Ian McEwan: What is a successful life? | Sternstunde Philosophie | SRF Kultur

He is a literary superstar and his books constantly provide new material for Hollywood: Ian McEwan, one of the best-known writers of our time, who is ruthless when examining the abysses of human life and love, revealing all their contradictions.
Topics in this episode:
00:00 What does writing mean to you?
05:39 Does writing directly create a cinema film?
09:44 How political should literature be?
21:08 How did Ian McEwan's novel «Lessons» come about?
35:00 The lessons of life
40:35 What is the quintessence of life?
49:11 The question of guilt in the novel «Apology»
McEwan's literary works have thrilled audiences for decades and have been made into movies, starring actors such as Keira Knightley, Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson. His books are about the ambivalence of human experience and the lessons that life teaches.
His most personal book, «Lessons», which was published in 2022, maps out the entire spectrum of human life and closely ties in with the British author's biography. We are left with the question: What is a successful life? And does it even exist?
As a writer, Ian McEwan often speaks out on politics. But he is not averse to withdrawing into «the belly of the whale» in the face of the dramatic world situation, as George
Orwell put it and as Ian McEwan discusses in his latest essay. Is it permissible - and even possible in the digital age - to shirk political responsibility? Barbara Bleisch talks to Ian McEwan about family secrets and human guilt, about the burdens and joys of life and about his life as a writer.
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In this version, the questions are in german but with english answers.
German version: • Ian McEwan, was ist ei...
More english videos: • 🌍 Videos in anderen Sp...
Sternstunde Philosophie from 19.05.2024
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«Sternstunde Philosophie» cultivates an in-depth and critical exchange of ideas and gets to the bottom of the burning questions of our time.
«Sternstunde Philosophie» bridges the gap between current socio-political issues and the fundamental questions of philosophy: Who is responsible for what, what is human freedom, what determines the meaning of our lives? Guests are personalities from science, culture, politics and business - voices that stimulate thought and reflect and classify our current events.
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Hosts: Barbara Bleisch
Barbara Bleisch: / barbarableisch
Yves Bossart: / bossart_yves
Wolfram Eilenberger: www.wolfram-eilenberger.de/
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Social Media Netiquette of SRF:
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[@srfkultursternstunden]

Dear community, what is life for and when is it successful?

[@thomasthomasphilp4393]

Life is wonderful when you achieve dreams and are surrounded by loving people. You get happiness by helping others in need.

[@tpalmsmusic1234]

Adventure, exploration...there is so much to discover in this mysterious world. Life offers the opportunity to gain some insight. It is great but too short

[@philip2404]

it is successful if you get extremely lucky like this guy... it is 100% luck or for other people bad luck... that is why it is for nothing,.. if it was for living a good life why are there so many miserable people ? In this world you either get lucky or you get unlucky... you win or you loose... and it seems to me that this has nothing to do with you being good or evil but more with being strong or weak. Life in this world is like a lottery... you either get a good ticket or a bad one... be happy if you are lucky and be miserable if not...

[@spirkart]

Die gestellte Frage zu beantworten geht über meine Fähigkeiten. Eine Antwort führte wohl auch in Abstraktionen, die dann erst wieder persönlich konkretisiert werden müssten. Dabei ist doch, was mir an diesem Gespräch ausserordentlich gefallen hat, gerade die Balance zwischen „grossen Fragen“ und konkreten, persönlich erlebten Antworten. Ian McEvan ist ein Meister darin, aber Barbara Bleisch ist ihm eine ebenso persönlich engagierte Befragerin. Gratuliere zu dieser Sendung.

[@peterkoch575]

Was für ein wunderbares Gespräch!! ❤⭐️-Stunden

[@Damiaen.]

Very wholesome listening to both of you, charming dynamic, good topics, great talk.

[@nanode4161]

Sehr angenehm euch zuzuhören!

[@nicoleaubryheritier2034]

Sehr herzig und positiv Frau Bleisch. Emotionalität und Echtheit ist etwas Wunderbares. Schönes Gespräch unter die Haut!

[@bimbam3558]

Die Welt ist eine große Spie(ge)lwiese auf der Suche nach sich selbst.Ob man am Ende bei sich ankommt kann nur jeder für sich beantworten.

[@guliveroel1575]

Großartiger Autor! Machines like me und Atonement sind meine Favoriten, aber die anderen sind auch gut

[@conan_der_barbar]

could you please also release these original sound versions as a podcast? I could only find the German dubbed ones

[@jedje]

viel besser so, ohne Synchronisation