Awesome video guys. Super informative, super clean, and super organized. I can see the extra effort you probably had to put in this one and it really shows. Probably my favorite of your videos thus far.
This video felt like it was only 5 minutes long, and I say that as a compliment! I've maybe read one Faulkner novel (can't say for certain), but am very excited to hear your further analysis. Especially love the historical context you give, Krypto!
You guys did an excellent job with this and gave great respect to a difficult subject. Also pointing out that even though Faulkner may have hated slavery and made commentary on it, he wasn't immune to writing still technically problematic tropes and stereotypes. It's a product of its time, but it's important to note the progress people have made in realizing that things that were progressive at the time, still had problems, and to continue to improve.
I think you are right that _Go Down, Moses_ explores the issues that lie at the heart of Faulkner's major works: race, social class, family, the attitudes of Southern Society, violence, sex and the impact of Southern history on the present. To me these themes are most deeply and profoundly expressed in _Abaslom, Absalom_ , to the point that, as Allen will tell you, there is almost no action and everything takes place inside the mind. But, _Go Down, Moses_ explores most of those same themes. I think Faulkner sees the destruction of Native American civilization and slavery as the original sins of the South and everything else -- children of mixed race and their inheritance, violence, the rules of Southern Society, etc -- as symptoms of the warping effect those sins had on the South. Unfortunately, for Faulkner the person this recognition did not result in a true embrace of racial equality and instead took the form of a patronizing form of racial tolerance which put the White man in a position of responsibility to deal with the problems of racism for African Americans and saw things like the destruction of segregation by the government and African American activism in a negative light. In other words your description of Faulkner as believing in the racist concept of "the White Man's Burden" is pretty much on the nose.
Wonderful comment, Brian. It sounds like we have very similar views. I think chapters 2 and 3 suffer the worst from this in the book with the "White Man's Burden" side of things and the rather rough representation of "expressing grief" of chapter three doesn't come across well, though I understand the intentions. I read "Absalom! Absalom!" before this book back in the day. It was really taxing for me. It was before I did Snopes which was when I really blossomed into the rabbit hole of Faulkner. I didn't seem to take away the glory that everyone else did which has always bugged me. We're going to do "A!, A!" this April (second for me, first for Krypto). I'm hoping that my second pass will open my eyes to more things now that I've really absorbed "Go Down, Moses" more along with "Red Leaves" which speaks to the 'original sin' side of things that you mentioned. Going to be a very Faulkner year for us!
@@TheCodeXCantina I'll be chiming in in April as well; in fact, got my "Faulkner Box" of books from Phoenix and my old copy (as well as a brand spankin' new one!) of the "tell dont show" classic (and _sequel_ to _TSATF_ ) _Absolam, Absolam!_
This is a topic so complex. I would just point out that as a personal point of view (European) we blame USA for the slavery while we forgot that actually we started it. Reading with you this tale. (according to my knowledge of English, sadly I can't find it in my native language)
In _Light in August_ it's always baffled me why Joe Christmas _didn't_ "pass" for being white, when he clearly could have (he doesn't actually know if he's White or Black), making his life so very much easier; in fact, he goes out of his way to make sure everyone knows/thinks he's black! (This is _not_ some sorce of "Black Pride" thing, we've got to take this in the context of that novel). Of course, the novel wouldn't be the great one that it is without this fact, I'm just saying how much it draws the reader to feel so much more for J.C. even though his crimes are heinous, etc. Sorry for the degression into another Faulkner novel, but you mentioned "passing," etc, so threw my two cents in . . . IMA start _Go Down Moses_ today!
Big Hard Books & Classics all good, bro! There is so much intertextuality between his works. I sometimes take notes of things for OTHER Faulkner books while reading something by him.
I think that there was a certain self-hatred in Joe Christmas that felt rejected (being an orphan too) and he himself rejected this part in him, or found something to hate about himself that being his mixed race, his black blood, as minor or nonexistent it may have been. Something that was dark about him and he struggled with, as if light and darkness were fighting within himself.
GDM surely one of his best and he wrote more great novels than any other american. tremendous vid but i sure could have added a lot of historical context. my list of his best must include; go down moses, sanctuary, sound and the fury, as i lay dying, light in august, absolom absolom, the hamlet, the mansion and i would include pylon which is very much underappreciated. that list would keep anyone busy for a year.
Brian Wolle For sure. We’re planning to have a context video for each of his major works. We try to keep the amount of history down to most relevant for our talking points but I’m sure there’s plenty we’ve edited or missed. I haven’t read Pylon yet. I look forward to that one day. I hope to work through all his works on the channel but starting with major works first. Thanks for the kind words and checking it out.
Don't have my Faulkner books w me (theyre in Phoenix, alas) but I wholeheartedly applaud your talking a lot about him and his novels, stories, and ideals. I very much look forward to your participation on our #FaulknerInAugust this year, indeed. (Umm ... "They" owned Slaves in the North, to boot, ya gander? But that's a different era. "Sho!") Brian and I have slight disagreements on several of these points, primary Faulkner's forms of occurring racism (but I'm not going to go into that, nor speak for Brian, here) 😁😵☠️🤪😉 Love the shirt, btw!
Big Hard Books & Classics Oh I’m sure. There are always things to nuance out or add maybe more context to. Krypto would say we have to use “our historical imaginations on this.” We also can’t wait for August. Very excited to do tSatF again and will be a first for Krypto
@@TheCodeXCantina I'll have most of my books back next month. I'm in SW Georgia, currently. Brian and I have this idea to meet up in Oxford, Mississippi at Rowen Oak, hopefully in September. Can you guys make it, then, too, possibly? That would be most excellent 😁
Big Hard Books & Classics possibly, might be in AZ around that time. I want to make it to the Annual Faulkner Yoknapatawpha event in July but it may fall when I’m in Branson, MO. Let’s touch base as we get closer and I have more concrete plans
@@TheCodeXCantina You got it! Hey, what city in AZ? I know Maricopa county like the back of my hand! (My MFA's from ASU; family and friends still there; havent been in three year's time.)
BOOKMARKS:
What is this Book?: @2:16
About Faulkner...: @6:46
Understanding the Time...: @11:23
Thanks for watching!
What an insightful resource you both provide. Many thanks.
Awesome video guys. Super informative, super clean, and super organized. I can see the extra effort you probably had to put in this one and it really shows. Probably my favorite of your videos thus far.
Awww shucks. You know how to make me blush.
This video felt like it was only 5 minutes long, and I say that as a compliment! I've maybe read one Faulkner novel (can't say for certain), but am very excited to hear your further analysis. Especially love the historical context you give, Krypto!
Awesome. I wonder if it was "As I Lay Dying," that's a fairly common starting point.
@@TheCodeXCantina That sounds vaguely familiar. It may have been for an American Modernism English lit class, but that was years ago.
You guys did an excellent job with this and gave great respect to a difficult subject. Also pointing out that even though Faulkner may have hated slavery and made commentary on it, he wasn't immune to writing still technically problematic tropes and stereotypes. It's a product of its time, but it's important to note the progress people have made in realizing that things that were progressive at the time, still had problems, and to continue to improve.
Thanks Deanie! I’m trying to force myself to acknowledge negatives too. Too easy to gloss over them
Killin' it! Do you have the next video on Go Down Moses scheduled?
Tuesday the 18th for Chapter 1, Tuesday the 25th for Chapter 2.
The CodeX Cantina OH MY GOSH. You’re going chapter by chapter?! HALLELUJAH!!!! Thanks 😃
I think you are right that _Go Down, Moses_ explores the issues that lie at the heart of Faulkner's major works: race, social class, family, the attitudes of Southern Society, violence, sex and the impact of Southern history on the present.
To me these themes are most deeply and profoundly expressed in _Abaslom, Absalom_ , to the point that, as Allen will tell you, there is almost no action and everything takes place inside the mind. But, _Go Down, Moses_ explores most of those same themes. I think Faulkner sees the destruction of Native American civilization and slavery as the original sins of the South and everything else -- children of mixed race and their inheritance, violence, the rules of Southern Society, etc -- as symptoms of the warping effect those sins had on the South.
Unfortunately, for Faulkner the person this recognition did not result in a true embrace of racial equality and instead took the form of a patronizing form of racial tolerance which put the White man in a position of responsibility to deal with the problems of racism for African Americans and saw things like the destruction of segregation by the government and African American activism in a negative light. In other words your description of Faulkner as believing in the racist concept of "the White Man's Burden" is pretty much on the nose.
Wonderful comment, Brian. It sounds like we have very similar views. I think chapters 2 and 3 suffer the worst from this in the book with the "White Man's Burden" side of things and the rather rough representation of "expressing grief" of chapter three doesn't come across well, though I understand the intentions. I read "Absalom! Absalom!" before this book back in the day. It was really taxing for me. It was before I did Snopes which was when I really blossomed into the rabbit hole of Faulkner. I didn't seem to take away the glory that everyone else did which has always bugged me. We're going to do "A!, A!" this April (second for me, first for Krypto). I'm hoping that my second pass will open my eyes to more things now that I've really absorbed "Go Down, Moses" more along with "Red Leaves" which speaks to the 'original sin' side of things that you mentioned. Going to be a very Faulkner year for us!
@@TheCodeXCantina I'll be chiming in in April as well; in fact, got my "Faulkner Box" of books from Phoenix and my old copy (as well as a brand spankin' new one!) of the "tell dont show" classic (and _sequel_ to _TSATF_ ) _Absolam, Absolam!_
Big Hard Books & Classics woo! Let’s do this:)
My fave Faulkner novel!
Thank you
Of course!
I've never read Faulkner, but one day! One day!
Let's do this! Next Tuesday, Chapter 1 "Was." Only like twenty-some-odd pages.
This is a topic so complex. I would just point out that as a personal point of view (European) we blame USA for the slavery while we forgot that actually we started it. Reading with you this tale. (according to my knowledge of English, sadly I can't find it in my native language)
Peter Strianus Great point. I love hearing how other cultures may see things differently. Thank you for sharing
And good one, Krypto ... Thanks! I learned a lot.
Best co-pilot. He really shines in this area and WWII so I want to try to take advantage of that over the next year.
In _Light in August_ it's always baffled me why Joe Christmas _didn't_ "pass" for being white, when he clearly could have (he doesn't actually know if he's White or Black), making his life so very much easier; in fact, he goes out of his way to make sure everyone knows/thinks he's black! (This is _not_ some sorce of "Black Pride" thing, we've got to take this in the context of that novel). Of course, the novel wouldn't be the great one that it is without this fact, I'm just saying how much it draws the reader to feel so much more for J.C. even though his crimes are heinous, etc. Sorry for the degression into another Faulkner novel, but you mentioned "passing," etc, so threw my two cents in . . . IMA start _Go Down Moses_ today!
Big Hard Books & Classics all good, bro! There is so much intertextuality between his works. I sometimes take notes of things for OTHER Faulkner books while reading something by him.
@@TheCodeXCantina I see your "Fireside Chat" on the novel, _Passing,_ too, which I'll have to watch.
I think that there was a certain self-hatred in Joe Christmas that felt rejected (being an orphan too) and he himself rejected this part in him, or found something to hate about himself that being his mixed race, his black blood, as minor or nonexistent it may have been. Something that was dark about him and he struggled with, as if light and darkness were fighting within himself.
@@Cakewalkingbaby Thanks for your comment. Please join us next #FaulknerInAugust
GDM surely one of his best and he wrote more great novels than any other american. tremendous vid but i sure could have added a lot of historical context.
my list of his best must include; go down moses, sanctuary, sound and the fury, as i lay dying, light in august, absolom absolom, the hamlet, the mansion and i would include pylon which is very much underappreciated.
that list would keep anyone busy for a year.
Brian Wolle For sure. We’re planning to have a context video for each of his major works. We try to keep the amount of history down to most relevant for our talking points but I’m sure there’s plenty we’ve edited or missed. I haven’t read Pylon yet. I look forward to that one day. I hope to work through all his works on the channel but starting with major works first. Thanks for the kind words and checking it out.
Don't have my Faulkner books w me (theyre in Phoenix, alas) but I wholeheartedly applaud your talking a lot about him and his novels, stories, and ideals. I very much look forward to your participation on our #FaulknerInAugust this year, indeed. (Umm ... "They" owned Slaves in the North, to boot, ya gander? But that's a different era. "Sho!") Brian and I have slight disagreements on several of these points, primary Faulkner's forms of occurring racism (but I'm not going to go into that, nor speak for Brian, here) 😁😵☠️🤪😉 Love the shirt, btw!
Big Hard Books & Classics Oh I’m sure. There are always things to nuance out or add maybe more context to. Krypto would say we have to use “our historical imaginations on this.” We also can’t wait for August. Very excited to do tSatF again and will be a first for Krypto
@@TheCodeXCantina I'll have most of my books back next month. I'm in SW Georgia, currently. Brian and I have this idea to meet up in Oxford, Mississippi at Rowen Oak, hopefully in September. Can you guys make it, then, too, possibly? That would be most excellent 😁
Big Hard Books & Classics possibly, might be in AZ around that time. I want to make it to the Annual Faulkner Yoknapatawpha event in July but it may fall when I’m in Branson, MO. Let’s touch base as we get closer and I have more concrete plans
@@TheCodeXCantina You got it! Hey, what city in AZ? I know Maricopa county like the back of my hand! (My MFA's from ASU; family and friends still there; havent been in three year's time.)
Big Hard Books & Classics Buckeye