th Century

Revered in his day, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo was regarded as a national treasure in Spain during the 17th century. His works suited the tastes of the wealthy aristocrats who adorned their palace walls with themes of pious saints, cherubim, and stories from the Bible in rich baroque fashion. He also painted common folk, particularly impoverished […]