Ray Bradbury had it all thought through. Behind his captivating science fiction works lay subtle theories about what literature should do. The retro clip above takes you back to the 1970s and shows Bradbury giving a rather fascinating view on the role of literature and art. For the author of Fahrenheit 451 And The Mars ChroniclesLiterature has more than just an aesthetic purpose. It also has an important sociological/psychoanalytical role to play. Stories are a safety valve. They keep society as a whole and us as individuals from going off the rails. Which is to say – if you’ve been following the news lately – we need a hell of a lot more literature these days. And a few new Ray Bradburys.

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