Very Bad Wizards Episode 308: The Gray Man who Dreamed (Borges' "Shakespeare's Memory")
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May 6, 2025 The discussion dives into Borges' 'Shakespeare’s Memory,' probing what it means to hold the memories of a master artist. The hosts explore how these memories shape identity and existence. They also tackle the cancel culture debate at Cornell, examining the implications for free speech in academic spaces. The conversation beautifully intertwines themes of memory, identity, and the complexity of artistic creation, highlighting how our recollections define who we are.
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Memory Isn't Artistic Genius
- Having Shakespeare's memory doesn't grant true insight into Shakespeare's art.
- Memories alone are "frail material" without the creative alchemy to transform them into art.
Memory Muddles Identity Boundaries
- Personal identity relies heavily on memory, but memories mingle and blur over time.
- Like a palimpsest, old memories are overwritten and mixed, challenging a stable sense of self.
Self Illusion Through Memory
- Memories can be fragmentary and partly constructed or false.
- Our sense of self is fragile and often an illusion created by mixed and sometimes inaccurate memories.
