The Radical world of William Blake: Great Books Explained

[@dylanedwards4881]

Without wishing to be hyperbolic, I think these two videos (amongst many others on your channels) are perfect examples of the difference the right presenation can make. In my education, even in an English Literature degree, Blake was very rarely discussed, and what little I knew wasn't of much interest to me. But now, having seen these videos, I find myself slightly fascinated by him. Thank you for continuing to create unpretentious, informative and genuinely engaging work, which has introduced to me many things I felt quite alien to.

[@greatbooksexplained371]

Thanks so much - I didn’t learn anything about Blake at school despite him being buried 2 minutes away from my school!! Which is a shame as he would have been great for teenagers.

[@jeff__w]

“Thank you for continuing to create unpretentious, informative and genuinely engaging work…” I really hope James appreciates how valuable and enriching his videos here and on his companion channel _Great Art Explained_ are. As with your educational experience, in mine (just an English AP [Advanced Placement, supposedly college-level] course in a US high school) William Blake was _mentioned,_ with a nod to maybe a few quotes or parts of quotes (“If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite,” “To see a world in a grain of sand…”) and an illustration of his (invariably, “The Ancient of Days”) and, well, that was that. He seemed mystical, weird, and…well, not worth mentioning further. Now I’m not so sure that, following the watching of James’s two videos, I’m that much more interested in Blake’s work. I _appreciate_ Blake’s “visionary” creations, his “imagination” and all that, but, fundamentally, I’m not one who is attracted to the primacy of spiritualism and emotion over rationalism, I’m not big on 19th-century Romanticism-all of which, admittedly, might be _my_ problem. But-and I’ve said this in the comments before-sure, I value James introducing me to works of art and literature that I might “love” but I almost appreciate him introducing me to those works that I _don’t_ (or might not) *a lot more.* For one thing, I’d never take the time to learn anything about those works-after all “Isn’t Blake some kind of kook?”-but, more importantly, I learn something about _myself_ when grappling with work that isn’t my thing-and, who knows, might become my thing with a bit more understanding and exposure (although Blake probably _isn’t_ that). That’s what I mean by valuable and enriching. So, thanks again as always, James.

[@greatbooksexplained371]

Thank you Jeff for such a considered and much welcomed comment - best james

[@BlakeArchive]

We at the William Blake Archive want to offer our praise for this video as well as its companion on the Great Art Explained channel. Blake's work is loaded with opposites and tensions still central to the world we live in today, as the analysis of these poems show. Thank you, James Payne, for making these poems so accessible. We appreciate the work you do.

[@greatbooksexplained371]

Wow, thank you!

[@1997theanimator]

I’ve read poetry for a while now and the last line of “The Tyger” is poetic gold. It’s one of my favorites, second to none. To go from “Could frame to “Dare frame” is extremely powerful. As if asking how a benevolent God could “dare” make such a creature; it captures such a painful, psychological rebellion that every person, regardless of belief, has felt when seeing the suffering and pain in the world. It’s such a deeply human question. Even its rhythm and how Blake breaks the rhythm of the poem reflects this anger. “Dare frame” utilizes two stressed syllables, while “Could frame” goes from unstressed to stressed. Blake’s poetry is musical, and to break the rhythm is to break the structure, a break in world view. If you haven’t read all of Innocence and Experience, please do so! It’s beautiful.

[@annabelle746]

Commenting for the algorithm. More people should see this! Thank you for sharing your work, as always.

[@greatbooksexplained371]

Much appreciated!

[@arpittiwari101]

Certainly

[@jakeburgess4252]

I saw this book, its pages separated for a gallery showing, at the Getty in LA back in February. The pages were so beautiful, and they had other works of Blake’s there as well. Like the Ghost of a Flea and the Divine Comedy paintings. It was a real privilege to see such a deity among poets be presented in such an intimate setting. Every room in the gallery was small, and encouraged us as viewers to get close, but not too close, to the works and see the beauty and majesty of Blake’s world. Thanks James for making these videos. They’re so wonderful.

[@greatbooksexplained371]

Thanks so much for the great comment! 🙏

[@margaretinsydney3856]

Yes, I saw them a few years ago in Melbourne. (They must have been doing a grand tour.) It was an amazing and unforgettable experience to actually see these treasures.

[@screamingbuddha2865]

Blake’s universe reveals itself slowly - thank you for the helping hand.

[@rleague685]

Thank you for this video, the most enlightening commentary I have heard regarding Blake's work. I was an English major in college, and every class I had that touched on William Blake made it clear that none of the instructors really took the trouble to understand him. He didn't fit into the awful rubric of critical theory very well, so I think that made it easy to pass him by. Blake's commentary on desire hit me very hard.

[@fadime0yilmaz]

I cannot find a better word to describe both videos, they are extremely 'powerful'. Thank you for such great presentation.

[@greatbooksexplained371]

Thanks so much 🙏

[@kavitamins]

This is a gem. Blake's work touches me profoundly. Thank you! 💜

[@greatbooksexplained371]

You're so welcome!

[@oobrocks]

The group The Doors got their name from Aldous Huxley's book "The Doors of Perception," which itself references a quote from William Blake's poem "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell." The specific Blake quote is: "If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite"

[@greatbooksexplained371]

Yes we use the quote - thanks 🙏

[@oobrocks]

Welcome

[@greatbooksexplained371]

Please don’t forget to ‘like’ and leave a comment (however short), as it REALLY helps promote my channel. My other channel (where you'll find part one of this film), Great ART Explained can be found here - www.youtube.com/@GreatArtExplained - thanks so much for your amazing support - James

[@stephaniehendricks3537]

I just thought of this but another idea because you did j.r,r. Tolkien you need to do a video about c.s . Lewis

[@nl3064]

​@@stephaniehendricks3537 he doesn't _need_ to do anything.

[@DrgnSpawn]

Thank you for another wonderful video!

[@seriouslywhatever1031]

My only previous knowledge of William Blake came from the Lara Croft Tomb Raider film with Angelina Jolie so thanks for this 😊❤ Learning about art and books through your channels feels like the height of culture. It's very enriching!

[@greatbooksexplained371]

Thanks for such a nice comment - it’s appreciated!

[@irinaweber9526]

So interesting and again beautifully presented. Thank you for your amazing work.

[@greatbooksexplained371]

Thanks 🙏

[@plakor6133]

What a treat. Thank you.

[@SevenUnwokenDreams]

Thank you for showing me how incredible Blake was as an artist. I hadn't known anything about him. Wonderfully done.

[@thomase4743]

Thank you for enlightening us !

[@greatbooksexplained371]

Thanks for the comment! 🙏

[@bigredlittlered2476]

Thank you James

[@greatbooksexplained371]

Thanks 🙏

[@pisces_painter]

Looking forward to this with my morning coffee, thanks James!

[@greatbooksexplained371]

Enjoy!

[@tommieboy1657]

As a chorister I've often sung 'The Lamb' by Tavener and always found it a touching and remarkable poem. Glad to learn more on this channel about William Blake and his work 😊

[@alcyoneorithiya1230]

thank you for your beautifully-made presentations, enriching and insightful. so grateful that these are free to watch. looking forward to more ♥

[@greatbooksexplained371]

Glad you like them!

[@perniciouspete4986]

Thank you! I've been impatiently waiting for this since the "Great Art" half was posted. Excellent, excellent, excellent--both!

[@greatbooksexplained371]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@brunojalles7174]

It's astonishing how William Blake is underated. Both his painting and his poetry are hauntingly beautiful. Thank you for the superb video!

[@bearlh40]

William Blake is not 'underrated'. Anyone who knows him and his work rate him very highly. I think you're looking for another word.

[@brunojalles7174]

I'm not from an anglophone country, and there are very few translations of him to my native language compared to others English writers. So I Guess overlooked it's the world i was aiming for.

[@bearlh40]

@@brunojalles7174 Maybe underappreciated?

[@margaretinsydney3856]

Again, thank you so much for making these videos. I know it's a lot of work, and so much thought and care goes into them. We are all grateful.😊

[@greatbooksexplained371]

You are so welcome!

[@kevinarteaga3824]

Fantastic work, as always

[@greatbooksexplained371]

Thanks so much and thanks for commenting 🙏

[@timebird78]

Your content is just the best. Not only the subject is illuminated, the grand sceme of things in the given age aswell as the thinking of the era and the Author/Artist. So educational! Your videos should be mandatory in school. Greetings from Germany.

[@greatbooksexplained371]

Danke!

[@feildpres]

This two-parter with your other channel is absolutely astounding, thank you show much for helping me to understand this artist! I love all of your videos!!!!!

[@greatbooksexplained371]

Thanks for the comment! I appreciate it!

[@leahposton7857]

Really love your videos, such amazing work every time! Thanks for making them ❤

[@greatbooksexplained371]

Glad you like them!

[@markusmanstroma3156]

Thank you! Very well produced as always! ❤

[@siobhanyoung4196]

Wonderful James..as usual.

[@greatbooksexplained371]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@junequigley4153]

My first encounter with Blake was in AP literature, Junior year (11th grade) and my teacher gave zero context or history. Thank you for this deep explanation of his work! I have a new appreciation for his word and art.

[@thomasdequincey5811]

Here's a musical tip for you. Go listen to David Axelrod's 'Song Of Innocence' album from 1968 . 7 instrumentsl songs based on Blake's poetry. It's fantastic. Edit: David Axelrod did a follow-up called 'Song Of Experience' as well. That's not as good, but still worth a listen.

[@sakuranokunoichi]

Insightful work, and inspired use of footage from "If..."

[@greatbooksexplained371]

One of my favourite films

[@juniorjames7076]

Well...........off to Barnes & Noble (or better yet, a small independently owned bookshop) to get a copy of Songs of Innocence and of Experience!!

[@jenniestevens1166]

I extensively studied Renaissance-Romantic poetry in college and, in years of lectures, never had Blake's work explained as well as this video. Well done! I'd like to request a video on Hilma af Klint. Her work is just becoming more well-known, and I would love to spread the word about her. Thanks! 😊

[@elichaitman3294]

As an American who has been to London many times, I've always been fascinated by Blake

[@camaman2276]

As always super interesting video! Thank you so much for your wonderful work. Can’t wait for the next one!!

[@greatbooksexplained371]

More to come!

[@HPMTech-yd6ef]

would love to see more content in your channel!

[@greatbooksexplained371]

More coming but I can only manage to do one a month - thanks 🙏

[@ericsurek1964]

Thank you so much, great video💛

[@rickb3078]

Now I need to get this collection of poems. This is some powerfully message.

[@triscorb3155]

Loved how you had seperate parts for the two channels. Really gives a more well rounded perspective 👍

[@tonikely-brown7106]

William Blake vs the world by John Higgs is a brilliant book about Blakes life and works. Published 2021

[@andreaandrea6716]

These (part one and two) are staggeringly good. I listened in wonder as you unfurled the life of Blake... a name I have heard all my life, knowing little/nothing about him (for shame! I SHOULD). But I can tell myself now,; "I was waiting for James Payne's telling." ...as there is no one else I'd rather hear about him from.

[@greatbooksexplained371]

Such a nice thing to read - thank you so much 🙏

[@attheedge9000]

I can highly recommend Nerdwriter’s vıdeo essay on Blakes‘s poem „London“. It disects it line by line and gives a thorough analysis.

[@michaelfuchs7417]

It is hard for me to comprehend the art of William Blake, for I am not familar to English. But it is worth to discover the pearls of his wisdom and fiery spirit.

[@sylvialb9823]

What a splendidly done video! Thank you. I just came across your channels kn preparation for visiting the William Blake exhibition at Kunsthalle Hamburg (Germany).

[@DwightHalpert-do2pb]

What a pleasant surprise finding this channel was!

[@josefEro]

as always great Work!!

[@mspacephal3925]

Excellent video, thank you 🙏🏻 ❤

[@greatbooksexplained371]

You are so welcome

[@trilobiteterror8015]

Another excellent video!

[@Cloggington]

Your videos are the best. Thanks so much for making them.

[@micaelasielas1392]

Love this amazing channel! Hope about a new video released soon :)

[@chipwhitley]

Liked and subscribed. Dude you need to win some kind of award. This is KZbin vibrating at its highest frequency.

[@m.b.crawford5464]

If anyone wants to go further with Blake, John Higgs’ audiobook “William Blake vs the World” is a great place to start.

[@greatbooksexplained371]

It’s a great book - it’s in my recommended list

[@lucasmorato86]

Another great lesson! Thanks for this amazing video! ❤

[@hooraayy]

This makes me excited and scared at the same time to pick up the book hahaha. So beautifully explained❤

[@kelleyrc5671]

Again, I learned so much and I thank you

[@nour199]

Thank you for another wonderful, insightful video! ❤

[@kevinmcqueenie7420]

William Blake Was awake.

[@cisforcat]

Excellent video! Thank you so much!

[@MariaVosa]

What a fantastic combo, to cover Blake both as an artist and as a poet - and the way his philosophy inspired both. I really want to read a lot more about him now - I'll try to find the books you recommend in the description. Is there one in particular you feel I should start with?

[@greatbooksexplained371]

Thanks for the nice comment! Yes I would thoroughly recommend “William Blake vs the world”

[@MariaVosa]

@@greatbooksexplained371 Wonderful - found it as audiobook.

[@irinaterzieva8735]

Thank you!

[@patriciahannah3210]

Thank you for this video.

[@anamikakhatriart]

This world would have been a better place if every human thought as an artist. Simple and joyful. Happy in nothingness, happy in his own thoughts like William Blake.

[@wwoodburn8508]

Wonderful stuff.

[@xPeski]

I'm way too high for this 😢

[@greatbooksexplained371]

I think you are in the perfect place to watch it!

[@kennetcedeno6498]

Lol, I'm at work and was about to watch the video, but now I'll wait for lunch to get high and watch it while eating. Thanks for the reco

[@Hellismary]

Lmao 🤣

[@j.m.3600]

That’s how they want you

[@echomoses811]

Was hoping to see more DMC fans in the comments, I personally discovered Blake’s works from V constantly reading aloud lines from Blake’s poems. After personally reading some of Blake’s work, it certainly gave me a whole new perspective on the game.

[@firehead9611]

Great video, you probably already have a schedule of books to cover but would love to see you go over white noise 🙈

[@natashapope3785]

Righteous desire is best.❤

[@grvedr]

Appreciate you

[@YnEoS10]

Appreciate the videos

[@DammitBobby]

I would like to again suggest an Alan Moore video. Watchmen maybe?

[@greatbooksexplained371]

I’ll have a think although I was looking at Maus for my first graphic novel film

[@DammitBobby]

That would also be a very worthy addition to your channel as well. ​@@greatbooksexplained371

[@stephaniehendricks3537]

C span does a series on college lectures and has an episode on maus from 2011. It is very interesting

[@GreatArtExplained]

@@stephaniehendricks3537thanks

[@MariaVosa]

@@greatbooksexplained371 That would be a great choice!

[@swschilke]

What about books like Go Rin No Sho or Hagakure. Praise of the shadow Jun'ichirō Tanizaki (and the other books in this series)

[@franciscobello1519]

BBC gotta give u a show. If they did for Simon Schama, they should for u as well.

[@tt3569]

wonderful

[@justingil27]

I say this with respect. What a fucking genius!

[@greatbooksexplained371]

Agree!

[@auttosave7320]

Turns out that William Blake was pretty metal

[@simeonkaser8302]

Good video, but I would like to see better handling of quotations - especially indicating the work in which it appears and marking when parts of the quotation have been omitted.

[@siwelify]

I think the Tyger poem and the Lamb sitting across the page from each other, Is a play on the image of the lion lying down with the lamb from the bible. They have the same maker, different natures, and a shared end.

[@dharmakaurkhalsa3923]

Very interesting. Ass always: great video.

[@annabelle746]

I can't explain it but some of his art looks Art Deco to me?

[@greatbooksexplained371]

I know what you mean

[@jubayert96]

Do you have a plan to make a video about the Origin of Species in the future ?

[@greatbooksexplained371]

I’d like to but these are collaborations and the other person comes up with the initial idea.

[@kidmohair8151]

what can I possibly add?

[@natashapope3785]

Tiger equals PTSD. Path to Shamanism. Not a pleasznt way in a dead culture.❤

[@kanyewest344]

Life of pi! Life of pi! Life of pi!

[@vt5625]

Algo

[@sturam30]

That’s a American civil war reenactment

[@RobCoghanable]

The French had no long term plan just short term vitriol.

[@jimmyzbike]

What a subversive thinker. Some of his thoughts feel more like a good trip than merely imagination.