In 2012, a little—almost pocket-size—book appeared, entitled “Little Black Lies,” by Jeff Gailus, published in Canada by Rocky Mountain Books with support from several Canadian arts-related associations. Jeff Gailus is a writer, based in Missoula Montana, self-described as one “who has been writing about the collision of science, nature and politics for 15 years.” The book appears to be a diatribe against the manipulation of law and social rules by the industrial organizations behind development of the Athabasca tar sands in Alberta, the source of whatever might flow across the US through the politically famous (or infamous) Keystone pipeline. Continue reading
Blog Posts and Writings Tagged: social issues
Blog 29. The Real, the Ideal, and Stories
Underlying every social tension there is a gap between the real situation and the ideals of the society. For example, American law espouses the ideals of equality, justice, fairness, and popular consensus. However, our politics and our business are based on competition, domination, manipulation, exclusion, and political spin. This gap between the real and the ideal generates both outrage and a malaise of helplessness. Continue reading
Blog 28. Socially Significant Fiction
Entertainment and significant fiction
Much commercial fiction is pure entertainment. That’s ok; we enjoy being entertained. However, fiction offers a marvelous opportunity to be more significant, to explore social issues, leaving the reader changed as well as entertained. Fiction can show a social issue in the setting of the story in the background canvas across which the plot moves. Continue reading