Alexander Schmid Podcast

In this lecture, we consider (1) the imaginative examples of wrath in Terrace III of Purgatory, (2) the nature of rational vs. natural love, and (c) the Moral structure of Purgatory and Dante's second dream of a witch/siren!

In this episode of Side Quests, Mr. Wesley Schantz and I discuss the Wutai side quest available at the end of Final Fantasy VII Disc 1. We discuss (a) one of the most pivotal scenes in all video game history, (b) the level of betrayal Cloud must feel and what a host of symbolic interpretations of the situation could be, and (c) how the game pokes at the player through the game; who is the real puppet,: Cloud or you?

On this episode, Mr. Wes Schantz and I consider (a) what is the relationship between the news and grand narratives, (b) is there a more productive use of the internet, and internet data, than trolling, and is that what we are looking for? (c) We consider future guests and getting to the bottom of several political and educational issues in a sophisticated round-table format.

In this episode of Night School, Mr. Wesley Schantz and I consider Whitman's "Song of Myself" Pts. 48 and 49. We consider (a) the identity of God and Man in Whitman's poetry, (b) the identity, or egalitarian/democratic nature of experiences, and (c) what are Whitman's mature reflections on death and dying?

In this episode of Night School, Mr. Wesley Schantz and I consider Whitman's "Song of Myself" Pts. 46 and 47. We consider (a) the spirit of poetry and which flows through language and time, (b) what the interplay of tradition and inspiration are within poetry and language, and (c) what is the best teacher of man, his own experience or a school or even a poem?

In this lecture, we consider (1) the fight between Achilleus and Lykaon, (2) the rage of Xanthos against Achilleus, and (3) the theomachy, or battle of the gods on the Trojan battlefield!

In this lecture, we consider (1) the definition and nature of Terrace 3: Wrath; (2) Marco Lombardo's exposition of Free Will vs. The Stars, and (3) Dante's ideal relationship between the Church and the State. Next time, we will consider the definitions and relations between Natural Love and Rational Love.

In this lecture, we consider (a) the contrasting examples of Charity and Envy in Dante's "Purgatorio" Cantos 13-15; (b) we then consider the description of envy in Ovid's "Metamorphoses," and (c) define what the essence of envy is and why it is a problem/poison which keeps one from one's goals (dreams).

In this lecture, we discuss: (a) the release of the Olympian Gods back onto the battlefield, (b) the future of Aineias and his combat with Achilleus, and (c) the sad fate of Priam's youngest son, Polydoros.

In this episode of Side Quests, Mr. Wesley Schantz and I discuss the Wutai side quest available at the end of Final Fantasy VII Disc 1. We discuss (a) betrayal and loyalty between friends and enemies, (b) the liquid beauty of Wutai and the fusion of Eastern and Western mythologies and aesthetics, and (c) how the thief prefigures the hero and how one's investment/playing strategy evolves/progresses over time, just as one's attitude develops over one's real life.