Jonathan Pageau
@jonathanpageau·287K subscribers·596 videos
The Cosmic Alchemy of That Hideous Strength - with Annie Crawford
Posted
April 21, 2026
Views
25,899
Likes
1,040
Comments
136
Engagement
4.54%
April 21, 2026
25,899
1,040
136
4.54%
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29:34Now PlayingIn this conversation with Annie Crawford, we explore the role of alchemy in C.S. Lewis’ That Hideous Strength. While alchemy is often dismissed as occult or irrelevant, Lewis uses its symbolism in a precise and meaningful way.
We look at how the novel presents two forms of transformation: one rooted in control, technology, and disembodied power, and the other in sacrifice, order, and participation in the divine. This distinction speaks directly to how we understand modern technology, including AI.
The discussion also touches on story structure, the nature of symbolic thinking, and how transformation is embedded in narrative itself.
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My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson
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