Iconic Author Margaret Atwood on Abortion, Twitter, and Predicting Everything We're Doing Wrong
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- Опубліковано 13 січ 2016
- Margaret Atwood is one of a few writers who defy categorization. Published in over 35 countries, the award-winning Canadian author is as beloved by critics as she is high school students, as prolific with novels as she is her tweets. Her experiments in narrative, form, and genre-as well as her poet's ear for prose-have persisted throughout her decades-long career, and they foreground an explicit yet elegant execution of progressive politics: Atwood is an avowed environmentalist and an advocate of women's rights (though she bristles at being called a "feminist" outright). Alongside all this is a persistent, clear-eyed examination of sex and the relationships between men and women, as well as a playful sense of humor and discovery; although she's well-known for her novels like The Handmaid's Tale and Oryx and Crake, she's also patented "remote writing technology" in the form of the LongPen and written a book to be published in 2114. We recently sat down with Atwood to discuss her long, varied career, the state of women's rights today, and whether she's noticed that speculative fiction books she published in the 80s have started coming true.
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Her replacement for "pro-life" with "forced child birth" really stuck with me. I'm pro choice already but it makes it more of a reality to me.
it's framing, its used in politics and it is really effective in making points!
Wow! How dreadful that one would be forced not to kill their own offspring!
Pretty sure that the government gives every aid you'd need to help raise a baby. When it reaches adulthood it's different. The only time abortion should be legal is when health problems come into it and most likely rape victims.
they don´t. oh they really don´t : they prefer to put money on military and send people to death "prolife"
Jrom "the govt gives you every help to raise a child""? So you're writing from .... Sweden¿
A great author who continues to be not only relevant, but ahead of her time.
After reading some of the comments, I think it needs to be made clear that Ms. Oyler isn't viewed as a poor reporter because she's a woman, but because she lacks charisma and gives off an uninterested attitude.
Did she re-spell Euler as Oyler, so people wouldn't say her name as "you-ler"?
and has chosen a very mediocre subject in any case
I agree. Criticisms are like a double-edged sword. You express disinterest or dislike and the supporters attack you, alleging that you are a hater or are patriarchal. Sensitivity drives people to form unnecessary connections. I LOVE Atwood's thought process and views on societal matters. However, Ms. Oyler gave out unlikable vibes.
In addition a very ditsy vibe good lore 🙄
I'm sure she doesn't mean to, but this interviewer puts off a really rude vibe in everything I've seen her do, it's hard to watch, especially with such amazing women.
And that accent! Like a valley girl. It was difficult for me to listen to this, the interviewer sounds way annoying.
liz macey maybe she's nervous
Yeah ikr !! Everytime she goes sure i cringe and recoil urghhh
'However many shades of gray that was' That's some Shady Shade, I love this woman!
YES!!!
@Theatrelover99 She says it with such class I love it. Margaret is a legend and my hero.
I love her voice, she has the perfect voice for storytelling, and especially telling scary, dark, stories.
Off to look for a Margaret Atwood interview with a better host...
The host was very good . What is going through your f*%#@# up head?
Wouldn't be hard...
Same....
@@teriking6396 Ehhhh... She's... Alrightttt.....
Ok, Zoomer
As a Candian, I fell in love with Margaret Atwood after reading Alias Grace at 16. It was my first real introduction to litterature. Then I read The Edible Woman and The Handmaid's Tale and they both blew my mind. I did little else that summer but read her books back to front and then again. Its now 20 years later, Ive been an avid reader ever since but few books make such an impact as MA's. I was blessed to hear her speak in University in 2008. She is truly a Canadian icon!
“Not everybody is going to like your work, and if they do, you’re doing something wrong.”
I ultimately loved the interview because MA is great no matter what, but I'd love to offer some constructive criticism. I like when interviewers take a bigger part in the conversation, meaning they offer their own thoughts and it develops into a more even dialogue. However, here, it felt like the interviewer barely let MA finish some of her trains of thought -frequently cutting her off with a curt "sure." and then almost forcibly steering MA towards an answer that ultimately seemed designed for the interviewer to take up more space. I say this because MA has a very calm, slow way of developing her amazing thoughts, so this rubbed me the wrong way just a little bit (because I love hearing where she goes with a question, but it does take time to listen to her). But I also know something about being perceived as unpleasant in the past when I thought I was only cynical, but really, I was projecting a sort of destructive/cynical/jaded attitude, even if I didn't want to. It was hard to start finding the positive, constructive part in me but it turns out to be much more easy and fruitful in its outcome.
what do you think?
+Momofuku Murphy oh and I liked the video anyway :)
Agree. I've seen interviews where it's more of a conversation, while still tailoring it to allow the interviewee to express their perspective. This wasn't one of them.
Maurine It’s just bad editing of the interview
No, it's not just bad editing--you can see and hear her stepping on the tails of Atwood's sentences.
I'd like to offer you some constructive criticism. When you nitpick things that really don't matter, it puts your internalized misogyny on display.
Please let your interviewer know she comes off as rude more than once. The interview is more about the answers than the questions. If someone doesn't answer the question in the way you were looking for, then still acknowledge and respond to the answer, and ask the question a little differently afterwords.
She is the founder of Broadly. Can she fire herself?
Carla Moreno wow I didn’t know that. This channel offers different views on taboo/controversial topics which I usually appreciate but multiple of hers interviews could have been a lot better if she had been more open to listening, positive and open-minded. I wonder if people around her are afraid to criticize her because of her position.
It also seemed to me that she cut Margaret Atwood off a couple times. Ugh, I do not like her manner.
It is disappointing to me how many people are criticizing the interviewer, especially for things as ridiculous and petty as vocal fry. Margaret Atwood's works deeply examine what it means to be a woman and one lesson, I thought, that always came through loud and clear was that women need to support and help each other as oppose to put each other down. We need to all be more human and empathize with each other. Instead what commentators on this video have done is say hurtful things designed to tear down the interviewer. While some may thought they were giving constructive criticism, and probably had good intentions, I can almost guarantee she has heard what you have said before by a boss, a coworker, or someone else. I, personally, greatly enjoyed this interview of Margaret Atwood and wish we all would listen to her messages and apply them in real life.
I agree with you and I think the interviewer had great admiration for Atwood and they seemed to bond very well. It's sad how many people are putting her down.
It's just an example of misogyny
@@amandasunshine2 its not misogyny stop throwing that word around. Woman or not the interviewer comes off as rude.
@@underscore2708lol you gonna try mansplaining misogyny to me? 💀
@@underscore2708 the fact is, being overly critical of a marginalized group IS bigotry. I understand that bigots aren't smart enough to understand that, but it doesn't make it any less true. I'm sorry you're too fragile to handle that fact. 🤷♀️
I feel so honored to share the same time and sky with M. Atwood.
Margaret Atwood's novels have captured my heart during my last years in university and the more I read other works the more I grew curious about her as a person. Now I've seen this interview and it really fits the picture. Let me just put this into the void: Thank you, I really enjoy your works. And thank you for this interview!
Enjoyed Margaret Atwood and the interviewer. Interesting questions. Listened to it twice. Thank you for posting.
Margaret Atwood would make one hell of a badass grandma
“How ever many shades of grey that was.” Oh I love the way Margaret throws shade there 😂😂
Great contributions made to women's rights ever in history! Thank you so much Margaret for teaching us about our all rights.
Love Margaret Atwood and her viewpoints. The host is very bad, though.
Yes, I kind of agree. She didn't facilitate a good conversation and didn't seem to be getting into Atwood's groove.
What is this odd way of speaking these young women have now? Like they have gravel in their throats--It's difficult to listen too.
Aint got shit to do with vocal fry, homie.
guess what? maybe its just her voice. -.-
Franziska v. Tassel Nope--it's affected 'lazy speak'.
Sure *fake laugh* sure.
*vocal fry*
Lmao!
The interviewer ruined this completely. Evidently intimidated and countering it by being rude.
This was a brilliant interview. Insightful discussion of serious and important topics while also bringing in light hearted and fun talking points! Well done to the interviewer, I can tell she does really great research!
The journalist doesn't suck, she just seems nervous and a little star-struck at first! Pretty understandable. It's something that will get easier with experience. Towards the end, she starts being more herself and you can tell Margaret appreciated that, and they clicked! Also just really wanted to say, I love the image of Margaret Atwood listening to Lady Gaga.
Very interesting interviewer as she raised good questions without being too intrusive and coming across as aggressive . Never read MA but I will now .
I don’t see anything wrong with the host. She wasn’t rude. You guys know she wasn’t. That’s why you say she gave the impression of rudeness and disinterest instead of saying she is rude and disinterested. Her energy flowed well with Atwood’s. Not performative, truly attentive, well-spoken.
Knocking Texas? Oh dear seems like these snotty new yorkers have never met Texas women and as a resident of Texas I can tell you that Texas ladies are some of the toughest and strongest dames in the country who never take crap off anyone.
I come from Philly, unfortunately olive in Texass now, women here allow themselves to be brutal sized and forced to have kids. So wtf is the difference? Texass sux ass.
Your spelling and punctuation need a little work.
This host isn't rude at all, I think she's inexperienced and a little nervous. She's not rolling her eyes (if she is it's not as a result of something Margaret said, but more so looking up to respond eyes rolled in the process) or judging, actually just trying to respond in a way that she hopes will be well received and was trying to connect with Margaret. I can say that I'm often misread when I'm uncomfortable, it's like the opposite of judgement of the other person, it's compensation for a lack of confidence in one's own position.
The vocal fry of the interviewer is AWFUL.
She sounds like the comediennes of SNL in the skit they did parodying Girls haha
agree it's so irritating and pathetic - useless interviewer
Wonderful interview! Margaret Atwood is a treasure.
She really is
Please stop with this inexperienced and honestly rude interviewer.
Oh my God, yes! She interviewed that French novelist and she was being so fucking annoying and here she is again trying to herd Margaret Atwood's responses on porn and impose her own opinions.
She is young and learning, everyone has to start some where and learn their job. Hopefully as she gets older she will be more professional.
Defininetly, though atleast she allowed Atwood to answer the question rather than doing it herself as some interviewers can do.
I don't see that she's being rude. It's OK. Let generations speak to each other. It's a good thing if they do, even if it seems disrespectful at times! She's not Terry Gross, but it's also 2018, and this is the platform, so to hear from Margaret Atwood in this way is still pretty informative and worthwhile. Better than a five-minute network talk show interview.
"hopefully as she gets older"
*interviewer is 35
ugh i can't stand this interviewer
I think she got better as it went
It sounds like the interviewer was talking down to some old lady rather than with a literary Titan. Someone please teach theses young hosts how to talk to adult professionals.
I've watched a lot of interviews with Atwood, and she seems to prefer a good conversation to being treated like an icon. I've seen what it looks like when she isn't enjoying an interview, and this really doesn't appear to be one of those times.
Nothing can ruin Margaret Atwoods wit and calm and amazing vibe. She's amazing and smart and one of my favourite authors.
This interview encouraged me to out in the literary effort and scavenger her novels and researches!
Margaret Atwood is one of the coolest human beings ever.
You guys are being unnecessary about the interviewer, she’s not rolling her eyes, she’s just looking up. I didn’t think she was rude at all and she’s obviously experienced.
I don’t get the hate for the host. But in any case, In giving constructive criticism, be careful with your words. Words are powerful.
The young girl interviewing seems to have a very dim grasp of the subjects she's questioning, but the author pushes on gracefully, bringing a clear and powerful message.
Can't stand the interviewer. Atwood is a genius and a visionary. Mad respect for this woman. The states feel like Gilead right now and it's sickening.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Margaret Atwood's works! Please pin down Joyce Carol Oates for an interview, too. These are two of my favorite living authors.
Excellent interview, excellent interviewer. Not easy talking one-on-one with a big name like Margaret Atwood.
I would love to talk to her over a cup of tea or coffee one day, just to hear her wisdom, her stories. Such a great person.
Margaret Atwood is an amazing lady. Her books relate alot to what is going on in the world now.
Thank you for this interview🙏🏼
Y'all are so hard on the host - I think she's good, she's intelligent and doesn't pander, she keeps it real
I genuinely think I have a Margaret Atwood in my head questioning all my thoughts
Lucky you, keep her there.
Did anybody else recognize Atwood in a cameo as one of the Aunts ? You couldn't see her face properly but those grey curls were unmistakeable.
abortion should be the last resort. why can't birth control be more widely available? that you can walk into a doctor's room or clinic and get an injection, 6 months no pregnancy! I think I schools it should be done as well.
Steph M, the sad fact is that most are not going to go out of their way to get the proper birth control in order to prevent pregnancy; which for me, is part of why abortion SHOULD be legal. Also, education on proper birth control, whether male or female, in schools especially, should be taught.
Making birth control more accessible would probably don't have much of an effect. Where I live, condoms are free and there is a severe case of teenage pregnancy all over the country. Would it be different if we changed the method? I personally don't think it would do much. Most would "forget", they can't picture something like that happening on a personal level. The ones who would are already using some kind of contraception. Of course, this comes as the views of someone living in Mexico, which is almost officially the dumbest country in Latin America.
Good post do you think the ladies don't want to use birth control?
Well as a young female living in South Africa who went to a government run school, I witnessed tons of girls pregnant. And I know for a fact that they were never offered birth control. If we had a clinic at school in which you were able to get a long lasting birthday control I would bet that those pregnancies numbers would have gone down. Condoms aren't good enough especially since they don't help if you get attacked etc.
Good heavens I bet you've got stories to tell.
Great questions! You are a great interviewer.
I love her work shes amazing her vision of the future is incredible
so much vocal fry
"I guess what I'm thinking is if it's harmfuuuulll. Or does more harm than goooood."
Lady, Margaret Atwood...ROCKS !!!
❤️❤️❤️ Margaret Atwood so proud to be Canadian!
'Forced childbirth' good one. I've been trying to describe the feeling experienced by the overturn of Roe and Wade. I'm not at all effected but it offends my sense of justice for other women. The science feminist community have described it as outlawing abortion in effect and therefore 'Forced biological hosting' . It's nice to donate an organ or use your body to help another but not required except for pregnancy in the US.
I wish they would retape the interview today with the same questions and see how her answers have changed!
I think the host was really rude, and Margaret was like "has she even taken the time to read at least an abstract of my book?"
very well said on social media validating our internal checklist
Great interview! I need to check out her work.
this is amazing. thank u
The interviewer love for Atwood is beautifully shown
That vocal fry... I love everything that broadly does but her way of speaking is grating my ears haha
very pleasantly surprised that Margaret Atwood seems to like Lady Gaga
Good stuff love the interviews
I'm sure it wasn't her intention, but the interviewer did come across as disinterested and like she was just going through the motions.
However, Margaret points are enlightening... makes you really think about ongoing issues today and she gives very good advice at the end there... I love the way her books are engaging and makes you put a different spin on things that you thought you had a concrete view of 👏
Better journalist and longer interview, please. She sounds nice and prepared, but difference in experience crash awkwardly. In the beginning at least.
In defence of the interviewer...I think she is insightful and charming !
I think the host was actually good-for this type of interview. Different age groups have different questions. Margaret Atwood has proven herself to be timeless. She referenced 50 Shades of Whatever in this one, but in a previous interview with an older host she referenced Kafka. Unless you’re a total bookworm, you’ve probably only read one or the other.
I can understand where the interviewer comes from in some of the questions, as someone who would LOVE to sit with Ms. Atwood; just banter back and forth, bringing my ideas, and bouncing off of some of hers and maybe countering some points. However, the constant interrupting and lack of response from response (bounce back) really comes across as the interviewer not actually caring about the answer being given, and not giving that answer enough thought because they're too busy thinking of the next smart thing to say. Unfortunate but there's plenty of time for her to learn and get better! Best of luck.
I absolutely love Margaret's "The Handmaid's Tale"
looked up Margaret Atwood on wikipedia and found out 2 things: 1 - Margaret Atwood is still alive. 2 - Margaret Atwood is
CANADIAN. OOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. i get it now......
Oh, and thanks for making Handmaid's Tale BEFORE Oryx and Crake.
I actually like the interview.. I think the interviewer is keeping it casual and treating Atwood as a person and not putting her on a pedestal. But I do wish there was more seriousness to it but that obviously wasn't their aim.
I would love to meet Margaret Atwood someday. Much respect for her. In fact , in my opinion (not that it matters to anyone) I believe she would be great as a politician who would better explain the high conflict discussions and dilemma of abortion and women's rights with the religious leaders and government...considering if those other crimes were handled accordingly would that NOT eliminate the immoral crime of abortion ? I'm sure Margaret Atwood (and Anne Rice) would better explain it than others who are currently ? idk...It's so complicated and heated discussions and topic...I guess that was why Roe vs Wade started. ....Scientology and medical practices are among those complicated. ....anyways, this interview brought me to tears and her explanation was....hit home hard core. For me. #LNR
Love her! And her mind.
“How ever many shades of grey that was.” Lmaoooo
How did a whole generation in the U.S. (O.K., an exaggeration) end up speaking with the vocal fry Valley Girl accent of this interviewer?
What an icon.... Margaret Atwood is amazing for her writing...
Five seconds in, and I've already paused to quote her on my Facebook wall.
"What the Internet has done is it's enabled people to objectify their internal checklists and evaluate people according to them" --Margaret Atwood, this video 6:55. As expected, folks do exactly that on this video.
my favorite author kinda likes my favorite popstar. I love that
Well this aged well
She seems very calm and honest
That was a fantastic interview.
Margaret Atwood is an excellent role model.
She's so brilliant
I love love love Margaret Atwood!!!!
Handmaid's Tale is Vice-Pres Pence's dream world.
@Kat haha!
she retweeted me once. bam.
You hear Croak croak croak... and then hear Margaret Atwood's lovely voice. 😁
Atwood refuses recite feminist dogma, and the interviewer doesn't know what to do about it. lol
I am reading "Stone Mattress" right now. It is very good.
I wish that Charlie Brooker and Margaret Atwood could get together to write a show, that would be the best.
I don't like it when interviewers talk over the people who they are interviewing.
This interviewer is so pushy and full of herself. I cringe every time you put her onto your videos.
Margaret Atwood 🙌🏼👑
She is incredible
i thought the interviewer did well. maybe she was a little star struck but wouldn't we all be?
Mi pregunta viene una cuarta temporada?
In the spirit of doing things totally wrong... I have some ideas for real-life, in-person, off-lecture lectures for tutorial purposes at Bader at Vic. Alma Mater stuff. I had the Dean presently as my first lecturer and am enamored with the glamours in that space. I want to sit at the side of the room on the arm of the chairplaces, and facilitate tutorials and study groups by pointing at people in the room and suggesting aggressively that it is their turn to present. It will be first for the PhD's I want to give out for honourary degrees at Frosh. Then I'll just be whoever needs a TA and RA's helper and audit whatever I can sit in on. But aside from all that, I'd love to name my bioethical research DNA sequenced CRISPR-related, agar-and-centrifuge-experienced clone baby of a twin sister without the health problems during my next Saturn Return or so, once I get it right... "Pigoon" and not have that be a problem. I might have to abort mission with the rest of them, like maybe "Giant Cervix" won't work out for example. Not even kidding one bit. At all. Can we work together on extremely provocative and political stuff at Vic that's art collabs-related. Loved your book signing at World's Biggest, but I avoided the lineup and went toward the tarot cards. ♥
I'm not gonna lie, the interviewer's "creaky voice" is driving me insane.