The Power of Imagination
Deep Dives
Explore related topics with these Wikipedia articles, rewritten for enjoyable reading:
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William Blake
16 min read
The article centers on Blake's life, work, and religious vision. Understanding his biography, artistic output, and unique cosmology would deeply enrich the reader's engagement with the discussion of imagination and spirituality.
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Songs of Innocence and of Experience
9 min read
Blake's most celebrated illuminated poetry collection exemplifies his critique of social moralising and celebration of liberty mentioned in the article. It provides concrete examples of his transformative imaginative vision.
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The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
13 min read
This prophetic work embodies Blake's unconventional religiosity and conversations with angels referenced in the article. It challenges conventional morality and illuminates his visionary approach to spirituality and imagination.
Like us, William Blake lived in a tumultuous era of warfare, discontent, rapid technological change, and a deepening estrangement of humanity from nature. He exposed the dark sides of political fervour and social moralising, while unashamedly celebrating love and liberty. But he also conversed with prophets and angels, and was powerfully, if unconventionally, religious. If we take this seriously—not easy, in secular times—then Blake can help us to unlock the transformative power of imagination and help us find our way out of our anxiety and towards the bliss of the infinite.
PARTICIPANTS
Mark Vernon is a writer, psychotherapist and former Anglican priest. He contributes to programmes on the radio, writes and reviews for newspapers and magazines, gives talks and frequently podcasts. His books cover themes including friendship and God, Dante, ancient Greek philosophy and wellbeing. He has a PhD in ancient Greek philosophy, and other degrees in physics and in theology. His new book is Awake!: William Blake and the Power of the Imagination.
Adam Walker is an award-winning educator whose teaching has earned several awards of distinction from the Harvard College Office of Undergraduate Education. He is an academic and public-humanities educator with expertise in English and American literature. He is the founder of Versed poetry community. He lives with his wife, Deryn, in Cambridge, MA, where he is at work on his two book projects.
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