Full Speech: Ursula K. Le Guin’s Passionate Defense of Art over Profits

In 2014, when Ursula K. Le Guin accepted the National Book Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, she used her acceptance speech to speak out about what she considered to be publishers’ increasing emphasis on profits over art. She said to the crowd, which consisted of the most powerful players in the publishing industry, "Books aren’t just commodities; the profit motive is often in conflict with the aims of art.” Her speech made a splash online in 2014, and now you can watch it in its entirety here. It’s a must-see.
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Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin, premiering nationwide Friday, August 2 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings), pbs.org/americanmasters and the PBS Video app.
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[@dillybar1992]

This her words on the seemingly inescapable nature of capitalism should be playing on repeat on every medium available. A reminder to people that WE are the instruments of change. She was such a phenomenal author, human, and true patron of the arts.

[@lexismore]

Champion of the arts

[@barsabe]

We are not instruments, we are actors.

[@dillybar1992]

@@barsabe not if our intentions are genuine. That’s not an act. That’s intent.

[@barsabe]

@@dillybar1992 that's same as calling literature a lie. actors don't lie. someone can put up an act, but that's not the same. it's all semantics essentially, but literature is all about words, so here we are.

[@dillybar1992]

@@barsabe I never said actors were liars. In fact, actors and instruments are quite similar. They play parts in larger groups but can also convey ideas on their own.

[@pamelanred5053]

Such a wise and insightful person. We need more artists like Ursula K Le Guin.

[@gabrielapereira5311]

10:25 any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings. Resistance and change often begin in art. Very often, in our art, the art of words

[@Sol-0T-hn5ro]

This woman is a universal treasure, uncompromising and a pure gem.

[@kimhorton6109]

WI started reading with comics like GI Joe and Superman. I began reading books at eleven with Edgar Rice Burroughs. Science fiction was a big deal with Burroughs so space fiction, Heineken, Asimov were not far behind. Mrs Le Guinn was like a light going on. I try to read one of her books every year. Words comfort and inform. She was so above more than so many SF authors it raised me up when the church failed. Being a wordsmith is so important to all of us. Grace and knowledge are essential.

[@Bargen]

Wonderful speech by this generous genius, wonderfully introduced by Mr. Gaiman. Thanks Ursula for giving us all those incredible worlds.

[@randellcrouch]

God, she is just the best. Hero.

[@nataliewilliams9741]

She was a legend in her own time and she still is.

[@drcwright]

Legend.

[@TheTrueReiniat]

she was right, and her worst dreams became true.

[@sleepingdogpro]

She’s also right about the resistance. Never forget that.

[@VioCHEVALIER]

the GOAT

[@TatianaBoshenka]

She kicks so much ass!

[@whisperspinner7445]

Why is it when I want to hear Ursula speak I keep finding videos where everyone talks instead of her. Fast forward to six minutes in if you want to hear her actually speak.

[@jochanaan58]

A flawless speech! Every word hits us right in our dark hearts where we dream of better worlds. I pray her prophecy comes true!

[@tessierashpoolmg7776]

Great zinger for J.K. Rowling...😉🤣🤣🤣

[@lolonoir3554]

I ooped at that

[@MS-qc3rh]

‘Need writers that know the difference between producing a commodity and practicing an art.’ This can be said for every erstwhile profession that has been assimilated into the corrupt financial machine. Its power seems inescapable…

[@DanielLopez-zt4ig]

Her son should watch this video.

[@ramonanaya6236]

Is that Neil Gaiman???? ❤

[@Bargen]

Yes

[@tessierashpoolmg7776]

I hope he didn't book that godawful band!...🤮

[@myceliumman7554]

Remember freedom. Against all the forces arrayed against it, including the virtual mobs.

[@esa9848]

goat

[@TexanWineAunt]

Fucking legend, omg.

[@god0]

What dreadful music between Neil Gaiman and Ursula K Gun. It rather spoiled the moment.

[@Frisbieinstein]

Bambi vs. Godzilla

[@JocinaKujna]

Thanks 🌴🍉 jocina Kujna 🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉

[@SD-de4do]

Disheartening awareness, comments, views.

[@ravenhill_the_cryptic_of_1968]

Le Guin's writings are drenched in magic and paganism. To say that she was a witch and opposed to Christian Truth would be factual.

[@BladedEdge]

lol where do you psychos even come from

[@gcloudsky3978]

And this is why half of europe died in the black plague. Idiots, the lot of them. To be called a witch by a fanatic is a compliment of the highest calibre. Any revolutionary thinkers, scientists, dreamers, artists and writers will be deemed a witch, a pagan, demonic. Which says quite a bit about religion as a whole but that's another can of worms. The christian truth is just that, a christian truth. It is not a universal one, however much some christians would like it to be. And it could very well be true that her books stand in opposition to your truth but not mine, nor many others.

[@davidpo5517]

That made no sense to anyone whose not an idealist.

[@NunTheWiser]

it makes complete sense, you simply need to tear down the curtain of neo-liberalism that is clouding your view of everything

[@pillmuncher67]

You're absolutely right! It really makes no sense to think another system could be possible, I mean, humanity has been around for what? Three hundred thousand years? That's practically nothing compared to the three hundred or so years that capitalism has existed.

[@BladedEdge]

I think op should try reading some more books, their imagination is pretty deficient.

[@xgx899]

Her books are more expensive than other work of SF. What a hypocrite: uses capitalism and then puts it down. But her writing is excellent.

[@pillmuncher67]

It's not the authors who set the price, it's the publishers. And even if she did - she lived capitalism and was forced to play the capitalist game, as we all do. The alternative is starving t death.

[@BladedEdge]

Where do idiots like you even come from?

[@gcloudsky3978]

There's piracy. There are libraries. There's the internet. I'm a huge fan of her books and I read all of them for free.

[@allisonmelton1921]

As another commenter said, her publishers price her books. Could she have used the influence she had towards the end of her career to pressure the prices down? I don't know nearly enough about the publishing industry to answer to say for sure, but I doubt it. Even if she could have, she'd been dead for ~6 six years when you made your comment. The prices you see now have nothing to do with her. Some of her books are even being sold now as new editions that came out after her death. I agree her writing is excellent!