The Troubadour Podcast

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Don't just read news articles, read poetry. 

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Jeremiah Cobra is the author of the book—written during quarantine—"And Then he Shot his Cousin." We discussed the creative process for this story, the background and even the style and content. I had a wonderful time exploring the artist creations of Jeremiah. He's a literary artist worth reading.

Purchase his book on amazon today: https://www.amazon.com/Then-He-Shot-His-Cousin/dp/0999904302/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=jeremiah+cobra+and+then+he+shot+his+cousin&qid=1591160007&sr=8-1

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Shakespeare in LUST!

When most of us think of Shakespeare we think of the great love poet. He is known as one of the greatest romantic love poets of all time. 

Yet in this poem he rails against sex. Not romantic sex of course, but sex devoid of spirit.

By the end of watching this video you'll be able to talk about this poem with anyone, and you'll have a better understanding of how Shakespearean sonnets are structured and how they operate.

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Ask someone the following two questions. First, "Is reading literature a good thing?" Then, "Do you read literature?" And it is amazing that everyone will answer affirmative in the former and negative in the latter.

Do that with anything else in life and you will likely find a wide range of answers. "Is riding horseback a good thing?" Some will say yes and some will say no and some will be neutral. Then follow with the second question "Do you horseback ride,? And again you'll get a variety of answers. Try the question with 'working hard,' 'following your passion,' 'exercise,' 'eating healthy.'

There is a huge disconnect in our society. We all know that reading literature is a Good and yet very few of us actually read literature. 

On today's episode I talked with Deanna Heikkinen from Pisan Academy to talk about the value of literature. Both Deanna and I share the missoin of attempting to bring literature to non-academics. At the Pisan Academy, they focus on creating curriiculum for homeschoolers.

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Who remembers those magic eye illusions from the 90s? On this episode I use Shakespeare's most famous poem to illustrate how poetry is like those illusions.

Poetry begins as a meaningless jumble of lines on a page, but it ends with deep meaning. As Frost puts it, a good poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom. But how can we reach that "end?" And is it truly worth it?

These are some questions I discuss with you as I explore this great and short 14 line sonnet by the great bard himself.

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On this episode, Luc Travers and Kirk Barbera surprise each other (and hopefully you too!) with art. They chose a topic—Memory and Loss—and each chose a work of art to surprise the other with. Luc chose a painting and Kirk chose a poem. 

Memory and loss are part of the human experience. Whether you're 15 or 100 how we deal with loss and how we remember that which we have lost will change. In this episode Luc and Kirk will discuss two artists conception of this topic, and explore the ways in which it impacts our lives.

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Poets are thinkers. We don't see them as thinkers. But great poets have a special way of thinking that can benefit us all.

In this poem we see that type of thinking at its clearest. 

The poem is a simple poem about two types of love, but expressed in the way that only a poet can express it.

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William Blake believed there were two contrary states battling it out within each and every individual human being. Innocence and experience. The way that we developed as unique individuals was by a "dialectic process." That is, there is a Thesis (a little boy is lost) and an Anti-thesis (The little boy is found) Together they can become a synthesis, or, a new thesis.

We find this process all throughout this book of poetry by Blake.

In today's episode we will be covering the two aforementioned poems. They are very short but reveal much of the way that Blake believed the human soul was developed.

The Little Boy Lost
BY WILLIAM BLAKE

Father, father, where are you going
       O do not walk so fast.
Speak father, speak to your little boy
       Or else I shall be lost,

The night was dark no father was there
       The child was wet with dew.
The mire was deep, & the child did weep
       And away the vapour flew.



Little Boy Found
By William Blake

The little boy lost in the lonely fen,
Led by the wandering light,
Began to cry, but God, ever nigh,
Appeared like his father, in white.

He kissed the child, and by the hand led,
And to his mother brought,
Who in sorrow pale, through the lonely dale,
Her little boy weeping sought.

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In unusual times even the usual is extraordinary.

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Nathaniel Branden, a psychologist and pioneer in the study of self-esteem, said that artists and creators have an above average acceptance of the condition of aloneness. We can learn a lot from artists at any time of life, including our current situation. So how did great artists deal with isolation? What can we learn from them? How can we be better in contemplating art and our own lives?

Luc Travers is an art historian and art guide who has returned to the show to explore art with us. We looked at six paintings and he describes what he believes are two huge values of studying not only the painting of great artists, but their lives as well.

Luc will be putting on a multi-week course on the topic of Bonding with Great Artists. This video will be a tiny taste of all that he has to offer. I highly recommend you check it out: http://www.touchingtheart.com/bonding-with-great-artists.html?fbclid=IwAR0UkDpz4BglGgvfzwbA1Xp4WplDPK3QA1VE5fTpHkhjbDlUJQdTi-1UdyM