Category: Audio

The reality of writing

novelist, poeT, playwright: Writers ALL

A very interesting event at the British Library, organised by BBC Radio in conjunction with the Royal Society of Literature, in which some very fine contemporary British voices – Ali Smith, Jay Bernard and James Graham – discuss the complexities that arise at the intersection of art with real life events.

It is interesting how they all see their literary forms as a reflective and often non-deliberative response that is essentially different from that of journalism or reportage in that it creates the space to explore nuance and ambiguity and place it beyond the specificity of time; creating context and texture that questions and enhances the everyday experience.

To take the analogy (of the intersection, which I think is mine) further; as at the road intersection, collisions have a way of occurring irrespective of rules and intentions.

I should say that this was, in the first instance, broadcast on Radio 3 in their Free Thinking programme, but it is also embedded in a really excellent podcast called Arts & Ideas available on the website or also at Apple.

Liberalism and poverty

It has come to my attention that the second part of Marilynne Robinson’s recent lecture (embedded in my previous post) is now in essay (long) form, and as “Is Poverty Necessary?” the cover title of the June edition of Harper’s Magazine. Maybe you are lucky enough to get the one free piece a month – or even luckier and be a subscriber.

Now should you have listened to these lectures, you may agree that they really are quite dense in subject matter and meaning; especially the second part which harks back to the roots of classical economics at the beginning of industrialisation and the accompanying (and colliding) emerging political theories of liberalism, capitalism, marxism …I dare say I forgot some other “ism”s! In this respect I am very grateful to have some written words for guidance and more stringent study – at leisure if not pleasure.

Also, a podcast of a discussion with the editor of the piece (who is also the executive editor of Harper’s Magazine), Christopher Beha, is enlightening and presumably available to all.

A more than liberal serving of Robinson

On February 5 and 6 2019, Marilynne Robinson delivered the Joanna Jackson Goldman Memorial Lecture on American Civilization and Government entitled “Liberalism and American Tradition” at the New York Public Library in which she investigates the roots of liberal thought in America. Before I lose track of them, here is the library’s introduction followed by the embedded lectures.

Marilynne Robinson is one of the most celebrated American writers—she won a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and was awarded a National Humanities Medal from President Barack Obama, …She recently delivered the Joanna Jackson Goldman Memorial Lectures on American Civilization and Government lecture on American Civilization and Government titled “Liberalism and American Tradition,” which traces the origins of liberalism. The biennial lecture series is presented by the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at NYPL.  

The New York Public Library
Part One: Part Two: