Readings

In his new book, Oliver Sacks describes a poet who began experiencing vivid hallucinations as she went blind late in life, and put those visions to use in her work. Which raises a question: what's the difference between dream and hallucination, the poetic vision and figment of imagination?

Current debates over pipeline routes, oil sands development and whether Canada is suffering from "Dutch Disease" are just the latest manifestations of a long-running conflict that has been around since the western provinces joined Confederation. Today's politicians could do well to learn from history.

Twenty years ago tomorrow, Salman Rushdie made a surprise visit to Canada while living in hiding under the fatwa decreed by Ayatollah Khomeini. It was an historic occasion—not just an opportunity for the embattled author of The Satanic Verses to enjoy the rare company of his fellow authors, but for an entire country to unite in support of free expression.

The experimental filmmaker discusses his latest project, the live-scored We Have An Anchor, plus the disjunctures of time and space as experienced in cinema, and why despite working with bands like Fugazi, R.E.M., and The Ex, he’ll never consider himself a music video director.