In this time of accelerating ecological, political, and spiritual crisis, how do we cope with the reality our species has forged on this planet? In the face of collapse on multiple fronts, what role does art, and writing in particular, play in our ability to grapple with the implications of these trends? Vanessa Blakeslee and I discuss the some of themes of her most recent book ‘Perfect Conditions’ through the lens of this shared understanding, in particular how fiction (and art more generally) can allow us to contemplate and understand the nature of the situation unfolding before us in real time. Vanessa and I also discuss the personal journey individuals must take when the reality of our collective predicament is recognized on the personal level, described as the “dark night of the soul” within the context of this conversation, and how this journey forces us to reconfigure our individual identity and to focus our passions towards new life goals, priorities, and projects.

Vanessa Blakeslee is the award-winning author of ‘Perfect Conditions,’ a collection of short short stories about characters struggling “to find control in unrelenting circumstances, in places which are often anything but welcoming.” Order a copy at Curbside Splendor: http://bit.ly/2L6sAPO

This is a segment of episode #132 of Last Born In The Wilderness “Dark Night Of The Soul: Fiction, Art, & Unrelenting Circumstances w/ Vanessa Blakeslee.” Listen to the full episode: http://bit.ly/2meoVkS

Podcast website: https://www.lastborninthewilderness.com

Support the podcast:

PATREON: www.patreon.com/lastborninthewilderness

ONE-TIME DONATION: www.ko-fi.com/lastborninthewilderness

Follow and listen:

SOUNDCLOUD: www.soundcloud.com/lastborninthewilderness

ITUNES: www.goo.gl/Fvy4ca

GOOGLE PLAY: https://goo.gl/wYgMQc

STITCHER: https://goo.gl/eeUBfS