For centuries, “Shakespeare’s Sonnets” languished in obscurity, but now the collection is considered a masterpiece. Robert Matz (George Mason University) reveals that the more famous lines from the Sonnets, such as “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day” were written by Shakespeare to a young man. Also Featured: Toni-Leslie James (Virginia Commonwealth University) has won numerous awards as a Broadway costume designer. She says good costume design is essential to telling a powerful story on stage or screen, and the best designs are often the least showy.
This type of content is made possible by listeners like you. Please consider partnering with us and help enrich the lives of all our listeners nationwide.
I’ve been meaning to email you for ages as I’ve thoroughly enjoyed listening to your program for quite some time. I’m a member of WAMU 88.5 in the Washington, DC area (which is affiliated with the American University). Unfortunately, we receive your program around 12:30 a.m. on Monday morning; i.e.; way too early on Monday morning 🙂
I just recently listened to your two interviews (on “Shakespeare’s Sonnets” and “Costume Design”). They were very informative (I never knew the sonnets had been mostly written for a man and I actually went to George Mason University as an undergraduate; although I don’t remember discussing any sonnets–just the plays.)
However, I wasn’t surprised to find out that “We” (please note the use of the the Royal “We” here), always seem to think that sonnets, movies, and especially pop songs (which have their origin in Medieval Courtly Love poetry), always seem to think that these “bits” (whether it’s a sonnet, movie, or most likely a pop song), are meant to be “Love” songs. They aren’t. In fact, most are–as you noted–the complete opposite.
Re: With Good Reason …
What has always impressed me–regardless of your guest; your topic; or their area of expertise–is that you (and your staff?) appear to do a great deal of research for every show. Moreover, you manage to imbue each interview with the appropriate gravitas and/or light (and or raucous) sense of humor as befits the moment.
Additionally, in this day of derisive “journalistic practices” (which live mostly on TV & cable), but which are now beginning to creeping into moderate radio … coupled with the utter horror of the daily news from E-V-E-R-Y corner of the world, your show–ever more–stands out like a Lighthouse shining its beam of guidance and comfort to help us steer clear of the dross.
Instead, we listen to topics we never knew existed. Because of your program and its style of conveying information, we now know this new information is fascinating–because of your style of reporting and your choice in bringing these issues to our attention.
For these reasons, I am truly thankful for what you do, and for all that “With Good Reason” does to put on such high quality reporting (& its overall production).
I, now, should also admit that the host Sarah McConnell is one of the reasons I enjoy “With Good Reason”. Her interviewing style is one of the best I’ve ever heard (and I listen to a lot–or should say–did list to a lot of radio since I have a radio in every room–including four in my kitchen since it’s such a long room–and being in a wheelchair, it makes it easier to just have a radio close at hand.
Additionally–and this takes nothing away from Ms. McConnell–she has a beautiful voice and a calming and gentle manner that puts everyone (including me) at ease.
Another reason why I am drawn to Ms. McConnell’s voice is that she reminds me of a friend that I first knew back in the early 1990s when she was working on her Ph.D. Her name is Dr. Elizabeth L. O’Leary, and she is an Associate Curator of American Arts, at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA).
If you’re ever looking for new material, I’m sure Dr. O’Leary–or one of her colleagues–could provide you with excellent material. It’s a shame, but, the renovation to the actual museum won’t be finished until 2010. Until then, they are hosting certain events at the museum and answering a lot of questions on their facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Richmond-VA/VMFA-Virginia-Museum-of-Fine-Arts/11553938637
The last time I was in Richmond (around 2004 ?), I had no idea that we in Virginia had access to Egyptian Art (the VMFA has an excellent Egyptian collection spanning several rooms). Additionally, I was very fortunate that they were hosting the Art Deco/Art Nouveau Lalique show (an enormous treat!). I know that they’ve had to remove almost all of their collections, but one of their long-standing collections is the Faberge collection–with several eggs–and the history of how and why they were purchased and constructed.
The VMFA is a true Treasure Trove and if my friend hadn’t mentioned it–I would never have known it existed.
Anyway, I must dash as it’s almost 3:00 a.m.
In summary, I just wanted to thank you for “WGR,” and let you know that for some of us, it is truly one of the best programs available on the radio.
My thanks to everyone involved in Creating “WGR”,
Kind Regards,
Patti Sinner
p.s. If you do contact Dr. O’Leary–you can mention my name, however, I’m sure she’s already overworked. But, she could direct you to the right person to talk with.
p.p.s. Since I’m not always awake at 12:30 a.m. (I’m usually up between 2:00-5:00 am), so I’m not always there to hear your program; I was very happy to find your web site (so I can catch up with all that I’ve missed).