Dante

 

Before Easter, we traditionally watch something from our DVD collection of old Biblical classics, like "Ben Hur" or "The Robe." However, this week we got hooked into a new PBS series called "Dante: Inferno to Paradise." 

Dante's epic poem is the most influential work of literature in the western world. I don't know if college students read it these days (other than English majors) but for centuries, Dante was the staple of higher education. 

The program sounds dry, but it combines intense, lurid visual art based on the poem, dramatic reenactments of the story, along with high brow academic interviews. How refreshing to see bright young liberal arts scholars so immersed in literature. It gives a person hope for the future.

John took a real fancy to Dante's white cap with ear flaps and strings hanging down. He kept asking what it's called. I thought it was just a cowl (type of hood) but a bit of Googling revealed a whole host of Renaissance men's headgear. The white cap is called a "linen coif" and the red cap is probably a "sock hat."

Anyway, Dante wears it well. After this show, maybe a new fad?