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 To the Best of Our Knowledge

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Public Radio International

WPR
Wisconsin Public Radio

 

 
spacer from Wisconsin Public Radio  

BLAME CANADA?

Program 05-01-09-A Listen!

John F. Kennedy once said that what unites Americans and Canadians is far greater than what divides us. Try telling that to the writers behind the animated television series "South Park." In one episode, Canada is portrayed as a mysterious land similar to Oz. Andin the movie the Oscar nominated song "Blame Canada features the line "they're not even a real country anyway. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, we'll take a look at our neighbor to the north, Canada.

 

SEGMENT 1:

Michael Adams is the author of "Fire and Ice: The United States, Canada and the Myth of Converging Values." He tells Jim Fleming that intensive polling over several years in both countries shows that Americans and Canadians are developing differences in their social, political and moral attitudes. Also, Kyle McCulloch is originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba. He now lives in Los Angeles where he is a writer for the TV show "South Park." He talks with fellow Canadian Doug Gordon about an episode of the show which often makes fun of Canada. And we hear excerpts.

SEGMENT 2:

Steve Paulson provides this profile of Canadian writer Alice Munro, who's built a remarkable reputation entirely on her short stories. We hear from Monro herself, as well as some of the prominent writers and critics who are her admirers. And we hear excerpts from her work performed by Sara Phillips. Alice Munro's new collection of stories is called "Runaway." Also, novelist William Gibson, father of the cyberpunk movement, describes what it's like to be an American living in Canada.

SEGMENT 3:

Katherine Monk is a Canadian film critic and the author of "Weird Sex and Snowshoes, and other Canadian Film Phenomena." She talks with Anne Strainchamps about Canadian cinema, and we hear examples from the work of Guy Maddin and Atom Egoyan.

Cassette copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 05-01-09-A.

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Books:

  • Michael Adams , Fire and Ice: The United States, Canada and the Myth of Converging Values (Penguin Canada)
  • Katherine Monk, Weird Sex and Snowshoes, and other Canadian Film Phenomena (Raincoast)
  • Alice Munro, Runaway (Knopf)

Websites:

Clips:

Music:

Distribution dates:

week of 01/29/2006 - hour 1
week of 01/09/2005 - hour 1 		Listen!

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Questions and comments can be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org
     


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