TJ West

About being a well-meaning, presumptuous neighbor

Originally posted on Metathesis: She asked me, “Is it true? Do your people wear loin cloths…
Mourning, Melancholy, and “Paris is Burning”

I recently taught Jennie Livingston’s famous documentary Paris is Burning to a group of undergraduates. As…
Weekly Rant: Russell Tovey, Misogynists, and Small College Closings

I’ve decided to implement a weekly place where I get to rant about all the things…
Perils of Click-Bait Science Communication, or There’s Many a Slip ‘twixt the Cup and the Lip

Originally posted on Metathesis: Science communication plays an integral role in bridging the gap between academia…
Tolkien’s Heirs (I): Terry Brooks

It’s become something of a cliche in reviews of fantasy novels, especially those in the epic…
Austen & Darwin, Love Doctors?: A Valentine’s Day/ Darwin Day Tribute

Originally posted on Metathesis: A few months ago my Google Scholar alert for mate choice turned…
A Scientist Walks into an English Blog: Language, Gender, Feminism, and the Science of Sex

Originally posted on Metathesis: I spend my day thinking about sex. Mostly, sex between male and…
The Surprisingly Complex Pleasures of Puppy Bowl XI

And, we’re back! I know it’s been several weeks since I released an actual post to…
The Greatest Show on Earth!: The Historico-Biblical Epic, Excess, and the Sublime Historical Experience

Originally posted on Metathesis: A few weeks ago, when I published my post on Game of Thrones and…
Nasty, Brutish, but Definitely Not Short: Game of Thrones and the History of Power

Originally posted on Metathesis: It might seem counter-intuitive to talk about a fantasy television series as…