The Palace of Supreme Purity (Gao Xingjian‘s Soul Mountain + Bud Light Fall Flannel Pack)
Description
In the main episode, the boys discuss Gao Xingjian's experimental novel Soul Mountain. They work through the unusual narrative techniques (second person?); discuss Taoism, Buddhism, and the book's seeming preference for plurality; and think about the interaction between the book's political context and its incorporation of folk stories and field anthropology.
As a bonus, the second ever episode of Postmodern Food Factory sees the boys diving into the great autumny unknown, trying all four flavors of the Bud Light Seltzer Fall Flannel Pack. Which is worse, Pumpkin Spice or Toasted Marshmallow? Will Søren vomit live on air? Why is Karl strangely into these brews?
The boys (sans Friedrich) wrap Season 3 by talking about the perfect capstone book: John Kennedy Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces. They take one last gander at form (picaresque? satire?), discuss Fortuna's wheel, and think through what it means to be a political and artistic outsider in the vein...
Published 09/09/22
The boys hop on their three person tandem bike to pedal their way through the spinning wheels of Flann O'Brien's dark comedy The Third Policeman. They debate the novel's genre (sci fi? fantasy? existential tragicomedy?) and explore its fascination with particle physics, theology, and, of course,...
Published 08/23/22