This book offers a novel interpretation of politics and identity in Ovid's epic poem of transformations, the Metamorphoses. Reexamining the emphatically fictional character of the poem, Playing Gods argues that Ovid uses the problem of fiction in the text to redefine the power of poetry in Augustan Rome. The book also provides the fullest account yet of how the poem relates to the range of cultural phenomena that defined and projected Augustan authority, including spectacle, theater, and the visual arts. Andrew Feldherr argues that a key to the political as well as literary power of the Metamorphoses is the way it manipulates its readers' awareness that its stories cannot possibly be true. By continually juxtaposing the imaginary and the real, Ovid shows how a poem made up of fictions can and cannot acquire the authority and presence of other discursive forms. One important way that the poem does this is through narratives that create a "double vision" by casting characters as both mythical figures and enduring presences in the physical landscapes of its readers. This narrative device creates the kind of tensions between identification and distance that Augustan Romans would have felt when experiencing imperial spectacle and other contemporary cultural forms. Full of original interpretations, Playing Gods constructs a model for political readings of fiction that will be useful not only to classicists but to literary theorists and cultural historians in other fields.

Gods of Our Religion is a very deliberate conversation offering a for real look at the many images of God within Americas Christian churches. Whether you consider yourself a Christian, atheist, agnostic, Jew, Muslim, or other religious designations, Gods of Our Religion seeks to whet your appetite to know more about the inside of Christianity in America. Humanistic culture and internal competition are redefining Americas Christian church world. Even so, an authentic faith remains to be the connection that brings the heart of man to the heart of God. Everyone believes something. If you believe in nothing, this nothing is the something in which you believe. Either way, something or nothing, one has to press into their belief system in order to overcome the contrasting winds blowing in both directions. Americas Christian churches clearly illustrate the confusion that can occur when the cultural winds create a mixture of belief systems that supposedly have the same origin. But do they? "Gods of Our Religion" is an very direct message based on a personal journey where the heart the imaginary. Many of the gimmicks, sermons, and methods used to promote life within the America Christian churches lend themselves to creating religious waves dressed in attractive and colorful clothes, but with a quick realization of a spiritual deficit. There is no doubt external forces are at work against Christianity in America. But, there is a bigger internal self inflicted conflict that veils the authentic faith we are meant to possess.

Winner, Association for Latin American Art Book Award, 2010 The Maya of Mexico and Central America have performed ritual dances for more than two millennia. Dance is still an essential component of religious experience today, serving as a medium for communication with the supernatural. During the Late Classic period (AD 600-900), dance assumed additional importance in Maya royal courts through an association with feasting and gift exchange. These performances allowed rulers to forge political alliances and demonstrate their control of trade in luxury goods. The aesthetic values embodied in these performances were closely tied to Maya social structure, expressing notions of gender, rank, and status. Dance was thus not simply entertainment, but was fundamental to ancient Maya notions of social, religious, and political identity. Using an innovative interdisciplinary approach, Matthew Looper examines several types of data relevant to ancient Maya dance, including hieroglyphic texts, pictorial images in diverse media, and architecture. A series of case studies illustrates the application of various analytical methodologies and offers interpretations of the form, meaning, and social significance of dance performance. Although the nuances of movement in Maya dances are impossible to recover, Looper demonstrates that a wealth of other data survives which allows a detailed consideration of many aspects of performance. To Be Like Gods thus provides the first comprehensive interpretation of the role of dance in ancient Maya society and also serves as a model for comparative research in the archaeology of performance.

This book is a very brief reflection on the readings of Sundays and solemnities of the churches' liturgical calendar, year A. In order not to make this just "a mere weekly homily", but a full book for all time, the thematical approach has been employed for each homily. However, these themes are not exhaustive. Rather, they are simply meant to help us have an idea of what could be the central message of each celebration. Brief stories and other biblical passages, quotes, popular sayings, and even personal life experiences have been employed in order to make the message clearer and more comprehensible to all. Above all, I have tried to keep it short and simple. However, great care has been taken in doing this by keeping in mind the rules of good biblical interpretation, without down playing the meaning and message of the individual readings. Hence, this book follows both the catechetical and exegetical approach. Some comments from readers from: https://wordpress.com/coments/all/frcanice.com Father, your reflections are brief, inspiring and challenging. Keep on helping us. - Fr. Karoli Lwanga, Kisii Diocese, Kenya Thank you very much Fr. Canice for your rich homilies. It is a great help to me as I always read it as I prepare my weekly sermons. God bless you and keep up the spirit of Cor unum. - Fr Aurelian Tumaini C.S.Sp Father, you are great and wonderful. Your reflections are highly inspired. Please keep it up, the Lord is your strength. Thanks a lot. - Fr Samson Ofuonye - Police Chaplain Benin City. Father, I want to thank you so much for your wonderful articulated, well researched, and organized homilies. They are concise and straight to the point. God bless you. - Izuu Iloka Thanks so very much for your reflection Padre Canice. May God continue to bless and uphold you in the mission. Amen. Happy Sunday. "" Fr. Odaudu Matthias C.S.Sp | Fr. Canice, what an inspiring thought you share every week! I have been visiting your page since my student days, and the flavor has not dwindled. Keep it up, you inspire me. - Fr Jude Hello Fr. Canice, let me appreciate you for the wonderful reflections you have been offering the world. I really enjoy it and sometimes help myself with it whenever I am preparing my sermon. Bravo Fr. God bless you abundantly. - Fr. Tizhe from Maiduguri, Nigeria. Padre, your website makes things easy for us, as it presents a rich source of good homilies. Thanks, and may God help you to keep it up. - Okenyi, Emmanuel Chidobe.