Thesis Theater Recording
Event Announcement
Signum MA student David Hepting will present his thesis “Chesterton’s Secret of Sight” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by David’s thesis supervisor, Cameron Moore.
Thesis Abstract
For Chesterton, life was ablaze with glory, and he saw the world with humble, lighthearted, love and wonder. Chesterton shared his view with us, the shocking wonder of life which has been in front of us this whole time. In this thesis I look at 5 books and how they elucidate the paradoxes of Chesterton’s sight. St. Thomas Aquinas shows a slow man going farther and seeing further than the fast; he saw reality as somehow even more real than we understand. St. Francis binds himself to poverty, chastity, and obedience and by those bonds becomes free. Chesterton’s Chaucer is lighthearted and quick to mock but his levity is weighty and always has a purpose. In the Short History of England Chesterton shows how it takes an uncommon man to stand up for common men. Finally, his Ballad of the White Horse shows the old paradox of Christ that “the Meek will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). Aquinas explains the root of Chesterton’s clear sight, Chaucer shares his laughter, the Short History lays out his love of human dignity, and Francis his bondedness to human freedom. The Ballad of the White Horse depicts Alfred, the embodiment of them all.
About the Presenter
David Hepting is a Canadian High School English Teacher currently living and working in Malaysia. He grew up loving to read fantasy, and almost anything by Old English authors and that includes both meanings of the phrase. He was drawn to Chesterton because of the imaginativeness, mystery, humour and the simple but deep wisdom he found in Chesterton’s writing. He hopes to someday be wise himself and satisfies himself by at least studying wise people in the meantime.
About Signum Thesis Theaters
Our graduate students write a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theatre is where they can present their thesis to the Signum community and wider public, enabling them to explain their topic in detail, respond to questions from the audience, and develop their conclusions.
