More revelations on the origins of Noir again from station KZSU, the Univeristy of Stanford's radio station and its show Entitled Opinions (hosted by Robert Harrison). Likely many fans of modern Noir haven't read the unfinished poem The Aeneid written in the first century BCE by the Roman poet Virgil, if you enjoy the classics you probably should find a copy, it has a very noirish ending, startlingly modern and powerful despite its antiquity. In the meantime you can have a listen to the file that discusses it, with spoilers. Again make note, the scholars make no reference to modern noir literature - I see the connection, perhaps you will too.

You can download the MP3 of the show HERE.

posted by Jesse

I've always known there was some connection between Noir and Mythology, but the bridge between the two has always eluded me, until now. Tonight I heard an instalment of the Entitled Opinions podcast, which originates as a show on KZSU, the University of Stanford radio station. On the October 4th 2005 show there is a conversation between the show's host professor Robert Harrison and a retired Stanford professor, Rene Girard. Together they talked about Girard's theories of religious ritual and mythology, and in turn their connection with the scapegoats and sacrifice. Girard's initial studies of the literary texts of Cervantes, Proust, and Dostoyevsky in terms of "triangular" or "mimetic" desire lead to a subsequent study of primitive religions from the standpoint of the mimetic concept, and he saw that mimesis usually led to collective violence against a single victim, the scapegoat. In this podcast he never mentions Noir, though he touches on one of it's root concepts Nihilism, he also doesn't talk of fiction, but his analysis, made it clear, at least for me that the deep within the unreflective mind of the human animal is a need for a scapegoat. This conversation bridged the gap between Mythology and Noir, between and the myth of Oedipus and The Postman Always Rings Twice. Maybe it will blow your mind too.

You can download the MP3 of the show HERE.

posted by Jesse

Hey, speaking of Elmore Leonard, There's an ElmoreLeonard.com podcast! Four shows were made in 2005, all are hosted by Elmore Leonard's researcher and webmaster, Gregg Sutter: Check 'em out:

PODCAST #4 - A conversation with Elmore Leonard and Michael Wallis in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Elmore and Michael discuss the lives and times of Pretty Boy Floyd, the oil business and The Hot Kid.

PODCAST #3 - Elmore Leonard talking about the movies made from his books recently and reads the “Bad Guys at Home” scene from Killshot.

PODCAST #2 - Elmore Leonard at home in Bloomfield Village, Michigan reads two selections from The Hot Kid and his Ten Rules of Writing.

PODCAST #1 - Gregg Sutter interviews Elmore Leonard at home in Bloomfield Village, Michigan about his fortieth novel, The Hot Kid.

posted by Jesse

Elmore Leonard, his novels are almost like Jazz, when they work they work in the off-beats. My experience is that about every second novel is a winner. His, Hot Kid came out just a short time ago, I still haven't listened to it - but already, hot on it's heels there's a sequel, called Comfort To The Enemy. It's already appeared in the New York Times. And now HERE's a New York Times MP3 podcast that talks about the sequel, and with it a mini interview "Dutch" Leonard himself. With music by Jonathan Coulton!

posted by Jesse