"You never know why do anything, really. It's not a plan. You know, you don't think no I'm gonna to do this. What you usually really think is I feel strongly inclined to do this but it's a really stupid idea and that's what you end up doing. You always end up doing the things that you think are probably a bad idea. Why are they a bad idea? Because they're hard. They're difficult. So you think why don't I just do something easy? Well the fact is that the easy things aren't very appealing." - Margaret Atwood. 24:33
"I think that readers, as fans, are a different kind of person" - I wonder if that's still true today? I guess readers still won't tear at clothing, but I'm pretty sure they cheer and get... _Internally_ hysterical. Starstruck.
OK, test successful. At about 10 minutes in, the interviewer asks about a "lack of closure" in The Edible Woman. Two points to make about this failure on his part to understand this simple tale, this Künstlerroman. 1. The story is a portrait of the (culinary) artist as a young woman. It's a manifesto, an announcement to the world that a new artist has arrived. It would hardly do to "close" her career as a cake baker just as she's only baked her first cake (in the shape of a woman), just as it would hardly do to close Atwood's career as a novelist just as she's written her first novel in the shape of a woman who has baked a cake in the shape of a woman. 2. There is no 2. That's it. Once you realize it's a Künstlerroman, everything else is served up in delicious bite-sized morsels, to be voraciously devoured by hungry minds and easily digested.
Oh - it's interesting that she considers poetry "structured". I've been studying her work (on my own, no lessons) and it's not like Edgar Allen Poe or anything. There's a lot of free verse, and were it not for this interview I'd have continued seeing it as very pretty, prosey notes about things she felt strongly. This is certainly a sign that I need some kind of study guide, going forward. I feel pretty foolish, thinking I was qualified to teach poetry (even to myself).
Her poetry is structured by way of each line following logically to the next. While no, there is no "proper" classical structure to it in terms of meter, rhyme, or measure, it is certainly disciplined and thoroughly accessible. You read her work and it is immediately available in it's meaning and concepts, without being shallow mind you.
I think by structure she means the rhythm and patterns of language. So even though there isn't a strict metrical structure, there are still structures within and between the words which give them a certain cadence that's very different from prose. Lyric poetry is condensed and much more about economy of language.
this guy does NOT listen to what is being said...he's so busy being-the--interviewer he doesn't hear things that are funny, interrupts just as she's getting to the point of the story, etc. fortunately Atwood is very patient. maybe he's learned to do better since.
Nice face for an intellectual/author. Most writer faces are like, did you write that fat book really?? Margret is the classiest arguer you will see in your lifetime. She corners the irreverent views or opinions with unusual elan and most apt projections. As she is focused on the idea, she gives room for the person to go scot free.
I love how she always starts her answers with her 'okay' and then she proceeds by analytically disecting it.
She is always direct and honest and true to herself and the result is books that speak to your heart!
"You never know why do anything, really. It's not a plan. You know, you don't think no I'm gonna to do this. What you usually really think is I feel strongly inclined to do this but it's a really stupid idea and that's what you end up doing. You always end up doing the things that you think are probably a bad idea. Why are they a bad idea? Because they're hard. They're difficult. So you think why don't I just do something easy? Well the fact is that the easy things aren't very appealing." - Margaret Atwood.
24:33
Margaret Atwood shows us truth through critical thinking. I wish I had a tiny percentage of her talent.
So wonderful!! Thanks for preserving these gems!!
Great interview. Such an intelligent, interesting woman on our planet. Love her
"I think that readers, as fans, are a different kind of person" - I wonder if that's still true today? I guess readers still won't tear at clothing, but I'm pretty sure they cheer and get... _Internally_ hysterical. Starstruck.
Just imagine going to Margaret’s home library. I bet her whole house is covered in books. I’d love to see what she reads and enjoys.
Intellectual genius!
Is it just me or she is very similar to Meryl Streep? (love her btw ♥️)
Yes, aside from hair colour, she resembles Ms Streep.
I find her ideas fascinating.
"Taught them Franz Kafka" oh _cheeky_
OK, test successful.
At about 10 minutes in, the interviewer asks about a "lack of closure" in The Edible Woman.
Two points to make about this failure on his part to understand this simple tale, this Künstlerroman. 1. The story is a portrait of the (culinary) artist as a young woman. It's a manifesto, an announcement to the world that a new artist has arrived. It would hardly do to "close" her career as a cake baker just as she's only baked her first cake (in the shape of a woman), just as it would hardly do to close Atwood's career as a novelist just as she's written her first novel in the shape of a woman who has baked a cake in the shape of a woman.
2. There is no 2. That's it. Once you realize it's a Künstlerroman, everything else is served up in delicious bite-sized morsels, to be voraciously devoured by hungry minds and easily digested.
Amazing, interesting, intelligent woman! ♡
I just got the Meryl Streep similarity ...her cheekbones ....sense of humour....her genuiness...
She's not just a woman; she's a genius.
"a non-alive condition" thank you for the terrifying thought that there might be one other than "dead"
That part made me laugh.
Oh - it's interesting that she considers poetry "structured". I've been studying her work (on my own, no lessons) and it's not like Edgar Allen Poe or anything. There's a lot of free verse, and were it not for this interview I'd have continued seeing it as very pretty, prosey notes about things she felt strongly.
This is certainly a sign that I need some kind of study guide, going forward. I feel pretty foolish, thinking I was qualified to teach poetry (even to myself).
Her poetry is structured by way of each line following logically to the next. While no, there is no "proper" classical structure to it in terms of meter, rhyme, or measure, it is certainly disciplined and thoroughly accessible. You read her work and it is immediately available in it's meaning and concepts, without being shallow mind you.
I think by structure she means the rhythm and patterns of language. So even though there isn't a strict metrical structure, there are still structures within and between the words which give them a certain cadence that's very different from prose. Lyric poetry is condensed and much more about economy of language.
What does she mean by "Fitzgerald" or "Hemingway" myth?
That their success so earlier in their career probably drove them a bit crazy
He would not let her talk and it’s driving me crazy
Excellent interviewer
If n when you happen to be the very first person to come up with sth new, that's when you stand a good chance.....
She really steers the interview
I feel like he didn't even read the book or do his research before this interview.
+KatMorganKirby obviously he did!! She was just being trite and aggressive for NO REASON!! "Use your head!" what a nut!
He certainly came across as ill-prepared and frankly, a bit dumb. Thankfully Margaret has had a lot of experience handling interviewers of all kinds.
I have seen a lot of these interviews and the female interviewers generally give her more space which is really the mark of a great interview
Testing 1,2,3
this guy is so obnoxious...talking as she is still answering a question...interrupting all the time. clearly his mother didn't teach him any manners.
The interviewer is very good
this guy does NOT listen to what is being said...he's so busy being-the--interviewer he doesn't hear things that are funny, interrupts just as she's getting to the point of the story, etc. fortunately Atwood is very patient. maybe he's learned to do better since.
We can only hope. I thought he was terrible.
She looks like a living drawing.
Haha, she always rephrases the interviewer's questions.
Because the interviewer is not very good, imo.
Nice face for an intellectual/author. Most writer faces are like, did you write that fat book really??
Margret is the classiest arguer you will see in your lifetime. She corners the irreverent views or opinions with unusual elan and most apt projections. As she is focused on the idea, she gives room for the person to go scot free.
weak soundtrack