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About me - Leighton Smith

I'm a recent graduate of Hamilton College. My major was economics and my minor was Spanish. (I also studied film, music, dance, and a host of other disciplines that only a liberal arts college could allow.) I can comment intelligently on a surprisingly + more bio information

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Arts & Humanities > Ancient History Slavery in the Bible: 2 of 9

Christianity has a far-reaching impact. Many of its adherents follow strictly the Christian doctrine and accept it without hesitation. For this reason, when the Bible addresses the issues surrounding slavery, Christians take whatever it says to be true and right. It is because of this blind faith that Christianity had such a...
Politics, News & Issues > Political Issues 200 years since the abolition of slavery: 4 of 15

The abolition of slavery was unprecedented. From time immemorial, slavery had existed on every continent. All major religions at one time or another gave authoritative permission for slavery. Many societies relied on slavery as their primary source of labor. And yet in less than one century, the institution of slavery was br...
Entertainment > Music Reviews (Other) Album reviews: Graceland, by Paul Simon: 1 of 3

At first glance, the fundamental question surrounding the Graceland controversy appears to be, "Did Paul Simon do the right thing?" It would be quite difficult, however, to take one side of the controversy. The implications surrounding it veer off into the realms of politics and music - two quite different entities, to be su...
Entertainment > Movie Reviews Movie reviews: Little Miss Sunshine: 10 of 24

The line between tragedy and comedy can be murky, but when navigated with expertise the results can be exquisite. In Little Miss Sunshine, directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris have created a movie that takes us to emotional extremes, evoking at times both devastating poignancy and hilarity. As we get to know the chara...
Entertainment > Movie Analysis Movie analysis: The Searchers: 2 of 4

To fully understand the depths of the film The Searchers, it is critical to focus on the action surrounding the principal character, Ethan Edwards. The opening and closing moments of The Searchers are very important. Not only are they aesthetically engaging, but they also introduce us to Edwards. Several authors have found f...
Entertainment > Celebrity Biographies Biography: Christian Bale: 1 of 2

Let's talk about Christian Bale. Who doesn't love this guy? Whether he's murdering prostitutes, dropping an unhealthy amount of weight for a role or singing on horseback, this actor brings unsurpassed dedication to each one of his performances. Bale appeared in his first movie at age 13 when Steven Spielberg selected him for...
Entertainment > Movie Analysis Movie analysis: Patriotism and cosmopolitanism in The Falcon and the Snowman: 1 of 1

Cosmopolitanism and patriotism offer a continuum of options for how we define ourselves and relate to others. Taking a cosmopolitan standpoint, one has a shared sense of altruism with every person on the planet. No culture or society is more important than another. A patriotic view, however, states that your sense of respons...
Entertainment > Movie Reviews Movie reviews: Dogfight: 1 of 1

One of the great film genres is war. The Vietnam War, in particular, has been the basis for some of the greatest movies ever made, such as Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, Apocalypse Now and many others. The scope of these movies tends to focus mainly on the action in Vietnam, with the exception of Full Metal Jacket in which roug...
Entertainment > Music (Other) Music of the Buena Vista Social Club: 1 of 1

The Cuban music sampled in Buena Vista Social Club derives from a variety of sources. The rhythms are decidedly Caribbean, drawing much from African influence imported by the Atlantic slave trade. Many of the instruments used in this genre, though, are more traditional, which indicates that many Cuban musicians fused other g...
Entertainment > Movie Reviews Movie reviews: Once: 1 of 1

For some reason, it took me a long time to see the film Once. It debuted at various film festivals and reached major American theaters in early 2007, but I only just saw it in February of 2008. As an exchange student studying in Dublin, Ireland (the film's principal setting), I suppose it was bound to happen. Thank God. It's...