Not All Propaganda Is Art
Not All Propaganda Is Art
Podcast Description
“Not All Propaganda is Art” unravels the gripping tale of three iconic writers—Richard Wright, Dwight Macdonald, and Kenneth Tynan—who became entangled in the covert battles of the Cultural Cold War in the late 1950s. As the boundaries between art and influence blurred, these pivotal figures served as both collaborators and targets of American, British, and French security agencies, ensnared in a high-stakes propaganda war over fiercely contested ideas such as the critique of mass culture and the power of politically engaged art—debates that still resonate.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast delves into the Cultural Cold War, focusing on topics such as the intertwining of art and propaganda, the political implications of literature, and critiques of mass culture. Notable episodes include explorations of Richard Wright's experiences in Paris and Kenneth Tynan's tensions with the American film industry.
“Not All Propaganda is Art” unravels the gripping tale of three iconic writers—Richard Wright, Dwight Macdonald, and Kenneth Tynan—who became entangled in the covert battles of the Cultural Cold War in the late 1950s. As the boundaries between art and influence blurred, these pivotal figures served as both collaborators and targets of American, British, and French security agencies, ensnared in a high-stakes propaganda war over fiercely contested ideas such as the critique of mass culture and the power of politically engaged art—debates that still resonate.
ToE’s Cultural Cold War miniseries concludes with three stories about containment and death. Richard Wright delivers his final lecture on Black Spies in Paris, Dwight Macdonald’s Mass Cult & Mid Cult finally debuts & flops, and Kenneth Tynan discovers the limits of social and cultural protest.
Show notes: Matthew Tynan reads Kenneth Tynan’s 1960 speech, Michael Billington wrote a 1960 Parody of Kenneth Tynan, Jefferson Pooley recaps Personal Influence and Daphne Park explains how she got Lumumba killed.
Support ToE and get access to the incredible exclusive bonus companion series to Not All Propaganda is Art by subscribing at https://theoryofeverything.supercast.com/, or subscribe directly in Apple Podcasts by hitting “Subscribe” right on the show page.
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.