America is obsessed with Los Angeles. And America has been thinking about Los Angeles all wrong, for decades, on repeat. Los Angeles is not just the place where the American dream hits the Pacific. (It has its own dreams.) Not just the vanishing point of America’s western drive. (It has its own compass.) Functionally, aesthetically, mythologically, even technologically, an independent territory, defined less by distinct borders than by an aura of autonomy and a sense of unfurling destiny―this is the city-state of Los Angeles.
Deeply reported and researched, provocatively argued, and eloquently written, Rosecrans Baldwin's Everything Now approaches the metropolis from unexpected angles, nimbly interleaving his own voice with a chorus of others, from canonical L.A. literature to everyday citizens. Here, Octavia E. Butler and Joan Didion are in conversation with activists and astronauts, vampires and veterans. Baldwin records the stories of countless Angelenos, discovering people both upended and reborn: by disasters natural and economic, following gospels of wealth or self-help or personal destiny. The result is a story of a kaleidoscopic, vibrant nation unto itself―vastly more than its many, many parts.
Baldwin is in conversation with Charles Yu.
Produced by Maddie Gobbo, Lance Morgan, & Michael Kowaleski
Theme: "I Love All My Friends," an unreleased demo by Fragile Gang.
Visit https://www.skylightbooks.com/event for future offerings from the Skylight Books Events team.
Better Than the Movie 15: PLANET OF THE APES
SKYLIT: Maggie Nelson, LIKE LOVE
Better Than the Movie 14: THE GREEN KNIGHT / SIR GAWAIN AND... w/ Conor Holt
Better Than the Movie 13: MONEYBALL w/ Michael Chin
Better Than the Movie 12: THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY w/ Emily VanKoughnett
SKYLIT: Tommy Orange, WANDERING STARS
SKYLIT: Eric Wolfson, FIFTY YEARS OF THE CONCEPT ALBUM IN POPULAR MUSIC
SKYLIT: Will Harris, SURELY YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS
Better Than the Movie 11: NIGHTBREED / CABAL w/ Garon Cockrell
Better Than the Movie, Ep. 10: THE THIN MAN w/ Jen Johans
SKYLIT: Rosecrans Baldwin, EVERYTHING NOW
SKYLIT: Kliph Nesteroff, OUTRAGEOUS: A HISTORY OF SHOWBIZ & THE CULTURE WARS
SKYLIT: Charles Bramesco, COLORS OF FILM: THE STORY OF CINEMA IN 50 PALETTES
Better Than the Movie, Ep. 9: PRISCILLA / ELVIS AND ME w/ Collin Jonkman
Better Than the Movie, Ep. 8: KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON w/ David Kimbel
Better Than the Movie Halloween Special: GOOSEBUMPS
SKYLIT: James Park, CHILI CRISP
Better Than the Movie, Ep. 7: A HAUNTING IN VENICE / HALLOWE’EN PARTY w/ Natalie Freeman and Allison Smith
Better Than the Movie, Ep. 6: MISERY w/ Mark Rennie
SKYLIT: Elliott Kalan, MANIAC OF NEW YORK
Join Podbean Ads Marketplace and connect with engaged listeners.
Advertise Today
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Lit Society: Books and Drama
Ex Libris
Write The Book: Conversations on Craft
The Federalist Papers
Anne of Green Gables
Fresh Air
Myths and Legends