Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Montaigne's Medallion


Viewed my old VHS copy of "Quiz Show" last Sunday afternoon. It's the film about the Columbia U English prof who gets caught up in the NBC quiz-show scandals of 1957-58.



At one point in the film, the prof is seen lecturing his students on Michel Montaigne, informing them that the essayist used to sport a medallion with the words, "What do I know?" Interesting -- and an irony too, in light of the fact that the prof himself will soon be challenged by a Congressional investigator with regard to that very same question.

1 comment:

cristina said...

This is quite humorous about the Columbia U English prof and his quote from Montaigne. Fortunately, I would never be a contender for a Jeopardy or Quiz show as would Montaigne given his incessant complaints of his forgetfulness. He would find it humorous that someone who purports to have a photographic memory would quote his phrase "What do I know?"