Vic Grads Margaret Atwood and Steve Paikin Discuss ‘Art of Democracy’

^{Vic alumni Steve Paikin and Margaret Atwood captivated the audience at the Isabel Bader Theatre on Nov. 28 with their talk, The Art of Democracy. (Photos by Will Dang)}

By Joe Howell 
 
Two of Victoria College’s most distinguished alumni, legendary author Margaret Atwood Vic 6T1 and veteran journalist Steve Paikin Vic 8T1, spoke before a full house at the Isabel Bader Theatre on Nov. 28. Their insightful and freewheeling dialogue was part of the TVO Today Live series of on-stage conversations about the future of democracy. 

The host of the TVO show The Agenda with Steve Paikin kicked off the evening with a humourous look at what he had in common with Atwood. They both have one daughter and went to grad school in Massachusetts, he revealed. “When you went to the University of Toronto, what college did you go to?” asked Paikin. “This one!” exclaimed Atwood. 
 
“And how many copies of your biggest, best-selling book did you sell?” asked Paikin. He grinned and admitted the similarities might not extend that far, since Atwood is one of the top-selling Canadian authors of all time. 
 
Paikin held up a copy of Atwood’s latest book, Paper Boat: New and Selected Poems: 1961-2023. He noted that the collection draws from seven different decades, prompting mock disbelief from Atwood. “We haven’t finished with the 2020s yet,” she joked.

Their conversation, titled “The Art of Democracy,” soon turned to politics. Atwood gave an optimistic take on the recent U.S. election results: “Blood didn’t run in the streets,” she said. “There wasn’t a civil war. The election was orderly and people voted. It could have been worse.” 
 
It also could have been a lot better, she continued. 
 
“It’s not a coincidence that Donald Trump defeated [female presidential opponents] in two different elections,” said Atwood. “A lot of men didn’t want to be bossed around by their mother or the nice girlfriend that had thrown them over in high school.” 

Atwood drew parallels between the present-day political landscape and historical events. “I’ve considered the MAGA movement as a revolutionary movement, and that’s why I’m so interested in the French Revolution right now,” she explained. “One of the results of this—and it's already happening—is that people are starting to talk about class again.” 
 
When Paikin asked whether the dystopian world depicted in Atwood’s book The Handmaid’s Tale was edging closer to reality, she replied with her trademark wry wit. “It’s coming to life to a certain extent, but I have to say that for women in Texas and Florida, Gilead would be preferable,” said Atwood. “At least they’ve got three square meals a day and excellent medical care.”

The talk was the hot ticket in Toronto, said Dr. Rhonda N. McEwen, president and vice-chancellor of Victoria University. “Atwood set recent political moves in the context of lessons from the French Revolution and class struggle. It all made sense.” 

Missed The Art of Democracy? A recording of the event will be available here at 9 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8.