Conversations with Tyler Margaret Atwood on Canada, Writing, and Invention (Live at Mason)
Apr 24, 2019
Margaret Atwood, the acclaimed Canadian author known for works like 'The Handmaid's Tale,' shares her sharp wit and insights in a captivating conversation. She humorously defines Canadian humor while reflecting on the vastness of Canada. Atwood dives into topics like the impact of social media on literature, feminism in the arts, and the Future Library project, emphasizing the importance of preserving writing for future generations. She also touches on her creative process, the significance of place in storytelling, and her thoughts on free speech.
01:14:39
Canadian Humor
- Margaret Atwood suggests Canadian humor shares similarities with Scottish humor, being ironic and deadpan.
- She notes regional variations, with western Canada perceived as having less of a sense of humor.
Canada's Size and Identity
- Atwood highlights Canada's vastness, making it difficult to define a singular Canadian identity.
- She uses the song "Canada's Really Big" to illustrate this point, referencing the country's size as its defining feature.
Canadian Adaptability
- Atwood shares an anecdote about a contest asking to complete the phrase, "as Canadian as."
- The winning answer was, "as Canadian as possible under the circumstances," highlighting Canadians' adaptability.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Exploring Canadian Identity and Literature
02:12 • 7min
Exploring Shakespeare and Cultural Shifts
09:01 • 19min
Cultural Dialogues: Art, Economics, and Literature
27:51 • 7min
Navigating Canadian Populism and Indigenous Relations
34:27 • 4min
Exploring the Untamed Canadian Arctic and a Journey Through Philosophy
38:08 • 2min
Innovative Teaching and Creative Writing
39:55 • 8min
Women in the Arts: Challenges and Triumphs
47:51 • 24min
Exploring Creativity and the Concept of Immortality in Writing
01:11:39 • 3min
Edgar Allan Poe
A Life
Richard Kopley
This biography delves into Poe's fascinating life, including his personal struggles and literary achievements.
It combines a biographical narrative with close readings of his works, offering new insights through previously unavailable archival materials.
Raymond Chandler
Raymond Chandler
This collection provides an intimate view of Chandler's writing process, including early ideas and descriptions that later appeared in his classics like 'The Long Goodbye' and 'The Blue Dahlia'.
It offers insights into his thoughts on writing, Hollywood, and the detective genre.
The Robber Bride
Margaret Atwood
In 'The Robber Bride', Margaret Atwood explores the lives of three women—Tony, Charis, and Roz—who have been betrayed by their friend Zenia.
The novel delves into themes of female friendship, power dynamics, and the complexities of human relationships.
Inspired by the Brothers Grimm's 'The Robber Bridegroom', Atwood crafts a narrative that examines the impact of Zenia's manipulations on the women's pasts and presents.
The History of Alcohol
The History of Alcohol
Margaret Atwood
Scribbler Moon
Scribbler Moon
Margaret Atwood
Alice Munro
Alice Munro
The Legend of the Condor Heroes
Jin Yong (Louis Cha)
The Legend of the Condor Heroes is the first installment of the Condor Trilogy by Jin Yong.
The novel is set in imperial China during the conflicts between the Jurchen-led Jin Empire and the predominantly ethnic Han Song Empire.
It follows the interconnected storylines of Guo Jing and Yang Kang, two young men with different upbringings and moral compasses.
Guo Jing, raised in Mongolia, is honest and righteous, while Yang Kang, raised as a Jurchen nobleman, is clever but treacherous.
The story explores themes of heroism, loyalty, personal growth, and cultural understanding, blending historical events with wuxia fiction.
The novel was first serialized in the Hong Kong Commercial Daily from 1957 to 1959 and has undergone several revisions since its initial publication.
Witches of Eastwick
Witches of Eastwick
John Updike
John Updike's "Witches of Eastwick" is a darkly comedic novel exploring themes of female empowerment, sexuality, and the supernatural.
The story centers on three women in the small town of Eastwick, Rhode Island, who unknowingly possess magical abilities.
Their lives intertwine with the arrival of a mysterious and charismatic man, Darryl Van Horne, who unleashes chaos and unexpected consequences.
Updike's writing is characterized by its wit, psychological depth, and exploration of complex relationships.
The novel's blend of humor and darkness makes it a captivating and thought-provoking read.
Hag-Seed
Margaret Atwood
Hag-Seed is a novel by Margaret Atwood, commissioned as part of the Hogarth Shakespeare series.
It tells the story of Felix, a theatre director who seeks revenge against those who wronged him after being ousted from his position.
Felix finds solace in teaching Shakespeare to prisoners, using 'The Tempest' as a tool for his revenge plot.
The novel explores themes of loss, redemption, and the power of literature.
Charles Dickens' works
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Charles Dickens
While not a single book, Charles Dickens's novels are collectively considered some of the greatest works of English literature.
His works, including "Oliver Twist," "Great Expectations," and "A Tale of Two Cities," are known for their vivid portrayal of Victorian society, their social commentary, and their memorable characters.
Dickens's narrative style is characterized by its humor, pathos, and social realism.
His novels explore themes of poverty, social injustice, and the human condition, and their enduring appeal lies in their timeless exploration of human experience.
Dickens's influence on literature and culture is undeniable, and his works continue to be widely read and studied.
The Handmaid's Tale
Margaret Atwood
The novel is set in a near-future New England in the Republic of Gilead, a patriarchal, totalitarian state that has overthrown the United States government.
Offred, the narrator, is one of the 'Handmaids', women who are forcibly assigned to produce children for the ruling class, known as 'Commanders'.
The story explores themes of powerless women, loss of female agency and individuality, and the suppression of women's reproductive rights.
Offred's life is marked by her restrictive routine, her memories of her past life, and her interactions with the Commander, his wife Serena Joy, and other Handmaids, including her friend Ofglen who is part of an underground resistance movement.
The novel is a scathing satire, an ominous warning, and a tour de force of narrative suspense.
Cat's Eye
Margaret Atwood
In 'Cat's Eye', Margaret Atwood tells the story of Elaine Risley, a successful painter who returns to Toronto for a retrospective of her artwork.
The narrative alternates between Elaine's middle-aged years and her childhood, where she was subjected to intense bullying by her friends, particularly the charismatic and manipulative Cordelia.
Elaine develops various coping strategies, including self-harm and escapism through art, as she navigates the complexities of her relationships and the impact of her childhood experiences on her adult life.
The book explores themes of bullying, parental handling of such situations, and the long-term effects of childhood trauma on personal development and empathy.
God
A Biography
Jack Miles
Jack Miles's "God: A Biography" offers a unique and insightful exploration of the Hebrew Bible's portrayal of God. Miles masterfully weaves together narrative and analysis, tracing the evolution of God's character and role throughout the biblical text.
He examines the complexities of God's relationship with humanity, highlighting the shifting perspectives and interpretations across different periods.
The book is both scholarly and accessible, engaging readers with its compelling narrative and thought-provoking insights.
Miles's work challenges traditional understandings of God, prompting readers to reconsider their own beliefs and interpretations.
Survival
A Thematic Guide to Canadian Literature
Margaret Atwood
Published in 1972, 'Survival' is a groundbreaking work that examines the central preoccupations of Canadian poetry and fiction, identifying 'survival and victims' as the core themes.
Atwood applies this thesis in twelve chapters, analyzing works by various Canadian authors and offering new perspectives on familiar books.
The book is distinguished by its effervescent and compulsively readable prose, making it a book of criticism, a manifesto, and a collection of personal and subversive remarks.
It continues to shape the way Canadians look at themselves and their literature, highlighting the harsh physical environment, colonialism, and other obstacles that define Canadian writing.
Dark Mirrors
51 Schwarzspiegel
Arno Schmidt
The Gift
The Form and Reason for Exchange in Archaic Societies
Marcel Mauss
In 'The Gift', Marcel Mauss explores the concept of gift exchange in various cultures, particularly in societies without monetary exchange or legal structures.
He argues that gifts are not freely given but are part of a complex system of social obligations involving giving, receiving, and reciprocating.
Mauss examines practices such as the potlatch among North American peoples and the kula in Melanesia, emphasizing the role of gifts in binding people together in a web of reciprocal commitments.
The book also discusses the spiritual and economic implications of gift-giving, highlighting its significance in understanding social relations and cultural practices.
Ivanhoe
Sir Walter Scott
Published in 1819, 'Ivanhoe' is a historical novel that takes place in England in the 1190s, after the Norman Conquest.
The story revolves around Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe, a Saxon knight who returns from the Crusades to find his homeland under the corrupt rule of Prince John.
Ivanhoe must navigate his forbidden love for Rowena, his father's ward, while also fighting against injustice and supporting King Richard the Lionheart.
The novel includes elements of chivalric romance, medievalism, and the struggles between Normans and Saxons, as well as the persecution of Jews.
It culminates in a trial by combat where Ivanhoe defends Rebecca, a Jewish woman accused of witchcraft, and ultimately leads to the reconciliation of Ivanhoe with his father and his marriage to Rowena.
The Testaments
Margaret Atwood
Set 15 years after the events of 'The Handmaid’s Tale', 'The Testaments' is narrated by three women: Aunt Lydia, Agnes, and Daisy.
The novel delves into the inner workings of Gilead, revealing the complexities of its theocratic regime and the resistance against it.
Aunt Lydia, a former judge turned Aunt, secretly works against Gilead from within, while Agnes and Daisy become embroiled in a plot to topple the regime.
The story is presented through a manuscript and testimonies, culminating in a metafictional epilogue that discusses the authenticity and impact of these accounts in a future where Gilead has fallen.
The Island of Dr. Moreau
H.G. Wells
The novel follows Edward Prendick, a man who survives a maritime disaster and is rescued by a ship.
He is eventually left on an island where he encounters Dr. Moreau, a scientist notorious for his vivisection experiments.
On the island, Prendick discovers that Moreau has been conducting bizarre experiments to create 'Beast Folk' by genetically modifying animals to give them human-like characteristics.
The story delves into themes of evolution, ethics in science, and the nature of humanity, highlighting the moral and societal implications of Moreau's experiments and the eventual collapse of his creations' adherence to the laws imposed upon them.
Margaret Atwood defines the Canadian sense of humor as “a bit Scottish,” and in this live conversation with Tyler, she loves to let her own comedic sensibilities shine. In addition to many other thoughts about Canada — it’s big after all — she and Tyler discuss Twitter, biotechnology, Biblical history, her families of patents, poetry, literature, movies, and feminism.
Is it coincidence that Atwood started The Handmaid’s Tale in West Berlin during 1984? Does she believe in ghosts? Is the Western commitment to free speech waning? How does she stay so productive? Why is she against picking favorites? Atwood provides insight to these questions and much more.
Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links.
Recorded April 9th, 2019 Other ways to connect
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