Why are we so drawn to stories about sin, hell, punishment, and the darker sides of human nature? Why do we keep returning to disturbing ideas, even when they make us uncomfortable? Did you hear about the Western idea of the nine circles of hell? Why is Dante's Inferno (the most popualr segment of The Divine Comedy) one of the most well-known and influential books about dark stuff in Western culture.

 

In this discussion, we’ll explore Inferno, the most famous part of The Divine Comedy by the artist and writer Dante Alighieri, or simply Dante. You don’t need to have read it, or even heard of it, to join. Inferno is essentially a guided journey through Hell, written over 700 years ago, yet it still shapes how Western culture imagines sin, punishment, justice, and morality today. From phrases like “abandon all hope” to modern films, games, and memes, Dante’s vision is everywhere. Together, we’ll unpack why this dark, imaginative poem became so wildly influential, how it taps into our natural morbid curiosity, and what it reveals, not just about the medieval world, but about us. Let's have a smart, accessible, and surprisingly fun conversation that turns a dark classic into something very alive!

 

为什么我们总是被罪恶、地狱、惩罚和人性中的黑暗面所吸引？为什么即使这些想法让我们感到不舒服，我们仍然一次又一次地回到这些令人不安的观念？你听说过西方的九圈地狱吗？为什么《但丁的地狱》（《神曲》中最著名的部分）会成为西方文化中讨论黑暗事物的最知名、最有影响力的书籍之一？

 

在这场讨论中，我们将探讨艺术家兼作家但丁·阿利吉耶里的《神曲》中最著名的部分——《地狱》。即使你没有读过它，甚至没有听说过它，也完全可以参与。 《地狱》是一本超过700年前写成的引导式地狱之旅，至今仍然影响着西方文化对罪恶、惩罚、正义和道德的理解。从“放弃所有希望”到现代电影、游戏和表情包，但丁的愿景无处不在。我们将一起探讨这部黑暗的、富有想象力的诗篇为何如此有影响力，它如何引发我们天生的病态好奇心，它又揭示了什么——不仅是中世纪的世界，也包括我们今天的世界。让我们展开一场既聪明又容易接近，意外有趣的对话，把这个黑暗经典转变成一个非常生动的讨论！