The Fitzcarraldo Editions Archive

The Fitzcarraldo Editions Archive: Brian Dillon In Conversation With Chris Power

Jun 1, 2023

Brian Dillon, critic and essayist, discusses writing with Chris Power. They explore using images, writing attentively about sentences and objects, transitioning from academic to engaging writing, the influence of writers like Roland Barthes, the balance between close reading and interpretation, and the significance of personal experiences in writing.

02:18:08

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Episode guests

Chris Power

Brian Dillon

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Brian Dillon's writing journey stems from personal experiences with family photographs, shaping his exploration of memory and personal reflection.

Dillon's methodical approach to storing and recalling material showcases his inclination towards intimately exploring memory and personal history in his writing.

'Essayism' marked a significant turning point in Dillon's writing career, illustrating the organic evolution of his projects in response to personal struggles.

Dillon's meticulous analysis of sentence structures in 'Suppose a Sentence' demonstrates his keen eye for literary detail and the intricacies of language.

Deep dives

Origins of In the Dark Room

In the podcast episode, Brian Dillon discusses how his book 'In the Dark Room' originated from a personal experience where he examined family photographs after a difficult period in his life. He narrates how he found solace in writing about these photos and gradually expanded this exploration into a book that delves into memory, family, and personal reflection, shaping the direction of his subsequent works.

Intro

6min

Exploring Memories Through Memoir and Family History

8min

Exploring Emotions and Responses to Illness Within the Family

3min

Evolution of Writing Style and Exploration of Personal Themes

18min

Exploring Virginia Woolf's Infinitesimal Imagination and Attention to Particles

2min

Exploring the Influence of Writers and Writing Style

27min

Exploring Close Reading and Eccentricity in Great Writing

12min

Exploration of Writing Fiction and the Boundary Between Reason and Imagination

3min

Exploring the Concept of Affinity in Art and Literature

25min

10.

Exploring the Significance of Andy Warhol's Film with Edie Sedgwick

3min

11.

Writing, Personal Experiences, and Emotional Connections

19min

12.

Exploring the Transformative Power of Books and Magazines

12min

Brian Dillon in conversation with Chris Power: Critic and essayist Brian Dillon, author of Essayism, In the Dark Room, Suppose a Sentence and Affinities, speaks to Chris Power, author of A Lonely Man, about his writing to date, including the influence and use of the image in his work, his attachment to the fragment and the ‘mere’, and the challenge of writing attentively about a specific thing, whether a sentence or an object. Recorded at Young Space in February 2023. Edited by Frankie Wells. Music composed by Kwes Darko.

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