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Welcome back to part 2 of Anne-Marie Zanzal's conversation with celebrated author and illustrator, Brian Selznick. Brian is the author of the popular young adult novels, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Wonderstruck, The Marvels, Run Away With Me, and Kaleidoscope, among others. Brian inspires young readers with his creative approach to storytelling that combines writing and illustration, telling stories that resonate with young queer audiences. In 2011, The Invention of Hugo Cabret was adapted as a film my legendary director Martin Scorsese.
In part 2 of this engaging conversation, Anne-Marie and Brian dive into themes of queer love, queer history, discuss why representation matters for young LGBTQ people, explore the concepts of inner and outer safe spaces, and discuss how Brian's storytelling has evolved over time.
Discover Brian Selznick's body of work at https://brianselznick.com/
The song Brian mentions in this episode as being so impactful to him at a young age is 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' by Bonnie Tyler: https://youtu.be/lcOxhH8N3Bo?si=Tldbu0sIp-a66NoU
A book that influenced Brian is "Weetzie Bat" by Francesca Lia Block: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44353.Weetzie_Bat
A film that impacted Brian is Poison, directed by Todd Haynes: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102687/
❓ What to Expect in This Episode:
🏳️🌈Knowing our history matters. Brian and Anne-Marie discuss how history is lost or filtered over time, removing access to queer stories and impacting queer culture.
🏳️🌈Brian discusses how themes and characters have matured in his work over time, and how this presents a creative challenge.
🏳️🌈Anne-Marie and Brian talk about the importance of safe spaces and how they are cultivated by queer individuals.
🏳️🌈Brian gives us a peek into his inner world, discussing how his characters represent conversations between different versions of himself.
✨ Why This Matters:
Preserving queer stories and queer history matters. When we can see ourselves, our experiences, and our stories reflected in the stories of others, we feel validated, less alone, and connected to our community. Storytelling is a powerful healing modality we can all participate in, as creators or as listeners and readers.
💬 Join the Conversation:
Are you a fan of Brian Selznick's work? Tell us which of his stories resonates with you the most and why in the comments!
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