McCall Smith noted it was worrying in today’s terms of entertainment, we seem to want ‘ constant confrontation and in your face aggression’ as the ‘ standard diet of entertainment’.įor those watching the political party meltdown in Australia in August 2018, this must be particularly poignant. Having an ability to affect people’s emotions and truly change how people perceive the world is a huge responsibility, especially for those in all aspects of media. To my mind at least they are are not words to be used lightly or flippantly, but with care and consideration, as well as reverently and advisedly. Today trust love and hope are three words often bandied about, but do we pause enough to reflect on what they really mean and how their misuse can, and will impact on others? How do we respond to the evidence that higher levels of affluence among the comfortable majority in the rich world do not seem, at the level of the individual, to be associated with greater well-being, or, at the level of society, with greater inclusion, solidarity or optimism? How do we manage risk and shape progress to human ends when science, technology and commerce are so complex and fast moving? How do we achieve the benefits of economic growth… deal with the contrast between powerful global forces of commerce, migration, crime and conflict and the as yet weak global public sphere of civil society and governance? Matthew Taylor asks in his excellent 21st Century Enlightenment paper that touches eloquently on social aspiration His comments I would suggest many people would respond to right now following recent shocking events with atrocities carried out both here and abroad by adults whose principles and ideologies have become completely skewed, out of all control and way beyond compassion.Ģ1st Century englightenment gentleman, Matthew Taylor He noted his book the Number One Ladies Detective Agency set in Botswana, which sold in excess of 20 million copies worldwide, was all about ‘searching for hope even when there’s despair’. Today he puts a ‘positive spin on life’, his feelings about being optimistic expressed so eloquently. This he said was very liberating, allowing him to feel he could be ‘authentic’ at last. He observed that freeing up his own voice about the reality of his life only happened as he gradually developed his writing abilities. Talking to presenter of the ABC program One Plus One Jane Hutcheon, McCall Smith provided very succinct observations on and about the tough society he grew up in Rhodesia, its development since and what it meant for contemporary society. Alexander McCall Smith, author, photo by Tara MurphyĪn interview with Scotland’s premier popular international publishing author Alexander McCall Smith, which happened back in March 2014 in Australia was both erudite and enlightening
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |