Michial Farmer
Michial Farmer is a poet, essayist, and history teacher. He is the author of Imagination and Idealism in John Updike’s Fiction (Camden House, 2017) and the translator of Gabriel Marcel’s Thirst (Cluny, 2021). He lives in Atlanta.
Articles by Michial Farmer
Set Me Free from This Mighty, Mighty Fire: Songs About Salvation
It’s songs about salvation this week on A Symposium of Popular Songs—and not nearly as much Christian rock as I was afraid I’d play! Send your song recommendations to symposiumofsongs@gmail.com.
Talking to You Is Like Long Division: Songs About Falling in Love
Just in time for summer, it’s a bunch of songs about falling in love. Send your song suggestions to symposiumofsongs@gmail.com!
Keeps Me Up at Night with the Memory: Songs About Nostalgia
We’re looking back with a golden haze this week on A Symposium of Popular Songs, listening to songs about nostalgia (and its high-class cousin, antiquarian feeling). Send your song suggestions…
When You Win, Everyone Wants In: Songs About Success
This week on A Symposium of Popular Songs, we’re listening to songs about success—its joys, its sorrows, and its dangers. Send your song recommendations to symposiumofsongs@gmail.com!
Writing from the Heart: Songs About Sincerity
Boy, I had very little idea what I wanted to say about sincerity when I started recording, so you’ll hear me sincerely try to figure it out as we listen…
Calling All in Transit: Alternative Rock Songs
A friend of mine recently asked me for a Spotify playlist of alternative rock—but I don’t use Spotify, so I decided to make the playlist here. This week on A…
Life Could Be So Very Fine: Songs About Happiness
We’re listening to songs about happiness this week on A Symposium of Popular Songs, and trying to find a way to separate songs about happiness from songs about being in…
Young Girls Are Coming to the Canyon: Songs of Laurel Canyon
In honor of my wife’s birthday, we’re listening to songs from her favorite musical scene: Laurel Canyon. Send your song suggestions to symposiumofsongs@gmail.com!
A Short Time Is Better Than No Time: Songs About Ephemerality
Continuing our examination of time from last week, this week we’re listening to songs about ephemerality and trying to figure out if transient things can have eternal value. Send your…
Slow Trigger, Starting Line: Songs About Waiting
This week, we’re listening to songs about waiting, and I’ll tell you a story you might not know about Tom Petty and plagiarism. Send your song recommendations to symposiumofsongs@gmail.com!
I Didn’t Sleep at All Last Night: Songs About Insomnia
I promised it in our very first episode, and now I’m finally delivering: here are some songs all about not being able to get to sleep. Send your song recommendations…
This Trash Can Dream Come True: Songs About New York City
We’re listening to songs about America’s “city of record,” New York. I like it a lot more than Los Angeles! Send your song recommendations to symposiumofsongs@gmail.com.