Bill Moyers: The Language of Life

Watch Bill Moyers: The Language of Life

  • 1995
  • 1 Season

Bill Moyers: The Language of Life is an insightful and intellectually stimulating television series that explores the intersection of language, culture, and creativity. The show features interviews with some of the most innovative and influential figures in contemporary literature, music, and poetry, as well as with scholars and experts in linguistics, rhetoric, and communication studies.

Throughout the series, Bill Moyers delves into the deep-rooted connections between language and identity, examining how the way we speak and write reflects and shapes our values, beliefs, and experiences. From exploring the power of storytelling as a tool for social change, to analyzing the role of language in political discourse, The Language of Life offers a comprehensive look at the ways in which language permeates every aspect of our lives.

One of the most compelling aspects of the show is the diversity of voices represented. Moyers engages in conversations with writers and poets from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives, from acclaimed African American author Toni Morrison, to Native American poet Sherwin Bitsui. Through these conversations, viewers are exposed to a wide range of experiences and perspectives, gaining a deeper understanding of the complexities of linguistic and cultural identity.

The Language of Life also offers an in-depth look at the creative processes of some of the most celebrated writers and poets of our time. Through interviews with luminaries such as Maya Angelou and Robert Bly, Moyers uncovers the ways in which language and creativity intersect, revealing the magic and mystery of the creative act. He investigates questions such as "where do ideas come from?" and "what makes a powerful metaphor?" providing viewers with insights into the mechanics of literary creation.

Throughout the series, Moyers also explores the role of language in shaping our understanding of the world around us. From analyzing the impact of metaphors on our perception of reality, to examining the language of science and technology, The Language of Life delves deep into the ways in which language shapes our understanding of the world and our place in it.

Overall, Bill Moyers: The Language of Life is a thought-provoking and engaging exploration of the power and complexity of language. Through conversations with some of the most influential writers and thinkers of our time, viewers are offered a deeper understanding of the ways in which language both reflects and shapes our individual and collective experiences. With its broad-ranging scope and emphasis on diversity and creativity, The Language of Life will appeal to anyone with an interest in language, literature, and culture.

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Seasons
Come Celebrate With Me
8. Come Celebrate With Me
June 23, 1995
Poems exploring the pain and courage required to stand out, fit in, and stand up, by Lucille Clifton and David Mura.
The Heart of Things
7. The Heart of Things
June 23, 1995
"Moving to the heart of things" with Adrienne Rich, celebrating muliculturalism with Victor Hern?ndez Cruz, and jazzing with Michael S. Harper.
Swirl Like a Leaf
6. Swirl Like a Leaf
June 23, 1995
Expressions of rage and forgiveness by Jimmy Santiago Baca, of identity and duality by Marilyn Chin, and of aging and wisdom by Robert Bly.
Here in the Mind
5. Here in the Mind
June 23, 1995
Everyday heroes and heroines in poems by former Sandinista revolutionary Daisy Zamora; "landscapes of the mind" by Gary Snyder.
Some Can Sing
4. Some Can Sing
June 23, 1995
Poems of family and politics by Carolyn Forch? and Claribel Alegr'a; "domestic felicities" and haiku by Robert Hass.
The Field of Time
3. The Field of Time
June 23, 1995
"Saying the unsayable" about violence and love, in poems by Linda McCarriston and Sandra McPherson.
Love's Confusing Joy
2. Love's Confusing Joy
June 23, 1995
Transcendent verse by the 13th-century Persian mystic Rumi, as translated and read by Coleman Barks.
Welcome to the Mainland
1. Welcome to the Mainland
June 23, 1995
Sekou Sundiata "oralizes" in polyrhythmic, jazz-influenced performances; Naomi Shihab Nye seeks universal truths in everyday objects and experiences.
Description
  • Premiere Date
    June 23, 1995