[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.44,0:00:02.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hi everybody. So my name is Mac.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:02.53,0:00:06.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My job is that I lie to children,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:06.59,0:00:08.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they're honest lies.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.60,0:00:10.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I write children's books,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.37,0:00:13.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and there's a quote from Pablo Picasso,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.60,0:00:16.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"We all know that Art is not truth.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.79,0:00:20.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Art is a lie that makes us realize truth
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.43,0:00:23.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or at least the truth that is \Ngiven us to understand.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.13,0:00:25.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The artist must know the manner whereby
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.24,0:00:30.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to convince others of the \Ntruthfulness of his lies."
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.07,0:00:32.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I first heard this when I was a kid,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.93,0:00:34.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I loved it,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.62,0:00:37.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I had no idea what it meant.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.42,0:00:38.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.99,0:00:40.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I thought, you know what, it's what I'm here
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.89,0:00:42.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to talk to you today about, though,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.51,0:00:44.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,truth and lies, fiction and reality.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.72,0:00:46.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So how could I untangle
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.57,0:00:49.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this knotted bunch of sentences?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.10,0:00:52.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I said, I've got PowerPoint.\NLet's do a Venn diagram.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.53,0:00:55.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,["Truth. Lies."]\N(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.02,0:00:56.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So there it is, right there, boom.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.78,0:00:58.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We've got truth and lies
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.48,0:00:59.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then there's this little space,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.56,0:01:01.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the edge, in the middle.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.12,0:01:07.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That liminal space, that's art.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:07.92,0:01:12.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All right. Venn diagram. (Laughter) (Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.92,0:01:15.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But that's actually not very helpful either.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.94,0:01:20.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The thing that made me understand
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.32,0:01:22.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that quote and really kind of what art,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.81,0:01:25.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at least the art of fiction, was,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.02,0:01:26.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was working with kids.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.46,0:01:28.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I used to be a summer camp counselor.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.72,0:01:31.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would do it on my summers off from college,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.01,0:01:34.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I loved it.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.39,0:01:36.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was a sports summer camp
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.15,0:01:37.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for four- to six-year-olds.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.98,0:01:39.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was in charge of the four-year-olds,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.63,0:01:41.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is good, because
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.43,0:01:44.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,four-year-olds can't play \Nsports, and neither can I.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.78,0:01:46.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.36,0:01:49.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I play sports at a four-year-old level,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.28,0:01:52.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so what would happen is the kids would
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.100,0:01:54.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,dribble around some cones, and then got hot,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.70,0:01:56.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then they would go sit underneath the tree
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.96,0:01:59.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where I was already sitting — (Laughter) —
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.80,0:02:02.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I would just make up stories and tell them to them
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.35,0:02:04.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I would tell them stories about my life.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.17,0:02:05.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would tell them about how, on the weekends,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.91,0:02:09.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would go home and I would\Nspy for the Queen of England.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:09.13,0:02:12.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And soon, other kids
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.45,0:02:14.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who weren't even in my group of kids,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.29,0:02:15.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they would come up to me, and they would say,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.76,0:02:17.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"You're Mac Barnett, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.67,0:02:20.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You're the guy who spies for the Queen of England."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.74,0:02:23.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I had been waiting my whole life for strangers
Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.96,0:02:26.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to come up and ask me that question.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.39,0:02:28.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In my fantasy, they were svelte Russian women,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.66,0:02:29.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but, you know, four-year-olds —
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.90,0:02:34.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you take what you can get in Berkeley, California.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:34.53,0:02:38.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I realized that the stories that I was telling
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.96,0:02:42.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were real in this way that was familiar to me
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.45,0:02:43.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and really exciting.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.66,0:02:45.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think the pinnacle of this for \Nme — I'll never forget this —
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.86,0:02:48.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there was this little girl \Nnamed Riley. She was tiny,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:48.69,0:02:51.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and she used to always take \Nout her lunch every day
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.13,0:02:53.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and she would throw out her fruit.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.47,0:02:54.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She would just take her fruit,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.87,0:02:56.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,her mom packed her a melon every day,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:56.22,0:02:57.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and she would just throw it in the ivy
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.97,0:03:00.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then she would eat fruit snacks
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.28,0:03:02.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and pudding cups, and I was like, "Riley,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.66,0:03:05.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can't do that, you \Nhave to eat the fruit."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.71,0:03:07.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And she was like, "Why?"
Dialogue: 0,0:03:07.53,0:03:09.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I was like, "Well, when\Nyou throw the fruit in the ivy,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.36,0:03:13.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,pretty soon, it's going to be overgrown with melons,"
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.25,0:03:15.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is why I think I ended up
Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.26,0:03:20.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,telling stories to children and not\Nbeing a nutritionist for children.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.88,0:03:22.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so Riley was like, "That will never happen.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.76,0:03:23.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's not going to happen."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.86,0:03:26.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so, on the last day of camp,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.91,0:03:29.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I got up early and I got a big cantaloupe
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.37,0:03:31.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from the grocery store
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.39,0:03:33.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I hid it in the ivy,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.50,0:03:34.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then at lunchtime, I was like,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.95,0:03:37.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Riley, why don't you go over\Nthere and see what you've done."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.62,0:03:40.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And — (Laughter) —
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.80,0:03:43.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,she went trudging through \Nthe ivy, and then her eyes
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.47,0:03:45.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just got so wide, and she pointed out this melon
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.57,0:03:47.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that was bigger than her head,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.68,0:03:50.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then all the kids ran over \Nthere and rushed around her,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.65,0:03:52.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and one of the kids was like, "Hey,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.24,0:03:54.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,why is there a sticker on this?"
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.13,0:03:57.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.35,0:03:59.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I was like, "That is also why I say
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.82,0:04:02.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,do not throw your stickers in the ivy.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.81,0:04:08.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Put them in the trash can. It\Nruins nature when you do this."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.28,0:04:13.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And Riley carried that melon around with her all day,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.63,0:04:15.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and she was so proud.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.66,0:04:20.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And Riley knew she didn't \Ngrow a melon in seven days,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.50,0:04:23.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but she also knew that she did,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.44,0:04:25.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it's a weird place,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.66,0:04:28.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it's not just a place that kids can get to.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.40,0:04:31.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's anything. Art can get us to that place.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.93,0:04:33.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She was right in that place in the middle,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.89,0:04:37.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that place which you could call art or fiction.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:37.32,0:04:39.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm going to call it wonder.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.38,0:04:42.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's what Coleridge called the\Nwilling suspension of disbelief
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.01,0:04:43.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or poetic faith,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.69,0:04:46.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for those moments where a\Nstory, no matter how strange,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.10,0:04:48.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has some semblance of the truth,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.14,0:04:50.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then you're able to believe it.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.12,0:04:51.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's not just kids who can get there.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.75,0:04:54.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Adults can too, and we get there when we read.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.44,0:04:56.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's why in two days, people will be
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.69,0:05:00.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,descending on Dublin to take the walking tour
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.22,0:05:05.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of Bloomsday and see everything\Nthat happened in "Ulysses,"
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.82,0:05:08.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even though none of that happened.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.08,0:05:10.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or people go to London and they visit Baker Street
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.34,0:05:11.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to see Sherlock Holmes' apartment,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.81,0:05:13.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even though 221B is just a number that was painted
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.94,0:05:17.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on a building that never \Nactually had that address.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.08,0:05:18.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We know these characters aren't real,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.81,0:05:21.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but we have real feelings about them,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:21.43,0:05:22.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we're able to do that.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.47,0:05:24.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We know these characters aren't real,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.36,0:05:27.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and yet we also know that they are.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.68,0:05:31.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Kids can get there a lot more easily than adults can,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:31.34,0:05:32.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that's why I love writing for kids.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.89,0:05:34.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think kids are the best audience
Dialogue: 0,0:05:34.87,0:05:39.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for serious literary fiction.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:39.26,0:05:42.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I was a kid,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:42.08,0:05:44.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was obsessed with secret door novels,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:44.71,0:05:45.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,things like "Narnia,"
Dialogue: 0,0:05:45.87,0:05:49.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where you would open a wardrobe\Nand go through to a magical land.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.57,0:05:52.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I was convinced that secret doors really did exist
Dialogue: 0,0:05:52.30,0:05:54.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I would look for them and try to go through them.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:54.33,0:05:58.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I wanted to live and cross over into \Nthat fictional world, which is —
Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.08,0:06:03.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would always just open people's closet doors. \N(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.77,0:06:06.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would just go through my mom's boyfriend's closet,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:06.55,0:06:08.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and there was not a secret magical land there.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.80,0:06:11.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There was some other weird stuff that\NI think my mom should know about.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:11.39,0:06:13.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:06:13.11,0:06:17.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I was happy to tell her all about it.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.54,0:06:23.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,After college, my first job was working
Dialogue: 0,0:06:23.68,0:06:26.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,behind one of these secret doors.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:26.23,0:06:28.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is a place called 826 Valencia.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:28.19,0:06:30.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's at 826 Valencia Street
Dialogue: 0,0:06:30.28,0:06:32.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the Mission in San Francisco,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:32.77,0:06:34.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and when I worked there, there\Nwas a publishing company
Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.79,0:06:37.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,headquartered there called McSweeney's,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:37.43,0:06:40.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a nonprofit writing center called 826 Valencia,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:40.58,0:06:42.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but then the front of it
Dialogue: 0,0:06:42.79,0:06:44.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was a strange shop.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.36,0:06:45.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see, this place was zoned retail,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:45.79,0:06:48.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in San Francisco, they were\Nnot going to give us a variance,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.90,0:06:51.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so the writer who founded\Nit, a writer named Dave Eggers,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.79,0:06:54.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to come into compliance \Nwith code, he said, "Fine,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:54.13,0:06:58.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm just going to build a pirate supply store."
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.50,0:07:01.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that's what he did. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.58,0:07:03.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it's beautiful. It's all wood.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:03.53,0:07:05.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's drawers you can pull out and get citrus
Dialogue: 0,0:07:05.46,0:07:08.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so you don't get scurvy.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.48,0:07:10.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They have eyepatches in lots of colors,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:10.63,0:07:13.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because when it's springtime, pirates want to go wild.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:13.33,0:07:17.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You don't know. Black is boring. Pastel.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:17.67,0:07:19.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or eyes, also in lots of colors,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:19.67,0:07:21.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just glass eyes, depending on how you want
Dialogue: 0,0:07:21.48,0:07:25.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to deal with that situation.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.19,0:07:28.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the store, strangely,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:28.31,0:07:32.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people came to them and bought things,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:32.32,0:07:34.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they ended up paying the rent
Dialogue: 0,0:07:34.15,0:07:36.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for our tutoring center, which was behind it,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:36.22,0:07:39.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but to me, more important was the fact
Dialogue: 0,0:07:39.27,0:07:41.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I think the quality of work you do,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.92,0:07:44.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,kids would come and get instruction in writing,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:44.40,0:07:48.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and when you have to walk this weird, liminal,\Nfictional space like this to go do your writing,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.67,0:07:52.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's going to affect the kind of work that you make.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:52.42,0:07:54.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a secret door that you can walk through.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:54.61,0:07:57.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I ran the 826 in Los Angeles,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:57.36,0:08:00.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it was my job to build the store down there.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:00.84,0:08:04.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we have The Echo Park Time Travel Mart.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:04.40,0:08:07.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's our motto: "Whenever\Nyou are, we're already then."
Dialogue: 0,0:08:07.24,0:08:11.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:11.10,0:08:15.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it's on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:15.86,0:08:17.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Our friendly staff is ready to help you.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:17.97,0:08:20.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're from all eras,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:20.11,0:08:23.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,including just the 1980s, that guy on the end,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:23.72,0:08:25.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he's from the very recent past.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:25.92,0:08:27.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's our Employees of the Month,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:27.62,0:08:30.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,including Genghis Khan, Charles Dickens.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:30.60,0:08:33.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some great people have come up through our ranks.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:33.60,0:08:35.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is our kind of pharmacy section.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:35.95,0:08:37.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We have some patent medicines,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:37.29,0:08:39.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Canopic jars for your organs,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.64,0:08:41.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,communist soap that says,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:41.27,0:08:45.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"This is your soap for the year."\N(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:45.72,0:08:47.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Our slushy machine broke
Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.94,0:08:50.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on the opening night and \Nwe didn't know what to do.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:50.57,0:08:52.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Our architect was covered in red syrup.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:52.81,0:08:55.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It looked like he had just murdered somebody,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:55.28,0:08:56.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which it was not out of the question
Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.97,0:08:59.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for this particular architect,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:59.02,0:09:00.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we didn't know what to do.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:00.61,0:09:01.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was going to be the highlight of our store.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:01.64,0:09:02.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we just put that sign on it that said,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:02.98,0:09:07.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Out of order. Come back yesterday."\N(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.49,0:09:09.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that ended up being a better joke than slushies,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:09.52,0:09:13.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so we just left it there forever.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:13.62,0:09:17.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Mammoth Chunks. These things\Nweigh, like, seven pounds each.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.93,0:09:20.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Barbarian repellent. It's full of salad
Dialogue: 0,0:09:20.13,0:09:24.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and potpourri — things that barbarians hate.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:24.71,0:09:26.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Dead languages.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:26.67,0:09:29.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:09:29.37,0:09:32.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Leeches, nature's tiny doctors.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:32.45,0:09:35.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And Viking Odorant, which\Ncomes in lots of great scents:
Dialogue: 0,0:09:35.59,0:09:39.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,toenails, sweat and rotten vegetables, pyre ash.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:39.60,0:09:41.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because we believe that Axe Body Spray
Dialogue: 0,0:09:41.70,0:09:43.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is something that you should\Nonly find on the battlefield,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:43.37,0:09:47.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not under your arms.\N(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.56,0:09:49.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And these are robot emotion chips,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:49.54,0:09:51.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so robots can feel love or fear.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:51.77,0:09:53.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Our biggest seller is Schadenfreude,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:53.48,0:09:54.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which we did not expect.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:54.78,0:09:55.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:09:55.79,0:09:58.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We did not think that was going to happen.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:58.24,0:10:00.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But there's a nonprofit behind it,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:00.50,0:10:02.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and kids go through a door\Nthat says "Employees Only"
Dialogue: 0,0:10:02.48,0:10:03.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they end up in this space
Dialogue: 0,0:10:03.70,0:10:05.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where they do homework and write stories
Dialogue: 0,0:10:05.87,0:10:08.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and make films and this is a book release party
Dialogue: 0,0:10:08.33,0:10:09.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where kids will read.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:09.81,0:10:11.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's a quarterly that's published
Dialogue: 0,0:10:11.72,0:10:13.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with just writing that's done by the kids
Dialogue: 0,0:10:13.14,0:10:14.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who come every day after school,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:14.20,0:10:15.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we have release parties
Dialogue: 0,0:10:15.73,0:10:18.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they eat cake and read for their parents
Dialogue: 0,0:10:18.68,0:10:21.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and drink milk out of champagne glasses.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:21.53,0:10:24.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it's a very special space,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:24.78,0:10:27.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it's this weird space in the front.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:27.100,0:10:31.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The joke isn't a joke.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:31.30,0:10:33.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can't find the seams on the fiction,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:33.70,0:10:36.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I love that. It's this little bit of fiction
Dialogue: 0,0:10:36.60,0:10:39.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's colonized the real world.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:39.86,0:10:43.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I see it as kind of a book in three dimensions.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:43.92,0:10:46.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's a term called metafiction,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:46.16,0:10:50.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that's just stories about stories,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.24,0:10:51.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and meta's having a moment now.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:51.82,0:10:53.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Its last big moment was probably in the 1960s
Dialogue: 0,0:10:53.84,0:10:56.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with novelists like John Barth and William Gaddis,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:56.52,0:10:57.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it's been around.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:57.77,0:11:01.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's almost as old as storytelling itself.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:01.31,0:11:03.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And one metafictive technique
Dialogue: 0,0:11:03.85,0:11:05.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is breaking the fourth wall. Right?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:05.64,0:11:08.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's when an actor will turn to the audience
Dialogue: 0,0:11:08.90,0:11:09.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and say, "I am an actor,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:09.96,0:11:12.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,these are just rafters."
Dialogue: 0,0:11:12.55,0:11:14.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And even that supposedly honest moment,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:14.58,0:11:16.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would argue, is in service of the lie,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:16.80,0:11:19.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it's supposed to foreground the artificiality
Dialogue: 0,0:11:19.56,0:11:21.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the fiction.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:21.25,0:11:23.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For me, I kind of prefer the opposite.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:23.40,0:11:25.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If I'm going to break down the fourth wall,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:25.53,0:11:27.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want fiction to escape
Dialogue: 0,0:11:27.87,0:11:29.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and come into the real world.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:29.96,0:11:34.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want a book to be a secret door that opens
Dialogue: 0,0:11:34.55,0:11:37.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and lets the stories out into reality.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:37.45,0:11:40.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so I try to do this in my books.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:40.43,0:11:41.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And here's just one example.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:41.97,0:11:43.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is the first book that I ever made.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:43.89,0:11:46.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's called "Billy Twitters\Nand his Blue Whale Problem."
Dialogue: 0,0:11:46.51,0:11:48.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it's about a kid who gets a blue whale as a pet
Dialogue: 0,0:11:48.64,0:11:50.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it's a punishment
Dialogue: 0,0:11:50.23,0:11:52.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it ruins his life.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:52.70,0:11:55.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it's delivered overnight by FedUp.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:55.52,0:11:58.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:11:58.11,0:12:00.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And he has to take it to school with him.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:00.10,0:12:01.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He lives in San Francisco —
Dialogue: 0,0:12:01.45,0:12:03.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,very tough city to own a blue whale in.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:03.98,0:12:08.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A lot of hills, real estate is at a premium.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:08.42,0:12:10.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This market's crazy, everybody.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:10.93,0:12:14.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But underneath the jacket is this case,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:14.72,0:12:18.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that's the cover underneath the book, the jacket,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:18.90,0:12:20.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and there's an ad
Dialogue: 0,0:12:20.28,0:12:23.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that offers a free 30-day risk-free trial
Dialogue: 0,0:12:23.53,0:12:25.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for a blue whale.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:25.43,0:12:28.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And you can just send in a\Nself-addressed stamped envelope
Dialogue: 0,0:12:28.42,0:12:32.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we'll send you a whale.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:32.27,0:12:36.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And kids do write in.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:36.61,0:12:40.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So here's a letter. It says, "Dear people,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:40.02,0:12:43.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I bet you 10 bucks you won't send me a blue whale.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:43.20,0:12:45.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Eliot Gannon (age 6)."
Dialogue: 0,0:12:45.68,0:12:49.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) (Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:12:50.84,0:12:52.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what Eliot and the other kids
Dialogue: 0,0:12:52.96,0:12:55.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who send these in get back
Dialogue: 0,0:12:55.45,0:12:58.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is a letter in very small print\Nfrom a Norwegian law firm —
Dialogue: 0,0:12:58.38,0:13:02.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) —
Dialogue: 0,0:13:02.34,0:13:05.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that says that due to a change in customs laws,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:05.70,0:13:07.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,their whale has been held up in Sognefjord,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:07.90,0:13:09.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is a very lovely fjord,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:09.13,0:13:10.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then it just kind of talks about Sognefjord
Dialogue: 0,0:13:10.59,0:13:13.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and Norwegian food for \Na little while. It digresses.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:13.07,0:13:14.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:13:16.77,0:13:18.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it finishes off by saying that
Dialogue: 0,0:13:18.68,0:13:21.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,your whale would love to hear from you.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:21.41,0:13:23.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He's got a phone number,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:23.00,0:13:27.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you can call and leave him a message.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:27.71,0:13:30.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when you call and leave him a message,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:30.29,0:13:32.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you just, on the outgoing message,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:32.28,0:13:37.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's just whale sounds and then a beep,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:37.40,0:13:40.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which actually sounds a lot like a whale sound.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:40.95,0:13:42.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they get a picture of their whale too.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:42.93,0:13:45.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this is Randolph,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:45.46,0:13:48.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and Randolph belongs to a kid named Nico
Dialogue: 0,0:13:48.81,0:13:53.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who was one of the first kids to ever call in,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:53.09,0:13:55.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I'll play you some of Nico's message.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:55.40,0:13:59.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is the first message I ever got from Nico.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:59.53,0:14:01.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Audio) Nico: Hello, this is Nico.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:01.77,0:14:05.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am your owner, Randolph. Hello.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:05.80,0:14:09.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this is the first time I can ever talk to you,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:09.28,0:14:15.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I might talk to you soon another day. Bye.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:15.52,0:14:18.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Mac Barnett: So Nico called back, like, an hour later.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:18.11,0:14:20.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:14:20.36,0:14:24.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And here's another one of Nico's messages.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:24.30,0:14:27.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Audio) Nico: Hello, Randolph, this is Nico.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:27.84,0:14:32.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I haven't talked to you for a long time,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:32.99,0:14:37.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I talked to you on Saturday or Sunday,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:37.69,0:14:39.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,yeah, Saturday or Sunday,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:39.94,0:14:42.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so now I'm calling you again
Dialogue: 0,0:14:42.95,0:14:47.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to say hello and I wonder what you're doing right now,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:47.87,0:14:50.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I'm going to probably call you again
Dialogue: 0,0:14:50.80,0:14:52.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,tomorrow or today,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:52.99,0:14:57.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so I'll talk to you later. Bye.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:57.18,0:15:01.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,MB: So he did, he called back that day again.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:01.49,0:15:05.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He's left over 25 messages for Randolph
Dialogue: 0,0:15:05.37,0:15:08.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,over four years.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:08.12,0:15:10.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You find out all about him
Dialogue: 0,0:15:10.22,0:15:11.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the grandma that he loves
Dialogue: 0,0:15:11.85,0:15:14.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the grandma that \Nhe likes a little bit less —
Dialogue: 0,0:15:14.21,0:15:16.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) —
Dialogue: 0,0:15:16.40,0:15:18.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the crossword puzzles that he does,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:18.83,0:15:22.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this is — I'll play you one \Nmore message from Nico.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:22.61,0:15:25.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is the Christmas message from Nico.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:25.91,0:15:28.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Beep] (Audio) Nico: Hello, Randolph,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:28.27,0:15:31.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sorry I haven't talked to you in a long time.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:31.53,0:15:34.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's just that I've been so busy
Dialogue: 0,0:15:34.19,0:15:36.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because school started,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:36.89,0:15:39.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as you might not know, probably,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:39.93,0:15:43.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,since you're a whale, you don't know,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:43.81,0:15:48.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I'm calling you to just say,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:48.49,0:15:52.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to wish you a merry Christmas.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:52.18,0:15:56.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So have a nice Christmas,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:56.78,0:16:03.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and bye-bye, Randolph. Goodbye.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:03.65,0:16:05.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,MB: I actually got Nico,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:05.18,0:16:08.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I hadn't heard from in 18 months,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:08.31,0:16:12.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he just left a message two days ago.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:12.42,0:16:14.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,His voice is completely different,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:14.85,0:16:18.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but he put his babysitter on the phone,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:18.35,0:16:22.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and she was very nice to Randolph as well.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:22.21,0:16:26.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But Nico's the best reader I could hope for.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:26.56,0:16:30.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would want anyone I was writing for
Dialogue: 0,0:16:30.29,0:16:32.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to be in that place emotionally
Dialogue: 0,0:16:32.43,0:16:34.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with the things that I create.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:34.66,0:16:38.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I feel lucky. Kids like Nico are the best readers,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:38.36,0:16:41.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they deserve the best stories we can give them.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:41.96,0:16:44.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you very much.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:44.16,0:16:46.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)