Literature as Resistance: Combating Propaganda and the Weaponization of Nostalgia - Highlights

Literature as Resistance: Combating Propaganda and the Weaponization of Nostalgia - Highlights

Author: Creative Process Original Series August 27, 2026 Duration: 26:18
In this profoundly moving episode of The Creative Process, we sit down with celebrated Bulgarian author Georgi Gospodinov and acclaimed translator Angela Rodel to discuss their International Booker Prize-winning novel, Time Shelter. We delve into the prescient themes of their work, examining what happens when a civilization facing a deficit of meaning attempts to retreat into carefully reconstructed decades of the past. They explore the crucial difference between personal nostalgia and collective propaganda, highlighting how the stories we tell ourselves shape our humanity. Beyond the novel, the conversation touches upon the musicality of language, the profound art of translation, and the intimate lessons learned during the final moments of a loved one's life. Georgi Gospodinov shares how literature slows down time and serves as a vital antidote to a polarized world, while Angela Rodel reflects on translating the subtle emotional atmospheres of Eastern Europe.

Within the broader collection of The Creative Process, this curated series focuses specifically on the vital intersection of creativity and social change. Social Justice & Activism brings forward voices often working at the grassroots: organizers from environmental movements, representatives of Indigenous groups, and artists and writers whose work is inseparable from advocacy. These conversations, part of the Creative Process Original Series, move beyond abstract theory to explore the lived experiences of people who have devoted their lives to making a tangible difference. We hear directly about their motivations, their artistic or strategic practices, and how they navigate challenges related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The discussions delve into personal history and professional work, revealing how creative thinking fuels activism and how the drive for justice shapes art and literature. Guests include acclaimed figures from various fields-winners of honors like the Oscar, Emmy, Tony, and Pulitzer-who use their platform for impact, alongside frontline activists whose stories are equally compelling. This podcast provides a space for deep, thoughtful dialogue that connects the personal with the political, the artistic with the actionable. It’s for anyone interested in how change is imagined, built, and sustained through a blend of conviction and creativity. Each episode offers a unique perspective on the ongoing struggle for a more equitable world, highlighting the human stories behind the headlines.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Social Justice & Activism - The Creative Process - Activists, Environmental, Indigenous Groups, Artists and Writers Talk Diversity, Equity and inclusion
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