『Dinaw Mengestu: Art, Immigration, Masculinity, and the Power of Storytelling』のカバーアート

Dinaw Mengestu: Art, Immigration, Masculinity, and the Power of Storytelling

Dinaw Mengestu: Art, Immigration, Masculinity, and the Power of Storytelling

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 Today’s guest is the acclaimed Ethiopian American novelist and writer Dinaw Mengestu, whose award-winning work has appeared in Harper’s Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and many other outlets. He currently directs the Written Arts program at Bard College and has been recognized as a MacArthur Fellow among numerous other honors. I first encountered Dinaw at a recent event hosted by George Mason’s Cheuse Center—shout out to my alma mater!—where his insights lingered long after the talk. His artistry is compelling, but I was especially drawn to his reflections on two urgent themes: masculinity and immigration, and their intersection with art and politics in 2025. We began by grappling with a pressing question: What use is art, especially novels, in an increasingly authoritarian climate? For me, the answer is clear—art becomes more vital than ever as a means to challenge, to bear witness, and to connect. Dinaw’s work offers a nuanced exploration of human relationships and identity that transcends national boundaries. Where American novels often fixate on the nation, his stories probe the fragile balances that shape all our lives. In particular, we talked about how immigration narratives are not just political flashpoints but deeply human stories filled with complexity, survival, and sometimes silence. His novel Someone Like Us exemplifies this approach, revealing how immigrant lives are collections of stories—some fabricated for survival, some never told—that demand empathy and deeper understanding. We also tackled masculinity, a loaded and often misunderstood topic. Dinaw shared his views on male anger and violence as social constructs, shaped by cultural narratives that influence how identity and behavior are formed—and how those narratives show up in both fiction and media. In this, our conversation circled back to the power of storytelling itself: how art can push back against reductive or toxic narratives by offering more authentic, nuanced perspectives. This is, I argued, a crucial form of resistance and a pathway to more peaceful social discourse. We also touched on the challenges of engaging younger generations, especially in a world where reading is often seen as less appealing. Dinaw and I agreed on the importance of meeting readers where they are, connecting through culture and technology, and gently drawing them into the broader world of literature. This wide-ranging conversation offers a lot for anyone interested in how art, identity, and politics intersect today—and why stories matter more than ever. ABOUT DINAW MENGESTU Facebook: Dinaw Mengestu X (formerly Twitter): @dinawmengestu Instagram: @dinaw_mengestu ABOUT SOME THINGS CONSIDERED Award-winning author Sean Murphy in conversation with creative thinkers, spanning the literary, music, art, politics, and tech industries. As a cultural critic, professor, founder of a literary non-profit, Sean is always looking to explore and celebrate the ways Story is integral to how we define ourselves, as artists and human beings. This Substack newsletter and weekly podcast peels back the layers of how creativity works, why it matters, how our most brilliant minds achieve mastery. Join us to explore how our most successful and inspired storytellers engage by discussing craft, routines, brand, and mostly through authentic and honest expression. ABOUT HOST SEAN MURPHY Website: seanmurphy.net Substack: seanmurphy.live Twitter: @bullmurph Instagram: @bullmurph Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorSeanMurphy LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sean-murphy-4986b41
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