Episode 11: "Poetry is Quite Difficult to Censor" w/ Maung Day

Poet in Bangkok

In episode 11, Colin heads to Hanoi, Vietnam, and chats with Burmese poet & visual artist Maung Day. Maung talks about how his early exposure to traditional Burmese songs and poems in school sparked a passion for writing, how--despite extreme military censorship--he sought out American and British literature that excited him, and how he found his own creative voice. He recalls the violent political clashes he saw while residing in Bangkok in the earlier half of the decade, and how he felt a haunting sense of familiarity having witnessed brutal suppressions of uprisings growing up in a Yangon suburb. Maung reflects on the difficulty many immigrants face in Thailand and personal instances of discrimination. He shares his optimism and comments on the exciting, socially engaging, art currently coming out of Myanmar. And Maung explains how the strange alien vines growing across the Earth inspire poetic imagery. The hosts discuss the detention of Hong Kong activist, Joshua Wong, and reflect on the 40th anniversary of one of Thailand's darkest moments. Donald talks about a mysterious new friend with connections to ISECG and the Harbinger missions to Mars, and Colin comes into possession of lyrical translations of alien transmissions. Written and produced by Donald and Colin. Mixed and edited by Colin. Music by Reports, with thanks to Martin Pavlinic (https://reports.bandcamp.com). Special thanks to Izotope for the fabulous sound editing software. Questions or comments? [e-mail]