This chapter delves into the challenges of conducting interviews in Latin America due to historical censorship and dictatorship, leading to cautious discussions. The conversation shifts to critiquing Brasilia's segregated nature and class disparities, along with reflections on Dutch novels set in Indonesia. The chapter further explores Brazil's economic shifts, safety concerns in cities, and the lasting impact of colonization on the country.
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Benjamin Moser is a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer celebrated for his in-depth studies of literary and cultural figures such as Susan Sontag and Clarice Lispector. His latest book, which details a twenty-year love affair with the Dutch masters, is one of Tyler's favorite books on art criticism ever.
Benjamin joined Tyler to discuss why Vermeer was almost forgotten, how Rembrandt was so productive, what auctions of the old masters reveals about current approaches to painting, why Dutch art hangs best in houses, what makes the Kunstmuseum in the Hague so special, why Dutch students won't read older books, Benjamin's favorite Dutch movie, the tensions within Dutch social tolerance, the joys of living in Utrecht, why Latin Americans make for harder interview subjects, whether Brasilia works as a city, why modernism persisted in Brazil, how to appreciate Clarice Lispector, Susan Sontag's (waning) influence, V.S. Naipaul’s mentorship, Houston's intellectual culture, what he's learning next, and more.
Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video.
Recorded February 15th, 2024.
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Photo Credit: Philippe Quaisse