Join us for a Special Presentation

To reserve your spot please email Info@kibbitznest.org

a discussion led by,

Aron Dunlap, Ph.D. from the Shimer Great Books School

Art for Dark Times: The Visions and Melodies of William Blake

Over two hundred years ago the British painter and poet William Blake proclaimed a vision of the cosmos both captivating and strange. That is, his wife and a few friends found it captivating; everyone else thought it so strange as to border on lunacy. For Blake considered all religions to be one, denounced time and space as illusory and held that the perceiving mind created its own reality. In this presentation, Dr. Aron Dunlap will argue—in word, image and song—that Blake’s true audience is us and that grappling with his prophetic message can bring light to our dark times.

Aron Dunlap is a songwriter, academic and author. He has a Ph.D. in Religion from Temple University and is currently an assistant professor in the Shimer Great Books School at North Central College, where he has been since 2017. He has published a book, Lacan and Religion, and academic articles on topics ranging from the films of David Cronenberg to psychoanalytic themes in the Harry Potter series. For two decades he has been writing songs as Good Dust and has also toured and performed with She-Haw, Kandy Whales and Sidney. His academic and musical sides come together in lecture/performances on Blake, Shakespeare (The Food of Love) and W.H. Auden (Playing in Earnest). He has presented these hybrid works—featuring original musical settings of poetry alongside critical commentary—in universities, churches, artist retreats, bookstores and high schools across the country.

Thursday, April 24th, 2025

6:30 – 7:45pm

Free & open to the public, Email  info@kibbitznest.org to reserve your spot!

For more info please visit Shimer Great Books School and kibbitznest.org and gooddust.com