Thomas J. Farrell, Professor Emeritus

Persistent link for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/11299/185754

This collection contains works by Thomas J. Farrell, Professor Emeritus from the Department of Writing Studies.

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"Maia Szalavitz on Love as a Drug, and Walter J. Ong's Thought"
(This version was not previously published., 2025) Farrell, Thomas
In my wide-ranging and, at times, deeply personal 4,580-word review essay "Maia Szalavitz on Love as a Drug, and Walter J. Ong's Thought," I first succinctly highlight the work of the American Jesuit scholar Walter Jackson Ong, Jr. (1912-2003; Ph.D. in English, Harvard University, 1955) of Saint Louis University and related work. I do this to establish the cultural matrix that i am working with when I turn to discuss Maia Szalavitz's guest op-ed titled "Love Is a Drug. IA.I. Chatbots Are Exploiting That" in The New York Times (dated June 3, 2025).
David Brooks on Trumpism versus Abstractions, and Walter J. Ong's Thought
(This version was not previously published., 2025) Farrell, Thomas
In my wide-ranging 3,330-word review essay "David Brooks on Trumpism versus Abstractions, and Walter J. Ong's Thought," I discuss NYT columnist David Brooks' column titled "I'm Normally a Mild Guy. Here's What Pushed Me Over the Edge" in The New York Times (dated May 29, 2025). It turns out that a certain pronounced tendency in Trumpism to avoid abstractions pushed David Brooks over the edge. So, I discuss abstractions in the American Jesuit scholar's media ecology account of our Western cultural history.
Stanley McChrystal's 2025 Book On Character: Choices That Define a Life, and Walter J. Ong's Thought
(This version was not previously published., 2025) Farrell, Thomas
In my wide-ranging and, at times, deeply personal 6,100-word review essay "Stanley McChrystal's 2025 Book On Character: Choices That Define a Life, and Walter J. Ong's Thought," I succinctly highlight retired U.S. Army General Stanley McChrystal's new 2025 autobiographical book. In addition, I succinctly highlight the relevant work of the American Jesuit Renaissance specialist and cultural historian and pioneering media ecology theorist Walter Jackson Ong, Jr. (1912-2003; Ph.D. in English, Harvard University, 1955) of Saint Louis University, the Jesuit university in the City of St. Louis, Missouri (USA) -- where, over the years, I took five courses from Father Ong.
Tom Cooper's 2025 Book Wisdom Weavers: The Lives and Thought of Harold Innis and Marshall McLuhan, and Walter J. Ong's Thought
(This version was not previously published., 2025) Farrell, Thomas
In mt 2,600-word review essay "Tom Cooper's 2025 Book Wisdom Weavers: The Lives and Thought of Harold Innis and Marshall McLuhan, and the Thought of Walter J. Ong," I succinctly highlight Tom Cooper's ambitious and admirably accessible new 2025 book Wisdom Weavers -- which is the revised and updated version of cooper's 1979 doctoral thesis at the University of Toronto, where both Innis and McLuhan taught for years. Innis and McLuhan are the co-founders of the so-called Toronto School of Media Ecology within the field of communication studies. At times, certain people also consider the American Jesuit Renaissance scholar and cultural historian and pioneering media ecology theorist Walter Jackson Ong, Jr. (1912-2003; Ph.D. in English, Harvard University, 1955) of Saint Louis University to be an adjunct member of the Toronto School of Media Ecology. In any event, in my 2,600-word review essay, I also succinctly highlight Ong's pertinent thought.
Edward A. Comor's 2025 Book W. T. Easterbrook: Harlod Innis's Final course, and Walter J. Ong's Thought
(This version was not previously published., 2025) Farrell, Thomas
In my 7,000-word review essay "Edward A. Comor's 2025 Book W. T. Easterbrook: Harold Innis's Final Course, and Walter J. Ong's Thought," I first succinctly highlight the pertinent thought of the American Jesuit Renaissance specialist and cultural historian and pioneering media ecology theorist Walter Jackson Ong, Jr. (1912-2003; Ph.D. in English, Harvard University, 1955) of Saint Louis University, the Jesuit university in the City of St. Louis, Missouri (USA). I also succinctly highlight the life and work of the Canadian scholar Harold Adams Innis (1894-1952), who was an intellectual giant at the University of Toronto and who are also a founder of media ecology studies.
Thomas J. Farrell's Further Reflections on His Life and Work
(This version was not previously published., 2025) Farrell, Thomas
In my extremely wide-ranging and, at times, deeply personal 11,500-word review essay "Thomas J. Farrell's Further Reflections on His Life and Work," I further reflect on my life and work, especially on 34 of my OEN articles, that I started reflecting on in two recent OEN articles: (1) my extremely wide-ranging and, at times, deeply personal 28,800-word 665th OEN article titled "Fareed Zakaria and Ezra Klein on President Trump's Foreign Policy" (dated March 24, 2025), and (2) my extremely wide-ranging and, at times, deeply personal 2,085-word 669th OEN article titled "Thomas J. Farrell's Encore on the Tragic Anti-Body Heritage of Christianity" (dated April 25, 2025). My new extremely wide-ranging and, at times, deeply personal 11,500-word review essay could be titled, instead, "Thomas J. Farrell's Encore on His Life and Work."
Thomas J. Farrell on the Tragic Anti-Body Heritage of Christianity
(This version was not previously published., 2025) Farrell, Thomas
In my 2,100-word review essay "Thomas J. Farrell on the tragic Anti-Body Heritage of Christianity," I succinctly highlight certain recent OEN articles of mine. In addition, I discuss the tragic anti-body heritage of Christianity in connection with heterosexual porn that is available free on the internet, including the many charming mom-son porn videos of the now-retired American pornstar Mandy Flores (born on March 19, 1989). In a "Disclosure" subsection, I succinctly highlight my life and my work, including my OEN articles from October 2009 to April 22, 2025. In any event, I conclude that porn that is available free on the internet is here to stay for the foreseeable future in our contemporary American culture.
Pope Francis (1936-2025): In Memoriam
(This version was not previously published., 2025) Farrell, Thomas
In my 1,200-word review essay titled "Pope Francis (1936-2025): In Memoriam," I first succinctly highlight the life and papacy of Pope Francis, including the most pertinent books about his life and papacy. Next, I succinctly highlight my own life and most pertinent work, including my OEN articles criticizing the Roman Catholic Church's vision of individual personal morality. Finally, I list seven of my OEN articles over the years about Pope Francis.
Thomas J. Farrell's Reflections on His March 2025 OEN Article "Fareed Zakaria and Ezra Klein on President Trump's Foreign Policy," and Walter J. Ong's Thought
(This version was not previously published., 2025) Farrell, Thomas
In my 5,156-word review essay "Thomas J. Farrell's Reflections on His March 2025 OEN Article 'Fareed Zakaria and Ezra Klein on President Trump's Foreign Policy,' and Walter J. Ong's Thought," I succinctly highlight and further discuss certain aspects of my wide-ranging and, at times, deeply personal 28-800-word 665th OEN article (dated March 24, 2025) -- to which I provide a link in the text of my 5,156-word review essay. In my 5,156-word review essay, I also discuss the relevant thought of the American Jesuit Renaissance specialist and cultural historian and pioneering media ecology theorist Walter Jackson Ong, Jr. (1912-2003; Ph.D. in English, Harvard University, 1955) of Saint Louis University, the Jesuit university if the City of St. Louis, Missouri -- where, over the years, I took five courses from Father Ong.
Agnes Callard's 2025 Book Open Socrates: The Case for the Philosophical Life, and Walter J. Ong's Thought
(This version was not previously published., 2025) Farrell, Thomas
In my 5,800-word review essay "Agnes Collard's 2025 Book Open Socrates: The Case for the Philosophical Life, and Walter J. Ong's Thought," I first highlight my life and my reading, including highlighting the thought of the American Jesuit Renaissance specialist and cultural historian and pioneering media ecology theorist Walter Jackson Ong, Jr. (1912-2003; Ph.D. in English, Harvard University, 1955) of Saint louis University, the Jesuit university in the City of St. Louis, Missouri -- where, over the years, I took five courses from Father Ong. Nest, I succinctly highlight Agnes Collard's new 2025 book Open Socrates: The Case for the Philosophical Life (Doubleday). But are contemporary Americans ready to hear Agnes Collard's case for the philosophical life? She makes a good case. In my 5,800-word review essay, I mention Agnes Collard by name 33 times; I mention Ong by name 27 times.
Thomas J. Farrell's "Top 20" OEN Articles, and Walter J. Ong's Thought
(This version was not previously published., 2025) Farrell, Thomas
In my 2,100-word review essay "Thomas J. Farrell's 'Top 20' OEN Articles, and Walter J. Ong's Thought," I first list the "Top 20" of my 665 OEN articles, ranking each one by the number of views it received. Next, I offer some reflections on certain aspects of my "Top 20" list, including relevant information about the thought of the American Jesuit Renaissance specialist and cultural historian and pioneering media ecology theorist Walter Jackson Ong, Jr. (1912-2003; Ph.D. in English, Harvard University, 1955) of Saint Louis University, the Jesuit university in the City of St. Louis, Missouri.
Elaine Pagels' 2025 Book Miracles and Wonder: The Historical Mystery of Jesus, and Walter J. Ong's Thought
(This version was not previously published., 2025) Farrell, Thomas
In my wide-ranging 8,925-word review essay "Elaine Pagels' 2025 Book Miracles and Wonder: The historical Mystery of Jesus, and Walter J. Ong's Thought," I first succinctly highlight some of my recent OEN article online to establish my larger cultural contaxt for my discussion of Pagels' new 2025 book. My larger cultural context for discussing her new 2025 book includes highlighting (1) certain aspects of thought of the Swiss psychiatrist and psychological theorist Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961); (2) certain aspects of the thought of the American Jesuit Renaissance specialist and cultural historian and pioneering media ecology theorist Walter Jackson Ong, Je. (1912-2003; Ph.D. in English, Harvard University, 1955) of Saint Louis University, the Jesuit university in the City of St. Louis, Missouri; (3) certain aspects of the porn work of the 5'4" tall now-retired American pornstar Mandy Flores (born on March 19, 1989; with measurements of 39-24-34, according to the anonymous entry about her in Babepedia online). Next, in the latter part of this 8,925-word review essay, I succinctly highlight Pagels' new 2025 book Miracles and Wonder: The Historical Mystery of Jesus. In this review essay, I mention Pagels' name 73 times; Jung's name 27 times (but all in connection with the same things); Ong's name 21 times; and Mandy Flores' name 32 times.
Fareed Zakaria and Ezra Klein on President Trump's Foreign Policy, and Walter J. Ong's Thought
(This version was not previously published., 2025) Farrell, Thomas
In my 30,366-word review essay, "Fareed Zakaria and Ezra Klein on President Trump's foreign Policy, and Walter J. Ong's Thought," I highlight the jorunalists Fareed Zakaria and Ezra Klein's lengthy discussion of President Trump's foreign policy in The New York Times' article "The Dark Heart of Trump's Foreign Policy" (dated March 1, 2025). In the present 30,266-word review essay, I also highlight certain key aspects of the thought of the American Jesuit Renaissance specialist and cultural historian and pioneering media ecology theorist Walter Jackson Ong, Jr. (1912-2003; Ph.D. in English, Harvard University, 1955) of Saint Louis University, the Jesuit university in the City of St. Louis, Missouri. In addition, in the present 30,366-word review essay, I celebrate the now-retired devout Christian pornstar Mandy Flores (her stage name). I here honor the devout Christian Mandy Flores because I see her charming porn videos that are available free on the internet as a crucial way to combat the anti-body heritage of Christianity in our Western cultural history. I mention her name "Mandy" 277 times in the present 30,266-word review essay -- an average of once every 109 words as one way for me to stress the importance of combating the anti-body heritage of Christianity.
Philip Shenon's 2025 Book Jesus Wept, and Walter J. Ong's Thought
(This version was not previously published., 2025) Farrell, Thomas
In my 10,350-word review essay "Philip Shenon's 2025 Book Jesus Wept, and Walter J. Ong's Thought," I succinctly highlight Philip Shenon's bleak new 2025 book Jesus Wept: Seven Popes and the Battle for the Soul of the Catholic Church (Alfred A. Knopf). In addition, I highlight the thought of the American Jesuit Renaissance specialist and cultural historian and pioneering media ecology theorist Walter J. Ong (1912-2003; Ph.D. in English, Harvard University, 1955) by constructing a fourfold account of our Western cultural history -- and of the history of the Roman Catholic Church from the historical Jesus to the seven most recent popes discussed by Philip Shenon.
About J. R. R. Tolkien's Fantasy Novel, The Lord of the Rings, and Walter J. Ong's Thought
(This version was not previously published., 2025) Farrell, Thomas
In my 6,200-word review essay "About J. R. R. Tolkien's Fantasy Novel, The Lord of the Rings, and Walter J. Ong's Thought," I succinctly highlight Thomas A. Shippey's 2000 book J. R. R. Tolkien: Author of the Century, with special attention to Shippey's perceptive account of Tolkien's three-volume fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings (1954-1955). I bring in the thought of the American Jesuit Renaissance specialist and cultural historian and pioneering media ecology theorist Walter J. Ong (1912-2003; Ph.D. in English, Harvard University, 1955) of Saint Louis University to consider certain contextualizing matters that I address in the present essay.
Some Deeply Personal Reflections About Being a Fan of Certain TV Shows and of Certain TV Actresses and of Certain Popular Internet Pornstars
(This version was not previously published., 2025) Farrell, Thomas
In my 11,375-word review essay "Some Deeply Personal Reflections About Being a Fan of Certain TV Shows and of Certain TV Actresses and of Certain Popular Internet Pornstars," I list chronologically 24 TV shows I have liked enough over the years to buy the DVD version of each TV show -- to establish the larger context of my subsequent wide-ranging commentary and discussion. The TV actress that I mention most often in my document is the busty young beauty Lynda Carter (born on July 24, 1951; mentioned 37 times) who starred in the 1970s Wonder Woman TV series. The three popular internet pornstars that I mention most often in my document are (1) Bree Olson (born on October 7, 1986; mentioned 33 times); (2) Cory Chase (born on February 25, 1981; mentioned 32 times); and (3) Molly Jane (born on October 9, 1993; mentioned 35 times).
Pope Francis' 2025 Autobiography, and Walter J. Ong's Thought
(This version was not previously published., 2025) Farrell, Thomas
In my wide-ranging and extremely associative 7,600-word review essay "Pope Francis' 2025 Autobiography, and Walter J. Ong's Thought," I succinctly highlight Pope Francis 2025 300-page book, with Carlo Musso, titled Hope: The Autobiography, translated from the Italian by Richard Dixon (Random House). In addition, I succinctly highlight the work of the American Jesuit Renaissance specialist and cultural historian and pioneering media ecology theorist Walter J. Ong (1912-2003; Ph.D. in English, Harvard University, 1955) of Saint louis University.
The Work of C. G. Jung (1875-1961), and the Thought of Walter J. Ong (1912-2003)
(This version was not previously published., 2025) Farrell, Thomas
In my 13,976-word review essay "The Work of C. G. Jung (1875-1961), and the Thought of Walter J. Ong (1912-2003)," I select certain highlights from Jung's work and from Ong's thought to discuss in connection with heterosexual porn on the internet and in DVDs, especially mom-son fantasy porn skit. I align Jung's contrast of fantasy thinking involving images and associative thinking versus directed thinking involving logic with Ong's contrast of orally based thought and expression, on the one hand, and, on the other, phonetic alphabetic literacy. In addition, I align the historical emergence of heterosexual porn on the internet and in DVDs with the emergence of what Ong refers to as our contemporary secondary oral culture in our Western cultural history. I also point out that the fantasy skits in mom-son porn evoke images and archetypal contents in the psyches of the boys and men of all ages who enjoy watching them.
C. G. Jung's Work, and Walter J. Ong's Thought
(This version was not previously published., 2024) Farrell, Thomas
In my 4,215-word highly associative review essay "C. G. Jung's Work, and Walter J. Ong's Thought," I selectively highlight certain aspects of the work of the prolific Swiss psychiatrist and psychological theorist Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961). In addition, I intersperse highlights of the thought of the American Jesuit Renaissance specialist and cultural historian and pioneering media ecology theorist Walter Jackson Ong, Jr. (1912-2003; Ph.D. in English, Harvard University, 1955) of Saint Louis University.
Mom-Son Porn on the Internet, c. G. Jung's Thought, and Walter J. Ong's Thought
(This version was not previously published., 2024) Farrell, Thomas
In my 3,600-word review essay "Mom-Son Porn on the Internet, C. G. Jung's Thought, and Walter J. Ong's Thought," I succinctly highlight and critique Matt Richtel's article "It's Time to Talk About Pornography, Scholars Say: More adolescents than ever are watching it. What's needed, researchers say, are frank conversations and 'porn literacy'" (dated December 12, 2024) in The New York Times. To construct my commentary about and interpretation of the ubiquitous mom-son porn on the internet, I draw on the work of the Swiss psychiatrist and psychological theorist C. G. Jung (1875-1961) and on the work of the American Jesuit Renaissance specialist and cultural historian and pioneering media ecology theorist Walter J. Ong (1912-2003; Ph.D. in English, Harvard University, 1955) of Saint Louis University.

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