Lionel Shriver | Identity Politics, Political Correctness and

Award winning American author and opinion writer Lionel Shriver delivered this year’s JBL lecture. She eviscerated the modern-day obsession with identity politics, political correctness and the hypersensitivities of the #MeToo movement that are threatening creativity.
The John Bonython Lecture is the annual Gala event for the Centre for Independent Studies. Designed to advance the principles of free choice, individual liberty, defend cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas - this year’s lecture was no different.
Shriver’s breakout novel We Need to Talk About Kevin has sold over 1 million copies and was made into a feature film starring Tilda Swinton.
💬 Join in the conversation in the comments.
👍 Like this video if you enjoyed it and want to see more, it really helps us out
🔔 Subscribe to our channel and click the bell to watch our videos first
⏲️ Missed this event live? Subscribe to CIS to be up to date with all our events:
www.cis.org.au/subscribe/
____________________
The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) promotes free choice and individual liberty, and defends cultural freedom and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. We aim to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.
Check out the CIS at - www.cis.org.au/
Subscribe to CIS mailing list- www.cis.org.au/subscribe/
Support us with a tax-deductible donation at - www.cis.org.au/support/
Join the CIS as a member at - www.cis.org.au/join-cis/
Follow CIS on Socials
Twitter - / cisoz
Facebook - / centreindependentstudies
Linkedin - www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

[@LetsGo6009]

“Cutting-edge artists were once famously transgressive; now to be cutting edge is to be cookie cutter” damn thats a great line

[@mathithomson3516]

I flippen love the way Lionel Shriver straight talks and how she sees through the muddle of identity politics. She marches to her own drum.

[@dariakon]

Now this is one intelligent woman whom Americans would seriously consider if she were to run for President, not the dumb ones that popped into the arena in the last 12 years.

[@sandyyhaleyy8165]

“I am perfectly capable of batting the odd hand from my knee, so please give me back the old days when book writing was great fun”. Yes! “The purpose of art is not to do good” Exactly! The purpose of art is to express one’s thoughts, talents, abilities or imagination, good, bad or indifferent---whatever it may be. An excellent speech!

[@mietautoR]

Growing up in Germany we always wondered how book burnings could have happened... No more questions, Your Honour!

[@gaylandbarney2231]

i expect we're doomed to see it again

[@Robiness]

Burning books is not ok no matter what i don't know what y'all idiots are thinking. You combat stupidity with reason and contra points not with censorship. And there is nothing wrong with porn duh

[@sharonmontano4924]

We?

[@Cotictimmy]

I feel like Shriver is someone worth standing beside on the barricades. She is superb!

[@gerberjoanne266]

When Shriver spoke about all the misreporting about her speech, I was reminded of a quote that's attributed to Mark Twain, something to the effect of: "A lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth has gotten its boots on." And that was long before the internet!

[@dingfeldersmurfalot4560]

He was a phenomenon when it came to pithy lines like that. He has so many of them! And they're so timeless, and delivered in such a natural way.

[@formerfundienowfree4235]

"I wasn't hurt or in pain. I was pissed off!" My favorite author!!

[@HTC115]

Finally a voice of reason. The crucial point here is that when it comes to art, there is no such thing anymore nowadays. The whole purpose of art is to make one think, seeing things from a different perspective, and this can only be done by "breaking the rules". And to think it's only going to get worse, so much worse...

[@deanmthomson]

I might be gay, but I'm still in love. She's marvellously precise here. I adore her for articulating a refusal to be pigeon-holed into a 'box' labelled' identity'. I dislike intensely the 'as a gay man' phrase. The fact that I'm gay isn't the most interesting thing about me, and as someone who has lived for years in China (despite growing up in the UK), I adore cultural appreciation. Power to Ms Shriver.

[@AG-tj8ew]

Well said Ms Shriver. It is a sad reflection of the times in which we live that you are displaying considerable courage in speaking out in this way. It is much appreciated by the sane populations.

[@deldridg]

I would add also the educated element of our population still capable of independent deep critical thinking.

[@jezebelrebel250]

I'm an author who feels exactly the same was as Lionel Shriver. I'm an art historian, US expat living in Italy who specializes in historical fiction set in Italy. There's NO WAY I would sacrifice historical content or my freedom to create in order to appeal neo-liberal fascists. NEVER. I lived under oppression and censorship throughout my childhood (for 20 years!!!), and I vowed that NO ONE WOULD EVER SILENCE ME AGAIN.

[@hmsealey3243]

Since writing truth matters more to me than success or money, I have no choice but to self-publish these days because I cannot follow modern orthadoxy. My 2016 dystopean novel "This Broken Land" was written to deliberately explore what happens when political correctness goes too far. It'll never set the world on fire - but was deeply satisfying to write.

[@janehoward1297]

what she says at the end is so true - it reminds of that situation when some person in your environment, generally of marginal or negligible importance to you, starts some silly vendetta against you, and suddenly you realise that you are spending half your life thinking or talking about someone who 5 minutes ago barely entered your mind - and at some point you understand that was the whole point: this person has succeeded in thrusting themselves centre stage in your life, taking over your attention: - you have been tricked. sometimes it's better to just ignore people and trust that eventually they will be crushed by the weight of their own fatuity.

[@mathewhale3581]

Jane Howard - Aaaarrrggghhhh! Sonofabitch and thank you for saying that. I should have kicked myself some time ago but I “have been tricked”, as you said and quite rightly so. The irony of this journey is now complete. Thank you again for that little pearl, Jane. I really mean it :) Hope you have a good new year because I think mine will be better for what you’ve said

[@filminginportland1654]

Jane Howard They wouldn’t even know if she was thinking about them or not. I’ve heard claims like this before but it makes no sense.

[@dingfeldersmurfalot4560]

Absolutely. If they've been able to make you think about them unduly, then they've won --and you may never have known you were fighting, why, or even what about.

[@greyjay9202]

Bravo, Lionel! You've vanquished the dullards and the drones.

[@alexandragolovenko3097]

Lionel Shriver hits the nail on the head when she says “it’s the ailment of prosperity”. I say this as a mixed race Russian Korean woman whose Korean ancestors were forced into The former Soviet Union during the time of gulags and Stalin rule. Despite this event in history none of us hold hostility to our new land. My ancestors adapted to survive and they did it so well Stalin forced a second wave of this experiment into Siberia. Again they survived and yet many of us intermixed with Russians and have families and new generations with no ambivalence or resentment. So when I hear this dim witted new enervation of social justice warriors (sadly my generation of millennials) talk about their feelings and their identity crises and change the social fabric of our society with their idiotic politics full of ignorance, zero reason, and no critical thinking I just get livid! I saw my parents and grandparents live through the Soviet Russian regime and let me say what happening to our freedom of speech, the censorship, the demonizing isn’t any different than what started happening in Lenin Russia just prior to the revolution! This is the beginning of Marxism regime!

[@filminginportland1654]

Alexandra Golovenko Many of us have parents, grandparents, etc who went through horrific things we can’t even imagine. My grandma got married and had her first child the year after the Great Depression began - that’s something these kids wouldn’t be able to handle. It is definitely because they’ve had an easy life. That combined with actual well-intentioned good faith social justice work that actually seeks to right the wrongs. This latest generation or two is much more sensitive to what they see is wrong with the world. It’s playing out in both productive and unproductive ways. The worst is what we’re discussing here. This will pass. Rapid social change always has temporary chaos. These kids will age out of immaturity, society will grow tired of their nonsense, and we’ll get some sanity restored. Thanks for your post.

[@athena001979]

@@filminginportland1654 how nice to see a positive spin...couldn't agree more and I hope you're right.

[@athena001979]

Fascinating story. Thank you for your comment. I feel more people need to see it!

[@jackcroatan]

An intelligent and eloquent woman, who should be adored by every woman and girl who wants to fight for women's rights, instead she's been demonized. Go figure.

[@filminginportland1654]

Jack Croatan Lots of people have been demonized by this, has nothing to do with her intelligence. It will pass. These cultural skirmishes tend to happen every couple decades and then stabilize again.

[@MissRaggsy]

😂😂

[@dingfeldersmurfalot4560]

You don't have to sexualize it. She's just a good speaker, not a good woman speaker, or good speaker for women. I'm a guy, and I didn't take it that reductively at all.

[@chrisreeves9764]

Had never heard of Yassmin Abdel-Magied until watching this video but when I heard she had left Australia I researched with forboding where she had gone to and yup, my fears were correct - she's now in the UK God help us. What an ffffffing surprise.

[@megmartel6005]

Australia is glad to be rid of YAM. She's a nasty, White-hating, Islamic-apologist Leftie & no one shed a tear when she left. Here's hoping she stays away. Interesting that she went to another White Western country & not one of her "most feminist religion" nations😂😂😂

[@megmartel6005]

She, like others, became an Australian citizen. The ultimate goal - citizenship in a rich Western country. She can now bounce around between Western nations lecturing us about how racist & 'Islamophobic' we all are and the lunatic Lefties lap it up cos they love minorities more than their own people & culture.

[@TheCosmo63]

At last. A true voice of reason from a wonderfully intelligent woman. I wish more people would actually listen to what she saying. Maybe then people can return to some kind of sanity in this world. I believe people are better than what’s going on just now. Just misguided by ideological nutters. Take on Lionels overarching message and the world can be a better place. Brilliant stuff Lionel. 👏👏👏

[@christiancdeb8308]

Most people are sheep and don’t think for themselves. Critical thinking is dead!

[@theknowerandtheknown]

Perfectly describing the madness and 2,0 facism. Thank you Iionel

[@NicolaMM]

Brave writer. We need a hero. This lady shows us the way. She is a hero.

[@sonjahart7913]

I just love this woman👍👏👏

[@zxyatiywariii8]

Me too and I also love your profile pic, what an awesome dog! ♥️🐕

[@ntodd4110]

You mean, in a BDSM sort of way?

[@structure9399]

The microphone adjustment bit is awesome.

[@mikenaughton2477]

Thank you for this,,,,this is actual Liberalism which i am,,,,,logic ,,sensibilty,,,understanding

[@Robiness]

"Any freedom you don't exercise you will loose." I love that

[@GruppeSechs]

It's true, but it doesn't happen overnight. The less you push back, the more little nibbles the hyenas take until there's no freedom left and by the time you finally decide enough's enough, it's already too late.

[@squeakersqueakerson1190]

Banning art is like banning thoughts. We should always allow expression to provoke thought and conversation. Our thoughts cannot be silenced so they are best expressed through art to allow their burdens to release the shackles of our pain. Either that or go to a shrink who ends up reporting their patients to the authority anyways

[@mikegray8776]

Lionel Shriver is fabulous, as always ! A rallying point for common sense and sanity, in a world high on it's own definition of piety and self-importance. Never give up Lionel !!

[@nullnull4198]

Superb! Thank you for voicing exactly how I feel about all of this.

[@helmutbargeld728]

What an interesting, well-constructed talk. This woman is clearly playing with the audience, throwing tidbits to their vulnerabilities while simultaneously laughing in their faces at their need for reassurance. It’s no wonder they all went quiet towards the end when the hard truths started piling on... - "Better that we all conduct our work and social lives in the spirit of sharing, generosity, exploration, curiosity, experimentation - and even willingness to fail, in our sincere efforts to understand one another." - "You can only dispense with silly rules by breaking them, and any freedoms that you don’t exercise you are bound to lose" - "Both writers and readers need to feel free to explore the unseemly underbelly of our imaginations. After all, aren’t books the ultimate safe space?" - “For me, the biggest trap of this identity politics lark has been getting lured into debating a proposition that’s unworthy of my address”. Game set and match! Though of course Tom Switzer was too drunk to notice...

[@benbunyip]

Just read this.. Thanks, I was searching for one of these quotes.👍🏻👍🏻

[@shaunsmith6703]

We're no longer living in GuardianWorld. Lionel knows this, Douglas Murray, so many others know this. Good thing too.

[@arianegravenor7453]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

[@TheBartomon]

Brilliant! My neck hurts from nodding so much.

[@alisteredmond2329]

We are heading beyond 1984.

[@tuborice4571]

Not heading but are

[@mokiloke]

Dont worry, you wont be allowed to read it soon. Protagonist is not progressive enough.

[@meirionowen5979]

How many years before Shakespeare's banned and off the shelf then? Within 10 years is my guess.

[@bernardguynunns5658]

@Isa Don't speak nonsense. He's the left's god.

[@bernardguynunns5658]

Perhaps the Merchant of Venice a little earlier.

[@meirionowen5979]

@@bernardguynunns5658 Yes, that and 'Othello' will be first to go.

[@filminginportland1654]

Isa Why would they ban Marx?

[@filminginportland1654]

Bernard Guy Nunns Far from all leftists/liberals/progressives are fans of Marx. The majority are not.

[@derekspitz9225]

Insidious, down-the-rabbit-hole woke dogma must be resisted, and Lionel is doing a great job of calling out woke ideology for what it is-the enemy of imagination. More of this please!

[@allisonrebeccah]

God damn this was good.

[@dai19721]

Thank you for this... good for her

[@remlatzargonix1329]

Why is it that when non-Europeans do cultural appropriation, they never get called on it?

[@AndyJarman]

Because they get laughed at instead!

[@nealorr5086]

It's not uncommon at all for a woman of African American descent to wear the scalped hair of an Indian girl, bleach it in part as if she were a Caucasian who spent all of her time at the beach and then scream at people about 'cultural appropriation'.

[@Harry-Storm]

that's cultural imperialism. It's always the west's fault.

[@Seanocearbhaill]

Starts at 4:17

[@GaelofVirtue]

Soooo much truth!!!!

[@patriciamiller3721]

Ahh, true 'journalism' at it's best, those reporting on Lionel Shriver's earlier speaking engagement that is. Chinese whispers anyone? As for the content of this is spot on!! Lionel Shriver, I think, would do much more research when she writes, than the journalist who have reported on her.

[@blueberry3168]

aaahh I get it now, this is where “lived experience” has come from. Lionel I’m inhaling your thoughts and words thank you!

[@erw3387]

This is the only thing my university has put on the syllabus that doesn't screech leftism and force acceptance of other people's ridiculous sensibilities. What a breath of fresh air to see a writer stand up for their right to their own creativity and not pander to the snowflakes. Whilst I do feel it's necessary to approach cultures outside of their own with a degree of tact and good research, it seems a writer cannot win. If they write characters outside of their own experience they're 'appropriating someone's culture', if they do not then they aren't being 'inclusive'.

[@KuroiTora23]

Exactly! That's how I feel about the label movements, 'damned if you do damned if you don't' as the saying goes. If you are colorblind you're lying racist. If you notice color you're a regular racist, but still a racist. If you don't acknowledge someone's sexual identity or preference you are phobic. If you do you are ignorant, but only if you say or ask something they don't like. The list goes on and on, including cultural "appropriation" (I don't know if I spelt that right) versus cultural appreciation when it comes to representation in art, literature, and media. I need to stop now, since this topic has given me a headache with it's wishy-washy content. Lol 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@harryaarrestad583]

You’re an absolute Star !

[@barriocubalindo]

I agree with the actual reality that political correctness, wokeness is an abomination! Shriver is the bomb! Bravo!!!!

[@ricedmond661]

A joy to listen to such an articulate speaker.

[@jasminflower3814]

What a wonderfully smart woman. ;-)

[@delft72]

How refreshing to hear verbalised that which I've been actively told to suppress. There is hope for this world when bold people point out that the emperor indeed has no clothes on.

[@benv7933]

How have I never heard of her!?!?! She is AMAZING!!!!!

[@youdontsay2529]

Cultural appropriation is a hilariously simple form of envy. And honestly, it frustrates me to no end that we now admire weakness and indignation, and punish strength and creativity.

[@aucourant9998]

Wonderful.

[@adamw116]

Shriver is so right absolute stupidity is becoming the norm and its unacceptable!

[@anccert]

Great speech! Keep up the illumination of logic over the Social Justice Wackos.

[@DEWwords]

Commodification of Identity. Bullseye, dead on! ---Ideological predation, that's another good one.

[@joejjohnston]

The catastrophe Lionel Shriver requested has arrived, but sadly nothing's changed. I'm afraid these postmodern underpinnings are more deeply rooted across all discourse for them to be simply blown away. Alas.

[@AimeeZhang715]

Political correctness is the antidote of free speech. Political correctness is killing the varieties of human soul. Yes, this sounds familier in the last century. The problem is not how and what do you think, it is about how to communicate.

[@waynefoster7982]

Thank you for your thoughts

[@dave3854]

This is a very powerful 🙌🏽 lady 👏 and I wish her all the best 👍

[@dingfeldersmurfalot4560]

I don't agree with her economics, but I'm liking this lady more and more. Sharp and to the point, often witty, and someone who still has the temerity to put forward the ideas that we treat each other as people acting in good faith, entitled to our opinions both ethically and legally, and are above petty vindictiveness and the desire to not just disagree, but destroy.

[@vino140]

Great lecture !

[@cassandras7399]

Brilliant speech

[@phwbooth]

Great stuff.

[@seniorelzappo9919]

I find Lionel immensely attractive ..

[@koolkev2020able]

@Senior El Zappo, I definitely don't. 😏

[@carolsnook4659]

Senior El zappo. .i agree...

[@djrhythmhypnotism]

Holy edict from the woke left------An author may only write characters from their race and background. The same woke left-----Every show should include diverse characters to represent every imaginable group identity. How could a writer do that without breaking their holy edict?

[@jfm2301]

Each intersectional character shall have a corresponding intersectional author. And in the case of performance, each intersectional character shall have a corresponding intersectional actor.

[@Tang0Fox1]

Or worse: LEFT: The right hates science. also LEFT: Chromosomes don't matter when it comes to sex/gender. (see how I used sex and gender interchangeably. The correct way.)

[@burleybater]

Well we can heave a sigh of relief, because anybody "holy" enough would never get anything done that was not entirely and only composed of one race and background, and any attempt at diversity as far as collaborating with others would disappear and dissolve into a howling screeching mess of something resembling a chorus of scorched cats. Which thankfully, would redeem us all from the horrible prospect of having to endure such shivering correctness altogether.

[@megmartel6005]

That's the point - it's not meant to make sense!! They reject objectivity in knowledge. I even heard a Leftie nutter say Western education is an example of White supremacy😂😂😂

[@sand4mine]

A writer may not write anything. problem solved!

[@harryrobertson3746]

Every word a gem!

[@joebrown479]

Genius. (UC Berkeley ‘94)

[@desydukuk291]

Great Lady x

[@south1328]

Lionel Shriver…I am deeply in love with this women’s mindset. Just discover her. Today!

[@vboch1]

Being in a group of other commenters who I think would allow someone to say something that they may not wholeheartedly agree with, I find LIONAL SHRIVER very attractive. I also wish I had the command of the English language as she does. Thanks.

[@aucourant9998]

Brilliant.

[@jonasktew6857]

WONDERFUL!!!

[@hanskellerhuis5910]

On point and true

[@louiseparker1915]

Brilliant!!!

[@jccusell]

If in your mind cultural appropriation was brand new in 2016, you cherish solid rock as a blanket.

[@MrJesseBell]

She is refreshing. I’ll call her, Truella Deville!

[@tiredman4540]

The bit about breaking the rules took me back to the 80's. The Conservatives tried to censor comics, when the money headed Lady Thatcher was being influenced to instill more traditional values; Boy you could buy some offensive comics then, it was like everyone pulled out the stops. Mad to think it is the Left who are now the new puritans!

[@dingfeldersmurfalot4560]

Back in the days of early Robert Crumb, too. I remember reading a comic with a story containing, and I think titled, "Chickenf***ers."

[@tiredman4540]

@@dingfeldersmurfalot4560 Robert Crumb is in a class of his own! Did you see the Big Foot comic? It was full on, so I brought it into school!

[@burleybater]

I hardly know where to begin - but I certainly know where to end. If Lionel's critique of current conditions surrounding the fictionally creative were to reach their logical conclusion, there would very soon be nothing left to read, worth the effort. Except for a new age of non-fiction, in which the din and roar of good writers who don't give a good goddamn about appropriating anything, cultural or otherwise, proceeding to gnaw voraciously upon the vitals of a great beast grown fat, lazy and incredibly stupid upon its own dubious privileges granted by fools and idiots. Good fiction was my meat and drink without which I would have intellectually starved to death even as a mere child, in life. We are presently to believe that this charming pastime should now go out of the world. Good writers no more. Only correct ones. And good luck with that. A free and fearless imagination is a terrible thing to waste.

[@voranartsirisubsoontorn9010]

Think "writers should write whatever they choose and let readers read whatever they like" cause do not think any one or group has ability enough to judge for the world what to read or not.

[@timfitzgibbon9104]

Beautiful

[@campbellbailey9614]

Being rejected by 30 publishers is simply normal. As I understand most authors who don't have a name /reputation already get rejected a lot

[@sss7069]

This is terrific

[@georger6624]

She is definitely a fantastic lady that’s explains

[@rovers5245]

WE ARE ALL ELEMENTS IN OTHER PEOPLES LANDSCAPES. SO WELL SAID

[@renesmit6774]

The repression spoken of here hit me for the first time over twenty years ago. When I spoke up about it, the denial and accusations of 'having a chip on my shoulder', while the knife's plunged into my reputation and income came with increasing regularity. As a white male having to deal with feminist ideology in our legal system, the consensus was that it was justified in light of patriarchy repressing women. How the chickens have come home to roost. Now that it is effecting larger sections of the population, I must admit that I am enjoying the response. The answer is not to laugh it off but to clean out the root cause. Feminism took a nasty turn and its poison has spread to the humanities. THEY ALL NEED TO BE SHUT DOWN, CLEANED OUT and started again.

[@MrRobertf222]

36.05 .....Well now we have our catastrophe, lets see !!

[@robbyzgone]

Respect 🙏

[@shweefranglais7900]

If I could give this 1000 likes i would.

[@adamw116]

Any Adult author, or adult for that matter that accuses someone of a "micro aggression" deserves to be ignored or scoffed at, to say the least. "Not one author in England supports the Brexit." What a bunch of ignoramuses and tools.

[@jackcovey1832]

... or "cowards," as Ms. Shriver implies that many authors do back Brexit, but are scared of the negative career (and other) consequences for doing so.

[@adamw116]

@@jackcovey1832 This is what happens when you don't have a constitution and the reason America has got to more then ever fight for there's!

[@dingfeldersmurfalot4560]

It would be the end of most of their careers.

[@deniseg-hill1730]

I don't care about the Looney left I will carry on saying what I think in any words I choose. If lefties don't like it TOUGH.

[@Cotictimmy]

What a phenomenon is Lionel Shriver. If I weren't an avowed atheist, I'd be tempted to start a Lionel Shriver Worship Cult. Feel free to 'Appropriate' my idea (I'm a 'Person Of Whiteness' myself but I don't care what colour you are: 'The Lionel Shriver Worship Cult' idea is free for anyone to appropriate.)

[@christianchristensen8189]

I admire You

[@rashone2879]

I keep saying we need the zombie Apocalypse soon...it will wipe out all the whining and suffering of the “woke” morons. Wonderful presentation by Lionel Shriver.

[@sss7069]

The most courageous woman in the Western WORLD

[@CaptainSeaCelt]

Sod the Union both the EU & the UK...ENGLISH INDEPENDENCE will sort out this BREXIT Debacle & ruffle a few feathers!

[@lanvywynn]

36:05 “I fear that what may be required is some sort of catastrophe and I hope I don’t have to unleash the bacteria myself...”. That catastrophe was COVID-19 + George Floyd death; at more than half a billion USD, it was a shake-down for identity politics practitioners

[@richleyden6839]

Did she predict coronavirus at 36:50? I would not want to Lionel Shriver mad at me.

[@wonbadood8243]

I nearly skipped this video when I saw CIS. Supposedly that means something else in this current toxic environment.

[@gmacatak]

I'm happy that people are now using; special age old, terms to deal with sjw's...terms like; "shut the fuck up!", "go back to your country, if you don't like it here", " you're a stupid fuckwit", "....and so on.

[@johnwilliams4545]

Bravo 🙌🙌🙌 (that's a clap) pardon the offence

[@swesleyc7]

I find her strikingly beautiful. In a regal, sophisticated and feminine way.

[@cinemar]

Can someone adjust those mics for her please? Thanks.