Stephen King on Childhood
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- čas přidán 12. 12. 2016
- "The things that really scare us are the things that are going on just outside the spotlight that you can’t quite see" - Stephen King on October 22, 1989
The author takes us on a journey back to his childhood and the roots for his decades crafting memorable horror fiction.
Learn more about Stephen King's theory on evil and horror, the films made from his books, and his brilliant Twitter feed: blankonblank.org/stephen-king
Interview originally aired on the Public Radio Book Show and it comes to us courtesy of WAMC Northeast Public Radio and the New York State Writers Institute.
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Credits
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
David Gerlach
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Amy Drozdowska
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"Sunset" Kai Engle
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"Still Life" Vyvyan James Hope-Scott
Help us caption & translate this video!
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Very few people realize that we lose childhood memories because our way of thinking changes -- Stephen King's pretty good at psychology.
I lost 2 years worth of memories but I get deja vu and flashes sometimes.
Same reason Neil Gaiman writes so well from a kids POV, he's held on to the understanding of a child's psychology. Read The Ocean at the End of the Lane or Coraline
It really isn't that deep
I don't even know why I'm here everything is that deep
I agree
Stephen king hits home for me. His explanation of how kids think differently and the quickest point between a & b is not always the straight line, is so true. This man is a living legend!
Okay Corey we get it, based on your endless comments you personally don't care for King's works, which is fine, but is it really necessary for you to complain about his works in the comment section of a video that isn't even about his works, just his perspective on specific topics.
Being uncomfortable with language is a sign of immaturity.
***** There is no such thing as bad language. People need to grow up. You can try to twist this into whatever you like. You apparently need to alter reality to make yourself feel comfortable.
***** Agree. There is a time and a place. And I prefer it when people don't swear every other word. But I'm not offended by language, I'm offended by the other person's stupidity. A small vocabulary is the sign of stupidity.
I don't mind other people not agreeing with me. I just think there are some basic ideas that should be mocked.
***** Just curious (if that was directed at me) what about the profile pic is funny? I'm just confused- it happens. Are you familiar with the picture?
Really love the imagery in this one
+Keith Conner thank you! That's the wizard, Pat Smith.
Blank on Blank do Noam chomsky
Agreed!!
Keith Conner i
You can tell he's a writer, he observes the world around him in a very rare and unique way
And how do you know writers do that? Just about everything non-writers say about writers is complete nonsense. Even most of what writers say about themselves is complete nonsense.
@@jamesaritchie1 oh you're real fun huh
He is not rare. Nor he even unique. He's human. And the only difference between me and him is that he’s far better at expressing himself. I am a cook regaining my sense of taste. I know it. But I haven’t baked in years.
@@erikthomsen4768 why not?
@@annacarlile This specific of sense of perceptive is hardly something new for me. And there is an entire field of studie regarding child psychology.
King is the master of writing from a child's POV. It's best seen in "IT", which everyone should read.
Guy Incognito my favorite book is IT and ive read it 12 times since i was a child and it stills scares me
So why should I read "IT"? I've been debating on it, and I need someone who's read it to tell me why.
The movie sucks though, which is sad
Guy Incognito reading now
Guy Incognito I'm reading it right now
It's cool hearing this great writer talk.
Have never looked. Won't start now.
Good for ya.
Corey Messick Stop complaining about Stephen King. You're complaining about him complaining on Facebook but here you are, doing something similar if not worse and even more immature.
Corey Messick Well it's his Facebook for him to rant on, while you're coming onto comments to rant. His Facebook is for his use, and you can look or not look at your own leisure. But here is a more public domain where fans of his are coming to hear and listen, yet you're treating the comment section like your own Facebook, commenting on everyone you disagree with. If this was your Facebook, then you'd be free to rant all you want, but it's not.
Football hooligans
He's not as weird as you'd think he'd be is he?
I didn't have many notiions about him, so I can't agree with that.
I kind of see him as a weirdo who succeeded
I disagree. He's MUCH weirder. There's no end to the armies of people walking around with monsters in their heads. King has tapped into something far more human and that's something few really accomplish.
Bob The builder his awesome weird is good that's why I love him💕💕💕💕and Wes Craven(RIP)💕😥
He does have phobias about ravens and crows and the number 13. He apparently saw a child killed by a train when he was 2 years old but doesn't remember it. He battled addiction in a huge way, cocaine and alcohol, to the point he can't remember Tommyknockers or Cujo. So he's got some issues kicking around; I just think he copes with it well by writing.
A good childhood is one you really don't remember much, as a child the only things that stick out are hits of reality in that dream like world we live as children stephen talks about.
A good childhood is worth remembering.
A memorable childhood is usually one with abuse and neglect
i remember as much as anything else..and had a good.childhood.
Tomas Tur frusciante profile pic ❤️
I remember nearly nothing because of dissociation due to trauma.
He's so intelligent....I want to write horror now.
ya was great to listen to him speak about a subject that no one really talks about, childhood really is magical. makes me want to read his books now.
Why would you equate intelligence to maturity? Why would you equate complaining with immaturity?
Sure because,.. when you are older you will know.
Corey Messick yet here you are complaining about him, smh.
Corey Messick just unfriend him.
1:35 mr. king... i don’t feel so good
Lol
As a child living in a home where abuse was normal, this man taught me how to read, taught me how the true nature of people can be so different than the appearances they choose to portray. He helped me find different worlds when mine wasnt always so great-He taught me so much about life and I'm forever grateful for his mind.
For you 🌱🌻🐞🦋
One day, my great-grandma, who's 85, told me a story about her friend driving up to Portland, Maine to visit a relative, about 25-30 years ago.
While she was driving through the small towns, she stopped for gas at a local filling station. When she went into the convenience store to pay, standing there at the register paying for his own gas was Stephen King, the master of horror himself. She didn't recognize him at first glance, but as he was leaving, she politely held the door open for him, and he looked up and said "Thank you, ma'am". She took in the sight of him right away and said "Oh!, Mr. King, I love your books!" They chatted for about a minute, then he left, and my great-grandma's friend thought he was the sweetest person ever, as far as I heard.
Moral of the story is, always be kind to one another, because you never know who you're going to run into in life.
@Anne TheReader Thank you!
well yeah... but if she was a total bitch or acted very strange then he might have written her into one of his novels XD
@@bigman25plus25 I'm not sure about that. I think he has enough composure and maturity to handle somebody giving him an attitude.
“We tend to think around corners instead of straight lines”
In childhood, everything seems easier because there's little pressure, yes, but it's easier to laugh and be okay because the outside world is still bright, no snowball of traumas, no lies and such things, you don't really understand half of the news that you see on TV, not even imagine things like how people can be bad, cruel by no reason at all even in school and internet.
I deeply believe we are born without evil inclination, with little to no trace of selfishness and bad feelings, but the bad things we live, the bad friends we associate, too much hedonism without conscience, the fucked up moments, they mess up with our minds to the point that being a cold, mean person is seen as a normal thing. The old idea: "just laugh and forget about other people suffering, you have no obligation to help". And it's plain wrong...
It's surviving the hard times that make us stronger, and if you're capable of do not doing any harm to people, even though they do bad things to you openly or secretly, then you're are still capable of seeing that "bright side" of life - your inner child is safe. It hurts but people need to see these things.
Except in today's world a majority of children have access to commodities such the internet where they can look up the things they're curious about as apposed to acquiring the information from experience and age.
Mr. Givik not all, a child will still be a child no matter the circumstance or how it's raised.
Children are feable and are unaware of the sinful things they do. I once stole money from a stranger as a small kid because I wanted to buy a soda and didn't understand the gravity of what I did. Children are not innocent. They are not angels. In growing up, we realize we were imperfect from the start. The awful reality was always in the air we breathed but we just weren't aware of it yet.
@@mileskay7566 Well as long as you do not realize the right and wrong it is not really right and wrong. That id why complete lunatic killers are taken to asylums. Also this is why you can piss on people as a baby and not sued while if you do so being adult you will probably going to be in trouble.
I love SK. His writing is amazing. IT was able to pull emotions out of me that I didn't think was possible (for a book). I remember sitting in class and wanting to puke and cry at the same time, haha. I also love his characters reflect himself in some way. Like Paul and Bill.
Corey Messick just unfriend him.. godamn -_-
Corey Messick how out-of-touch are you? So many mature writers use profanities in their work, as well as religion and politics. Are you a sensitive crybaby or something? Grow up.
Emma Bourne I had to put the book down quite a few times
Stephen King seems to have held on to a fundamental understanding of what childhood is like, which is why he writes it so well. I remember when I first read It back when I was pretty young (maybe 13), it seemed as if he knew what was going on inside my head about the nature of bullying and the basic mistrust of adults, how they think they know their children, but they often don’t. Ben’s mother, as much as she loved him, had no idea of his daily life and reality. And children know that they are pretty much on their own, in their own world, at the mercy of bullies, and that adults only really intervene when things get out of hand. And then they still often don’t know the dynamics of what is happening. Of course, all of this is just a part of real life, it’s pretty much the same whether you grew up in 1950 or today...but it’s still interesting to see how King has maintained that insight into it.
This was insightful into the man, awesome subject he was covering, a great opportunity to make the most out of the animation. Brilliant. Thank you.
The coolest thing about SK'S understanding and interpretation of childhood, and the differences between childhood and adulthood is that I really don't think he actually realizes how in tune with that transition period he is, in comparison to the rest of us.
He sees it, and comprehends the transition as easily as accepting that the sky is blue, but he doesn't actually think it's anything special because he doesn't know how alien that comprehension is to a lot of us.
Best summed up in his line,
"He doesn't know he doesn't always"
- Richie Tozier, when regarding 'Stuttering' Bill Denbrough NOT stuttering.
He is the master of the horror genre. Redefining it in a more provocative manner, giving us stories like "Carrie", "The Shining", "Misery", "It", "Thinner" and many other scary hits. He also wrote the novella "The Body", which is the basis of the film, "Stand By Me". He is living proof that you can never ever stop writing until you've completed what you're starting. God bless this terrifying man.
One of the my favourite authors.
Same here
Mine too!
I live in the same city as Stephen King and only once I met him I was 12 or so in his neighborhood with some friends and we were debating that Stand by me was one of the greatest movies of all time and which character was based on Stephen himself but he saw us I said "hi Mr king." He asked me my name I said "L*** P*** Space Cowboy." And I said that I loved his short story The Body and my friends stood there unknowing who he was
Face Ache inactive did everybody start clapping? r/thingsthatdidnthappen
long pipi space cowboy
Stoney Wan Not really unrealistic. It’s not uncommon to run into him in Bangor
@@shayZero No, she lost all her friends that day, but I think she made Mr. King's night😅
Wow, not only is he an incredible writer, but the man thinks at a very deep level about the effect of his own works. Genuinely impressed by this excerpt.
That says nothing about him, and some very unflattering things about you.
Many of the characters in his stories are alot like people I know in real life. The people, their lives, etc happen in real life, giving the story the credibility I need. Then when the supernatural happens it's harder for the analytical part of my brain to say "this isn't real!" That's part of why "It" was the first 1,000+ page novel I've ever read.
I love listen to S.King. He really understands his work: everything begins in head:) Using clear, simple words King explains the process of writing. One of my old professors used to say: "Even if the greatest professor can't interpret his work with simple words 'on potatoe', that 6 years old could understand him, it means that this professor himself doesn't understand his subject" :)
You have third grade grammar, but you had a professor? Well, he wasn't any brighter than you are because he had no clue what he was talking about.
Awesome!!! Can you guys do stanley kubrick next?
we are on the search for an interview
Blank on Blank do it
Blank on Blank Please do it.
He's dead..so yeah.
Temmie Plays! They did Curt Cobain and hes dead.
insightful words paired with great animation makes me happy! thanks!
He really does understand how childhood works and shapes us.
the only problem with these videos is that they're too short
0:54 *We forget what it is to be a child.*
He may not be my favorite author but when he said this, it reminded me of my first fave author Antoine de Saint-Exupery, author of "The Little Prince", who also said the exact same thing. And both authors are not even on the same genre. Now this made me want to read King's books already.
I think I enjoyed this even more because Steve sounded like my Dad on the phone. Felt like I was just chatting with my Dad and he was giving me some fantastically amazing advice.
You guys do such awesome work. The whole production is stellar. Every time!
Amazing videos as always. Blank on Blank, can please do one on Haruki Murakami?
I find myself having to constantly rewind about 10 seconds back because of the visuals. I want to listen to Stephen's word but the visuals are just great!
What an articulate and thoughtful individual. I should watch more of his interviews.
I can't wait to forget my childhood. I'm almost 30, and I still have memories from when i was 2.
Imagine this: You're sitting, reading in your room with your family out in the living room having a loud conversation. Nothing you can understand clearly, just what you can recognize as their voices saying what may as well be gibberish. You think you hear your mom yelling at one of your siblings, and you think maybe you can diffuse the conversation by offering to help finish dinner or something similar. You walk out through the hallway into the warm living space, rubbing your eyes as the lighting changes. Everyone still seems to be talking as you come in, though you're not tuned in to what theyre saying. Your vision clears you make eyecontact with your mom, who, unlike you'd unconsiously predicted, seems suddenly wide eyed and blank faced. Shes a manequin. You stand back realising that the entire family are manequins, a set of sitting and standing replicas of your family. Your mother's unmoving face isn't speaking, but instead is babbling frenzied gibberish in her recognisable voice. And the same with your father and your siblings, forming that nonsense sound you heard moments ago but now at full volume. You realize that the manequins are all facing toward you as if they had been waiting for you all along.
This kind of shit that keeps me awake at night...
is that from a stephen king's book?
Ima Dork where is that from?
Cool story bro
That's really more twilight zone than anything
@James Currie that reminds me of weeping angels from doctor who
Childhood as a dream state definitely resonated with me. Thats what it seemed like even at the time, somehow vague or clouded in a wondrous and non replicatable way.
This is one of the best Blank on Blank videos I've seen. It made clearer what I already knew about storytelling in a way only a great storyteller can do.
This was the living and breathing form of thinking outside of the box. He knew reality in a much further sense then many people wish too. It’s truly admirable and I aspire to be like this.
I'm Brazilian, and I loved this Chanel.
I feel addicted.
thanks for the content. and congratulations for the job. 💖
He fascinates me, he’s so smart I love the way he uses words!
I hope these videos build a good following. The blend of aesthetic and the content is awesome.
A great mind that has produced great books. Such a treat to hear him talk ♥️🥰
As someone who has repressed childhood memories due to abuse and trauma, I do like what he said about children not thinking in straight lines. In exploring my past, certain snippets of memory or ideas are always coming to the forefront. It takes a long time and a flash of clarity to realize what it means. It’s always symbolic, or connected to something else but in a very roundabout way. I think connecting with your younger self is about connecting the two-taking the childhood thinking process and connecting it with the present, making it comprehensible as an adult. Maybe that would work for anyone, not just traumatized people.
He's a great interviewee. He always drops some interesting insight into his way of thinking
One of, if not the most inspirational mind in all of American literature
King has hypnotized me with his words.
PLEASE DOO LAYNE STALEY
Great interview & illustration. Stephen gets it.
I love Stephen King, such a good author.
wow i love this. i could listen to him speak like this for hours. stephen king is such an astounding, wonderful human being. jeez.
I’m sure some other people feel this way but when I think of how I felt from when I was like the earliest age I was conscious to like 5 or 6. I remember having so many dreamlike unexplainable moments I can only explain as movies playing in my head, I feel like I remember that happening when I was super young it’s like the first memory I have
He's always been an inspiration for the scary stories I write.
Like his stuff or not King is the King. Articulate, eloquent, and truthful. I like this guy. He knows he is working a device.
He's a drug-froied moron. As a writer he's fair, and that's all. His stories and characters are good, his ending are often tacked on and lousy, and his writing still is worse than many of the writers he says aren't any good.
As a human being, he's a brain dead fool.
The trouble is, he's famous. This makes other fools love him, simply because he is famous. Too many worship what people do, rather than what those people are. You're one of them.
@@jamesaritchie1 Yes, drug froi-ing is really sad. My brains got froid herself. Cold, juicy, squishy. Stop the Froid!
I have no idea how i didn't know about this channel before, what this channel has going on is great, it truly is. And these animations are top notch!!
Great video and that animation in the background is phenomenal!
Beautiful-Thank you !
This is beautiful, it hits me hard how true this is!
You have got a new Subscriber.
Estou amando esse canal.
These are the wisest words ive ever listened to
As someone who is an aspiring writer and had a rough childhood, I often try to get in touch with that way of thinking for creative and personal matters. Honestly, I think Stephen King genuinely has a point and it really sunk in because he writes in a similar genre to me.
I could listen to King discuss his work, psychology and inspiration for days.
R.L Stein and Step King would make great friends lol
Fancy seeing an alt righter here
My views are about fighting an anti-white agenda. I therefore don't give a fuck about anyone who is anti-white.
Hard Truth You do realize that many people use pepe as just a joke, right? Pepe never really was an alt-right symbol. It's just that people on the alt-right and white supremacists use memes as a method to communicate. Which of course includes Pepe. Please no identity politics.
You do realize that the alt right took over Pepe, and 4 chan, as well as other websites. It's growing, and it's growing because reality is not something you can ignore forever. The left also wants identity politics. The alt right just wants a white country for themselves to live in. Every other race gets to, but whites are not allowed because..well why? Can you explain that to me? Somehow whites not wanting to live with non-whites is supremacy? That shit is getting old dude.
I understand that both the left and the right use identity politics. I'm just against it in general. "The alt-right took over Pepe" Pepe is simply a template for someone to use, therefore it cannot be simply taken over by a specific group. I can see why people on the alt-right believe in ethno-nationalism, as they simply wish not to be treated like shit for simply being white(correct me if I'm wrong). However, you have to consider:
1. At this point, trying to pull something like that off would be near-impossible.
2. Why have any country for just one race? People are people, don't let your judgement of someone be clouded by which color they are. And yes, both sides are responsible for this mistake
Best one yet
This was great! So awesome and again nice animation and music choices. Spectacular!!!
This is actually so so cool and really inspirational, especially to someone who would love to start writing and maybe even become an author one day
Congratulations to the people that have made this animation. I loved It.
Been binge watching these, love em! What program do you use for the animations? Also I request a Warren Zevon episode.
I love him and his work so much! He’s really incredible
This is wonderful and the animation is beautifully done
Thom Yorke one day please
crispwhite Yes, please, and thank you.
YES PLSSSS! :D
crispwhite YAS
He doesn't open up much in interviews though. I think Björk would be better. She has the greatest insights.
crispwhite Thom Yorke is so missing from these amazing works of art!!! Issac Brock would be awesome and Maynard or all the guys from Tool... I am in love with this!
Thank you for this, impressive how the animation fits so brilliantly with the lyrics ! Maybe the next Blank on Blank video will be dedicated to ... Blank on Blank.
Carrie is my favorite novel. I think it's his most depressing story yet.
This one is so good!
Very insightful, wow.
He has made my favorite movies even when I was a kid
great video , thanks!
I love this dude, he is definitely an inspiration of mine. Some of the movies based off his stuff are not good but his books are always great
I would listen to SK talk if you had a blank screen here, but big thanks to your graphics person for making a really good video!
3:12 perfectly sums up The Shining.
I love the drawings of the video.
In other words, the unknown and the unthinkable make a delightful couple.
I love the gear/pulley metaphor
Steven king is an actual legend..and I love him so much, although I dislike horrors because they freak me out, I love his writing and even how he explains everything in these videos😂but he has inspired me , because i would love to become an author as well..I really enjoy writing and Stephen King and many other authors have encourged me to do so ..they are amazing and just so unique..I honestly don't know how to explain it..it's that amazing💕
I feel so much watching this cartoon. The maker is absolutely great
This is beautiful
I find this so awesome
This is why Stephen is my favorite author.
The origin of all fear is the belief that we are separate from all that is.
Our "waking" life is merely a continuation of the dream state, but few realize that the wish to change reality to one's liking - which is what a dream is - isn't left behind upon waking.
Spot on. I have, in the case of many of Steve's books, thought the underlying theme was the essential power of innocence.
I am doing a presentation about Stephen King, and I have learned so much about him. It just makes me feel so bad for not even knowing who he actually was until now. He is an incredible writer, and he should have got way more Oscars than he had got.
Amazing
Amazing animation!
i love Stephen King so much
The only writer who can go so deep with his character psychologics.
This is probably why I could so easily his books when I was younger, even though I had trouble with a lot of YA fiction
I'm not a fan of King's work at all, but this is such a lovely, well articulated handful of thoughts. Clearly an able man.
Its awesome to hear that one of my greatest inspirations for both my early and current art shares so many views with me on a phsycological level the thing that got me the most was the thing about how your afraid of horror because of idea that this could actually happen if you changed a few things and I personally think that people who haven't heard this will think the reason your afraid of a horror fantasy is because your afraid of the idea of if it could happen without changing anything how would you react to it I honestly the fact that even though we are our own person with our own brain and would assume we know our brains inside and out we do and we don't and manage to trick ourselves because of this. Honestly I love looking into u physioligy and for a long time I've been wanting to get a degree in design and animation and maybe just maybe physioligy but now I know I definitely want to get a degree in physiology along with the design and animation.
Stephen King has earned a deep part of my mind.