I stumbled on this conversation via a substack notification on my phone as I was going to bed. Expecting a small nugget of text to enjoy like a chocolate mint on my pillow, I instead found myself staring at an hour long video. I don't watch many hour long videos. But I had to watch this. What an enjoyable hour it was peeking into Etkar Keret's psyche. I'm looking forward to purchasing Autocorrect, and I think it's about time to upgrade my Alphabet Soup subscription.
Etgar Keret was my reason for joining substack. And his description in the video of what he wanted substack to be is interesting. But I'm still uncertain I'm looking for (a new) social media
This was such a great, thoroughly enjoyable conversation!! Loved learning more about you, your view of the world and your writing process (that spookily corresponds with my own!!). Love your humanity and twisted sense of humour Etgar. Yes, essential reading for fractured times:)
Etgar's comment about identifying with Tony Soprano vs pointing at Succession characters like they're weird freaks has parallels in contemporary changes in people's relationships with their own markers of identity... a person can say "I'm American" or "I'm Indigenous" or whatever to identify with fellow Americans or indigenous people or whatever, or they can say the same thing not as a source of fellowship with one group but rather as a means of rejecting some other group. I think in the past decade identity has moved from the former case to the latter (I would also add that this is just as true of right wing people of left wing people, despite what a lot of right wing people would have you believe... but just look at something like MAGA. It's exactly what I'm talking about.)
You are such a gift. Thank you for this wonderful conversation. I spend a lot of time thinking about short stories, reading them and writing them. It's always a joy to find a new definition of the form. And so I loved it when you said: "A story is the sum of the decisions taken by the protagonist” I think that may be the best definition I've ever heard. Again, thank you (and Sophie) for the conversation, and of course, thank you for your stories.
Too obvious but I will save perfect to be my last word. A life appreciating needing to cope with reality as met and a hope to leave behind for others. The only draw back being a quiet space when signing along with Lou Reed on that one song.
Ok. I thought I should send this as a DM, but then, I wondered about the hubris of that. My concern was if I put this idea out on a public forum, someone ELSE could use it as a basis for a story before you. But I've learned (sometimes) just make a decision and move forward. (I'm also wondering if a long post like this is appropriate in a comment...). So some part way into this video you mention that you asked for story ideas from followers* and that they got an @mention (i mean a dedication) in the story. And I was, like, doh! I didn't know that. But, then I thought it wouldn't have mattered, I wouldn't have had an idea. But a few minutes later I realized I had one. I could put the idea in bold or italic maybe, but maybe it's obvious. I've had a hearing loss since a small child and worn hearing aids since university. * And there's two things. When I take my hearing aids off, the world is so much quieter. I don't hear birds, or buzzes, or sirens. I can still understand conversation, mostly with one person in a quiet room. But that's not the idea. When I have my hearing aids on -- something you'll learn in a few years -- I can hear and understand conversation, except still not quite. Technology in general doesn't solve problems, it changes them. So now I hear 80 or 90% of the conversation. But the parts I miss (I nod and smile) sometimes I fill in different words (some subpart of my brain does, trying to make sense of the context, not a conscious act) And it's usually more interesting. And often funny. Later on I may learn that someone said something different, but I still like my version better.
As I write this, I'm battling with autocorrect, which seems so apropos, and even related to my audio autocorrect.
* - something about "followers" I don't like, with it's passive and almost religious implications. What about teammates? Obviously that overstates my/followers role.
And I’ve once written a story for a podcast about a guy who decided to go around in the world with earplugs to avoid hearing what actually happens and in the story it proves his life immensely.
I think I replied, but I guess the idea is mishearing things - but the misheard words seem more interesting, or better, and maybe these days “hearing aids with AI” play a part. I guess to be a writer you also need a little notebook. Pit a pat onto the phone might work, I suppose?
I'm still wondering about substack as a social media - I've given up on the others except "group text messages". I've played with the idea of writing, many decades ago. Mostly my creativity takes other forms. But never say never?
The way you described how we interact with the world now through reality TV was described by a group of French intellectuals called the situationnistes already in the 50s. They called this " la societe du spectacle."
Your anecdote about the Americans who are telling you what would offend the Mexicans is so telling about contemporary Americans! They like to get offended on behalf of others, while the others, in this case, the Mexicans, have no problem and find it funny.
I will look for your new collection. From what i understand, it is available in English. I now live in France so it will take a while to get it. I don t know if you remember, but we met many years ago at an AWP in the US, and you accepted to give me an interview, which was published in Words without Borders. After i read your book, would you accept to give me an interview for my youtube channel?
I stumbled on this conversation via a substack notification on my phone as I was going to bed. Expecting a small nugget of text to enjoy like a chocolate mint on my pillow, I instead found myself staring at an hour long video. I don't watch many hour long videos. But I had to watch this. What an enjoyable hour it was peeking into Etkar Keret's psyche. I'm looking forward to purchasing Autocorrect, and I think it's about time to upgrade my Alphabet Soup subscription.
Etgar Keret was my reason for joining substack. And his description in the video of what he wanted substack to be is interesting. But I'm still uncertain I'm looking for (a new) social media
This was such a great, thoroughly enjoyable conversation!! Loved learning more about you, your view of the world and your writing process (that spookily corresponds with my own!!). Love your humanity and twisted sense of humour Etgar. Yes, essential reading for fractured times:)
1. If Etgar "can't speak English", I don't know who can.
2. If I were told by Sophia Efthimiatou that she had a crush on me, I would be TRULY unable to speak English for at least 15 minutes.
Exactly that!!
Etgar's comment about identifying with Tony Soprano vs pointing at Succession characters like they're weird freaks has parallels in contemporary changes in people's relationships with their own markers of identity... a person can say "I'm American" or "I'm Indigenous" or whatever to identify with fellow Americans or indigenous people or whatever, or they can say the same thing not as a source of fellowship with one group but rather as a means of rejecting some other group. I think in the past decade identity has moved from the former case to the latter (I would also add that this is just as true of right wing people of left wing people, despite what a lot of right wing people would have you believe... but just look at something like MAGA. It's exactly what I'm talking about.)
You are such a gift. Thank you for this wonderful conversation. I spend a lot of time thinking about short stories, reading them and writing them. It's always a joy to find a new definition of the form. And so I loved it when you said: "A story is the sum of the decisions taken by the protagonist” I think that may be the best definition I've ever heard. Again, thank you (and Sophie) for the conversation, and of course, thank you for your stories.
Too obvious but I will save perfect to be my last word. A life appreciating needing to cope with reality as met and a hope to leave behind for others. The only draw back being a quiet space when signing along with Lou Reed on that one song.
Ok. I thought I should send this as a DM, but then, I wondered about the hubris of that. My concern was if I put this idea out on a public forum, someone ELSE could use it as a basis for a story before you. But I've learned (sometimes) just make a decision and move forward. (I'm also wondering if a long post like this is appropriate in a comment...). So some part way into this video you mention that you asked for story ideas from followers* and that they got an @mention (i mean a dedication) in the story. And I was, like, doh! I didn't know that. But, then I thought it wouldn't have mattered, I wouldn't have had an idea. But a few minutes later I realized I had one. I could put the idea in bold or italic maybe, but maybe it's obvious. I've had a hearing loss since a small child and worn hearing aids since university. * And there's two things. When I take my hearing aids off, the world is so much quieter. I don't hear birds, or buzzes, or sirens. I can still understand conversation, mostly with one person in a quiet room. But that's not the idea. When I have my hearing aids on -- something you'll learn in a few years -- I can hear and understand conversation, except still not quite. Technology in general doesn't solve problems, it changes them. So now I hear 80 or 90% of the conversation. But the parts I miss (I nod and smile) sometimes I fill in different words (some subpart of my brain does, trying to make sense of the context, not a conscious act) And it's usually more interesting. And often funny. Later on I may learn that someone said something different, but I still like my version better.
As I write this, I'm battling with autocorrect, which seems so apropos, and even related to my audio autocorrect.
* - something about "followers" I don't like, with it's passive and almost religious implications. What about teammates? Obviously that overstates my/followers role.
* - it bugs me that hearing aids have gotten hip
And I’ve once written a story for a podcast about a guy who decided to go around in the world with earplugs to avoid hearing what actually happens and in the story it proves his life immensely.
So that's “improves” but your phone's autocorrect was no help, or maybe it did “prove his life”.
You are right. “Followers” sounds bad but even “teammates “ can feel constraining . How about “fellow humans” ?
Sorry. "Fellow humans" sounds too "I is for inclusive" to be permitted in unnamed country 🇺🇲 where I reside. 😲
Sorry Marvin that you have to live in that unwoke land…:(. What’s the story idea exactly :)? Why don’t you write it? X
I think I replied, but I guess the idea is mishearing things - but the misheard words seem more interesting, or better, and maybe these days “hearing aids with AI” play a part. I guess to be a writer you also need a little notebook. Pit a pat onto the phone might work, I suppose?
I'm still wondering about substack as a social media - I've given up on the others except "group text messages". I've played with the idea of writing, many decades ago. Mostly my creativity takes other forms. But never say never?
The way you described how we interact with the world now through reality TV was described by a group of French intellectuals called the situationnistes already in the 50s. They called this " la societe du spectacle."
Your anecdote about the Americans who are telling you what would offend the Mexicans is so telling about contemporary Americans! They like to get offended on behalf of others, while the others, in this case, the Mexicans, have no problem and find it funny.
I will look for your new collection. From what i understand, it is available in English. I now live in France so it will take a while to get it. I don t know if you remember, but we met many years ago at an AWP in the US, and you accepted to give me an interview, which was published in Words without Borders. After i read your book, would you accept to give me an interview for my youtube channel?
Of course I remember!
I’m going through a very hectic couple of months but if you are willing to wait until October , I’d be happy to speak with you again.
Sure. In fact, I too am very busy right now. I will read your new book by October and will get in touch again.