Monsters are meant to scare. That’s obvious, even if the actual mechanics of fright aren’t. Wandering the hastily-assembled aisles of whatever seasonal Halloween superstore has set up shop in a vacant strip mall near you, the few truly frightening costumes (distinct from the ones that are gross, sexy, or Pikachu) lean on the concept of… Continue reading K Paoletter 2: Monster’s Ball
In the 1930’s, storms could still arrive without warning. The most reliable forecasts were those dictated by the seasons, like the steady drumbeat of precipitation the Japanese know to expect in June and July. But how to react when a rainy season turns catastrophic? In The Makioka Sisters, Junichiro Tanizaki describes such an event when… Continue reading K Paoletter 1: Rising Water
