“The aesthetic experience is a simple beholding of the object . . . you experience a radiance. You are held in aesthetic arrest.” - Joseph Campbell Aesthetic Arrest is our weekly dip into the Epicurean pleasures we’ve been enjoying lately. Here we go!
"I was recently at a celebrity auction where I sold one of my kidney stones for $75,000. Oh, yeah. And do you understand what I have done? I synthesized uric acid and calcium inside my bladder and turned it into a house for Habitat for Humanity! Who's the Warlock now, bitch?" - William Shatner
Thank you! I love The Dispossessed so much. It might be my favorite, though closely tied with Always Coming Home . . . but then I just thought of several more I also adore . . . here's to Ursula K. Le Guin! *clink*
Earthsea! Yes! I bet it will be one of Spencer's favorites too. I spent weeks designing my new literature curriculum, and Ursula K. Le Guin is the only author with two selections: A Wizard of Earthsea for the younger kids and The Left Hand of Darkness for the teenagers. Thanks for commenting!
That's awesome to hear you are using more contemporary sci-fi and fantasy in literature Ryan. I wish more teachers had done so when I was in school.
Depending on the age of the students (high school probably) there's no better point/counter-point that I can think of on the subject of war than Heinlein's Starship Troopers and John Haldeman's Forever War. They would make for a great discussion.
Absolutely! It seems that most of my students (whether they're from the U.S., China, Singapore, Sweden or elsewhere) just *adore* contemporary sci-fi and fantasy. It's interesting that you mention Heinlein . . . have you seen the film - Predestination (2014)? It's based on a short story by Heinlein ( '—All You Zombies—') and stars Sarah Snook (from Succession). It has some very interesting connections to Le Guin's work. The film didn't get a lot of press coverage but we highly recommend it!
That's so cool that you love Ursula! No surprise, really. And yes, Earthsea...such a fantastic series. We both love it. It's a warm, rich fantasy for kids (and adults too, for that matter). Love you too, my brother!
Shatner, and "bladders" it will never get old! Love you guys!
"I was recently at a celebrity auction where I sold one of my kidney stones for $75,000. Oh, yeah. And do you understand what I have done? I synthesized uric acid and calcium inside my bladder and turned it into a house for Habitat for Humanity! Who's the Warlock now, bitch?" - William Shatner
Oh no he didn't! Did he? Are you pulling bad putty-tat's leg?
LOL. That is an *actual* Shatner quote! Source here: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1985970/characters/nm0000638
Hahaha!
What a great podcast! I love Ursula K Le Guin. She is one of those authors I read over & over. One of my favorites is The Dispossessed.
Ooooh, the Dispossessed is tremendous! And Lavinia ,her last novel, is like being transported back to ancient times!
Thank you! I love The Dispossessed so much. It might be my favorite, though closely tied with Always Coming Home . . . but then I just thought of several more I also adore . . . here's to Ursula K. Le Guin! *clink*
Ursula K Le Guin is a favorite. Her Earthsea series was a childhood favorite.
Love you guys!
BooBoo
Earthsea! Yes! I bet it will be one of Spencer's favorites too. I spent weeks designing my new literature curriculum, and Ursula K. Le Guin is the only author with two selections: A Wizard of Earthsea for the younger kids and The Left Hand of Darkness for the teenagers. Thanks for commenting!
That's awesome to hear you are using more contemporary sci-fi and fantasy in literature Ryan. I wish more teachers had done so when I was in school.
Depending on the age of the students (high school probably) there's no better point/counter-point that I can think of on the subject of war than Heinlein's Starship Troopers and John Haldeman's Forever War. They would make for a great discussion.
Absolutely! It seems that most of my students (whether they're from the U.S., China, Singapore, Sweden or elsewhere) just *adore* contemporary sci-fi and fantasy. It's interesting that you mention Heinlein . . . have you seen the film - Predestination (2014)? It's based on a short story by Heinlein ( '—All You Zombies—') and stars Sarah Snook (from Succession). It has some very interesting connections to Le Guin's work. The film didn't get a lot of press coverage but we highly recommend it!
That's so cool that you love Ursula! No surprise, really. And yes, Earthsea...such a fantastic series. We both love it. It's a warm, rich fantasy for kids (and adults too, for that matter). Love you too, my brother!