Academic

Ruthann Robson on Robert Tsai's Eloquence and Reason

By firstamendmentblogger

Check out Ruthann Robson's review of Robert Tsai's Eloquence and Reason, over at Law and Politics Book Review.  I've been working on an article that examines racialized metaphors in key First Amendment cases, so I'm looking forward to reading Tsai's take on metaphors such as "the marketplace of ideas," and the "wall separating church and state" which, in his view, help legitimize and even popularize foundational constitutional principles.

One misgiving Robson has about the book, however, is the scant reliance on female theorists (Hannah Arendt is apparently one notable exception).  This is unfortunate, not only because it overlooks the contribution of female scholars, but because it denies readers the benefit of their insight. 

And its not like women aren't producing quality work.  Josie Brown, my co-blogger at First Amendment Law Prof Blog, posts a scholarship update every week that includes countless contributions made by super-star women, including Joan Howarth (Dean, Michigan State), Ann Bartow (South Carolina), Helen Norton (Colorado), Elizabeth Glazer (Hofstra), Victoria Dodd (Suffolk), Caroline  Mala Corbin (Miami), and Njeri Mathis (South Texas), among many, many others.

-Kathleen A. Bergin

Full post as published by The Faculty Lounge on March 23, 2009 (boomark / email).