Benjamin Moser on the Dutch Masters, Brazil, and Cultural Icons | Conversations with Tyler

Benjamin Moser is a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer celebrated for his in-depth studies of literary and cultural figures such as Susan Sontag and Clarice Lispector. His latest book, which details a twenty-year love affair with the Dutch masters, is one of Tyler's favorite books on art criticism ever.
Benjamin joined Tyler to discuss why Vermeer was almost forgotten, how Rembrandt was so productive, what auctions of the old masters reveals about current approaches to painting, why Dutch art hangs best in houses, what makes the Kunstmuseum in the Hague so special, why Dutch students won't read older books, Benjamin's favorite Dutch movie, the tensions within Dutch social tolerance, the joys of living in Utrecht, why Latin Americans make for harder interview subjects, whether Brasilia works as a city, why modernism persisted in Brazil, how to appreciate Clarice Lispector, Susan Sontag's (waning) influence, V.S. Naipaul’s mentorship, Houston's intellectual culture, what he's learning next, and more.
Recorded February 15th, 2024
Transcript and links: conversationswithtyler.com/ep...
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Photo Credit: Philippe Quaisse

[@kaminakaminakaminakamina]

As someone born and raised in Brasilia who did everything to get out of there as soon as I could, I completely share the spirit of the question Benjamin asks at around 37:43: "Why did you go there twice? Why did you go there once?"

[@mikhailfranco]

Yes, Camille Paglia is (now) a total heroine for me.
Loved her interview with Tyler.
For no good reason, except my own despicable ignorance,
I was expecting an old slow hippie feminist apologist, but what I got was ...
a huge blast of truth, dazzling eloquence, deep knowledge,
and most importantly, bravery, honesty, integrity and authenticity.
Very rare these days. Wonderful.

[@danecjensen]

Chapters (Powered by ChapterMe) -
00:00 - Conversations with Tyler with Pulitzer Prizewinning author Benjamin Moser
00:23 - Pulitzer Prizewinning biographer Benjamin Wittes discusses Catholic paintings in Vermeers era
02:07 - Vermeers Maps of the Netherlands, 17th Century
04:21 - Big Vermeer show inspired Dutch art study
04:48 - Vermeers break, Nazi forgers success
08:05 - Muslims preparation for Rembrandts masterpiece
12:33 - Art nerds wall power, Dutch arts value decline
14:49 - McMansion Dutch Paintings, Overexposure, Disgusting
16:28 - Dutch art boring by early 18th century
20:29 - Dutch arts transition from Cubism to abstraction
21:04 - Dutch languages transparency, spelling, and literary diversity
24:11 - Dutch Light Holland Licht Short Water, Deep Light
25:26 - Dutch Light Light and Countrys Warmth
28:45 - Washington, DCs reputation for laissezfaire drug laws
30:51 - Eastern Netherlands special rural, beautiful, fascinating
31:13 - Netherlands countryside, small towns, perfect city
33:27 - Americans love to talk, Latin Americans wary
34:55 - Interview with grandson in Brazils capital, Brasilia
38:35 - Dutch authors experiences in Brazil and Indonesia
40:03 - Deindustrializing Brazil, free trade, political economy
40:34 - Free trade has caused instability in Brazil
42:18 - Brazilophile Ive always had a great time
43:07 - Runners preference rougher crowds, nice cities
43:40 - Brazil desperately wanted to be modern, authoritarian, repressive
45:48 - Clarisse Luspectors impact on readers lives
48:36 - Sontags inability to see and photographys influence on her life
51:44 - New Yorks art history disappears, warns author
52:11 - Texas authors criticism of Dutch literatures spiny legacy
54:04 - Big brands dominate retail, but not reading Susan Sontag
54:51 - Susan Sontag I learned more from difficult books than other readers
55:16 - Author Margaret Sontag I have huge gratitude for reading all that stuff
56:14 - Camille Poglias refusal to follow Susan Sontags path
57:18 - Sontags excesses and Sinead OConnors death
58:04 - Camille Grammer Criticism, Podcasting Legendary
58:34 - Fasttalking actress Charlize Theron Everything I say is on the record
59:11 - Production function discusses benefits of learning Nipol
59:28 - VS Nipols influence on my writing
01:01:50 - Author A Million Mutinies
01:02:12 - Million Mutinies is a book about positive change
01:03:11 - Indian writer and activist VS Naipauls body of work
01:06:11 - Paul Therouxs books are accurate, Sir Vidyas biased
01:07:08 - Houstons encouragement and cricket knowledge
01:08:04 - Houston Big, diverse, fascinating city
01:09:31 - Growing up in Texas, lonely in Houston
01:11:26 - New project learning Serbian Croatian language
01:13:41 - Waiting for moment, understanding cricket rules

[@mikhailfranco]

Yes, Utrecht is the perfect city.
Shhhhhh, don't tell anyone. Please.