Articles written by Kevin Morris

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I'm a college student with interest in politics, education policy, literature, film, and the US prison system.

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Entertainment > Movie Reviews Movie reviews: The Departed: 15 of 48
The Departed Four weeks ago, I was privileged to an advanced screening of Martin Scorcese's newest gangster film, The Departed. Scorsese is no stranger to the genre, with his previous productions, including Mean Streets, Goodfellas, and Casino, all centering on organized crime. But The Departed is a different kind of crime f... More..
Entertainment > Movie Genres Movie genre: Assessing film noir: 2 of 5
Film noir, that aesthetic crossroads between German expressionism and 1950s Americana has always fascinated me. The popularity and cult status of such "neo-noir" films as Minority Report, Dark City and Memento has only intensified my interest in this unique genre. But what is film noir? Of what does the genre consist? Many a... More..
Arts & Humanities > Literature (Other) Top five books everyone must read and why: 55 of 115
Ha Jin's The Crazed is a unique and complex look at Chinese society on the eve of the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. The Crazed is a truly an eclectic work, and it explores the human experiences of tragedy, failure, youth, and love through the eyes of a college student named Jian Wan (presumably heavily influenced by Jin... More..
Education > Educational Philosophy The value of a classical education: 5 of 10
All or Nothing? Specialization is a fascinating concept, and one that governs much of our lives. Societies have divided labor and resources for centuries, and become more productive as a result. Military commanders delegate authority, coaches train their players for a precise role on an athletic team, and we students, though... More..
Entertainment > Directors & Film Makers The French New Wave directors and their different styles: 2 of 4
On Stanley Kubrick It was only very recently that I became acquainted with Stanley Kubrick. My first experience with his work was in 3rd grade, as 2001 was being aired on TV. Expecting a space film with all of the Star Wars fixin's, I was obviously disappointed (not as disappointed as when my Mom had me watch "this cool alie... More..
Arts & Humanities > History (Other) Essay: Bias in the teaching of history: 1 of 2
It is difficult to overestimate the degree to which the romantic tradition has influenced the teaching of the humanities, particularly history. Romanticism, as outgrowth of Enlightenment thought is a fascinating artistic and intellectual movement, and one with many strengths. The romantic tradition can glorify ideals and vir... More..
Business > International Business & Trade Book reviews: The European Dream, by Jeremy Rifkin: 1 of 1
The European Dream The European Dream, by Jeremy Rifkin, is a broad examination of the "New Europe," and a comparison of its political, economic, and social institutions to those of the United States. The European Dream draws on economic data, cultural attitudes, and Rifkin's own values to articulate its thesis that the Amer... More..
Entertainment > Directors & Film Makers Why the documentarian filmmaker is so important: 6 of 11
Oliver Stoned One morning in AP Biology near the end of my senior year in high school, I overheard a friend describing his weekend activities. "The movie was ridiculousI thought it was going to be all action, but it was freaking boring!" I heard him say. Even though I already knew what recently-released Oliver Stone movie he... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Political Issues Reflections: Redistribution of wealth through taxation: 17 of 31
Any discussion of wealth distribution is treacherous at best. Any proposal that aims to redistribute wealth to the working poor runs the risk of stifling investment and initiative. At the same time, however, an economy is sustained by the purchasing power of consumers, something that cannot exist in the presence of extreme i... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Political & Economic Theory Understanding communism: 39 of 57
The Meaning of Marxism Marxism is perhaps the most complex and misunderstood ideology of the 20th century, with the possible exception of fascism. The influence of the writings of Karl Marx, which spread from Europe to Asia and the Americans, and the bloody legacy of Stalin, Mao, and Pol Pot all make the case for a closer an... More..