Jane Austen -- an 18th century woman for the 21st century | JoAnne Podis | TEDxUrsulineCollege

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  • Опубліковано 17 лис 2014
  • This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. JoAnne Podis has a passion for the works of Jane Austen. Why? For more than 200 years one of her novels has never been out of print. Film adaptations of her works abound. Two of the world's most famous mystery writers have written novels that riff on hers. No less a publication than The Atlantic features her in a recent article on economics. Who is this mystery woman? Jane Austen-a woman made for the 21st century but born in the 18th. In this talk learn why her appeal transcends time and culture and provides values, voice, and vision for the ages.
    Dr. JoAnne M. Podis, Professor of English at Ursuline College, is also Vice President for Academic Affairs, a post she has held since 1997. Her doctorate in British literature is from Case Western Reserve University, and, in over three decades in higher education, Dr. Podis has presented and published widely on writing pedagogy and is the co-author of three textbooks. Other research interests include women and leadership, including women in popular culture; Jane Austen’s novels and the film versions thereof; and the impact of working-class backgrounds on both faculty and students. Off campus she supports the Cleveland International Film Festival through her work in fund raising and lectures in continuing education programs at area nursing homes.
    About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

КОМЕНТАРІ • 46

  • @nomadoftheuniverse
    @nomadoftheuniverse 4 роки тому +13

    Self-discovery and values, absolutely, is what makes her works so relevant today. The beauty of her writing style is another factor, she writes so eloquently, yet easy to understand. But isn't it also that her novels are the ultimate romcoms? Men talking and dressing like Mr D'Arcy and life revolving around balls, dressing up, emotional turmoils and letters are a woman's ultimate fairytale. Another factor may be our nostalgia for the time when information was scarce and so surprises possible. Now we have Google, Facebook and Whatsapp, and no one writes love letters, waits for months for a ball to see someone or suffers for days in "half agony, half hope". Finally, in my eyes, Jane Austen's message of the importance of love over socio-economic factors at the time when the opposite was true makes her a revolutionary. And we will always love someone questioning the status quo.

  • @addisonmcarthur7108
    @addisonmcarthur7108 6 років тому +57

    Who's watching this tonight for their English assignment

    • @emilymai5158
      @emilymai5158 6 років тому +1

      Addison McArthur there's not enough dislikes

    • @emilymai5158
      @emilymai5158 6 років тому +1

      Addison McArthur a transcript of this talk would have been very beneficial

    • @herobrine505
      @herobrine505 6 років тому +1

      same here

  • @Katherine_The_Okay
    @Katherine_The_Okay 5 років тому +42

    People who think Jane Austen only writes about social interactions and romance are kind of missing the larger context imo. Even if they don't feature at the forefront of her novels, they're very important to what's going on in the stories. Wickham never would have come to the attention of Lizzie and Lydia if it hadn't been for the Napoleonic Wars. Captain Wentworth would never have earned his fortune and become able to marry Anne if not for those same wars. Sir Thomas would never have been forced to leave Mansfield Park for a year if not for the very real fact that slavery still existed in some of the British possessions. For that matter, Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility are pretty scathing commentaries on things like inheritance laws (which should not be enjoyable reading on the surface, lol, but still are). Everything that happens in either of those novels is because of the unfair legal codes of the time. I could go on, but this is already getting long so I'll stop now...
    These issues were HUGE at the time, but they didn't really effect the day-to-day life of the average British person. Instead, as in the novels, they were just part of the backdrop, facts of life that didn't have much daily impact, but still shape the lives of those involved (whether through troop movements, the acquisition and loss of wealth, being forced to marry where you'd rather not, absentee parents, etc).

  • @lakemichigan6598
    @lakemichigan6598 4 роки тому +10

    Jane Austen's secret: Well constructed literary interpersonality is timelessly fascinating.

  • @nadam.3942
    @nadam.3942 7 років тому +10

    Great talk! She speaks with such passion about Jane Austen that it makes you love her all over again.

  • @scottlang7271
    @scottlang7271 Рік тому +6

    I enjoyed your last story, as it was similar for me. I had to read P&P in high school, and I hated it - anything improving about it sailed kilometres over my head. But in my 30's, after being bored one night, I came across the 1995 movie....and I enjoyed it so much I read the book within the same month.

    • @patriciajrs46
      @patriciajrs46 Рік тому

      Good for you. Thank you, Scott. I enjoy it when men also finally enjoy the wonderous values of this novel.

    • @ellie698
      @ellie698 Рік тому

      I'm so glad you revisited the book later in life ☺️

  • @FreeSpirit47
    @FreeSpirit47 9 років тому +23

    Pride and Prejudice speaks to my heart as a time when being a true gentleman or a true lady was paramount. It wasn't all so pleasant, yet, the romance, the chivalry, the simple pleasures are so beautifully dear to my heart.

    • @lakemichigan6598
      @lakemichigan6598 4 роки тому +4

      Plenty of Jane Austen's characters marry primarily for money/social position too. She's not unwilling to unveil the more craven aspects of romance, all of which remain active today.

  • @coloraturaElise
    @coloraturaElise 4 роки тому +8

    Jane was actually 41 when she died (her birthday was in December), but I totally agree with your statement about the irony of the talented one dying young and the others making it to old age, and how I wish it had been reversed.

  • @patriciajrs46
    @patriciajrs46 Рік тому +3

    It's amazing when you consider the number of books that have been in continuous print for the longest, that Pride and Prejudice, is in a list thst includes the Bible. There aren't mant books thst can say they have never been out of print for over 200 years! Amazing.

  • @karenhoskins9126
    @karenhoskins9126 4 роки тому +13

    Elinor Dashwood, not Elizabeth Dashwood

    • @Ailorn
      @Ailorn 4 роки тому +3

      Yes, this slip caught my eye too

    • @karenhoskins9126
      @karenhoskins9126 4 роки тому +3

      It blew my mind. How could they have let that get by?

    • @ellie698
      @ellie698 Рік тому

      I just came to comment that but I knew someone will have mentioned it already! 👍
      That was a real clanger

  • @michaelchua3942
    @michaelchua3942 Рік тому +1

    Bravo!!

  • @mrhook2859
    @mrhook2859 9 років тому +1

    I don't know what 18/19th century women/men were like because we only have novel's as our authority, and no proof of a Darcy/Liz Bennet scenario, and common sense will always squash the theory of finding a true woman/man, because they simply don't exist.
    Yes in the novel's they are resplendent and transcending, but then so are the women/men in mills&boons story's today, but we know they aren't in real life, many women/men have gone off to the dark side today, and those who aren't are so far up their own backsides with their own whims and judgement that it's the idea of being in love with, the dream of finding love that people prefer.
    But one thing they don't count on today…control of expectations, who say's you deserve a Darcy, or Jane Bennet?
    So thanks very much Jane Austen.

    • @maryanna682
      @maryanna682 5 років тому +1

      I kinda agree, but I won't deny the fact that 18th century gentlemen and ladies were FAR better romantics, Christians and agreeable people than today's. I mean it doesn't take a genius to ascertain the appalling sights there is going on in 21st century.

    • @Ailorn
      @Ailorn 4 роки тому +2

      What makes Lizzy or Mr Darcy worthy not just for one another is their character growth. I think Jane Austen would want us to take a sober look at our own character faults and fix them. That way we may be worthy of a good life or partner because we would be one.

  • @pattymck7267
    @pattymck7267 6 років тому +4

    I resent the opening comments regarding "typical tourist behavior". I've traveled extensively in Europe and the Middle East and I have not noticed Americans acting like that.

    • @VCYT
      @VCYT 6 років тому

      Theres a yank - dave parkman, who on his YT blog said the opposite.!

  • @oekmama
    @oekmama 6 років тому

    PDJames' murder mystery continuation of Pride and Prejudice was great!

    • @patriciajrs46
      @patriciajrs46 Рік тому

      Never heard of it. Where do I look for it?

    • @oekmama
      @oekmama Рік тому

      @@patriciajrs46 It‘s a novel by P.D. James

    • @ellie698
      @ellie698 Рік тому +1

      @@patriciajrs46
      I think it was called Death Comes To Pemberley

  • @anasan00
    @anasan00 5 років тому

    Cinderella 💙💙💙💙

  • @milwaukeemotor5995
    @milwaukeemotor5995 3 роки тому

    i don't like the comparison she made between Jane & her sisters "it's a shame they lived in their 80s" what a strange comparison & comment

    • @ellie698
      @ellie698 Рік тому

      Jane only had one sister, Cassandra, she compared her age and her mum's age.
      And yes, it is a terrible shame that of the whole family it was Jane who died so young.
      She would have gone on to write many more wonderful books.
      As it is, to write 6 classics by the age of 42 is astonishing.

  • @spyretto
    @spyretto 3 роки тому

    She peaked with WYWH that's all that there is to it.

    • @patriciajrs46
      @patriciajrs46 Рік тому

      Why You're With Him; Why You Would Hate; Why You Wah Hemp; what Your World Has. How about telling us what the initials mean. For we, who are not in the know.

    • @ellie698
      @ellie698 Рік тому

      What on earth are you talking about?
      Who on earth are you talking about?

  • @princepandey4552
    @princepandey4552 6 років тому +1

    theijan

  • @enderwiggin8947
    @enderwiggin8947 4 роки тому +2

    I suspect this woman has either not read, or not understood Jane Austin’s novels.

    • @TheTwara
      @TheTwara 3 роки тому

      Wonder why you say that?

    • @TheTwara
      @TheTwara 3 роки тому +1

      @Campari Soda
      You mean Austen not Austin, right?

    • @patriciajrs46
      @patriciajrs46 Рік тому

      Yes, why say that? This woman has read them. I feel she may have thought faster than she could write. We all make mistakes.