Happy Fourth of July from AirTalk. Today, we'll see how the automobile is intrinsically tied to the American Dream, explore the world of Young Adult dystopian literature, figure out if women can really "have it all," and sit down with the creators of the innovative play "War Horse."
In ‘Engines Of Change’ the automobile is the vehicle to understanding the American Dream
For every significant milestone in American History, there was –right behind it, carrying the masses—an automobile that became the icon for that time. Whether it was the Ford Thunderbird that helped usher in the California dream of endless summers and perfect waves or the VW Beetle that symbolized a youth revolt of status quo and drove the counter culture; cars were our mileposts to where we were and where we were going.
In Engines Of Change: A History Of The American Dream In Fifteen Cars, Pulitzer Prize winning author Paul Ingrassia looks at American History through the windshields of those iconic automobiles and reflects on what our vehicular history has to say about the times we experienced. From the Model-T to the BMW and the pick-up to the Prius; Ingrassia travels the country to find out what it is about us, our cars and our country that are so closely connected.
Also profiled are the men (and women) behind the cars who not only built them but who pioneered them as part of society’s zeitgeist, a group so eclectic that names like Henry Ford and Jerry Garcia can share the backseat on a road trip across the US.
So, what kind of car comes to mind when you think American History? What cars today do you think will symbolize our society in the future? Do you still own a piece of American history?
GUEST
Paul Ingrassia, Author of Engines of Change: A History of the American Dream in Fifteen Cars (Simon & Schuster); deputy editor-in-chief of Reuters; former Detroit bureau chief for the Wall Street Journal and later the president of Dow Jones Newswires; Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1993 (with Joseph B. White) for reporting on management crises at General Motors
Why the dystopian genre of young adult books is so popular
If you have a teenager, you probably remember the fervor for the movie version of The Hunger Games. Kids camped out for days at movie theaters across the country so that they could be first in line to see it. But what you may not know is that the same amount of enthusiasm is shared beyond those aged twelve to fifteen.
Yes, YA (young adult) fiction has quickly become a wildly popular genre not just for kids, but for adults as well. Someone who is well acquainted with this phenomenon is Lissa Price, author of “Starters.” Her book is about a dystopian future in which teenagers rent their bodies to elderly people who want to feel young again. The protagonist is a sixteen-year-old orphan who is on the run to survive with her little brother. While renting her body out to make money to afford the treatment, she accidentally wakes up in her Ender’s mansion and gets to live her life. However, this switch proves to be more than just fun and games, and could have ramifications on the entire human race.
How did Price get the idea for this story? What is the appeal of these types of stories to teenagers and adults? Are you a fan of YA fiction? Why are you drawn to it?
GUEST
Lissa Price, author of Starters (Delacorte Books for Young Readers)
Can women indeed 'have it all,' and what does that even mean?
The modern woman most likely juggles her time between family, job, and any semblance of a social life she’s able to pull together in her spare time. Successfully keeping all of these plates spinning means to “have it all” -– but is that even possible?
The women’s movement of the 1970s seemed to hold out that promise, as women achieved equality in the workplace. But in a recent op-ed for The Atlantic, Anne-Marie Slaughter, mother of two young sons, wrote that she left her dream job at the State Department after two years because of the strain on her family life. To her own surprise, she says, she now believes women can’t “have it all.”
But what does “have it all” really mean? How can one possibly measure success in all three arenas? Is “having it all” a realistic goal for women – or anyone – to aspire to? If you “have it all” – what’s your secret?
Guests:
Anne-Marie Slaughter, writer of The Atlantic article, “Why Women Still Can’t Have it All”; Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University
Rebecca Traister, writer of the Salon.com article, “Can Modern Women Have it All?”
Lori Gottlieb, writer of The Atlantic article, “Why There’s No Such Thing as ‘Having It All’ –and There Never Will Be;” Author of "Marry Him: The Case for Settling for Mr. Good Enough" (Dutton Adult)
The inventive puppet creators of 'War Horse'
One of the most celebrated plays in recent years, “War Horse” is now wowing L.A. audiences for the first time at the Ahmanson Theater.
It’s been showered with Tony Awards. The film version by Steven Spielberg was nominated for an Oscar, but it was missing a most captivating aspect of the stage production. The story – based on a children’s novel by Michael Morpurgo – follows young Albert on his quest during the Great War to find and bring home his horse Joey, who was sold to the cavalry.
The life-size horse puppets are visually striking and masterfully controlled by actors on stage. Made of steel, leather, cane and aircraft cables, these “horses” take on a life of their own. The memorable beasts were created by Handspring Puppet Company, which has been lauded for the one-of-a-kind creations.
“War Horse” is currently playing at the Ahmanson Theater through July 29.
What about this story makes it a great novel, play and movie? How do the written word, stage and film versions compare?
Guests:
Adrian Kohler, co-founder of the Handspring Puppet Company and co-creator of the War Horse puppetry
Basil Jones, co-founder of the Handspring Puppet Company and co-creator of the War Horse puppetry
Michael Morpurgo, Author of more than 100 children’s books including War Horse (Scholastic Press), the book that the play War Horse and Steven Spielberg’s film of the same name was based upon; Britain’s Children’s Laureate from 2003-2005