Author and academic Maggie Nelson discusses themes of relationships, creativity, and love in her latest essay collection. The conversation delves into art, identity, and perversity in art, exploring the challenges of authentic writing and the intersection of family life with work. Nelson reflects on the process of selecting the appropriate form for writing, while also touching on the role of art in addressing climate change. Additionally, the podcast explores writing as a refuge and internal reflections, along with a unique essay on Prince and upcoming event promotions.
Maggie Nelson intertwines personal and analytical elements in her newest essay collection 'Like Love'.
Nelson challenges conventional notions of heroism and femininity through her exploration of artists like Rachel Harrison.
Maggie Nelson delves into themes of transgression and perversion within art while highlighting the importance of art criticism.
Deep dives
Exploring Art and Conversation through Essays and Conversations
Maggie Nelson's newest essay collection, 'Like Love,' delves into the themes of art, conversation, and connection. The collection comprises 33 essays on different artists and seven conversations, showcasing Nelson's unique approach to intertwining personal and analytical elements. By including conversations conducted via email and Zoom, Nelson adds a distinct rhythm that contrasts with traditional essay writing. Her work challenges the perception of citation-heavy writing by incorporating genuine interactions and exchanges, providing a fresh perspective on art critique and analysis.
Embracing Complexity and Contradiction in Art Appreciation
Nelson's exploration of various artists like Rachel Harrison and Brian Blanchfield challenges conventional ideas surrounding heroism and femininity. By delving into Harrison's works and statements, Nelson unpacks the notion that women cannot have heroes, emphasizing a more nuanced understanding of artistic reverence. She navigates the intersection of gender, artistry, and heroism, questioning societal constructs that limit the hero's archetype based on gender. Through her discussions with artists and her analysis, Nelson encourages a deeper reflection on the complexities of heroism and artistic inspiration.
Navigating Transgression, Perversion, and Artistic Expression
In her essay on musician Matthew Barney and writer Herve Guibert, Maggie Nelson delves into themes of transgression and perversion within art. By distinguishing between subversion, transgression, and perversion, Nelson sheds light on the nuanced ways in which artists challenge societal norms. She addresses the complexities of interpreting provocative art and highlights the importance of art criticism in discerning between artistic innovation and harmful expressions. Nelson's thoughtful analysis invites readers to consider the role of transgressive art in society and the blurred lines between creative boundary-pushing and harmful messaging.
The Value of Attention in Teaching and Parenting
The speaker emphasizes the significance of acts of attention in teaching and parenting, highlighting the importance of providing students with a supportive environment where their work is taken seriously. They discuss the challenge of balancing personal interests with giving attention to others in a thoughtful manner, aiming to avoid overshadowing one with the other. The speaker reflects on the difficulty of effectively transmitting values like attention and care, especially towards students and children, and underscores the nuanced nature of these actions.
Navigating Writing Forms and Creating Art in the Face of Climate Crisis
The podcast addresses the topic of selecting the appropriate writing form to encapsulate ideas effectively, mentioning the importance of trial and error and following one's instincts in determining the optimal form. Additionally, the discussion delves into the role of art amidst the climate crisis, examining how artistic expressions can convey underlying anxieties and reflections on collective issues like climate change. The conversation explores the intersection of personal subjectivity and critical perspectives in writing, emphasizing the challenge of balancing self-representation with objective analysis in different forms of writing.
Our guest today is Maggie Nelson, an author and academic whose deeply personal and analytical writing has covered such topics as gender, sexuality, and freedom. She’s published nine books of poetry, essays, and memoir, including The Argonauts. Many of her books combine or re-imagine genres, like her 2009 work Bluets, a collection of 240 short pieces – ranging from the philosophical to the lyrical – about the color blue. On June 1st, 2024, Nelson came to the Sydney Goldstein Theater in San Francisco where she spoke to Frances Richard about the themes in her newest essay collection, Like Love.
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