Jacob Herr
Bio
Born & raised in the American heartland, Jacob Herr graduated from Butler University with a dual degree in theatre & history. He is a rough, tumble, and humble artist, known to write about a little bit of everything.
Stories (32/0)
Live Fast & Die Old
He emerged out of nowhere and became the face of Hollywood’s golden age. On camera, he was the ultimate swashbuckler and rogue lover; yet beyond the silver screen, Errol Flynn couldn't be any different from what audiences thought he was. For he had an extreme lust for life, was married three times, had numerous love affairs, spent money like it grew on trees, sailed entire oceans, wrote about his involvement in international wars and revolutions, and died penniless. Even today, he is still debated, whether or not he was a human embodiment of alpha male masculinity or a drunken womanizer who used the American studio system as a tool to get what he desired. A saint or a sinner. Yet all can agree that he was fact, not fiction.
By Jacob Herr4 years ago in Geeks
Memories (Public & Private) of America’s Infancy
To say that the American Revolution was a radical experiment to implicate democracy to the agitated populations of Britain’s colonies, is certainly a sensible statement. Yet, it cannot be shared by the private memories of those who participated in it. In Alfred Young’s book The Shoemaker and the Tea Party, the story of the Bostonian cobbler and patriot partisan, George Hewes, is one of how the ideals of what one may call the American Hypocrisy Story (land of the free, home of the brave, all are created equal, justice is blind, your vote counts, business is honest, the good guys win, law enforcement is on your side, your standard of living will never decline, etc.) emerged from this treasonous, ironic, and metaphorical middle finger to the world’s strongest superpower at the time. Alfred Young’s words apply to the memory of the Boston Tea Party and the experiences of George Hewes, in a manner which allows the reader to create their own understanding and conclusions about how the events leading up to and defining the American Revolution, ought to be remembered by current and future generations.
By Jacob Herr4 years ago in The Swamp
The Battle of Preveza
In 1538, the Mediterranean Gulf of Arta would become the battle ground between two opposing forces. As the Ottoman Empire seeks to expand it’s territory and cultural influence into the heart of Europe, the Kingdom of Spain, the Republic of Venice, and even the Papal States, fear for the loss of their status as world powers, their sovereignty as independent nations, and their freedom as human beings. For if their leaders and people were to act blissfully ignorant to the marauding hordes of the Ottoman Turks upon their arrival to their doorsteps, they would surly become lambs of God among the wolves of Allah. Fueled by political and religious ideologies, these diametrically opposed entities would use the latest of military technology and strategy to shed their blood. For the victors would become the most dominant naval force of the Mediterranean Sea; and remembered by the annals of time and history as a new generation of ruthless conquerors or faithful crusaders. The purpose of this essay is to is to analyze the critical intangibles and x-factors which determined the Battle of Preveza’s outcome, and how it shaped it’s political fallout for both the Europeans and the Ottoman Empire.
By Jacob Herr4 years ago in Serve
The Man & The Method
In this current age of the performing arts industry, there is one man who is most fit to be described as the founder and patriarch of modern American acting. A man by the name of Lee Strasberg. Between 1931 and 1982, Lee Strasberg dedicated his life to teaching several generations of film and stage actors the ideas behind a new acting style, that is now defined as “Method Acting”.
By Jacob Herr4 years ago in Journal
The Strange Case of Robert Lewis Stevenson & the Left Winged Radical
Upon Robert Lewis Stevenson’s publishing of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in 1886, the social classes in the "civilized world" were facing the threat of destruction by the hands of left-winged rouges and radicals. The political philosophies of Karl Marx, the Paris Commune, and the Anarchist riot in Haymarket Square made the message clear that social reform would be inevitable; be it in a year or in an entire generation’s lifetime. The elements of 19th century society and politics inspired Stevenson’s characterization of Edward Hyde as a left winged radical, fueled by the desires of chaos and anarchy.
By Jacob Herr4 years ago in Horror
The American Jekyll & Hyde
A genius to some and a madman to others. Through his writing, he wished to strengthen the 1960’s counter culture and expose the truth about America, by means of drugs, alcohol, violence, and firearms. He is idolized by a generation and feared by those who were closest to him. In the end, he realized that at the age of 67, he could no longer control or live up to the entity for which he cad created; resulting in a final bang from a Smith & Wesson pistol.
By Jacob Herr4 years ago in Geeks
When the Cornfields Ran Red with Blood
In the long term of the human condition, a true spoil that belongs to the victors of human conflict is the history for which their efforts will be remembered by future generations to come. No stronger does this correlate than in an event described as “America’s Second War of Independence”; The War of 1812. This war marks a secondary process of military violence between the young United States and the British Empire in order to secure permanent sovereignty on the North American continent and would cost over 15,000 American, British, Canadian, and Indigenous lives. Surprisingly though, there is an irony which lies in how our modern generations have metaphorically shrugged aside the historical importance of this conflict. Even the author and state-historian, James H. Madison writes only three paragraphs about the wartime experience in the then Indiana Territory in his 400 page book Hoosiers: A New History of Indiana. Certainly, the events that took place in Indiana are rather miniscule compared to the Burning of Washington or the Battle of New Orleans. However, I wish to argue that the strategic value of the Indiana Territory at the time was equally as important as the White House or the bayous of Louisiana. For Hoosiers, the War of 1812, is utterly consequential as part of Indiana’s state-based identity. This is largely in part due to the numerous native nationa, united under the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh, and were willing to fight to the death to protect their sovereign lands surrounding the Great Lakes; as well as the dire American holdouts, which would retain U.S. dominance in the territory; even when under the threat of annihilation.
By Jacob Herr4 years ago in Serve
Icarus Has Fallen
On the morning of October 11, 1809, the famed explorer and frontiersman, Meriwether Lewis, was found dead in a small log cabin inn. Immediately, the death was labeled a suicide, based on the account of the innkeeper’s wife. But now, newly discovered historical evidence has emerged, showing signs of foul play. A murder to conceal the deeds of one of the most treasonous figures in American history.
By Jacob Herr4 years ago in Criminal