Future Project Idea: Building Empathy Through Art and Stories

This post appeared on a sister website that has since been put on the back-burner, but I’m copying the post here in order to remember the idea behind the project. I quickly realized that this is a project is best executed with at least a couple other partners. If any of you are interested in something like this, please do drop me a note to discuss further. 9/6/21

The idea for this website came from a podcast featuring author Andrés Neuman discussing his latest book “Fracture.” Months later I dug up this podcast so I could extract the exact quote that planted the seed. Listening to him speak again still has a very powerful effect. The full podcast is here.

Voice in literature is so important for me because fiction, as well as traveling are the most powerful tools that humankind has to try to become someone else—like experience someone else’s life or turn yourself into someone else. I think Rebecca Soulmate? said that the whole point of reading was to transcend your basic identity and experience being others. So I think at least trying to be others—to put ourselves in other’s people’s positions is that the very heart of our experience. It is actually very useful emotionally, but as well politically because we inhabit a world with people [who] refuse constantly to inhabit the other person’s point of view. It’s everything about reaffirming your own identity and point of view. I find it very liberating to imagine just like when we were children that I am someone else and see what happens and how can I be myself modified.

The Spectator Book Club Podcast, July 8, 2020, Andrés Neuman

So naturally, things will start off a bit slowly, but I plan to ramp things up as the months go by. Everyone has stories to tell, but the process of showcasing the most powerful ones is what takes time and energy. Thankfully this process will be a labor of love.

For those looking to help, please feel free to contact me below in the comments.