Author Archives: Katherine Wikoff

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About Katherine Wikoff

I am a college professor (PhD in English, concentration rhetoric) at Milwaukee School of Engineering, where I teach film and media studies, political science, digital society, digital storytelling, writing for digital media, and communication. While fragments of my teaching and scholarship interests may quite naturally meander over to my blog, this space is intended to function as a creative outlet, not as part of my professional practice. Opinions are my own, etc.

If life is a journey, not a destination, how do you pack?

Posted on August 18, 2026 by Katherine Wikoff

This was a question/prompt for a writing exercise done for a meeting of my writing group in December 2022. I came across it today going through folders to organize ephemera related to some larger writing projects. Seeing it again now, … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Travel, writing exercises, Writing, blogging | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

“Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!”

Posted on August 10, 2026 by Katherine Wikoff

[NOTE – This is a “draft” post from 14 years ago that I just now stumbled across as I was searching for things I have written about movies. I can’t provide any more context than that for this post, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Movies and film, Popular culture | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

(Somer) Sault Ste. Marie

Posted on August 7, 2026 by Katherine Wikoff

Our dog is never happier than when she’s outside on a sunny day, soaking up the rays in her backyard. On the other hand, she is terrified of thunderstorms, to the point where she needs medication (trazodone) to get through … Continue reading →

Posted in Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Vertical

Posted on June 19, 2026 by Katherine Wikoff

The building in the center is Art Deco, but its classic heavenward stretch is nicely amplified by all the rest of those vertical lines, presenting an unexpectedly elegant, even stately composition. Photographed in downtown Milwaukee around 11:15 AM today, heading … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, design, Milwaukee, Photography | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

“And she stepped on the BALL” (RIP, Kelly Lee Curtis)

Posted on June 4, 2026 by Katherine Wikoff

I saw the notification from Jamie Lee Curtis several days ago that her sister, Kelly, had died Saturday. The first thing I thought of—after (of course) thinking, “that’s too bad”—was the line quoted in today’s post title and spoken by … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Media studies, Movies and film, Popular culture, Television | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Miller Valley, Milwaukee

Posted on May 7, 2026 by Katherine Wikoff

So, I have barely posted so far in 2026. Being interim chair of my department at Milwaukee School of Engineering has been TIME CONSUMING, to say the least. June 30 is my last day as chair; our regular chair returns … Continue reading →

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Scary-looking April sky

Posted on April 14, 2026 by Katherine Wikoff

Saw this scary-looking sky as I drove westward yesterday on my way home from downtown Milwaukee. I wasn’t able to find another good, open spot to take another picture with my phone turned sideways to get a landscape orientation, for … Continue reading →

Posted in Milwaukee, Nature, Photography | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Fog rolling in from Lake, Michigan

Posted on March 5, 2026 by Katherine Wikoff

Fog rolling in from Lake Michigan yesterday morning. Took this photo while stopped at a traffic light on Wells Street heading east on my way to work. Downtown Milwaukee. 

Posted in Milwaukee, Photography | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Moon and Roofline

Posted on March 3, 2026 by Katherine Wikoff

Had an errand to run last night and noticed how striking this roofline looked beneath the moon. I especially liked the strong, stark, “color blocking” effect. Such a plain but forceful image. Just these large, sharply-defined blocks of solid color … Continue reading →

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Milwaukee skyline, spotlighted by sunshine

Posted on February 18, 2026 by Katherine Wikoff

I was visiting someone at Froedtert Hospital last week, a week ago today, actually, and had to park on the very top of the parking structure. Like, the very farthest corner away from the buildings on the very top floor. … Continue reading →

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