Why Literature Still Matters with Dr. Jason Baxter

Summary In this conversation, Shannon Valenzuela and Jason Baxter explore the profound relationship between literature, beauty, and the human experience. Jason Baxter shares insights on how immersion in literary worlds fosters depth, prudence, and a sense of the divine, emphasizing the importance of literature and the arts in cultivating the soul and a deep sense of inwardness. Topics Covered: Art and literature and the communication of experience The importance of immersion and analysis for understanding literary texts The relationship between experiencing landscapes and experiencing literary texts The power of art and literature to close the gap between self and beauty Why literature matters, especially in our world today Today's Guest: Dr. Jason Baxter is the Director of the Center for Beauty and Culture at Benedictine College. He holds a Doctorate in Literature from the University of Notre Dame. Prior to joining Benedictine, he spent time as a visiting associate professor at Notre Dame preceded by twelve years at Wyoming Catholic College. His written works include The Medieval Mind of C.S. Lewis and A Beginner’s Guide to Dante’s Divine Comedy, among others, and he is currently working on an original translation of Dante’s Divine Comedy. Baxter has written many academic and popular articles, and he frequently makes media appearances ranging from podcasts to EWTN. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:54 Why Literature Still Matters 14:15 Inhabiting Worlds 23:39 Experiencing Beauty Through Literature 27:28 Finding Beauty in Sardinia 30:51 The Communion of Beauty and Art 40:28 Experiencing Dante's World 47:15 The Pilgrim Way Episode Links: More from Jason Baxter: https://www.jasonmbaxter.com/ University of Dallas Links: The Donald and Louise Cowan Center: https://udallas.edu/faith-service/centers-institutes/cowan/index.php Classical Education Master’s Program at the University of Dallas: udallas.edu/classical-ed St. Ambrose Center Professional Development for Teachers and Administrators: https://k12classical.udallas.edu/ The Quest: Seasons 1 and 2 now streaming on Relevant Radio+ and EWTN+ and at quest.udallas.edu. Support the show If you enjoyed the show, please leave a rating and review — it helps others find us!