In earlier epochs,na critic tormented only the writers…nOf all the cants which are canted in this canting world—nthough the cant of hypocrites may be the worst—nthe cant of criticism is the most tormenting. Laurence StemenIn ours, he torments everybody.nRegardless of what we wish to knownor ignore, we live with cultural eventsnand their consequences.nThese events reappear at our dinnerntables either directly in conversations,nor through opinions, poses and mannersnthat our family and friends adoptnunder the pressures of the communicationsnindustry.nWe agree with Laurence Sterne’snwarning. We believe that the modemnmedia and their cultural reach transformnthe critic into a midwife of massnconsciousness.nWhat the American reader finds innthe New York Review of Books, Esquire,nChicago Tribune, Ladies HomenJournal, and the majority of publicationsnis criticism which keeps track ofncultural phenomena from an eclectic,nelitist and morally uncommitted pointnof view.nWhat are we striving for?nCHRONICLES OF CULTURE wantsnto present the thoughtful reader withnanother perspective —namely hownbooks, movies, musical trends, theirnmeaning and success, affect his life,nhis personal preferences, and his sensenof social order.nIn its criticism, CHRONICLES OFnCULTURE measures cultural eventsnagainst value-oriented criteria. We feelnthere is a need for a counterpoise tonthose who judge cultural offerings withoutnany thought to the impact of messagesnliberated from any codes of moralsnand rationality.nHow are we different?n— If you are not persuaded by thensheer charm of storytelling that JohnnIrving’s The World According to Garpnrepresents the real world—n— If you believe that Tom Wicker’sn”… searching assessment of the presentnstate of journalism” is nothing othernthan a liberal’s evasion of the seriousnquestion of the relationship betweennthe press and society—n—And if you are not seduced (likenTime was) into accepting John KennethnGalbraith’s spurious ideas on thennnstrength of his “combination of wit andnseriousness” “^nthen the CHRONICLES OF CUL­nTURE will open for you fairer vistas.nWould you Kke to leam more?nWhy not become acquainted withnsome ideas and writing that you won’tnfind in the New York Times, AtlanticnMonthly, Playboi;, Time, and read somenpeople who view Galbraith’s, Wicker’s,nand Irving’s “wisdom” and “charm” withnskepticism. A year’s trial of thenCHRONICLES OF CULTURE costsn$15.00 and brings with it the RockfordnCollege Institute’s two other periodicals,nTHE ROCKFORD PAPERS andnPERSUASION AT WORK, as well asnthe occasional publications.nJust mail in the card facing this pagenand treat yourself to a publication thatnsuspects today’s sophistication is tomorrow’snrubbish.nFor Immediate ServicenCall: 815-226-4016n