Greg Jackson reads and discusses Jennifer Egan's 'Safari,' exploring narrative depth, family dynamics on a safari trip, rising tensions, intricate relationships, power struggles, character development, and life transitions.
Jennifer Egan intricately unites themes and characters for impactful storytelling.
Exploration of structural dynamics in relationships like mate disapproval and its impact.
Characters in 'Safari' struggle with memory, time, and animal-like behaviors.
Deep dives
A Film Nominated for the Oscars
A New Yorker film, 'Night of Fortune,' is an Oscar nominee for Best Live Action Short Film. The film revolves around two men who form a unique bond in an unexpected location, a morgue, blending comic and dramatic elements.
Exploring Jennifer Egan's Work
Greg Jackson, while discussing Jennifer Egan's story 'Safari,' praises its brilliance, scope, and emotional impact. He highlights Egan's ability to intricately unite themes, characters, and story threads within her works.
Dynamic Relationships and Structured Hatred
The podcast explores structural dynamics in relationships, like the impact of a powerful male's mate disliking his partner. It delves into themes of structural affection, incompatibility, and desire, offering insights into how these dynamics shape interactions.
Themes of Memory and Time
The podcast episode delves into the themes of memory and time through the characters' experiences in the story. It explores how memory plays a crucial role in shaping the characters' identities and decisions. The characters, especially Rolf, struggle with the burdens of memory, with Rolf being unable to move on from past moments. Additionally, the episode discusses the representation of time and memory through storytelling and photography, highlighting the contrast between active memory and capturing moments in time.
Human Behavior Mirroring Animal Behavior
The episode highlights the portrayal of human behavior mirroring animal behavior in the story. It discusses how the characters on the safari exhibit behaviors akin to animals in an ecosystem, influenced by hierarchies and interactions. The narrative explores how characters' actions and responses reflect predetermined roles, similar to those observed in nature documentaries. Furthermore, the podcast delves into the implications of characters' struggles to break free from these structured dynamics, leading to pivotal moments of self-destruction and attempts to move forward from past choices.
Greg Jackson joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “Safari,” by Jennifer Egan, which was published in The New Yorker in 2010. Jackson has published a story collection, “Prodigals,” and a novel “The Dimension of a Cave,” which was one of The New Yorker's Best Books of 2023. He has been publishing in the magazine since 2014.
