Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Although written more than 150 years apart, Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Notes From the Underground and J.D. Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy both capture similar sociological phenomena, documenting themes of cynicism, and aversion to modernity. Dostoevsky’s existentialist novella is set in 1860s Russia, told from the perspective of a misanthropic civil servant. Vance’s narrative, on the other hand, is…

Hank Williams’ legend is one marked by an untimely Icarian fall, as the country music star’s substance abuse and social implosion culminated in his death at only 29 years old. From the time his like-named son, Hank Williams Jr. was a young child, his mother Audrey molded him into a compensatory image of his father,…

Introduction: Hank Williams’ legend is one marked by an untimely Icarian fall, as the country music star’s substance abuse and social implosion culminated in his death at only 29 years old.  From the time his like-named son, Hank Williams Jr. was a young child, his mother Audrey molded him into a compensatory image of his…

-American Identity is largely shaped by history, marked with a tug-of-war between factionalism and unity -Music and cultural blending can serve to alleviate divides  -factionalism and division breed fear and resentment, the start of a vicious cycle which can be leveraged by anyone  American Identity and culture are products of America’s inhabitants, and its history…

A notable aspect worth exploring between Episode VII of Ken Burns’ Country Music documentary and Mau Mauing the Flak Catchers and is the phenomenon of vicarious living. The former tells the story of Hank Williams Jr., who was essentially forced to try and fill his father’s massive shoes by taking on a career in country…

While entirely different in content, format, and narrative, there are notable similarities to be drawn between Episode VII of Ken Burns’ Country Music docuseries, and the Autobiography of Malcolm X. The most notable of them pertains to how racial tension/division should or can be ameliorated. Regarding country music, a genre known for its diversity of…

While most of my blogs up to this point have covered thematic similarities, this piece will serve to analyze the similitude between Flannery O’Connor’s writing style, and that found in lyricism. This will notably pertain to country music, but also include reference to the works of Aristotle. The Evil Bear It Away, one of O’Connor’s…

Episode VI of Ken Burns’ Country Music documentary covers the years from 1968-72, a time in American history well known for its tumult and cultural change. The Vietnam War, Civil Rights Movement, 1968 Democratic National Convention, and more all shook the nation to its core, dividing generations, and perhaps even mirroring our current era in…

According to Ken Burns’ 2019 docuseries, Country Music, famed 1950s songwriter Harlan Howard once stated “the essence of country music is three chords and the truth” (Burns 1:14:00). While the hitmaker’s quotation seems simple, it suggests something quite profound: that a universal applicability exists within music itself, and this is what draws diverse swathes of…

Some of the notable parallels between this week’s Steinbeck readings (Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday) and the final hour of Ken Burns’ Country Music Documentary are as follows: the role that love and unity play in bringing out the best in people and helping them realize their full potential, and the cathartic nature of coming…