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Utopias, Pipelines, and Political Art: Karen Joy Fowler, Charlotte Dennett, and Jules Feiffer
Manage episode 462863867 series 2397664
This week on Writer’s Voice we feature three great conversations. Karen Joy Fowler reflects on the relevance of Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Dispossessed and its vision of utopia on the occasion of the 50th anniversary re-issue of that classic work of speculative fiction. She wrote the introduction. Listen to our 2012 interview with Ursulla K. Le Guin
Then, Charlotte Dennett gives us a timely update on the geopolitics of the Middle East, connecting current conflicts to her book Follow the Pipelines.
And finally, we pay tribute to Jules Feiffer, the legendary cartoonist and author, revisiting his insights on political art and his noir graphic novel about the Hollywood Black List, The Ghost Script. We spoke with him in 2019. He died January 17.
Connect with WV:
Follow us on Bluesky @rheannonf.bsky.social and subscribe to our Substack. Or find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, and on Instagram and Threads @WritersVoicePodcast
Key Words: Karen Joy Fowler, Ursula K. Le Guin, The Dispossessed, utopia, Charlotte Dennett, Follow the Pipelines, Middle Eastern geopolitics, Jules Feiffer, The Ghost Script, Hollywood blacklist, energy politics
You Might Also Like: Charlotte Dennet, FOLLOW THE PIPELINES, Jules Feiffer, THE GHOST SCRIPT, Ursula K. Le Guin, UNREAL AND REAL.
Listen, Like & Subscribe to Writer’s Voice!
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Key Topics:
Segment 1: Karen Joy Fowler on The Dispossessed
- Le Guin’s vision of “ambiguous utopias” and its contradictions
- The ongoing relevance of The Dispossessed in today’s sociopolitical climate
- Exploring themes of equality, individualism, and community
- Fowler’s reflections on human nature and the balance between utopia and dystopia
Segment 2: Charlotte Dennett on Middle Eastern Geopolitics
- The role of pipelines as “arteries of empire” in shaping global power
- How energy politics fuel ongoing conflict in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon
- The significance of the Leviathan gas fields and Netanyahu’s energy corridor ambitions
- Broader implications for U.S. foreign policy and energy security
Segment 3: Jules Feiffer on The Ghost Script
- The Hollywood blacklist’s impact on creatives and its relevance today
- Feiffer’s personal connection to the blacklist as a political cartoonist
- How The Ghost Script blends noir storytelling with political commentary
- Reflections on the power of art to challenge oppression
Listen, Like & Subscribe to Writer’s Voice
29 episodes
Manage episode 462863867 series 2397664
This week on Writer’s Voice we feature three great conversations. Karen Joy Fowler reflects on the relevance of Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Dispossessed and its vision of utopia on the occasion of the 50th anniversary re-issue of that classic work of speculative fiction. She wrote the introduction. Listen to our 2012 interview with Ursulla K. Le Guin
Then, Charlotte Dennett gives us a timely update on the geopolitics of the Middle East, connecting current conflicts to her book Follow the Pipelines.
And finally, we pay tribute to Jules Feiffer, the legendary cartoonist and author, revisiting his insights on political art and his noir graphic novel about the Hollywood Black List, The Ghost Script. We spoke with him in 2019. He died January 17.
Connect with WV:
Follow us on Bluesky @rheannonf.bsky.social and subscribe to our Substack. Or find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, and on Instagram and Threads @WritersVoicePodcast
Key Words: Karen Joy Fowler, Ursula K. Le Guin, The Dispossessed, utopia, Charlotte Dennett, Follow the Pipelines, Middle Eastern geopolitics, Jules Feiffer, The Ghost Script, Hollywood blacklist, energy politics
You Might Also Like: Charlotte Dennet, FOLLOW THE PIPELINES, Jules Feiffer, THE GHOST SCRIPT, Ursula K. Le Guin, UNREAL AND REAL.
Listen, Like & Subscribe to Writer’s Voice!

Key Topics:
Segment 1: Karen Joy Fowler on The Dispossessed
- Le Guin’s vision of “ambiguous utopias” and its contradictions
- The ongoing relevance of The Dispossessed in today’s sociopolitical climate
- Exploring themes of equality, individualism, and community
- Fowler’s reflections on human nature and the balance between utopia and dystopia
Segment 2: Charlotte Dennett on Middle Eastern Geopolitics
- The role of pipelines as “arteries of empire” in shaping global power
- How energy politics fuel ongoing conflict in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon
- The significance of the Leviathan gas fields and Netanyahu’s energy corridor ambitions
- Broader implications for U.S. foreign policy and energy security
Segment 3: Jules Feiffer on The Ghost Script
- The Hollywood blacklist’s impact on creatives and its relevance today
- Feiffer’s personal connection to the blacklist as a political cartoonist
- How The Ghost Script blends noir storytelling with political commentary
- Reflections on the power of art to challenge oppression
Listen, Like & Subscribe to Writer’s Voice
29 episodes
All episodes
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