It's hard to imagine: the idea that the arts, the grand bastion of our creative genius, may soon be bankrupt. But are new ideas really an unlimited commodity, or wont we one day exhaust them all? Some say we already have; that the bulk of what's being churned out by today's filmmakers, musicians and writers, are simply re-imaginings of the ideas of their predecessors.
And it's a hard point to argue. Year after year we see old movies being re-made, classic songs being re-released, and canonic works of literature being adapted to modern times. One could surely be forgiven for thinking the last great innovators of art have long since hung up their hats.
But some remain optimistic. They see the emergence of original art as an ebbing and flowing cycle, an ongoing process prone to the same booms and busts as our economy that inevitably will yield new forms. Indeed they see no limits to the landscapes of our imagination. In this show we'll talk with those on both sides in an effort to figure out the fate of our creative future.
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GUESTS:
- Christopher Booker- The founding editor of the British magazine Private Eye, and a long-time columnist for The Sunday Telegraph. He’s the author of several books including, The 7 Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories
- Brian Francis Slattery- Editor for The New Haven Review. He’s also a musician and published author of several books. His newest book, The Family Hightower, is out now
- Gorman Bechard- A film director, screenwriter, and novelist best known for his independent feature films Psychos In Love, Friends (with benefits), and You Are Alone as well as several rock documentaries
- David Edelstein- A film critic for New York magazine and for NPR's Fresh Air, and a commentator for CBS Sunday Morning. He has also written for The Village Voice, The New York Post, and Rolling Stone, and is a frequent contributor to the New York Times' Arts & Leisure section
MUSIC:
- “Same Old Story” by Moe
- “It’s All Been Done Before" by Ryan Montbleau Band
- “No More Good Ideas” by Her Space Holiday
Colin McEnroe and Chion Wolf contributed to this show which originally aired on February 17, 2015.