This show is a beautifully crafted and researched piece of musicology. I've listened to this three times in the past week, and I think I'll be listening to it again soon.
First, I would change the music and rewrite the intro and links.
Norman Mailer is, of course, one of the old lions of the literary left, and for anyone old enough he needs no introduction. But for most of the rest of us, more context is essential. In this case, in this setting, for this variation on his favorite subject, there should be a mention of Armies of the Night, which qualifies him as a narrative journalist, and long-time opponent of quagmire-qua-war and the growth of the American Empire.
I've listened to this three times, and I am not persuaded by the argument, which is rambling and difficult to follow. But listening to Mailer is rewarding, for the lion in repose, and the few hiccups and rustlings as he reads from his notes -which he does well.
It's in the QA section that we have a classic Mailer line: "The only way that the [Administration's] narrative could have been impugned [...] involves a very difficult job: and that is, you have to become an expert, a sayer, of highly developed, skillfully formulated, bullshit. It's no easy job." Sadly, it's not working.
This lecture presents an honest and intelligent review of international relations between the United States and the European Nations. Mr. Kagan covers a broad canvas, and his historical analysis and conclusions are intriguing and stimulating.
Although the piece is dated by references to the then-imminent 2004 election, this piece is still relevant, as the analysis rises above the domestic political newscycle.
But note this: he is for war. His argument is not at all about avoiding war, but how to legitimize American military intervention on the International stage.
Mr. Kagan is introduced here as a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, but at the same time he is a co-founder and project director of the Project for the New American Century (PNAC, www.newamericancentury.org), and author of such articles as "Bombing Iraq Isn't Enough" (with William Kristol, New York Times, January 30, 1998). As such, he is a leading member of a right-wing think-tank which lobbied hard for war. The PNAC's 1997 Statement of Principles and the signatories thereto - including Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Fukuyama, Forbes, Bauer and Bush (J) - make stunning reading: there is a remarkable story here to be told.
Comments by jason fordham
Comment for "Everything Was Right: The Beatles' Revolver"
jason fordham
Posted on October 24, 2007 at 03:28 PM | Permalink
Review of Everything Was Right: The Beatles' Revolver (Now Available to All Stations)
This show is a beautifully crafted and researched piece of musicology. I've listened to this three times in the past week, and I think I'll be listening to it again soon.
Comment for "Norman Mailer: a novelist in a time of war"
jason fordham
Posted on June 07, 2005 at 12:25 AM | Permalink
Review of Norman Mailer: a novelist in a time of war
I've listened to this three times, and I am not persuaded by the argument, which is rambling and difficult to follow. But listening to Mailer is rewarding, for the lion in repose, and the few hiccups and rustlings as he reads from his notes -which he does well.
It's in the QA section that we have a classic Mailer line: "The only way that the [Administration's] narrative could have been impugned [...] involves a very difficult job: and that is, you have to become an expert, a sayer, of highly developed, skillfully formulated, bullshit. It's no easy job." Sadly, it's not working.
Comment for "America And The Crisis Of Legitimacy"
jason fordham
Posted on June 05, 2005 at 11:22 PM | Permalink
Review of America And The Crisis Of Legitimacy.
Although the piece is dated by references to the then-imminent 2004 election, this piece is still relevant, as the analysis rises above the domestic political newscycle.
But note this: he is for war. His argument is not at all about avoiding war, but how to legitimize American military intervention on the International stage.
Mr. Kagan is introduced here as a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, but at the same time he is a co-founder and project director of the Project for the New American Century (PNAC, www.newamericancentury.org), and author of such articles as "Bombing Iraq Isn't Enough" (with William Kristol, New York Times, January 30, 1998). As such, he is a leading member of a right-wing think-tank which lobbied hard for war. The PNAC's 1997 Statement of Principles and the signatories thereto - including Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Fukuyama, Forbes, Bauer and Bush (J) - make stunning reading: there is a remarkable story here to be told.