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.

(Not Quite) Night at the Museum

Posted on April 3, 2019 by Katherine Wikoff

Grohmann Museum, that is. Taken sometime around 6:00 p.m. yesterday. The building is closed by 5:00, but a few of my colleagues and I are often still here after hours wrapping up our current work day and prepping for the … Continue reading →

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

April “Fake News” Fools

Posted on April 1, 2019 by Katherine Wikoff

These videos have been around for over a year but didn’t receive as much attention as I’d have expected. Given the strong resemblance to “pranks” in their inherent trickery and potential for malicious intent, it seems appropriate to highlight them … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Political Analysis, Popular culture, Technology, Television | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Fave Movie Moments – “Do you know why this is my favorite tree?”

Posted on March 30, 2019 by Katherine Wikoff

I showed Sean Baker’s The Florida Project last week in my honors film studies class, where the honors program’s theme, “The Power of Place,” is the central unifying subject of our course. I really love this film and could not … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Movies and film | Tagged , | 9 Comments

If you love ruins and abandoned places

Posted on March 28, 2019 by Katherine Wikoff

Then you might want to read this review of a new book that sounds so “me” it jumped straight to the top of my to-read list. I love Phaidon, publisher of fabulous picture books for grownups. Like DK,  my other fave … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, Books and reading | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Red Arrow Starbucks, last week of March in the late afternoon

Posted on March 27, 2019 by Katherine Wikoff

Doesn’t our Milwaukee seem slightly Santa Fe-ish here with the shadows? Last coffee run of the day, just before my 4:00 class. Doing film history this week, which given our quarter system, is more of a “greatest hits” of milestones, … Continue reading →

Posted in Milwaukee, Photography | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Diercks Hall, late March 2019

Posted on March 26, 2019 by Katherine Wikoff

I walk the Grohmann Museum’s galleries and climb the atrium’s spiral staircase for exercise when my schedule is tight, starting from the lower level and working my way up to the rooftop garden before taking the elevator back down to … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, Art, Creativity, Life, Milwaukee | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

All that is gold does not glitter

Posted on March 25, 2019 by Katherine Wikoff

Today is Tolkien Reading Day, a fact I discovered randomly while going through Twitter for a work project. For those of you/us who haven’t read The Lord of the Rings recently (or paid exceptionally close attention to the calendar of … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and reading | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Spring Thaw – Now that’s what I call melting (and about time, too!)

Posted on March 14, 2019 by Katherine Wikoff

When I got home last night, I was amused to note that the remnants of our ice storm weeks ago had been uncovered by melting during the day. The photo is dark, but you can see the layer of ice … Continue reading →

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

Sisyphean Snow Day

Posted on January 28, 2019 by Katherine Wikoff

Any Milwaukee School of Engineering graduate can tell you this: MSOE never closes for winter-related weather issues. I’ve taught there since 1996, and although we closed early a few times (no classes after 3:00 p.m.), the only time I can … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Milwaukee, Nature | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Clipping a Snowbird’s Wings

Posted on January 7, 2019 by Katherine Wikoff

Sometime last winter I began thinking about how nice it would be someday when I’m older to spend the colder months of the year in a warmer climate. When I started casually thinking about where, I got it in my … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Travel | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments