In this enlightening discussion, award-winning Canadian writer Ian Williams, known for his books like Reproduction and Disorientation, explores the intricacies of speech, identity, and power dynamics. Joined by local CBC host Catherine Marlow, they dive into the concept of cultural appropriation and the significance of authentic representation. The conversation reveals how silence plays a vital role in meaningful dialogue. Through personal anecdotes, they highlight the need for nuanced discussions and true listening in an era marked by ownership of words.
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insights INSIGHT
Language Acquisition
Language acquisition starts with silence and progresses through interaction.
Conversation is the primary purpose of language, especially for children.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Laryngitis at Banff
Ian Williams experienced temporary laryngitis at Banff Center.
He felt like a Muppet as others reacted to his strained voice.
insights INSIGHT
Language and Colonization
Enforcing the colonizer's language is a key strategy in colonization.
It establishes control, acculturation, and a hierarchy of superiority.
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Benjamin Franklin's "Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America" is a complex and often controversial anthropological pamphlet written in 1784. It presents a nuanced perspective on Indigenous populations, challenging prevailing misconceptions of the time. Franklin's observations highlight the social structures and customs of the Six Nations, contrasting them with European societies. The pamphlet's tone is ambivalent, reflecting the complexities of intercultural relations during the American Revolution. It remains a significant historical document, offering insights into the perspectives and biases of the era.
The presentation of self in everyday life
E Goffman
1st Edition Goffman
Erving Goffman
In this landmark work, Erving Goffman uses the imagery of theatre to portray the importance of human social interaction. He argues that individuals manage their self-presentation to control the impressions others form about them, treating social interactions as performances with settings, props, and audiences. Goffman's dramaturgical approach highlights the fluid and consciously maintained nature of human character, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a coherent definition of the situation in social interactions. The book is considered one of the most important sociological works of the 20th century, receiving the American Sociological Association's MacIver award in 1961 and being listed as the tenth most important sociological book of the 20th century by the International Sociological Association in 1998.
What I Mean to Say: Remaking Conversation in Our Time
What I Mean to Say: Remaking Conversation in Our Time
Remaking Conversation in Our Time
Ian Williams
Belonging
a culture of place
Bell Hooks
I do not have enough information to provide a long description for this book.
Just Us
Claudia Rankine
Claudia Rankine's "Just Us" delves into the complexities of race relations in America through a series of encounters with strangers. The book uses a unique narrative structure, blending poetry, essays, and dramatic scenes to explore the author's experiences and observations. Rankine's work challenges readers to confront their own biases and assumptions about race and privilege. The book's exploration of microaggressions and everyday racism has sparked important conversations about social justice and equality. "Just Us" is a powerful and thought-provoking read that leaves a lasting impact on the reader.
We're in an era where many people feel an ownership over certain words, and how a community expresses itself. The term "appropriation" has come to create guardrails around what can be said and by whom. Award-winning Canadian writer Ian Williams considers the role of speech and silence in reallocating power, and what it means to truly listen.
Ian WilliamsPoet and author, Reproduction (Scotiabank Giller Award winner), Disorientation. Being Black in the World, Word problems (Raymond Souster Award 2021), and moreProfessor of English and director of the Creative Writing program at the University of Toronto
Since 1961, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has produced the Massey Lectures featuring leading Canadian thinkers asking questions that make us better human beings. The lectures are a partnership between CBC, House of Anansi Press, and Massey College in the University of Toronto.
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