The Vasa Museum in Stockholm, Sweden is dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of a 17th century sailing ship, the Vasa, built as a testament to the magnificence of King Gustaf II Adolf, but which became a symbol of hubris and failure as it sank on its maiden voyage, only a few hundred feet from its launching site. The Awl’s contributor Elisabeth Donnelly writes about the experience of visiting the museum in that trademark Awl snark.
And speaking of monuments to magnificence and astonishing hubris, this article from The Paris Review by Misha Glouberman (and Sheila Heti) talks about what it’s like to be an undergrad at Harvard from the perspective of someone coming from outside of the social strata of American society (the author is Canadian) but with a keen understanding of what the real import of a Harvard education is (hint: it ain’t WHAT you know). Nicely candid and insightful, an insider-outsider’s POV without being too cynical about its subject.
Journalist/author Dudley Clendinen was diagnosed with ALS last year and has written this touching and honest commentary about his condition, coming to terms with not only the progression of the disease but also its inevitable conclusion, and his decision to end his life at the point where he feels the debilitation might become too much to keep on going. He has also been doing a series of conversations about his disease for Maryland Public Radio, which I haven’t listened to yet but might be worth a go.
