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Emma's Interview with Margaret Atwood!
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Just finished to read it. That was so interesting ! i like very much how Margaret speaks about "human". You can be a woman or a man, you are still human and your opinions will be determinated by your experiences. That reminds me the "spectrum" that Emma used to speak about during her UN speech for Heforshe campaign.
What a lovely interview. Emma and Margaret are both incredibly inspiring and realistic. I love Atwood's work precisely because it takes types of events that have really happened and throws characters into those situations. That's also part of what makes The Handmaid's Tale so eerie--our political and religious atmosphere seems to be moving backwards in time in regards to women's rights. I just read an article about the Trump administration cutting more than $200 million from teen pregnancy prevention programs and research. This reminds me of the atmosphere in The Handmaid's Tale--reading materials are taken away and procreation is under jurisdiction of the government (even though the men overthrew the government, they in turn basically became the new governing force). How ridiculous that instead of promoting reproductive awareness and responsibility, our society is moving back towards the government hindering reproductive education and the ability for a woman to choose what is right for herself.I'm so glad we at least have role models like Emma and Margaret to inspire people to keep fighting for what's right!
Thank you for posting!!! This was a wonderful interview. I must admit I did not read the book until after I watched the first 3 episodes of the hulu series.
I enjoyed reading the interview by Emma to Ms Atwood.I think as Hannah stated in her comment that we are going back in time. In the book the changes were subtle and slow going at first but dangerous to women in the end.
That being said,this is an article that appeared in the BBC this morning regarding the dress code of the congress women and other women personnel on capital hill in Washington D.C. It supposedly also applies to men but they don't seem affected as much.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-cana...
It was very enlightening and good to see Margaret is as on form as ever. Emma is always good at these interviews getting the best from her subject. I liked how the interchange show the similarities between the two women. Both using there art to send the message women's rights are just that a right and the forces that oppose those rights remain very real. And that women like them are always going to be there until equality has been achieved.
Its not just the lack of voting, its the division that is running rampant in America right now. There are so many variables to how people vote here and its an endless cycle of back and forth between the far left and far right. The media plays a huge role in that as well, its hard to find any kind of objective journalism and reporting anymore. I was hoping this last election period people would opt to move in a more centered direction but too many people have their feet dug in with their respective parties.
The artwork is giving me a weird feeling - the color of Emma's hands!Thanks for posting the interview. I find interesting that Atwood says the same than Steinem in "My Life On The Road" about being a spokesperson: "...I often get asked to be a spokesperson for a very simple reason, and that reason is that I don’t have a job. So I can’t be fired. A lot of people would like to say those things but they have jobs and they may have families, and they would put themselves in jeopardy if they said some of the kinds of things that I do. So that’s why artists and writers are so often picked. They can’t be fired. They can [be] vilified, people can call them names…but they can’t actually be dismissed."
It's super interesting to me to see how someone's professional life impacts on the personal, and vice-versa. How much we have to preserve our image in order to earn a living, and how much our work organization finally reduces our freedom.
And I'm so glad that this gets said out-loud by these spokeswomen.
James wrote: "Its not just the lack of voting, its the division that is running rampant in America right now. There are so many variables to how people vote here and its an endless cycle of back and forth between the far left and far right. The media plays a huge role in that as well, its hard to find any kind of objective journalism and reporting anymore. I was hoping this last election period people would opt to move in a more centered direction but too many people have their feet dug in with their respective parties."Trust me - as a French: wanting to move to a more centered direction will not solve the mess...
Laure wrote: "James wrote: "Its not just the lack of voting, its the division that is running rampant in America right now. There are so many variables to how people vote here and its an endless cycle of back an..."It may not but then for America we have never really tried. I know that what is going on now isnt working thats for sure. And if we cant find a way to have people co-exist and meet somewhere in the middle with something that works for everybody than things will never change for the better. And sadly the pessimistic in me feels that may be the way it ends up.
Thanks so much for this! I wonder if this interview was put together in hurry as there's no questions from readers.
Emma, dear friend, a very good interview. Very good questions, for which detailed answers are given. I am very happy for you, my dear friend.
Keith wrote: "However, my observations of the American political arena (via the media, of course) suggest not only division, but no real appetite to heal the rifts that opened after the election.Is this a fair assessment? "
On the money.
As people we like to talk about coming together, about being tolerant, being respectful, etc but at the end of the day too many people (especially those in power in all political spectrums) have their own agendas and only want it their way or no way at all. Its sad to see really.
Mod
Members were not asked for questions on this occasion :)
this is such an interesting and intelligent interview!! so full of wisdom..loved it!
Hannah wrote: "What a lovely interview. Emma and Margaret are both incredibly inspiring and realistic. I love Atwood's work precisely because it takes types of events that have really happened and throws characte..."I totally agree!!!!
I read this book in University back when it was first released. It was on our syllabus for Women's Studies. I have always loved Margaret Atwood and have many of her books. I think it is time for a second read!!
This is such an incredible interview! Atwood is a great and inspiring author. One of my best memories of her is when she went to my college and I got my copy of 'The Handmaid's Tale' signed!
Thanks for sharing this link, Jo. A very insightful interview, Emma. Thank you!
What a stimulating interview!! Emma asked all the right questions and Margaret gave some amazing answers. I identified with most of the things she said!!
Exciting news! Emma recently had the opportunity to interview Margaret Atwood :) you can read the full interview on EW here: http://ew.com/books/2017/07/14/emma-w...