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.

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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Those Grim Grimm Brothers

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Katherine Wikoff

It occurred to me this morning that I should clarify something in yesterday’s post.  When I described the saga of the Hatfields and McCoys as a Grimm Brothers fairytale, it’s because that was the most apt comparison I could think … Continue reading →

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The Hatfields and McCoys . . . and Hitchcock?

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Katherine Wikoff

This week the History Channel is running a six-hour presentation of America’s most famous feud, the murderous, longstanding grudge match between the Hatfield and McCoy families living along border between Kentucky and West Virginia.   I am from a small town on … Continue reading →

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Mother Nature as Muse

Posted on May 27, 2012 by Katherine Wikoff

This week’s Saturday/Sunday edition of the The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article in the “Review” section by regular columnist Jonah Lehrer, titled “Mom Was Right: Go Outside.”  He cites the findings of several scientific studies that people who … Continue reading →

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Hard times in The Big Easy

Posted on May 26, 2012 by Katherine Wikoff

I read the news today, oh boy . . .  Actually, I read this particular news item two days ago.  The Times-Picayune, New Orleans’ daily newspaper, is moving to a three-day-per-week publication schedule.  The newspaper has an online presence at … Continue reading →

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Woodpecker nest

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Katherine Wikoff

I never intended for this blog to become so nature focused, but I keep noticing nature-y things.  Last weekend I saw a woodpecker angrily chasing a robin away from the upper branches of our silver maple.  The robin kept coming back … Continue reading →

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Queen Victoria’s journals

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Katherine Wikoff

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the role played by journals in creativity and innovation.  I’ll post more on this later when I have time to write.  This week I’m in the middle of final exams and closing out the … Continue reading →

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“How to” . . . a snapshot of life in mid-May

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Katherine Wikoff

I was about look something up online just now – but couldn’t get past the list of top search terms that dropped down from the Google rectangle when I typed the words “how to”: Tie a tie Hard boil eggs … Continue reading →

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