Author Archives: Ralph Hanson

Pre-Class Video – In Spite of Ourselves

Posted on January 30, 2017 by Ralph Hanson

This is a somewhat rude, but very old-fashioned song about a really dysfunctional relationship sung by John Prine and Iris DeMent.  But a great way to introduce students to the witty songwriting of John Prine.  

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Real Radicals Part II – I.F. Stone’s Weekly

Posted on January 25, 2017 by Ralph Hanson

I had a strange journey through the wilds of the radical and protest movements of the 1960s and 70s yesterday morning that I had not anticipated taking. Here’s part 2 of that journey. Radical journalist I.F. Stone was an investigative journalist who … Continue reading →

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Real Radicals Part I – Lady Gaga & Phil Ochs

Posted on January 24, 2017 by Ralph Hanson

I had a strange journey through the wilds of the radical and protest movements of the 1960s and 70s this morning that I had not anticipated taking. Here’s part 1 of that journey; part 2 will come tomorrow. It all … Continue reading →

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Pre-class video: Elvis Costello Anne Sofie Von Otter – For the Stars

Posted on January 20, 2017 by Ralph Hanson

My list of favorite Elvis Costello recordings is likely somewhat different from yours: Here’s “From the Stars” from an album of covers he did with classical singer Anne Sofie Von Otter.  

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Dr. King – Be an extremist for love

Posted on January 16, 2017 by Ralph Hanson

One of the greatest honors of my life was being invited to speak at the Martin Luther King, Jr. candlelight vigil two years ago at the UNK student union, along with Kevin Chaney, who was then UNK’s women’s basketball coach.  This year’s … Continue reading →

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Pre-Class Video: Rosanne Cash sings Pancho & Lefty

Posted on January 13, 2017 by Ralph Hanson

Today’s pre-class video is the great Rosanne Cash singing the Townes Van Zandt classic “Pancho & Lefty” at the Kennedy Center Honors Willie Nelson concert. (Townes, of course, wrote the song, but Willie is among the many people who made … Continue reading →

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Back To Pre-Class Video: One Last Time from Hamilton

Posted on January 11, 2017 by Ralph Hanson

As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve spent the last semester on a productive and refreshing sabbatical, but I’m now back in the classroom and making use of pre-class videos for students to watch as they come in. I started things off … Continue reading →

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Amazing Exhibit on Publishing, Luther & Reformation at Minneapolis Institute of Art

Posted on January 10, 2017 by Ralph Hanson

Over Christmas break I had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Martin Luther: Art and the Reformation exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Art that is showing through January 15th.  While much of the focus of the exhibit is, unsurprisingly, … Continue reading →

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When a celebrity dies, is it ok to do a brand-oriented tweet about it, especially if it’s really clever?

Posted on January 6, 2017 by Ralph Hanson

When a celebrity dies and you have a great idea for tweet with a  meme, should you send it out right away? Probably not…  At least that’s the lesson that Cinnabon learned when they tweeted out the image at right following the … Continue reading →

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Thinking about W. H. Auden on a morning in early winter

Posted on December 15, 2016 by Ralph Hanson

I have been on sabbatical this semester after stepping down as the department chair and becoming a regular professor.  I’ve been working on a variety of projects this fall – finishing up work on ancillaries for the Sixth Edition of … Continue reading →

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