GOSH! i was listening to a bbc documentary on the simpsons, when suddenly the presenter (it's phil jupitus, actually) announces "professor paul cantor from the university of virginia" and then on comes paul cantor's voice, talking about the politics of the simpsons! imagine that, phil jupitus and paul cantor talking to each other! but how marvellous! in fact i don't really know professor cantor; that is i took his large lecture course on world literature (a departmental requirement for majors) and might have been to consult him several times in the course of my studies on administrative matters (he'd been director of undergraduate studies when i was there) but he wouldn't pick me out of an identity parade if i'd coshed him and made off with his rare first editions. he is nominally a shakespearean, but like so many of the shakespeareans i admire, teaches and writes about absolutely everything else, from victorian non-fiction to modern culture (think marge garber also!) that the bbc interview came about must be an indication of the success of his book (and essays) on popular culture. i haven't yet read the book, but how can you not love the chapter title: simpson agonistes?