New Yorker writer Dwight Macdonald investigated covert propaganda while joining Encounter magazine in 1956. Colin Wilson, an Existentialist, became England's answer to Jean-Paul Sartre. Discover the covert propaganda behind Operation Free Youth Action and Operation Anti-Sartre, as well as its influence on Macdonald's critique of Mass and Middlebrow Culture.

Guests Richard Wright, Kenneth Tynan, and Dwight Macdonald discuss their involvement in the CIA's cultural battle in the 1950s. They explore topics such as the CIA's cinematic version of 1984, creating "books that don't smack of propaganda," and the experiences of African-American artists in France.

In this thought-provoking discussion, Richard Wright, the renowned novelist behind 'Native Son,' and Dwight Macdonald, the incisive cultural critic, tackle the nuances of censorship and cultural expression during the Cold War. Wright reflects on the struggles of Black artists, while Macdonald critiques mid-culture's mediocrity. They delve into how societal pressures distort art and explore the dark shadows of propaganda. This vibrant conversation offers powerful insights into race, culture, and the complexities of artistic identity.