I am in love with this episode! The literary and philosophical terrain you cover is not only prodigious and insightful, but just plain charming. Alright, now that the fan-boy in me has had his say, you make a great connection with the need to engage censorship in our own writing, fiction or non-fiction, but I would ask (similar to Alexander) how to approach a culture of cancelation where historicity is often inferred rather than contextualized, and writers are restricted for fear of reprisal over characters behaving badly (as characters will), or presenting a side of the story that may be unpopular (current middle east conflicts are highlighting that trend in the US at least). The current trends in the US appear to have a desire to ban diversity in speech at all political levels that express different view points. Personally, as I weighed the option on PhD at a university in Florida earlier this year, the new laws, bans on books, and bans on state funding (which did not exist when I applied in 2022) ultimately did impact my final decision not to take the offer (not the only reason, but certainly a real concern). I wonder how in a society of more freedom to publish than ever in history (at least the global north-west in "developed" countries) we are also seeing an expansion of censorship to repel the voices of both privileged and marginalized writers, seemingly as quickly as technology allows for the free expression, be it through cancel culture or codification into law. I feel it even as i construct these meager sentences.
Thanks so much, Brian. Happy you liked the episode!
Florida seems to embody a lot of this discourse going on in the US right now, but of course it's not the only place it's happening. I just read about a self censored article by Harvard Law Review about Gaza etc that was already reviewed, fact checked, etc taken back due to fear of repercussions. Sorry to hear about your PhD. I think this is happening a lot in HK as well. No way I could publish my work there now as it deals with a HK identity, migration from China, and several human rights issues. I partly took myself out of the teaching world there because I couldn't face the idea of self censoring - but then one censors also be leaving (I had other reasons to go as well, but I think this happens). Thanks for such an interesting reflection. We need to keep talking about it...
Censorship comes in many shapes and sizes. Excellent and important topic esp. today. I wonder, when does editing become censorship? Take the recent Roald Dahl controversy in the UK, bringing the works of the author into the modern age by removing sensitive language. Is that not censorship as well? Where do we draw the line?
Oh yes. Dahl is a great example. In the bitesize comments today, Troy and I have been talking about self censoring a little, but this is different. Altering an existing, published text. More than editing -- is it erasing history? Correcting it? Would it have been edited a different way today (or not trad published at all)? And publishers more than editors decide even which stuff makes it to the front line. However I guess places like Substack allow for anything to exist and possibly rise to the top (or be drowned out).
If I were to buy Dahl books today, I would make sure to get the "original." And we haven't even talked about the effect it (censorship) can have on the authors. BTW. Salman R. is on Substack.
Speaking of "Would this book be trad. published today?" Excellent question. Take "Rebecca" – nothing much happens for the first few chapters. And the opening? "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again." Would this be published today if a no-name writer sent it in or would they collect rejections upon rejections? We can't know for sure but something tells me, it would not get published because of rea$ons. I love the book but in today's day and age, I might have to look on Substack for the next Rebecca. Is that where we are at?
So much to think on yet again, Kate. Thanks for all your efforts in putting these together.
Re: Iran, have you seen the film Shayda? It's a new indie film by an Iranian-Australian film maker about her coming to Iran as a child and the struggles and difficulties surrounding that process and the separation of her parents. Quite a powerful film.
Re at the start and what can be said in the silence. I think this can be one of the best storytelling techniques. I'd much rather have to read/think between the lines than have things told to me overtly. (I know that's not quite the direct link being made with what you said, but it made me think of this.)
I haven’t seen the film. There is some great cinema from Iran (or was). Will definitely check it out.
Your last point - I get into that a little in the bitesize today, just briefly. And in a couple weeks we talks about nothingness/silence/negative space. Would love to get your take on it more (then or now). Really like that idea about gaps in and between the lines. I guess poetry works on that premise but it can be used in prose (or film). Sometimes also my writing works better when I cut stuff out - relatedly - but it always feels so difficult to do that! I keep separate files of cut sentences and scenes that really just live in purgatory. Ha.
Thanks for the great comments and for listening, Nathan! 😊
Yeah there's some great films that have come out of Iran, plus there's several (probably many) that touch on censorship.
Sounds great for the bitesize. I'll head that way soon and let my thoughts percolate along the way.
Love the notion of purgatory 🤣 I've got many such sentences and scenes. My "dumped words" as I sometimes call them. They all go and remain in the compost heap, to potentially be extracted at a later date.
I am in love with this episode! The literary and philosophical terrain you cover is not only prodigious and insightful, but just plain charming. Alright, now that the fan-boy in me has had his say, you make a great connection with the need to engage censorship in our own writing, fiction or non-fiction, but I would ask (similar to Alexander) how to approach a culture of cancelation where historicity is often inferred rather than contextualized, and writers are restricted for fear of reprisal over characters behaving badly (as characters will), or presenting a side of the story that may be unpopular (current middle east conflicts are highlighting that trend in the US at least). The current trends in the US appear to have a desire to ban diversity in speech at all political levels that express different view points. Personally, as I weighed the option on PhD at a university in Florida earlier this year, the new laws, bans on books, and bans on state funding (which did not exist when I applied in 2022) ultimately did impact my final decision not to take the offer (not the only reason, but certainly a real concern). I wonder how in a society of more freedom to publish than ever in history (at least the global north-west in "developed" countries) we are also seeing an expansion of censorship to repel the voices of both privileged and marginalized writers, seemingly as quickly as technology allows for the free expression, be it through cancel culture or codification into law. I feel it even as i construct these meager sentences.
Thanks so much, Brian. Happy you liked the episode!
Florida seems to embody a lot of this discourse going on in the US right now, but of course it's not the only place it's happening. I just read about a self censored article by Harvard Law Review about Gaza etc that was already reviewed, fact checked, etc taken back due to fear of repercussions. Sorry to hear about your PhD. I think this is happening a lot in HK as well. No way I could publish my work there now as it deals with a HK identity, migration from China, and several human rights issues. I partly took myself out of the teaching world there because I couldn't face the idea of self censoring - but then one censors also be leaving (I had other reasons to go as well, but I think this happens). Thanks for such an interesting reflection. We need to keep talking about it...
Censorship comes in many shapes and sizes. Excellent and important topic esp. today. I wonder, when does editing become censorship? Take the recent Roald Dahl controversy in the UK, bringing the works of the author into the modern age by removing sensitive language. Is that not censorship as well? Where do we draw the line?
Oh yes. Dahl is a great example. In the bitesize comments today, Troy and I have been talking about self censoring a little, but this is different. Altering an existing, published text. More than editing -- is it erasing history? Correcting it? Would it have been edited a different way today (or not trad published at all)? And publishers more than editors decide even which stuff makes it to the front line. However I guess places like Substack allow for anything to exist and possibly rise to the top (or be drowned out).
It’s such a good example. Thanks Alexander.
If I were to buy Dahl books today, I would make sure to get the "original." And we haven't even talked about the effect it (censorship) can have on the authors. BTW. Salman R. is on Substack.
Speaking of "Would this book be trad. published today?" Excellent question. Take "Rebecca" – nothing much happens for the first few chapters. And the opening? "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again." Would this be published today if a no-name writer sent it in or would they collect rejections upon rejections? We can't know for sure but something tells me, it would not get published because of rea$ons. I love the book but in today's day and age, I might have to look on Substack for the next Rebecca. Is that where we are at?
💯
Did not know SR is on Substack! (Going to search function...)
So much to think on yet again, Kate. Thanks for all your efforts in putting these together.
Re: Iran, have you seen the film Shayda? It's a new indie film by an Iranian-Australian film maker about her coming to Iran as a child and the struggles and difficulties surrounding that process and the separation of her parents. Quite a powerful film.
Re at the start and what can be said in the silence. I think this can be one of the best storytelling techniques. I'd much rather have to read/think between the lines than have things told to me overtly. (I know that's not quite the direct link being made with what you said, but it made me think of this.)
I haven’t seen the film. There is some great cinema from Iran (or was). Will definitely check it out.
Your last point - I get into that a little in the bitesize today, just briefly. And in a couple weeks we talks about nothingness/silence/negative space. Would love to get your take on it more (then or now). Really like that idea about gaps in and between the lines. I guess poetry works on that premise but it can be used in prose (or film). Sometimes also my writing works better when I cut stuff out - relatedly - but it always feels so difficult to do that! I keep separate files of cut sentences and scenes that really just live in purgatory. Ha.
Thanks for the great comments and for listening, Nathan! 😊
Yeah there's some great films that have come out of Iran, plus there's several (probably many) that touch on censorship.
Sounds great for the bitesize. I'll head that way soon and let my thoughts percolate along the way.
Love the notion of purgatory 🤣 I've got many such sentences and scenes. My "dumped words" as I sometimes call them. They all go and remain in the compost heap, to potentially be extracted at a later date.
Ha they can take a life of their own!
What do they say - kill your darlings?
Heh, yeah, that's the one. A favourite line of King, I think.