How To Academy Podcast Philip Hoare - The Revolutionary Genius of William Blake
Sep 12, 2025
Join Philip Hoare, a writer and artist passionate about William Blake, as he dives deep into the visionary world of this revolutionary genius. Hoare unpacks Blake's radical artistry and his influence on musical icons like David Bowie. Discover how Blake's rejection of societal norms shaped his timeless themes and innovative techniques. The conversation also reveals Blake's intimate ties to nature and his bold stance against slavery, highlighting the transformative power of art and the enduring legacy he left for future generations.
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Blake As Punk Printer
- Blake invented a DIY print method to combine image and text, anticipating modern zines and countercultural production.
- His tradesperson skill as an engraver gave his work an energy intended for wide propagation, not private cabinets.
Radical Nonbinary Imagination
- Blake rejected binary constraints of gender, class and species and depicted fluid, transgressive bodies and sanctity in all living things.
- His art contains fierce condemnations of slavery and insists everything that exists is holy.
Naked Garden And The Ghost Flea
- Hoare recounts Blake and Catherine sitting naked in their Lambeth garden when visitor John Linnell arrived and the story of Blake's terrifying ghost of a flea.
- The episode illustrates Blake's theatrical persona and the vividness of his visions.
