Occasional Pilgrimage: Essays on Film, Literature, and Other Matters

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The twenty-four essays in this book cover a variety of topics, from films like Blade Runner and the Private Snafu propaganda film series of World War II to examples of classic literature from England and the United States to a smorgasbord that includes and an epic hitchhiking adventure, a 1968 Doors concert, and a humorous drug smuggling incident on the Rio Grande. What connects these diverse topics is the author's treatment of the shared humanity and inhumanities inherent in Western culture. By turns serious and humorous, Dow leads the reader through an examination of issues both subtle and obvious to bring home his point that humanity is a condition best shared. From "Busted!" About one o'clock, I was shocked from a deep sleep by a huge crash followed by the hurried trample of heavy feet. Lights were flashing confusedly in the darkness, nightmarishly silhouetting a handful of menacing forms moving quickly through the room from the busted-open back door. It was like some wild nightmare, but I was pretty sure I was awake, so I reached for my glasses. Just as I got a grip on them, a gun butt slammed into my arm, pinning it to the crate that served as a nightstand.