Episode 577 | Nature's Novels: Reading the Elysian Fields

The artistry of gardens and activist art are often thought of as polar forms of expression in comparison. During the Stuart Period, a time of great religious and political revolution, landscape architecture began to adopt revolutionist tendencies. One of the greatest examples of this is through the work of William Kent’s Elysian Garden. Elysian Fields are thought to be the final resting place of heroic and virtuous souls in Greek Mythology. During the extreme embrace of Catholicism during the Stuart Period, these gardens pushed boundaries to make a statement for societal change. Discussed in this podcast, we explore how these gardens and gardens alike pushed boundaries in their interpretation of enjoyers, how interpreting these forms of art can be compared to “reading”, and explore the limitations of these bodies of work.

Music Intro:

“Happy Lofi (Loop) Positive Chill” by Shadow Gradient

Music Outro:

“Going Nowhere” by Flashinmusic