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How To Academy Podcast

Award winning novelist Rebecca Kuang - Yellowface

Nov 1, 2024
Rebecca F. Kuang, an award-winning author and PhD candidate at Yale, shares her literary journey and the inspiration behind her bestselling novel, 'Yellowface.' She discusses the complexities of success versus personal struggle in the publishing world. The conversation dives into issues of diversity, representation, and the ethical implications of storytelling. Kuang also reflects on the impact of social media on writing and character development, illustrating how personal experiences inform her work. Don't miss her insights on navigating creativity in today's literary landscape.
01:18:10

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Rebecca Kuang explores the impact of social media on literature, highlighting how platforms shape storytelling and cultural representation.
  • Despite her literary success, Kuang candidly discusses her ongoing struggles with self-doubt and the quest for continued creative fulfillment.

Deep dives

The Evolution of Social Media and Literature

The author discusses how the emergence of platforms like Twitter has shaped the literary landscape and reflects on their impact on the creative process. While highlighting the rapid transition from Twitter to TikTok, she notes that her work, particularly the novel 'Yellowface,' now serves as a historical artifact of a specific moment in online culture. Younger readers express curiosity about what social media was like during the time the book was written, illustrating how technology influences storytelling. The author feels a sense of responsibility to analyze past online interactions to enrich her research and work, though she approaches social media primarily as a scholar rather than a participant.

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