From: PsychCentral (Newburyport, MA)
For many young adults, there is a ‘Fantasy Gap’ between expectations grounded in materialism and a commitment to work ethic, according to “new research by San Diego State University psychologist Dr. Jean M. Twenge [and] Dr. Tim Kasser, a professor of psychology at Knox College in Illinois.
“Recent high school graduates are more likely to want lots of money and nice things, but less likely to say they’re willing to work hard to earn them,” said Twenge. “That type of ‘fantasy gap’ is consistent with other studies showing a generational increase in narcissism and entitlement.”…
It is important to understand the generational relationship between money (materialism) and work ethic because mental health issues such as depression and anxiety often surface as adolescents begin placing a strong priority on money and possessions, Kasser said… Read more…
From: Muskegon Chronicle (Muskegon, MI)
For its next exhibition, the Fire Barn Gallery in Grand Haven will showcase the works of international artists Tony Gant and Lynette Lombard. A landscape painting by artist Lynette Lombard, who will show 20 of her paintings at the Fire Barn Gallery in Grand Haven Jan. 24 to Feb. 16. The artists, who are married and work as professors at Knox College in Illinois, will display their work alongside each other in an exhibition called “Educating a Generation — An American Renaissance.”…
Gant and Lombard have each shown their work in galleries in New York City, around the Midwest and the globe, according to a press release about the event, but they typically do not exhibit their work together…. Lombard, a landscape painter, will display about 20 of her works. Gant said his piece will be similar to an outdoor installation he plans to build at Rosa Parks Circle in Grand Rapids from Jan. 21 to 23… Read more… Also reported by the Fire Barn Gallery… Read more…
From: The Wall Street Journal (New York, NY)
Douglas Wilson, professor emeritus and co-director of the Lincoln Studies Center at Knox College, writes in an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal: “Now that Steven Spielberg’s new film, Lincoln, has sparked extraordinary interest in Abraham Lincoln as a behind-the-scenes persuader, it may be a good time to take a look at an aspect of his most persuasive writing.
“In virtually all the most memorable passages of Lincoln’s writings, there is a feature that plays a critical role—namely, the rhetorical use of the negative. This is not to say that Lincoln was a naysayer or negative thinker, but rather that he demonstrated an acute understanding of the power of negation in language and was unusually adept at putting that force to use…” Read more…
From: Quad-City Times (Davenport, IA)
Author Chad Simpson will sign copies of his award-winning short story collection, “Tell Everyone I Said Hi,” from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, at Books-a-Million, 4000 E. 53rd St., Davenport. Simpson is an associate professor of English at Knox College in Galesburg, Ill… Read more…
From: The Globe and Mail (Toronto, ON)
Knox College psychology professor Tim Kasser is interviewed for an article, “How can I have Christmas without the clutter?” Craig and Marc Kielburger, founders of Free the Children and Me to We, write: “In theory, Christmas is about time spent with loved ones, not great deals on electronics. Yet, in reality, many of us struggle with the holiday paradox of giving to others without succumbing to the trappings of mass consumption…
This week we asked experts: How do we reconcile the holiday spirit of giving with the avoidance of material excess? Tim Kasser, author of The High Price of Materialism — ‘My academic analysis shows that people report the highest holiday well-being when they de-emphasize the materialistic aspects of the season and instead focus on being with their families and practising their religion.’…” Read more…
From: The Register Mail (Galesburg, IL)
“Tell Everyone I Said Hi,” the award-winning short story collection by Knox College associate professor of English Chad Simpson, has been published by the University of Iowa Press. Earlier this year, Simpson’s book was named the winner of the prestigious John Simmons Short Fiction Award. The award is given to a first collection of fiction in English and is administered through the Iowa Writer’s Workshop… Read more…
