A great interview Liza Libes! I just saw it on my feed off of youtube. That was quite the crash course on the history of the humanities from the ancients to modern postmodernism/relativism etc. I love how you exude such a passion for great literature!
I tried to post this thought earlier, but I don't think it took. Apologies if it's repetitipous.
Nutshell: those on the Right REASON in order to reach a conclusion. When they're honest, they begin this process not knowing what the outcome will be. The end of this process produces a conclusion, which is the outcome or answer to the reasoning process.
Those on the Left RATIONALIZE. They BEGIN with the answer they want (or want you) to reach. They then present “reasons” which, they claim, support this conclusion. They attempt to disguise this as reasoning, though it is no such thing. So you're left with, for example, utterly absurd “conclusions” about Jane Austen characters.
This is, of course, indefensible, so such people make no attempt to defend it. Instead, they instantly go ad hominem. Not uncommonly, to the point of physical violence.
What a shame you were subjected to this, Lisa, and what a blessing that you responded to it so courageously. I know I am far from the only one who appreciates you and is grateful for your work. Thank you so much.
I’m running into this a little pitching agents. My manuscript is a love letter to books, and I heavily reference the Western Canon (Paradise Lost, Frankenstein, Don Quixote, etc). I haven’t received anything directly yet, but the sense I get researching agencies is that I might admire the Western Literary Tradition a little too much. In my graduate program, too. Not as extreme as your experience, but I was a bit of an outlier, and I kept many thoughts to myself. Let the quality of work be the judge, I say. Strange to have to express such a sentiment. Looking forward to hearing more from you.
Okay, I'm seven minutes in and there is no question that you are a smart, committed, thoughtful and charming defender of the fundamental principles of the liberal arts in general and the humanities in the specific. But frankly you lose me at the leap to embracing conservative ideologies and politics because: Surprise!, Lisa: these actors are also the barbarians at the gate. Right wing, i.e. conservative politicians are doing everything in their power to destroy academia, learning, humanities and every other form of human endeavor you find so valuable in their quest to establish money as the sole guiding force of all action, thought and intention. Please don't get seduced by the people who hold your idealism and commitment in contempt. You and I are on the same page regarding literature, the arts, and the humanities in general but you are being courted by dark forces of prejudice, ignorance and greed. Edward Said was indeed a maleficent force, albeit a very bright and persuasive one, in the academic community, and indeed he thrived on dishonest representation of the arts, but the boors who decry him are hardly avatars of literary acumen; good heavens they're led by a man who it appears has never read a book in his life. The truth is in the middle, Lisa. We must all act in that magisterium in which we can do our best and most honest work.
A great interview Liza Libes! I just saw it on my feed off of youtube. That was quite the crash course on the history of the humanities from the ancients to modern postmodernism/relativism etc. I love how you exude such a passion for great literature!
Liza is a gifted speaker and thinker
Thank you!
This is BIG! Liza, I just found you, and I’m thrilled. I hope this propels your work forward!
Thank you so much!
I tried to post this thought earlier, but I don't think it took. Apologies if it's repetitipous.
Nutshell: those on the Right REASON in order to reach a conclusion. When they're honest, they begin this process not knowing what the outcome will be. The end of this process produces a conclusion, which is the outcome or answer to the reasoning process.
Those on the Left RATIONALIZE. They BEGIN with the answer they want (or want you) to reach. They then present “reasons” which, they claim, support this conclusion. They attempt to disguise this as reasoning, though it is no such thing. So you're left with, for example, utterly absurd “conclusions” about Jane Austen characters.
This is, of course, indefensible, so such people make no attempt to defend it. Instead, they instantly go ad hominem. Not uncommonly, to the point of physical violence.
What a shame you were subjected to this, Lisa, and what a blessing that you responded to it so courageously. I know I am far from the only one who appreciates you and is grateful for your work. Thank you so much.
I’m running into this a little pitching agents. My manuscript is a love letter to books, and I heavily reference the Western Canon (Paradise Lost, Frankenstein, Don Quixote, etc). I haven’t received anything directly yet, but the sense I get researching agencies is that I might admire the Western Literary Tradition a little too much. In my graduate program, too. Not as extreme as your experience, but I was a bit of an outlier, and I kept many thoughts to myself. Let the quality of work be the judge, I say. Strange to have to express such a sentiment. Looking forward to hearing more from you.
Great interview Liza! Well done!
👏👏👏 Bravo, Liza, bravo!
I am so excited for you! I love Klavan! Watch it earlier & you did great! Congrats!
Aww thank you 😊😊
Okay, I'm seven minutes in and there is no question that you are a smart, committed, thoughtful and charming defender of the fundamental principles of the liberal arts in general and the humanities in the specific. But frankly you lose me at the leap to embracing conservative ideologies and politics because: Surprise!, Lisa: these actors are also the barbarians at the gate. Right wing, i.e. conservative politicians are doing everything in their power to destroy academia, learning, humanities and every other form of human endeavor you find so valuable in their quest to establish money as the sole guiding force of all action, thought and intention. Please don't get seduced by the people who hold your idealism and commitment in contempt. You and I are on the same page regarding literature, the arts, and the humanities in general but you are being courted by dark forces of prejudice, ignorance and greed. Edward Said was indeed a maleficent force, albeit a very bright and persuasive one, in the academic community, and indeed he thrived on dishonest representation of the arts, but the boors who decry him are hardly avatars of literary acumen; good heavens they're led by a man who it appears has never read a book in his life. The truth is in the middle, Lisa. We must all act in that magisterium in which we can do our best and most honest work.
Please include a transcript, even a week or month later.
I’m interested in the fragmentation of culture, and how the huge numbers of niches, breadth, means less mass shared depth.