Maxwell Alejandro Frost is 25, the minimum age to be a candidate for the House of Representatives. And he just won a seat in Florida: he’ll be the first member of Gen Z to sit in the U.S. Congress. Frost was standing for Florida District 10, a safe Democrat seat in his native Orlando. He … Continue reading “At 25, He’s Heading to Congress”
Edward Hopper lived and worked in New York City from 1913 till his death in 1967. Many of his paintings depict the city, but also more generally an essence of American life. Hopper’s vision of that life was of isolation and solitude. He loved films, too, and his paintings often have a cinematic quality: like … Continue reading “Edward Hopper: Views of America”
The midterm elections will take place in the U.S. on 8 November. What are these elections held half-way through a presidential term, and what is at stake this year? The midterms are held two years into the 4-year presidential term. They can, and in fact often do, change the course of the Presidency. There are … Continue reading “What’s at Stake in the U.S. Midterm Elections?”
The midterm elections will take place in the U.S.A. on 8 November. Among thousands of candidates, Maxwell Alejandro Frost stands out as a lively and enthusiastic young activist, who’s been involved in politics and has organised political events since he was 15. Now 25, Frost is aiming to be the first member of Generation Z … Continue reading “A Youth Voice for Congress”
Many of Edward Hopper’s paintings are like mini-narratives of mid-20th-century America. Although he also painted landscapes, he is best known for portrayals of lonely urban life. There are plenty on show in Edward Hopper’s New York at the Whitney Museum in NYC. We’d like to challenge your pupils to write stories inspired by the images. … Continue reading “Creative Writing Competition: Edward Hopper”
Festival America is usually a bi-annual celebration of the literature of the Americas in Vincennes (94). After two years of COVID cancellations, the festival is finally having its 10th edition celebrating 20 years from 22 to 25 September. The festival attracts large numbers of authors: 61 this year, mainly from the U.S. but also from … Continue reading “Festival America is Back!”
On 24 June, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned one of its own “landmark rulings”, a rare event. There had already been leaks that the Court would reverse the 1973 Roe v Wade ruling that limiting a woman’s right to an abortion was unconstitutional. There had been legal challenges to Roe v Wade for decades, but … Continue reading “A Landmark Ruling Overturned”
Baz Luhrmann’s new film is a biopic of Elvis Presley, the founding father of rock ‘n’ roll. Australian writer-director Baz Luhrmann (Romeo + Juliet, The Great Gatsby, Moulin Rouge) has long been fascinated by Elvis Presley. But to tell his story on film, he decided to focus on the relationship between Elvis and his manager, … Continue reading “The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll”
Elvis. Just his first name is enough for everyone to know who we’re talking about! Or certainly for adults to know. The King of rock ‘n’ roll is still alive thanks to not only his fans but also Baz Luhrmann whose latest movie takes us into the King’s world. Luhrmann explores the dark side of … Continue reading “Elvis”
On 7 April, the U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as a Supreme Court Justice — the first ever African-American woman in the court’s 233-year history. Despite hostile Senate hearings, three Republican Senators gave their votes to confirm the nomination. When he fulfilled an election promise by nominating Ms. Brown Jackson, … Continue reading “Historic Supreme Court Nomination”