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The noted cultural commentator Max Wyman discusses his new book The Compassionate Imagination: How the Arts Are Central to a Functioning Democracy (Cormorant Books, 2023), with Joseph Planta. The Compassionate Imagination: How the Arts Are Central to a Functioning Democracy by Max Wyman (Cormorant Books, 2023). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Compassionate Imagination Text of the introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca. One of the more interesting books of the season is the one from Max Wyman, The Compassionate Imagination: How the Arts Are Central to a Functioning Democracy. It’s an engaging book, one that stress how important the arts are in a society and culture, not to mention the discourse. The economic spinoffs from the arts are there, we know the benefit to other industries because of a thriving arts scene, yet far too often, they’re seen as unnecessary, unimportant, or a frill. Engineering, technology or mathematics seem to be deemed more important, and as Max makes the case in the book, we’re the poorer for it. And he doesn’t suggest that STEM isn’t important, but that perhaps STEAM, with the arts in there, could be a shift that will be good for all. The book also makes for suggestions as to how government fund the arts, and it’s not saying the private sector hasn’t got a part either. His suggested structure for a new Canadian Cultural Contract is not only innovative, but feasible. Max, who joins me now, knows of which he speaks. For over three decades, Mr. Wyman has burnished his credentials as one of Canada’s foremost cultural commentators. His criticism and analysis has appeared in the Vancouver Sun and CBC Radio. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada, a former board member of the Canada Council for the Arts, and a former President of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO. He is also a former mayor of Lions Bay, British Columbia, where he joined me from last week. This new book is published by Cormorant Books. It was recently named a finalist for the 2023 Balsillie Prize for Public Policy. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Max Wyman; Mr. Wyman, good morning. The post Max Wyman first appeared on thecommentary.ca.

The linguist, lexicographer, writer, and technologist Sarah Ogilvie, a professor at Oxford University, discusses her new book The Dictionary People: The Unsung Heroes Who Created the Oxford English University (Knopf, 2023), with Joseph Planta. The Dictionary People: The Unsung Heroes Who Created the Oxford English Dictionary by Sarah Ogilvie (Knopf, 2023). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Dictionary People Text of introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca. One of the more fascinating and delightful books of the season is The Dictionary People: The Unsung Heroes Who Created the Oxford English Dictionary. The book tells the origin story of the OED, and that of its editor James Murray. We see what motivates Murray, an autodidact, to oversee this project, and to solicit submissions from members of the public. These crowdsourced definitions for the dictionary provide for a more lively and accurate document of the English language, as each of these slips that are submitted by post, provide an example of usage. Some three thousand contributors from around the world, with varying backgrounds, provide Murray and his subeditors with words and examples of usage. They’re from all over the world, and of varying stations in life. Sarah Ogilvie once discovered an old address book of Murray’s in the basement of Oxford University Press, and this sets off for her a journey to get to know the fates of these contributors, what they contributed, and what their motivation was. This book tells some of their stories and it’s nothing less than captivating. For example, the top five contributors each had connections to mental asylums. Sarah Ogilvie is a linguist, lexicographer, writer, and technologist. Raised in Australia, she has lived and worked in the United States, teaching at Stanford. She currently teaches at Oxford University, where she is Senior Research Fellow in the Faculty of Linguistics, Philology, and Phonetics (and of Campion Hall). This new book is published by Knopf. We spoke two weeks ago, with Sarah joining me from Oxford. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Sarah Ogilvie; Dr. Ogilvie, good morning. The post Sarah Ogilvie first appeared on thecommentary.ca.

The distinguished playwright and poet Dan O’Brien discusses his memoir From Scarsdale (Dalkey Archive Press, 2023), with Joseph Planta. From Scarsdale by Dan O’Brien (Harbour Publishing, 2023). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: From Scarsdale Text of introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca. Dan O’Brien joins me again. The distinguished playwright and poet has just published a memoir, From Scarsdale. It’s not just a beautifully written book, but it’s candid, honest, and insightful. And it’s not just those things when the writer thinks about himself and his upbringing, but he channels that sensitivity when pondering the lives of those around him growing up, his siblings, and his parents. At the age of 12, Dan’s older brother attempts suicide. Soon after the attitude of Dan’s mother and father is to not say anything. There’s no talk about it, and certainly no reference about it to others. This repression has consequences on Dan and his siblings alike. Soon after this trauma, Dan develops obsessive-compulsive disorder, and having to contend with that amongst his parents secrets and lies, not to mention undiagnosed mental illness affects Dan’s life and upbringing. It’s not until he discovers literature and the theatre, that he finds an escape of sorts. Dan’s been on this podcast seven times in the last ten years. We’ve talked about his work as a playwright and poet. We’ve also talked about cancer, illness, marriage, fatherhood, and the estrangement from his parents. He works through some of that in this book, and to get the backstory as it were, to get a sense of what Scarsdale, New York was like for Dan growing up, explains a little bit about how complex we all are thanks to our pasts, and the people around us in those formative years. We’ll talk about memory too. Dan O’Brien has been recognised for his work as a writer with many accolades, among them, a Guggenheim Fellowship for Drama, two PEN America Awards for Playwriting, and the UK’s Fenton Aldenburgh Poetry Prize. Visit www.danobrien.org for more information. This new book is published by Dalkey Archive Press. He joined me from Los Angeles two weeks ago. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Dan O’Brien; Mr. O’Brien, good morning. The post Dan O’Brien first appeared on thecommentary.ca.

The renowned biologist Wayne McCrory discusses his new book The Wild Horses of the Chilcotin: Their History and Future (Harbour Publishing, 2023), with Joseph Planta. The Wild Horses of the Chilcotin: Their History and Future by Wayne McCrory (Harbour Publishing, 2023). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Wild Horses of the Chilcotin Text of introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca. Wayne McCrory joins me now. He’s just published a new book, The Wild Horses of the Chilcotin: Their History and Future. It’s also a beautifully illustrated book, one that looks at the controversial horses in British Columbia’s Chilcotin. They’re also viewed as romantic and beautiful but to a lot of ranchers in the province, they’re seen as intruders. And Wayne does a fine job in the book chronicling how governments have viewed them, subjecting the wild horses to culls, as they’re seen as invasive species and harmful to domestic cattle, even though they’ve been part of this part of the world for hundreds of years. Mr. McCrory also presents his over twenty years of research looking at the genetics of these wild horses, evolving to the point where they should be considered domestic. Wayne also looks at the work by the Tsilhqot’in Nation, as well as Friends of Nemaiah Valley, and the Valhalla Wilderness Society. Wayne McCrory is a registered professional biologist specialising in the study of wild horses, bears, and western toads. He has published more than ninety scientific reports on wildlife and conservation. This new book is from Harbour Publishing. He lives in Hills, in British Columbia’s Slocan Valley, where he joined me from a couple of weeks ago. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Wayne McCrory; Mr. McCrory, good morning. The post Wayne McCrory first appeared on thecommentary.ca.

The writer and illustrator Hana Shafi discusses her new collection of poems and illustrations People You Know, Places You’ve Been (Book*hug Press, 2023), with Joseph Planta. People You Know, Places You’ve Been by Hana Shafi (Book*hug Press, 2023). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: People You Know, Places You’ve Been Text of introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca. Hana Shafi joins me now. She’s recently published a new collection of poetry and illustrations, People You Know, Places You’ve Been. It’s an engaging collection because she approaches everyday moments, and the sort of strangers we all encounter with clarity and empathy. Through her insightful writing, we the reader can think critically about community, about what’s heroic, what’s toxic, as well as friendship. She also gives voice to the ambivalence we all feel when we see somebody do good, but also do something not so good, and in the case of one poem I’ll ask her about, it’s a pretty mundane interaction that she witnesses on public transit. This collection is richly illustrated as well. Hana Shafi is a writer and artist who illustrates under the name Frizz Kid. Her work frequently explores themes such as feminism, body politics, racism, and pop culture. She’s published articles in publications such as The Walrus, Hazlitt, and This Magazine. She received the Women Who Inspire Award from the Canadian Council for Muslim Women in 2017. She lives in Toronto where she joined me from nearly one month ago. This new book is published by Book*hug Press. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Hana Shafi; Ms. Shafi, good morning. The post Hana Shafi first appeared on thecommentary.ca.

The actress and singer Barbara Bayes discusses the new production of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical at Vancouver’s The Centre, 777 Homer Street from 14-18 November 2023, with Joseph Planta. Text of introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca. Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical comes to Vancouver starting tomorrow night, Tuesday, 14 November 2023 at The Centre, 777 Homer Street. Tickets are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.ca, and performances run until Saturday, 18 November 2023. Joining me now is Barbara Bayes, who plays Grandma Who in this touring production. She’s been part of three previous runs of this show, and I’ll ask her about what we’ll see, the themes therein, and just how Whoville will look. Visit www.barbarabayes.com for more information. I spoke to Barbara last Friday while she with the company in Spokane, Washington ahead of performances this past weekend. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Barbara Bayes; Ms. Bayes, good morning. The post Barbara Bayes first appeared on thecommentary.ca.

The acclaimed performer of stage and screen R.H. Thomson discusses his new book By the Ghost Light: Wars, Memory, and Families (Alfred E. Knopf, 2023), with Joseph Planta. By the Ghost Light: Wars, Memory, and Families by R.H. Thomson (Alfred E. Knopf Canada, 2023). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: By the Ghost Light Text of introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca. R.H. Thomson joins me now. He has just published a new book By the Ghost Light: Wars, Memory, and Families. It’s a mesmerising book that looks critically at how we’ve romanticised notions of war, including Mr. Thomson himself. He goes beyond reflecting on how he used to play with toy soldiers at his grandmother’s house, and into how his childhood was shaped by his family’s contribution to war. Eight of Robert’s great-uncles fought in the First World War, while his godmother served as a military surgical nurse in Europe. The book shares a lot of the letters from his great-uncles, as well as other family members like great-aunts and cousins, which provide colour and verve to the recounting of experiences at the front line. Throughout the book, we see Robert’s family history, as well as the impact not just to them, their progeny and Robert himself. He looks critically at the profound costs, as well as how we as a society, not just in Canada but elsewhere remember. As we mark Remembrance Day tomorrow, this conversation is one way to look at effect of war on a family and a country. R.H. Thomson’s career on stage, screen and television has spanned over fifty years. He is a member of the Order of Canada, and was awarded the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement. Visit www.theworldremembers.org for the international commemoration exhibit he built, which is also installed at the Canadian War Memorial. This new book is published by Alfred A. Knopf Canada. We spoke this past Tuesday, with Robert joining me from Toronto. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, R.H. Thomson; Mr. Thomson, good morning. The post R.H. Thomson first appeared on thecommentary.ca.

The playwright and writer C.E. Gatchalian, one of the editors of Magdaragat: An Anthology of Filipino-Canadian Writing (Coromorant Books, 2023), discusses the collection with Joseph Planta. Magdaragat: An Anthology of Filipino-Canadian Writing edited by Teodoro Alcuitas, C.E. Gatchalian, and Patria Rivera (Cormorant Books, 2023). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Magdaragat Text of introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca. There’s a new collection out now, Magdaragat: An Anthology of Filipino-Canadian Writing. It gathers in one place a wide variety of pieces, essays, short stories, poetry, plays, speeches, and more, whose writers reflect the diversity, of not just Canada, but Filipino Canadians themselves. Herein you have writers from throughout the country, some from first, and second generation heritage, as well as some who are newly arrived to Canada, or who have been here decades. You have a wide variety of backgrounds. The collection reflects the contributions the Filipino community has made to the fabric of Canadian society, and often invisibly. A reader bears witness to the joys and struggles of people who’ve sacrificed much to seek community and family elsewhere. The collection is edited by Teodoro Alcuitas, C.E. Gatchalian, and Patria Rivera. Mr. Gatchalian joins me now, and I’ll get him to talk about what it was like working on this important, worthwhile project, and getting to read the richness in the submissions. I’ll also ask Chris to reflect on his own piece in the book, and what he says in it as somebody born in Canada, reflecting on the identities he contends with then and now. Chris Gatchalian is the author of six books, and co-editor of two anthologies. He is a three-time Lambda Award finalist and a recipient of the Dayne Ogilvie Prize in 2013. He is originally from Vancouver, but joined me from Toronto one week ago. There will be an event this Tuesday evening, November 14, 2023 at the Massy Arts Gallery, 23 East Pender Street. You can register in advance at www.massyarts.com. This collection is published by Cormorant Books. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Chris Gatchalian; Mr. Gatchalian, good morning. The post C.E. Gatchalian first appeared on thecommentary.ca.

The writer Paola Ferrante discusses her debut short story collection Her Body Among Animals (Book*hug Press, 2023), with Joseph Planta. Her Body Among Animals by Paola Ferrante (Book*hug Press, 2023). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Her Body Among Animals Text of introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca. Paola Ferrante’s debut collection of short stories is described as genre-bending, merging horror, fairy tales, pop culture, and sci-fi. It’s called Her Body Among Animals. Women are central characters, and the boundaries placed on their bodies is put into focus throughout the book, as she illustrates through her characters the complexity of living in a world “among animals.” I’ll ask Ms. Ferrante, who joined me last month, about the toxic masculinity she addresses and names in her stories. We’ll also talk about the setting of a couple of her stories, and the animals that mean a lot, that stand in for people at times. Paola Ferrante is a writer living with depression. Her debut poetry collection, What to Wear When Surviving a Lion Attack was shortlisted for the Gerald Lampert Memorial Prize. She’s appeared in several publications including North American Review, PRISM International, and Best Canadian Poetry 2021, among many others. Visit www.paolaferrante.com for more information. This new book is published by Book*hug Press. She joined me from Toronto. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Paola Ferrante; Ms. Ferrante, good morning. The post Paola Ferrante first appeared on thecommentary.ca.

The writer and critic Peter Counter discusses his new memoir How to Restore a Timeline: On Violence and Memory (House of Anansi Press, 2023), with Joseph Planta. How to Restore a Timeline: On Violence and Memory by Peter Counter (House of Anansi Press, 2023). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: How to Restore a Timeline Text of introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca. While on vacation with his family in Costa Rica in December 2006, Peter Counter witnessed a stranger shooting his father. He hauls his blood-drenched father to safety, and soon after Peter’s sense of time and memory is shattered. In his new book How to Restore a Timeline: On Violence and Memory, Mr. Counter, who joins me now, chronicles having to contend with post-traumatic stress disorder. We see in the consumption of media, old and new, nostalgic and current, just how tinged or immersed in violence everything is through Peter’s mind. He has to relive the trauma of his father’s shooting again and again, and he illustrates in an often magnificent way, the despair and resilience Peter experiences as he pieces together his life once more. The book is often amusing and clever, as well as insightful as Peter thinks critically about staples in popular culture, or nostalgic favourites that he revisits whether they’re video games, films, music, or television. I’ll ask Peter about some of the themes explored in the book like dreaming, revenge, and violence. Peter Counter is a culture critic who writes about television, video games, film, music, mental illness, horror, and technology. He is the author of Be Scared of Everything: Horror Essays, and his non-fiction has appeared in The Walrus, All Lit Up, Motherboard, Art of the Title, Electric Literature, and the anthology Empty the Pews: Stories of Leaving the Church. For more visit www.peterbcounter.com, and www.everythingisscary.com. This new book is published by House of Anansi Press. We spoke one week ago, with Peter joining me from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Peter Counter; Mr. Counter, good morning. The post Peter Counter first appeared on thecommentary.ca.