The following essay, written by novelist Michael Mewshaw, was first presented as the plenary address at the 2004 South Central MLA Conference in New Orleans on October 28, 2004. It was included this year with the orientation materials for the Key West Literary Seminar, and I share it here with the intention of giving it a wider audience online.

Travel, Travel Writing, and the Literature of Travel

By Michael Mewshaw

I’ve traveled here to … Read more »

Above: Korean condom packaging.

The above snapshot of a box of Korean condoms is a relic of Newley Purnell’s recent trip to Seoul. Newley’s brief commentary says it all:

There is so much to analyze on this box of Korean condoms that I don’t even know where to start. The copy on the box reads:

“Keep it real. Keep on faith. Keep on going. Piece! Stay real! WE … Read more »