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
That Special Kind of Sadness: Songs About Los Angeles
We’re spending some (virtual) time in Los Angeles, this week, as the weather starts to get cold most everywhere else.
Put a Candle in the Window: Songs About the Light
Just as the light becomes a little more precious and scarce this year, we’re going to listen to songs about it. Send me your song recommendations at symposiumofsongs@gmail.com!
My Heart Has Been Outgrown: Songs About Change
This week, in lieu of a Thanksgiving episode, A Symposium of Popular Songs is listening to songs about change. Send your song recommendations to symposiumofsongs@gmail.com.
If I Could Only Fly: Songs About Transcendence
We’re talking about transcendence this week on A Symposium of Popular Songs, and it’s coming from every direction: religion, drugs, death, and all the rest. Send your song recommendations to…
An Echo of a World I Knew So Long Ago: Songs About Memory
We’re talking about memory this week on A Symposium of Popular Songs. How much do we need to remember in order to think, and how much do we need to…
Not Roaring but Weeping: Songs About Crying
We’re listening to songs about crying this week on A Symposium of Popular Songs, and there are so many of them that I’m only playing artists I’ve never played on…
Don’t the Last Time Come Too Soon?: Break-Up Songs
Inspired by absolutely nothing in my personal life, we’re listening to break-up songs this week on A Symposium of Popular Songs. I’ll try not to make it too depressing! Send…
A Hammer Needs a Nail: Songs About Work
In conjunction with the most recent issue of Local Culture and with FPR’s fall conference, we’re listening to songs about work on this week’s Symposium of Popular Songs.
The Gin Is Cold, but the Piano’s Hot: Songs About Bars
Bars, saloons, taverns, whoopie spots—we talk about them all this week on A Symposium of Popular Songs, and I get to give one of my hackneyed theories about Cheers, too.…
Some Needles Find a Groove: Songs About Music
We’re listening to music about music on this week’s Symposium of Popular Songs. I’ve got fewer literary readings for you than usual, but more personal stories, including my all-time favorite…
A Little Time in Quiet: Songs About the Morning
We’re listening to songs about my favorite time of day, morning, this week on A Symposium of Popular Songs. Accordingly, it’s a pretty mellow episode. Send recommendations my way at…
Every Tear on Every Face Tastes the Same: Songs About Solidarity
This week on A Symposium of Popular Songs, we’re listening to songs about solidarity, one-half of the foundation of Catholic social teaching. Send me your song recommendations at symposiumofsongs@gmail.com!