Comments on: What Novelists are For: Russell Banks http://www.radioopensource.org/what-novelists-are-for-russell-banks/ Christopher Lydon in conversation on arts, ideas and politics Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:23:24 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: katemcshane http://www.radioopensource.org/what-novelists-are-for-russell-banks/comment-page-1/#comment-147377 katemcshane Mon, 07 Jul 2008 23:20:13 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=1253#comment-147377 I thought he was angry and he didn't keep control of it, so it was diffuse and felt like scattershot against me and anyone who would listen to his interview. He's a fine novelist and I've heard from people he and his wife have published that, politically, he's in the right place, but this interview felt like poison to me. It was as if he were enraged at the American people and wanted to hurt someone, e.g. anyone who would support Barack Obama (e.g. -- not a quote, mind you, but the tone -- if you think he's going to give you ANYTHING, you're an idiot, all these people who have hope in Obama are gonna be screwed), all the politicians of late who don't care about writers -- except Bill Clinton? -- he could quote Faulkner!! Who cares? He didn't do anything decent for the people in this country. Does it make him decent because he had weekends with writers? Banks was all over the place. He's an intelligent, talented man. What was going on here? I had to force myself to listen to the whole of his interview and it took me an hour to clear out all the poison from my spirit afterward. And it wasn't because he said anything new about where we're headed. I've heard it all before. There was nothing original in what he said. It was shocking. I'm not naive about Barack Obama, but it was so nice to hear that Banks' buddies will never vote for a black man. Get over yourself. What happened? Weren't you invited to the White House? I thought he was angry and he didn’t keep control of it, so it was diffuse and felt like scattershot against me and anyone who would listen to his interview. He’s a fine novelist and I’ve heard from people he and his wife have published that, politically, he’s in the right place, but this interview felt like poison to me. It was as if he were enraged at the American people and wanted to hurt someone, e.g. anyone who would support Barack Obama (e.g. — not a quote, mind you, but the tone — if you think he’s going to give you ANYTHING, you’re an idiot, all these people who have hope in Obama are gonna be screwed), all the politicians of late who don’t care about writers — except Bill Clinton? — he could quote Faulkner!! Who cares? He didn’t do anything decent for the people in this country. Does it make him decent because he had weekends with writers?

Banks was all over the place. He’s an intelligent, talented man. What was going on here? I had to force myself to listen to the whole of his interview and it took me an hour to clear out all the poison from my spirit afterward. And it wasn’t because he said anything new about where we’re headed. I’ve heard it all before. There was nothing original in what he said. It was shocking. I’m not naive about Barack Obama, but it was so nice to hear that Banks’ buddies will never vote for a black man. Get over yourself. What happened? Weren’t you invited to the White House?

]]> By: john321 http://www.radioopensource.org/what-novelists-are-for-russell-banks/comment-page-1/#comment-143063 john321 Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:36:38 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=1253#comment-143063 I think that the audience for those movies is not just kids... There are vast numbers of people going to see those movies and getting a big thrill out of them - a big hit... I think that they tap into that growing sense of powerless, powerless in terms of the larger world - controlling events outside of our immediate bailiwicks... ------------------------------------------ John Addiction Recovery Arizona <a href="http://www.addictionrecovery.net/arizona " rel="nofollow">Addiction Recovery Arizona </a> I think that the audience for those movies is not just kids… There are vast numbers of people going to see those movies and getting a big thrill out of them – a big hit… I think that they tap into that growing sense of powerless, powerless in terms of the larger world – controlling events outside of our immediate bailiwicks…

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John

Addiction Recovery Arizona

Addiction Recovery Arizona

]]> By: Potter http://www.radioopensource.org/what-novelists-are-for-russell-banks/comment-page-1/#comment-136457 Potter Sun, 15 Jun 2008 11:21:23 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=1253#comment-136457 Correction, I meant: You cannot say that the last 8 years with Al Gore in the office (even an unevolved Al Gore) would NOT have us elsewhere… in so many ways. (Glad to emphasize it.) Let me try that link again: <a href="http://middleeastprogress.org/?p=2777" rel="nofollow">Life in Gaza Today</a> Correction, I meant:

You cannot say that the last 8 years with Al Gore in the office (even an unevolved Al Gore) would NOT have us elsewhere… in so many ways.

(Glad to emphasize it.)

Let me try that link again:

Life in Gaza Today

]]> By: Potter http://www.radioopensource.org/what-novelists-are-for-russell-banks/comment-page-1/#comment-136454 Potter Sun, 15 Jun 2008 11:13:40 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=1253#comment-136454 This one helped exacerbate anxiety before I pulled back from swallowing everything whole- though much said sounded very right. In particular it's so true about the dead or dying internal life of our politicians and celebrities - the people we help put up there just hollow out, lose it, from our attention and their addiction to that (which means power) and the money means. Was he saying then that history is a hopeless cycle of the same old same and that technology only advances mostly our worst instincts? Regarding Obama and what any one man (or woman) can do, Banks reveals his own hopes or is contradicting himself when he says towards the end that we have now perhaps the most important moment in 50 years. Just the fact that Obama will be nominated is enough. We are somewhere else. All he has to do is be --even as president. But he will be more than what we have had. It is a feel good moment yes because we need it and want it- but more than that too. But if Obama goes no further, this is progress. George W Bush made a tremendous difference. You cannot say that the last 8 years with Al Gore in the office (even an unevolved Al Gore) would have us elsewhere...so many ways. Ralph Nader was wrong ( speaking of one man making a difference.) ---------------------------- I would like to suggest Taghreed El-Khodary, New York Times journalist in Gaza, Harvard University Nieman Fellow (2005-2006) Interview just published : <a>Life in Gaza Today</a> This one helped exacerbate anxiety before I pulled back from swallowing everything whole- though much said sounded very right.

In particular it’s so true about the dead or dying internal life of our politicians and celebrities – the people we help put up there just hollow out, lose it, from our attention and their addiction to that (which means power) and the money means.

Was he saying then that history is a hopeless cycle of the same old same and that technology only advances mostly our worst instincts?

Regarding Obama and what any one man (or woman) can do, Banks reveals his own hopes or is contradicting himself when he says towards the end that we have now perhaps the most important moment in 50 years.

Just the fact that Obama will be nominated is enough. We are somewhere else. All he has to do is be –even as president. But he will be more than what we have had. It is a feel good moment yes because we need it and want it- but more than that too. But if Obama goes no further, this is progress.

George W Bush made a tremendous difference. You cannot say that the last 8 years with Al Gore in the office (even an unevolved Al Gore) would have us elsewhere…so many ways. Ralph Nader was wrong ( speaking of one man making a difference.)
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I would like to suggest Taghreed El-Khodary, New York Times journalist in Gaza, Harvard University Nieman Fellow (2005-2006) Interview just published : Life in Gaza Today

]]> By: Peter Davis http://www.radioopensource.org/what-novelists-are-for-russell-banks/comment-page-1/#comment-134497 Peter Davis Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:39:01 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=1253#comment-134497 You asked for more targets, Chris. Good hunting: Charles Simic is a good one. I’d also like to see more of Noam Chomsky, Bill Moyers, and Amy Goodman. Dollops of Ian McKewan, Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris would be delicious. Russell Edson would be a grand slam. You asked for more targets, Chris. Good hunting:

Charles Simic is a good one. I’d also like to see more of Noam Chomsky, Bill Moyers, and Amy Goodman. Dollops of Ian McKewan, Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris would be delicious. Russell Edson would be a grand slam.

]]> By: Aquifer http://www.radioopensource.org/what-novelists-are-for-russell-banks/comment-page-1/#comment-133478 Aquifer Sat, 07 Jun 2008 13:54:37 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=1253#comment-133478 Just listened to the interview. Excellent! Was directed to it by a link from Ralph Nader's campaign site. (Am getting some excellent reading tips from that site including "The Bridge at the Edge of the World" by James "Gus" Speth) and will pick up Bank's book as well) Wonder what the discussion might have been like if he (Nader) and his ideas as a candidate had been inserted into the conversation. I agree with Mr. Banks that the "major" candidates are selling dreams but are promoting policies that have no chance of advancing those dreams, nor are they intended to, except, as he points out, for the very "upper" end of our populace. Have also observed, in another venue, that this society is using literal drugs - antacids, antidepressives, anxiolytics, etc. as well as escapist entertainment, to dull the pain of this individualistic, un-, if not anti-communitarian society we have, if not made for ourselves, at least allowed to be made for us. Am glad to have been directed to this site, and would note that apparently Mr. Nader is one of those people who has writers and poets in his political worldview. Perhaps you could have a conversation with him in terms of some of the things you have been discussing here. Thanks for a great show! Just listened to the interview. Excellent! Was directed to it by a link from Ralph Nader’s campaign site. (Am getting some excellent reading tips from that site including “The Bridge at the Edge of the World” by James “Gus” Speth) and will pick up Bank’s book as well) Wonder what the discussion might have been like if he (Nader) and his ideas as a candidate had been inserted into the conversation.

I agree with Mr. Banks that the “major” candidates are selling dreams but are promoting policies that have no chance of advancing those dreams, nor are they intended to, except, as he points out, for the very “upper” end of our populace. Have also observed, in another venue, that this society is using literal drugs – antacids, antidepressives, anxiolytics, etc. as well as escapist entertainment, to dull the pain of this individualistic, un-, if not anti-communitarian society we have, if not made for ourselves, at least allowed to be made for us.

Am glad to have been directed to this site, and would note that apparently Mr. Nader is one of those people who has writers and poets in his political worldview. Perhaps you could have a conversation with him in terms of some of the things you have been discussing here.

Thanks for a great show!

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