Liberal Arts Leaders: The 50 Best Professors Who Blog
English and Rhetoric
August 30th, 2011
Because the liberal arts encompass such a diverse array of subjects and perspectives, even the most impassioned student still can’t explore everything it involves. But the knowledge-hungry out there pining away for intellectual stimulation beyond the classroom have the magical, mythical Internet at their disposal. Amidst the Pop Tart cats and arguments proving Mike Godwin right, professors from every discipline imaginable have carved out their own little blogging niche. Plenty more than these exist, each of them with something interesting to say, so use the following list as a springboard towards checking out the diverse research available for an audiences’ educated consideration.
English and Rhetoric
- The Blogora: A plethora of English and rhetoric professors from the Rhetoric Society of America keep an informative and interesting group blog about … ummmm … well, it should be kind of obvious.
- University Diaries: University Diaries is owned and maintained by an English professor, who adores Joyce and profusely argues for higher ed reform.
- Bardiac: Feminism, Shakespeare and feminist interpretations of Shakespeare collide in an excellent, essential read for English literature buffs.
- Gerald R. Lucas: The eponymous professor teaches both English and the humanities, making his blog an eclectic, never boring liberal arts resource.
- The Classroom Conservative: Craig Monk is an English professor who provides a provocative look at both his field and bolstering higher education using strategies already in place.
- Spinuzzi: Check out this University of Texas rhetorician’s blog for some great advice and ruminations on how research and writing might evolve alongside technology.
- The Little Professor: The Little Professor makes for a great place to go learn more about all things Victorian literature, though it does delve into other subjects as well.
- forms traced by light: English buffs with an affinity for photography have plenty to pique their minds here, with some great images and discussions about their intersections with writing and perception.
- digital digs: For new media, journalism, literature and technology enthusiasts, Alex Reid’s digital digs provides some absolutely superb information and ideas.
- the age of perfection: At once fun and philosophical, this blog juxtaposes professional development and discoveries alongside more intimate, personal tales.
- Blogenspiel: Medieval history buffs will absolutely flip for one of the most entertaining, intelligent and educational blogs on the subject.
- The Cranky Professor: The Cranky Professor’s subtitle — "You type, and I tell you why 4,500 years of written history shows you’re wrong" — says pretty much everything visitors need to know.
- Informed Comment: With the Muslim world awash in so much controversy and misunderstanding these days, University of Michigan history professor Juan Cole’s commentary is refreshing, intelligent and welcome.
- Cliopatra: History scholars and professors from around the world alike convene at Cliopatra keep a group blog about a staggeringly broad range of eras.
- Tenured Radical:The Chronicle of Higher Education hosts Claire B. Potter’s musings on history as it relates to culture, politics and feminism.
- Wonders and Marvels: As its title implies, Wonders and Marvels concerns itself with the little bits of weirdness and curiosity strewn about history.
- Legal History Blog: Multiple law and legal history professors come together and talk about the development of politics and justice over human history’s entire course.
- PaleoJudaica: University of St. Andrew’s James R. Davila specializes in ancient Judaism, which he blogs about in great detail here, with plenty of captivating articles and reviews.
- Liberty & Power: Like Cliopatra, the group resource Liberty & Power is presented by George Mason University’s History News Network. Professors and scholars here discuss how human perceptions and practice of politics and personal freedom have changed — or not — over time.
- Scattered & Random: Amongst the "scattered and random musings," historical opining from an RNU professor occasionally slips through.
- Jerz’s Literacy Weblog: Dr. Dennis Jerz keeps a fantastic, eclectic read covering a tantalizingly broad range of humanities, cyberculture, writing and journalism topics.
- The Feminist Spectator: Although maintained by an English professor, The Feminist Spectator’s main thrust explores intersections between the arts and perceptions of women and the LGBTQIA community, a much wider focus than just literature and writing!
- Dan Cohen: The digital humanities world … umm … pretty much exactly what one would imagine. Dan Cohen’s amazing resource stays on top of all the latest and greatest developments.
- Law & Humanities Blog: Here, a duo of law professors open up some great discussions about how legal history frequently overlaps with the humanities, sometimes in very unexpected ways.
- Medical Humanities Blog: Explore the sometimes mindblowing ways in which history, policy and medicine shape one another forever through this seriously cool interdisciplinary blog.
- DIS Staff Blog: Staff members from University College London’s information studies frequently cover digital humanities on their shared space.
- Arts and Humanities blog: For anyone capable of reading Spanish (or handy with Google Translate), this group blog keeps visitors on the cutting edge of liberal and visual arts’ relationship with the humanities.
- The Bookfish: Though maintained by English professor Steve Mentz, The Bookfish’s odd and wonderful brew of thalassology and Shakespeare render it an eclectic humanities read instead.
- The Arcade Blogs: Stanford’s Roland Green directs a curated, intellectual group blog (and virtual think tank) featuring professors, creatives and other professionals debating humanities topics.
- Matthew G. Kirschenbaum: This University of Maryland dynamo works in the English Department and directs Digital Cultures and Creativity, which stands at the forefront of promoting and exploring the digital humanities scene.
- Philosophy Talk: The Blog: Both a podcast and an accompanying blog, Philosophy Talk features two professors, their reporters and special guests mulling over all things … umm … just read the title.
- A Philosopher’s Blog: Michael LaBossiere teaches philosophy, writes about philosophy and finds philosophy in an incredibly impressive array of subjects and interests.
- Leiter Reports: Lovers of legal, economic, intellectual and political philosophy can easily spend hours getting lost on University of Chicago law professor Brian Leiter’s comprehensive (and extremely popular) resource.
- Doing Good Science: Scientific American brought on a philosophy professor to discuss issues relating to science and ethics, particularly those involving training the next generation of innovators.
- The Splintered Mind: Philosophy and psychology meld together in Eric Schwitzgebel’s insightful blog about how the ordered and disordered brains may (or may not) perceive the world.
- Moral Health: Not everyone will agree with some (or even most) of the points Moral Health shares, but it certainly adds to overarching discussions about ethics, morality, religion and politics.
- Think Tonk: A super sharp philosophy professor muses on epistemology, culture, politics and ethics — and, of course, how they all fit together.
- Warp, Weft, and Way: This group blog brings together philosophy educators and experts for a stimulating ongoing examination of relevant Chinese and comparative topics.
- The Brooks Blog: Thom Brooks at Newcastle University focuses most of his writings on the philosophy of public policy and politics, though he does delve into other relevant subjects as well.
- Certain Doubts: Leading epistemologists, some professors, some not, convene at Certain Doubts to talk about this particular philosophical corner.
- Laura’s psychology blog: Laura Freberg is a professor, textbook author and researcher with some incredible things to share about psychology and brain disorders.
- Politics and Law at The Berkeley Blog: Hear what the different faculty and staff members of Berkeley’s law and political science departments have to say about relevant current events and perspectives.
- The Global Sociology Blog: A French expat, professor and passionate activist blogs about sociology with a conscience and keen eye for justice and equality.
- Warren Throckmorton: Explore the psychology of politics, culture, sexuality, religion and more courtesy of this extremely insightful Grove City College professor.
- PoliBlog: Steven L. Taylor considers politics "the master science" and delivers a running commentary of today’s volatile partisan climate.
- Asian Nation: Keep up with all the sociological news, views and issues impacting the Asian-American community, courtesy of Cuong Nguyen Le from University of Massachusetts Amherst.
- Todd Kashdan: A George Mason University professor cross-posts his Psychology Todaywritings, which make psychology subjects accessible to more general audiences.
- Discourse.net: Though a law professor, Michael Froomkin’s writing focuses on intersections between politics, legal issues and the public sector — not just his area of concentration.
- Scatterplot: Sociology buffs will undoubtedly find something to love about this digital gathering of professors and professionals expounding on a wide array of relevant subjects.
- The Ethical Professor: Psychology and philosophy collide on Mitchell M. Handelsman’sPsychology Today blog about academia’s behavior issues and non-issues.
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