Five Fantastic Books in Bloomsburys Musical 33 ? Series

Five Fantastic Books in Bloomsburys Musical 33 ? Series What at first seems like another book series designed for impulse purchase, Bloomsbury’s 33? is a surprisingly broad collection based on a simple premise: writers, musicians, and musicologists write a short book about an album they love. The series began in 2003 under the now-defunct Continuum Press and has racked up one hundred and thirty eight entries in the series and its spinoff 33? Global. While the obvious entry for cracking into the series is buy the book about the album I like, this list is curated with the more surprising entries into the series, when the writers pushed the premise to its editorial limits. Example: I hold Guns n Roses and their racist, garbage noise rock in incredibly low regard, but Eric Weisbard’s history of Use Your Illusion I and II is a remarkable cultural history that explains why Axl Rose is such a loser without ever treating its subject with contempt. The slim volumes are fun, digestible, and written with an intelligent enthusiasm that only these highly educated überfans could muster. These are the five best entries: No. 120 Angelo Badalamenti Soundtrack From Twin Peaks by Clare Nina Morelli There are only two soundtracks in the entire series, the first being Koji Kondo’s Super Mario Brothers, a brilliant introduction to video game music and composition, and the other  The Twin Peaks Soundtrack. Clare Nina Morelli sets up the history of collaboration between David Lynch, Julee Cruise, and Angelo Badalamenti, and their atypical composition process (where David Lynch yells moods at Angelo, who improvises until they find a theme that fits) but then devotes the second half of the book to musical analysis of the four major melodies in the series. She breaks apart the title track, Falling, and how each of its harmonic ideas reshape and bend themselves to form every scene and mood in Lynch’s imagination. The clinical treatment of Badalamenti’s leitmotifs is tempered with Morelli’s academic affection for film and television scoring and her own loving history with the series and soundtrack. No. 32 Sly and the Family Stone’s There’s A Riot Going On by Miles Marshall Lewis You should pick this up just to read Miles Marshall Lewis, a writer who has that passionate understanding of real-life characters that most journalists spend entire careers cultivating. Where many essayists would conclude 70s fables with cynicism, he extracts the surprising and strangely touching. His entry into the 33? series is an empathetic critical examination of Sly Stone’s masterwork. Sly’s own history is insane, even by the 1970s David-Bowie-Living-On-A-Diet-Of-Cocaine-and-Milk standards. There’s A Riot Going On was a concentration of America’s political turmoil distilled into one of the best albums of that era, and we are so damn lucky to have Miles Marshall Lewis unpack it for us. No. 56 Black Sabbath’s Master of Reality by John Darnielle One of the few fictions in the the 33? series, the 56th is the story of an institutionalized teenager told through prescribed diary entries. The language is richly melodramatic in a way that only a teenager (or in Darnielle’s case,  an eternal teenager) could write. While the entries are desperate and tragic, they convey that universal sensation all adolescents hold at one point: how, at your most sensitive and impressionable age, music becomes one of the few outlets for expressing your personhood. Darnielle understands everyone had that one album that kept your fragile adolescent body together. Then he asked: what if you took that away from someone? No. 47 A Tribe Called Quest’s People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm by Shawn Taylor Taylor roots himself into the album, the biography of his teenage self as a parallel story to A Tribe Called Quest’s debut. While this does have the highs and lows of a teenage self-awakening, it’s also funny as hell. Taylor’s anecdotes are entertaining enough to read aloud to friends. If you finish it in one sitting, you’ll be left with sore ribs and a nuanced appreciation of one of Hip Hop’s defining albums. Global No. 3 Supercell’s Supercell Featuring Hatsune Miku by Keisuke Yamada Hatsune Miku has a repertoire of over 100,000 original songs. She speaks English, Japanese, and Chinese and has been touring internationally since 2009. She is eleven years old. Hatsune Miku is a software vocaloid voicebank available for purchase online. Her collaboration with the J-Pop band Supercell is one of the most definitive albums of the Desktop Music wave of the mid 2000s. Yamada’s breezy history is a perfect introduction to a music scene that is deep, communal, and batshit crazy.

The Growth Of American Individuality - 1721 Words

The Growth of American Individuality in Relation to Self-Expression Religion is an imperfect savior. Primitive civilizations depended on religion to explain the workings of the world; they depended on gods to protect their crops and homes from disease, drought, and other disasters far out of human control. While this dependency provided comfort, it sacrificed individuality. Recent years has seen the rise of alternative forms of media: novels, digital music, movies. These were not available to previous civilizations. Early Americans only had access to the Bible, which was unreadable to the average illiterate. Newer forms of media have spurned a nation-wide reflection on the old traditions that were largely set by religion. Ever since the founding of the colonies, and ever since more diverse forms of self-expression have become more accessible, Americans have grown in individuality as they have become less dependent on religion. The Puritans were the first of the Europeans to settle in the Americas. While their traditions have left a profound mark on American culture, their strict ways are rather peculiar. In The Crucible, Arthur Miller critiques Puritan society as close-minded and obsessed about maintaining conformity. â€Å"The parochial snobbery of these people was partly responsible for their failure to convert the Indians. Probably they also preferred to take land from heathens rather than from fellow Christians† (140). The Puritans revolved their culture around religion,Show MoreRelated The Problems of Individuallity and Conformity Within a Society1688 Words   |  7 Pageswhere people come to be free from persecution and express their thoughts and opinions. This founding principle led American society to pull away from conformity and pushes for individuality. Many family TV shows and several media outlets propagate individuality as a source of pride and evidence of personal growth. 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In the case of Edna Pontellier, it is society that holds her growth in check beca use it frowns upon women who are not subservient to their husband. In every novel, a close companion helps the leading ladies on their way to independence. In â€Å"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings† it is a female character, Mrs. Bertha Flowers, helps promote the shy Maya’s individuality. It is a similar case in â€Å"The Awakening†, in which anotherRead MoreAnalysis Of `` On Self Respect `` By Joan Didion1077 Words   |  5 Pagesof self-respect and the honesty we have for ourselves. Richard Rodriguez, in his essay â€Å" Aria- A Memoir of A Bilingual Childhood†, also explores the relationship between individual and public. However, the lost of private individuality may,in some way, be the growth of a bilingual child. â€Å"Spanish seemed to me the language of home. It became the language of joyful return.† As a young child, Rodriguez found safety and comfort in his Spanish-speaking family which provided him with love and securityRead MoreErikson s Theory Of Lifespan1471 Words   |  6 Pagesdemonstrated through certainty about sex roles, an active interest in the opposite sex, while unsuccessful resolution is represented in doubts of identity and lack of confidence (Erikson handout, 2017.) However, not everyone fits into a â€Å"mainstream† individuality, neglecting them from inclusion in the theory at this stage. For these individuals, it may cause conflict within the stage and a different representation in their lifespan. Women, for example, would have a different development at this stage thanRead MoreThe Current Value Of America1431 Words   |  6 PagesThe current value that America holds on to the closest is individualism. According to a study conducted by Pew Global, â€Å"nearly six-in-ten (58%) Americans believe it is more important for everyone to be free to pursue their life’s goals without interference from the state† (â€Å"The American-Western European†, 21). This number is quite high compared to other countries, such as Britain with 38% and Germany with 26%, and attributes to our nation’s ideology. America was founded to be independent and freeRead MoreThe Human Relations Approach Leaves Room For Creativity And Entrepreneurship912 Words   |  4 Pagesenvironment, often there is no room for personal growth, or socio-psychological development. Mas low defined self-actualization as â€Å"to become that which one is capable of becoming or the realization of one’s potentialities† (Bryman, 1976). In a classically managed environment, formal organization structure prohibits the attainment of self-actualization by design (Bryman, 1976). In the classically structured organization, the human element is lost as individuality is sacrificed for specialized efficiencyRead MoreIndian Assimilation from early 1800 - late 1900 Essay1172 Words   |  5 Pageswere fighting for dominance in the U.S., the American government developed a plan to eradicate the First Nations’ roots, buying into the philosophy of Captain Richard H. Pratt when he stated that instead of killing all the Natives it would be of more use to â€Å"kill the Indian, and save the man† (â€Å"Kill†). Between the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, the United States government used boarding schools to try to assimilate Native Americ ans into modern American culture; however, these plans only alienatedRead MoreExamination of the Education System in Idiot Nation, by Michael Moore 1351 Words   |  5 PagesIn his essay, â€Å"Idiot Nation,† Michael Moore directly conveys the horrid truth behind American education when he utters the sheer words, â€Å"the knowledge (students) acquire in school is not going to serve them throughout their lifetimes. Many of them will have four to five careers in a lifetime. It will be their ability to navigate information that will matter† (Moore 141). According to Moore, American education today is by no means preparing students for the real world of work. 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Crically Evaluate the Claim That Infants Have an Innate...

Critically evaluate the claim that infants have an innate knowledge of object properties. Use evidence to support your arguments. Object properties have been systematically associated with the Piagetian approach of cognitive development and in particular the sensorimotor period. Until the 1970’s, Piaget’s influential stance that knowledge of object properties is only learned from around nine months old had not been questioned. However, due to more contemporary studies there have been claims that not only do younger infants exhibit behaviours suggesting that Piaget’s assumptions may underestimate cognitive abilities but some studies have controversially suggested that newborns have shown to have a certain amount of innate knowledge. This†¦show more content†¦Interestingly though, some researchers do not halt at the suggestion that Piaget underestimated younger infants cognitive abilities, but instead refute Piaget’s assumption that ‘humans do not start out as cognitive beings’ (Berk, 2009) and in fact have some innate cognitive abilities. There have been suggesti ons that knowledge of object properties depends on visual information relating to perceptual abilities of the infant, addressed in a study by Valenza, Zulian and Leo (2005). They tested infants’ ability to recognise a correspondence between one version of a simple shape with another. Results showed infants recognised a correspondence more between a partly occluded shape and a non occluded shape than a non occluded shape and an unoccluded shape with a gap, implying that there may be some innate ability. The importance of the simplicity of the shapes used in Valenza et al’s study (2005) had been addressed by other researchers such as Kellman and Spelke (1983) who stated that the type of visual information used by younger infants differs from the visual information used by older children, therefore implying that there may be different thresholds of information needed for

The metaphorical language Free Essays

The metaphorical language is not unusual in the English language. It is used variedly and very often not just as a form of speech. Metaphors are a form of thought with its distinct epistemological functions. We will write a custom essay sample on The metaphorical language or any similar topic only for you Order Now A metaphor is a direct comparison between two or more seemingly unrelated subjects. It is a description of the first subject as being or equal to the second subject in a way. The implicit and explicit attributes of the second subjects are used to enhance the second subject’s description. This form is usually used in literature to convey expressions or associations to correlate context. Used in rhetoric, metaphors are direct equation of terms that is more assertive than just simple analogy of subjects. It provides foundation for thinking, reasoning and understanding of our culture.(2006) Metaphor is greatly used in comprising ordinary concepts, motivating semantic change and meaning of linguistic expressions and in a way influencing people to make sense of the true meanings of words. Ordinary concepts are explained through mentioning their similarities and differences against one another. Semantic change can be brought forth by metaphors used properly and metaphors used greatly enhance how meanings are given to words and concepts.   Using metaphors allows writers and people in general to convey ideas that are creatively put in a way and that is easier to understand that just using the literal language. Metaphors are directly stated and can help capture the true essence between two subjects’ distinctiveness. Metaphors not only perform its functions in literary writing, it also has social functions. The use of metaphors reinforces the connection between speaker and listeners. We realize that the popularity of the use of metaphors is due to the fact that people use and understand them. There is an instant connection between speakers and listeners if a metaphorical expression is used because most metaphors are commonly used.   Metaphors are often used by philosophers like Plato in their arguments and speeches to convey ideas and expressions. Metaphors help them explains these concepts more to their listeners, even at time enhance the meanings in the concepts they use. It also gives other people the individual approach and beliefs of each one of us. Metaphors are consistently used in political reasoning and justification of foreign policies. Given the said quotation by Richard Gibbs in 1994, we will evaluate the use of metaphors in politics. How metaphors are used, what metaphors are used, and what are the meanings and implications of these metaphors. This exploration of the usage of metaphors will help us understand why metaphors are great influence in our lives. They are not only used as a language and as words to express, but also have meaning which holds significant importance to each of us. Often times, metaphors are used because it is better and easier to understand them than the literal form of language used. This happens when people realize the association between the concepts. This strengthens how the words and concepts are used by people. In recent political language, metaphors are clearly seen used frequently by people. An election campaign, for example, is referred to as a war or race of candidate vying for a certain position in the government. Other metaphors used in politics constantly change with time and location, and several meaning can be diverse due to certain persons’ understanding of the concrete metaphor. An example of metaphors used in government language is nanny politics. This is referred to as laws and bills characterize as a protection for the masses against bad entrepreneurs according to critics. Consumer protection laws are coined as mommy politics, laws that outlaws anything that is dangerous for anyone no matter where they are. These understanding are criticisms often addressed in metaphors. (2006) Metaphors according to Gibbs are also the link used between a concept and the bodily experience.(Miyakoshi 2006) The difference between embodied metaphor and abstraction from experience is distinguishable from the rise of metaphors from reality. The concepts are from the experiences of the individual; in this case, metaphors of politics are derived from observations of the people regarding how the reality in politics works. In a study conducted by Vervaeke and Kennedy in 1996 draws their analysis on several metaphors with regards to a study also done by Lakoff and Johnson in 1980. They both presented a broad range of interpretations of the metaphors used not only in politics but also other areas as well. In political context, for example, the statement â€Å"argument is war† can be interpreted in various ways. The researchers concluded that whenever the words â€Å"maneuver†, â€Å"strategy† or â€Å"defend† are used, any of which are used as metaphors for the other words as well. The intentions of these metaphors are to express the underlying concepts of either a war, athletic competition or a game.(Ritchie 2004) The history regarding depicting metaphors as important speech forms in society had been part of Lakoff and Johnson researches done in 1980. The study regarding metaphors had concluded a lot of observations that Richard Gibbs agrees to as well. War and race is very much used in the metaphors used in politics. The metaphors used in politics are greatly seen as correlated with observations regarding how the political system works. This enables people to derive their interpretation of the metaphors. Evaluating the quote regarding politics using metaphors used in war and sports is due to the observations of people on politics being confrontations. It may also be because people see politics like events seen in war and in sports. In sports, people compete, challenge one another, win and lose. This is also seen in politics. This presents a strong relationship between the two subjects and entities to be compared to one another. In war, there is also the fact of losing and winning a war, the defeat and the triumph is also experienced in politics. There are many contributing factors as to why these three subjects are interrelated often times. Metaphors are one way to express the similarities observed by people with the subjects conce rned. Metaphors are strongly and often used in politics to address an idea and expression. The language is simple, often times very understandable by people. The meanings for these metaphors can greatly change over time and place, whether it may be negative or a positive attribution of the subjects. Through metaphors, words can be played creatively with meanings still discernable. The effectiveness of the metaphors can be gauged by how the meanings still remain after the attribution done with different concepts. Meanings are in people. A cohesive meaning attributed to a specific metaphor is effective in expressing in another way the concepts in politics. (2006). â€Å"metaphors.†Ã‚  Ã‚   Retrieved october 22, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaphor. (2006). â€Å"metaphors.†Ã‚  Ã‚   Retrieved october 22, 2006, from http://webserve.govst.edu/users/ghrank/Political/Not-So-Great%20Expectations/metaphors.htm. Miyakoshi, R. R. a. K. (2006) Eighth Speaker: Raymond Gibbs Questions and Answer.   Volume, 1 DOI: Ritchie, L. D. (2004). â€Å"Lost in â€Å"Conceptual Space†: Metaphors of Conceptual Integration.† References: {, 2006 #2} {Graff, 2006 #5} {Kà ¶vecses, 2006 #8} {Zyngier, 2006 #9} How to cite The metaphorical language, Essay examples

Preventing Aboriginal Suicide Essays - Cognition, Neuropsychology

Preventing Aboriginal Suicide PREVENTING ABORIGINAL SUICIDE: DOES A SHIFT IN THE DOMINANT SCHOOLING PARADIGM HOLD SOME PROMISE? by R. Lloyd Ryan, PhD R. Lloyd Ryan, Ph.D. P. O. Box 1072 Lewisporte, NF Phone: 709 535 8464 email: [emailprotected] It is with growing alarm, concern and compassion that we witness the continuing (and growing?) high rate of suicide in Canada's Aboriginal community. This phenomenon has numerous far-reaching and negative implications and, up to the present, few satisfactory explanations and fewer proposed solutions. It is, thus, imperative that aspects of contemporary Aboriginal personal and community living that have not yet come under sufficient scrutiny be examined and analyzed, not for anthropological or abstract sociological purposes, but for intensely personal and life purposes. It must be realized that, sometimes, it is that which is most ubiquitous and familiar which may be most ignored, the assumption being that what is common is not significant. An example is parasites borne by the river that has fed us for generations, or heavy metals in our staple food, both contributing to chronic health problems, and both ignored because we expect severe dysfunction to have exotic and unfamiliar dress. It is, thus, proposed that the existing predominant model of schooling, in this case schooling of Aboriginal children, come under careful scrutiny. Aboriginals, like most other Canadians, have accepted, now almost without question, the principle that education is the key to a secure and happy future. This principle may be as fraught with problems as the one-time equally-accepted principle that the earth was the centre of the universe and that the sun was just one of earth's satellites. Just as it was heresy to question the geo-centric universe, it is now similar heresy to question the principle, the dogma, of the value of education. It is now being questioned! This may not be merely a questioning of the value of education (whatever it is we mean by that). Indeed, Aboriginal communities have recognized that some elements of the schooling system have potential for negative impact on life and living. Now, having taken over some control of their educational systems, they have made some significant curricular changes ... and, that is good - as far as it goes. The major aspect of the problem, however, does not necessarily rest simply with the content of the curriculum, although that is undoubtedly important, so much as with the very concept of schooling, and the concomitant and consistent concepts of the nature of learning and of the child as learner. It may be the fact that the product of the educational system may not be the expected and hoped for education. In fact, that which is actually delivered and received may be antithetical to that which is anticipated and hoped for. Rather than the schooling experience providing the hoped for emancipation, it may be providing an insidious enslavement and addiction to dysfunctional concepts of what constitutes learning, and dysfunctional perceptions of personal response to that learning. In other words, the hoped for education may not be that which is supportive of Aboriginal communities or of individual Aboriginal youth or adults. There is no doubt that one could engage in a rather extensive (and possibly stimulating) philosophical discourse about what constitutes education, without arriving at an answer that would be satisfactory, either generally, or particularly to the Aboriginal community. There is, no doubt, a great need to have that debate in the general population, as well as in the Aboriginal community. To some extent, that debate, however one-sided and unfinished, has been on-going, giving rise to a number of royal commission reports and to the growth of a whole new testing industry in Canada, for example. The solution for Aboriginal communities, and indeed for the general community, does not lie in that direction, primarily because the crucial questions have been neither asked nor answered. The major question has to be How do children learn, naturally? That is, how does a child's brain learn? How do children learn? What are the implications for schooling? What are the implications for children's developing self-concept and personal confidence and conceptualization of personal value and self-worth? Is the very model of contemporary schooling so out-of-step with natural brain functioning that it precipitates the destruction of children's self-esteem, so much so that their personal and social deterioration -

DEBT RETIREMENT IN PAKISTAN essays

DEBT RETIREMENT IN PAKISTAN essays The two gap theory suggests that the developing countries have to rely heavily on foreign capital in flows ( FCI s ) to fill two gaps: the import export gap and the savings investment gap.Despite the fact that all developing countries need FCIs for their development the volume the type: Project , non-project assistance The country size and the state of economic development mainly determines the size and type of FCIs . As a less developed country Pakistan has long been relying on foreign aid and has been the largest recipient of foreign direct investment. More over the external debt situation of an individual country may not seem to be interesting when analyzed from an international perspective. For example the external debt situation of a south Asian country as Pakistan. The external debt situation of this individual country has strong repercussions on their development. Debt is the largest capital in flow in Pakistan and it has played a critical role in the country development. The trends and pattern and the terms of have changed much in recent years. Pakistan lacks physical financial and human capital infrastructure and political and macro economic stability. Its economic structure remains in flexible and foreign transactions are regulated. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF DEBT On one hand the debt augments the domestic resources of the recipient, helps to promote growth and structural transformation, assists to over come the balance of payments and government budget deficits, transfers advanced technology and improves human resources. On the other hand, foreign aid may distort domestic savings, introduce in appropriate technology, and increase the debt burden of the r ...

3 Reasons Why The Handmaid’s Tale Remains Relevant

3 Reasons Why 'The Handmaid’s Tale' Remains Relevant The Handmaid’s Tale is the second dystopian work of speculative fiction - after George Orwell’s 1984 - to suddenly appear on top of the bestseller lists years after its release. The renewed interest in Margaret Atwood’s classic story of a post-apocalyptic America dominated by a puritanical religious sect that reduces most women to subjugated breeder status stems from both the current political atmosphere in the United States and the adaptation airing on Hulu starring Elizabeth Moss, Alexis Bledel, and Joseph Fiennes. What’s interesting about The Handmaid’s Tale is how many people assume it’s much older than it actually is. The book was originally published in 1985, and while that’s 32 years ago many people are surprised it wasn’t penned in the 1950s or 1960s; blame this on our tendency to believe that the present and very recent past are fairly enlightened. People assume the book was written during what some see as the final gasp of patriarchy- before birth control and the women’s liberation movement started the slow, agonizing process of pursuing equality for women and raising consciousness around the world. On the other hand, a book written three decades ago still resonates with a particular power. Hulu didnt adapt The Handmaid’s Tale as a revered classic kept behind glass, but rather as a pulsing, living work of literature that speaks to modern-day America. Not many books can retain that kind of power for thirty years, and The Handmaid’s Tale remains a powerfully current story- for three distinct reasons that go beyond politics. Margaret Atwood Just Updated It One aspect of The Handmaid’s Tale that is often overlooked is the author’s dedication to the story. When the author herself regards the story as a living, breathing work and continued to discuss and develop the ideas within it, the story retains some of the immediacy that surrounded it upon publication. In fact, Atwood has actually just expanded the story. As part of the launch of the updated audio version of the novel on Audible (recorded by Claire Danes in 2012, but with a completely new sound design) Atwood wrote both an afterward discussing the book and its legacy, but also new material that extends the story. The book famously ends with the line â€Å"Are there any questions?† The new material comes in the form of an interview with Professor Piexoto, which is the sort of thing fans dream about. The material is performed by a full cast in the Audible version, giving it a rich, realistic feel. It’s also a little mind-bending, since the ending of the novel makes it clear that the good professor is discussing Offred’s story far in the future, long after Gilead has disappeared, based on audio recordings she left behind, which Atwood herself has noted makes the Audible version appropriate. It’s Not Really Science Fiction ... or Fiction First of all, we should note that Atwood dislikes the term â€Å"science fiction† when applied to her work, and prefers â€Å"speculative fiction.† It might seem like a subtle point, but it makes sense. The Handmaid’s Tale doesn’t actually involve any weird science or anything implausible. A revolution establishes a Theocratic dictatorship that severely limits all human rights (and especially those of women, who are even forbidden to read) while ecological factors reduce the fertility of the human race significantly, resulting in the creation of Handmaids, fertile women who are used for breeding. None of that is particularly sci-fi. Secondly, Atwood has stated that nothing in the book is made-up- in fact, she’s said there is â€Å"... nothing in the book that didn’t happen, somewhere.† That’s part of the chilling power of The Handmaid’s Tale. All you need to do is check out some of the darker areas of the Internet, or even some of the legislative bodies around the country, to see that male attitudes towards women haven’t changed nearly as much as we might like. When the Vice President of the United States won’t have dinner alone with a woman who isn’t his wife, it’s not hard to imagine a world not so different from Atwood’s vision coming around... again. In fact, many seem to have forgotten the 1991 film adaptation of the book, with a script written by Harold Pinter and a cast featuring Natasha Richardson, Faye Dunaway, and Robert Duvall- a film that almost didn’t get made despite the power of those names because the project encountered â€Å"a wall of ignorance, hostility, and indifference,† according to journalist Sheldon Teitelbaum as reported in The Atlantic. He goes on to say that â€Å"Movie executives declined to back the project, stating ‛that a film for and about women †¦ would be lucky if it made it to video.’† Next time you wonder if The Handmaid’s Tale is so far-fetched, consider that statement. Theres a reason women in Texas recently dressed as Handmaids as a form of protest. The Book Is Constantly Under Attack You can often judge the power and influence of a novel by the number of attempts that are made to ban it- another ghostly echo when you consider that women in the novel are forbidden to read. The Handmaid’s Tale was the 37th most-challenged book of the 1990s, according to the American Library Association. As recently as 2015, parents in Oregon complained that the book contained sexually explicit scenes and was anti-Christian, and students were offered an alternative book to read (which is certainly better than an outright ban). The fact that The Handmaid’s Tale continues to be on the receiving end of these sorts of attempts is directly related to how powerful its ideas are. It’s a slippery slide from celebrating supposedly â€Å"traditional values† and gender roles to enforcing those roles in a cruel, humorless, and terrifying way. Atwood has stated that she wrote the novel in part to â€Å"fend off† the grim future she laid out in its pages; with the release of the new Audible material and the Hulu adaptation, hopefully a new generation of people will be inspired to fend off that future as well. The Handmaid’s Tale remains a living, breathing work of potential history that’s well worth reading or listening to.