Here you’ll find papers first presented at public seminars at the Aesthetic Realism Foundation. They are about love, intelligence, kindness, caring for people, determination, justice, and more. The way Aesthetic Realism sees love is new, beautiful, practical. Eli Siegel stated, in Self and World: “The purpose of love is to feel closely one with things as a whole.”
What I’ve learned has made me kinder, happier, more truly expressed. It has also made possible my very happy marriage to Alan Shapiro, jazz pianist and teacher of music. Here are just a few of the papers I’ve written:
What, in a Woman Herself, Interferes with Love?
including a discussion of Neil Simon’s 1977 film “The Goodbye Girl”
The Debate in a Person: to Have More Feeling or Less?
looking at the life of the courageous Minerva Mirabal of the Dominican Republic
A Woman’s Determination: What Makes It Right or Wrong?
including a discussion of O. Henry’s short story “The Last Leaf”
Is Kindness Intelligent—Selfish—Strong?
with a consideration of the life of the 19th-century Transcendentalist writer and educator Elizabeth Palmer Peabody
True Self-Expression & What Interferes
with a discussion of aspects of the life of anti-apartheid activist Mary Benson of South Africa
To read more of my papers, click on any of the links in the drop-down menu above.
Here are links to papers by my colleagues:
Does Our Anger Weaken or Strengthen Us?—by Bruce Blaustein
including a discussion of the important American actor Spencer Tracy
How Can Men and Women Be Sure of Themselves?—by Lynette Abel
with discussion of “The Second Choice,” a short story by Theodore Dreiser
What Should a Woman Be Passionate About?—by Miriam Weiss
including a discussion of the life of abolitionist Lydia Maria Child
A Woman Whose Name Was Truth—by Karen Van Outryve
about the life of the important Abolitionist Sojourner Truth
Vanity versus Happiness: Can a Man Distinguish between Them?—by Ernest DeFilippis
with discussion of the character Eilert Lovborg from Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler
Is Kindness Strength?—by Dale Laurin
about the life of Thaddeus Stevens
The Fight in Every Woman between Selfishness & Generosity—by Nancy Huntting
including a discussion of American journalist Martha Gelhorn
Mind and Body: Can a Man Use Both to Be Kind?—by Steven Weiner
with a consideration of Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence
How Can a Man Have True Integrity?—by Edward Green
with a discussion of Ichabod Crane from “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
What Kind of Effect on Men?—by Lauren Phillips
a description of Aesthetic Realism consultations
A Man’s Imagination: What Makes It a Friend or Foe?—by Kevin Fennell
including a discussion of the life of English novelist Anthony Trollope
How Do Men Hurt Themselves—in Love, the Family, Economics?—by Bruce Blaustein
with a consideration of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
What Makes a Man Truly Strong?—by Dale Laurin
including a discussion of the classic film Casablanca
The Pleasures and Perils of Conceit—by Steven Weiner
with a consideration of Gilbert Osmond in Henry James’ novel The Portrait of a Lady
Can Men & Women Be Intelligent in Love?—by Lauren Phillips
with discussion of the Transcendentalist Margaret Fuller
Individuality & Love: Do They Have to Fight?—by Harriet Bernstein
with discussion of the life of American actress and comedienne Lucille Ball
Wowing People and Liking Oneself—What Is the Difference?—by Jeffrey Carduner
with discussion of the life and work of F. Scott Fitzgerald
Public Self & Private Thoughts—Does a Man Have to Pretend?—by Ken Kimmelman
with discussion of the life and work of Groucho Marx
And here is a link to issues of the journal The Right of Aesthetic Realism to Be Known that deal with Men & Women; Life & Love