Hot damn! I have been mumbling about the traditional Christian fascination with 'symbolism' that I see arising in the US feeling troublingly close to Gnosticism, and growing increasingly concerned that Christian clergy and scholars whom I respect are becoming associated with it. At the same time, the masculine/feminine divisions in Hideous Strength live rent-free in my head, because I like so many love Lewis.
Thank you for providing receipts and for serving as a vocal counterpush against the Pageau-industrial complex.
I hear you! The Space Trilogy lived in my head for years, too. I actually have refused to reread Perelandra for that reason-- I enjoyed it so much as a romantic teenager, and I know I could never repeat that kind of reading experience.
The Space Trilogy is so interesting to teach all my college seminarians, as their one female philosophy professor. I try not to focus on Jane and my personal thoughts/opinions there, though. Mostly everyone wants to talk about the Objective Room and the Banquet/post Banquet deaths.
My work on gender gets used a bit on X, in debates which I don't always have the chance to really follow. But as a result, I am glad to keep learning in this area.
Me, too. I could say a lot more, but people have to have a certain kind of peace of mind and deep commitment to discipline, before they can see how these things need to be approached playfully, held lightly, and then let go.
Thank you. I was interested in Williams work on the Figure of Beatrice. Lewis’ commentary on Taliessen and Logres and The Region of the Summer Stars caught my eye as a young woman. I asked poetically what does it mean for a woman to have a Beatrice? My collection about this was published in 1988, and was the basis of my MFA thesis.
Fascinating about Williams occult leanings. Thank you for the heads up on that.
Hot damn! I have been mumbling about the traditional Christian fascination with 'symbolism' that I see arising in the US feeling troublingly close to Gnosticism, and growing increasingly concerned that Christian clergy and scholars whom I respect are becoming associated with it. At the same time, the masculine/feminine divisions in Hideous Strength live rent-free in my head, because I like so many love Lewis.
Thank you for providing receipts and for serving as a vocal counterpush against the Pageau-industrial complex.
I hear you! The Space Trilogy lived in my head for years, too. I actually have refused to reread Perelandra for that reason-- I enjoyed it so much as a romantic teenager, and I know I could never repeat that kind of reading experience.
The Space Trilogy is so interesting to teach all my college seminarians, as their one female philosophy professor. I try not to focus on Jane and my personal thoughts/opinions there, though. Mostly everyone wants to talk about the Objective Room and the Banquet/post Banquet deaths.
This is so helpful and perspicacious.
I’m glad it was useful!!
My work on gender gets used a bit on X, in debates which I don't always have the chance to really follow. But as a result, I am glad to keep learning in this area.
I wish more people would read your work on gender in C.S. Lewis's contemplative mode, rather than his information-extracting mode.
I think about this stuff a lot, but am always reticent to say anything on the internet. There be dragons here. 👀
Me, too. I could say a lot more, but people have to have a certain kind of peace of mind and deep commitment to discipline, before they can see how these things need to be approached playfully, held lightly, and then let go.
Absolutely agree.
And you tapped the sign! Cue me rocking out to .38 Special now. 😉
https://youtu.be/vJtf7R_oVaw?si=xkFvw8IgIKvqwaMw
We do indeed need a whole lot of space within which to breathe...
Thank you. I was interested in Williams work on the Figure of Beatrice. Lewis’ commentary on Taliessen and Logres and The Region of the Summer Stars caught my eye as a young woman. I asked poetically what does it mean for a woman to have a Beatrice? My collection about this was published in 1988, and was the basis of my MFA thesis.
Fascinating about Williams occult leanings. Thank you for the heads up on that.
That sounds like a rich and marvelous thesis!
I still think Williams is worth reading. But it helps to understand his context.
Thank you. I was a collection of poetry that was published in 1988.
Very well put (and enlightening). Thank you!
Thanks for reading and commenting!