The Literary Interventions podcast considers pieces of literature–old and new–within a contemporary American context. In each episode, we will think about a well-known piece of literature, putting a spin on it that makes us re-think the questions and themes the writing presents. This podcast is hosted by Judie Levy, who has her PhD in Comparative Literature and teaches at Emory and Oglethorpe Universities. Judie applies current news topics and modern cultural theory to books that have been talked about for decades. By the end of each episode, what you think of as classic will be troubled and eventually take on new meanings. These interruptive readings help us consider how the past is always being re-read through the present.
Episode 1: The Stranger and Bystander Interventions
Introduction: Hello, and welcome to the Literary Interventions Podcast, where we re-read old and contemporary literature to reposition topics for an American audience in the 21st century.
Today’s episode is on Albert Camus’ seminal novel The Stranger. We’ll be asking questions about bystander intervention: when should someone intervene in another person’s affairs? When is violence warranted as a response to a situation? What ethical choices surround questions of self defense and assisting others in defending themselves?
Works Cited
Camus, Albert. The Stranger. Trans. Matthew Ward. Vintage International: New York, 1988.
HolzinaCCO. “Deja Vu.” Only in the Milky Way Pt. 1. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/only-in-the-milky-way-part-1