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.

Getting use to journalists who can’t spell?

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Katherine Wikoff

This morning I was watching The Weather Channel® and saw this promo for an upcoming story: “Getting use to the heat.”  Sigh.  It reminded me of my disappointment two weeks ago when one of my favorite writers, Peggy Noonan, penned a column … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and reading, Grammar, punctuation, usage, mechanics, Writing, blogging | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Home from the conference, the homework begins

Posted on June 16, 2012 by Katherine Wikoff

Details have never been my strong suit.  I’m a big-picture thinker, which is a good thing, but I’ve learned the hard way that the only way to make things happen is to pay attention to the details. At the conference … Continue reading →

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Phil Collins, Alamo historian. Yes, that Phil Collins.

Posted on June 14, 2012 by Katherine Wikoff

So on the plane from Dallas to San Antonio last Saturday, I met Steve, who lives about 45 minutes northwest of the city.  Among the other tourist tips he gave me, the most intriguing was his joking suggestion that I keep … Continue reading →

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On the road in San Antonio

Posted on June 10, 2012 by Katherine Wikoff

I am in San Antonio for a few days at an engineering educators conference, so I’m experimenting with using my iPod Touch to post an entry.  The flight was $500 cheaper if I came Saturday instead of Sunday, so I … Continue reading →

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Light and Shadow

Posted on June 10, 2012 by Katherine Wikoff

When I got home late from the Great Books session the other night, I loved the shadows cast by the gate on our driveway and decided to take a picture.  I don’t have a tripod, so this photo is blurry and maybe … Continue reading →

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Did you get the “Wilhelm scream” joke in Google’s drive-in doodle?

Posted on June 8, 2012 by Katherine Wikoff

Special thanks to Brandon, a student in my film studies class this past quarter, for alerting me to the Wilhelm scream in the Google Doodle on Wednesday (June 6) celebrating the 79th anniversary of the first drive-in movie theater. The Wilhelm … Continue reading →

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The appeal of Lisbeth Salander

Posted on June 7, 2012 by Katherine Wikoff

What a wonderfully energizing discussion of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium series last night at Great Books!   In one of those truth-is-stranger-than-fiction coincidences, guess who was across town at Boswell Books at the same time?  Eva Gabrielsson, speaking about her book “There Are … Continue reading →

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What America needs now: “Action Heroes” with pocket protectors

Posted on June 5, 2012 by Katherine Wikoff

Last night as I read and prepped for Great Books, my daughter was watching A Beautiful Mind in the next room.  Now and then my attention trailed vaguely along after the film, and suddenly I made one of those random connections that … Continue reading →

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Silent witness (“Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.”)

Posted on June 2, 2012 by Katherine Wikoff

How many times have I watched this scene in The Godfather without ever noticing the most brilliant aspect of its mise-en-scène?  At the far left side of the frame, barely visible above the tall grass, the Statue of Liberty stands … Continue reading →

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Rereading the Millennium series

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Katherine Wikoff

I’m prepping today for next Wednesday’s Great Books event at MSOE.  This event is like a nice evening at book club, except no one has to clean their house or make dinner, and the primary conversation is actually about . . . … Continue reading →

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