In a post-Holocaust world, the narrative of humanity is forever changed by the tragedy and atrocity of the period. For the religious among us, particularly the Jewish people, how can these events be understood in relation to an almighty being? This week, we're joined by Adam Bulmash to explore this questions through the lens of the 2008 BBC film, God on Trial, written by Frank Cottrell Boyce. The film takes place in Auschwitz, during World War II, and illustrates the real events of prisoners who put God on trial for the circumstances of the Holocaust. What commentaries does the film make about free will and faith? How has human relationship to a higher power shifted before, during and after the events of the Holocaust?
Episode 169: "From Sex Object to Gritty Woman..."
“Over the last decade, the most sold images from Getty for the search term ‘women’ have evolved from photos of mostly naked models to active women to ones in which women’s appearance is beside the point. In 2017, based on the Getty photos most chosen by marketers and the media, to be a woman is to be on your own, physically active and undeterred by either sweat or circuit boards.”
Ours is a world absolutely brimming with media and the narratives behind their creation and distribution. In particular, photography and the digital revolution have shaped how people are captured and depicted on camera. This week, we explore a New York Times article published in September 2017 which discusses image search trends for "woman" on Getty Images, a popular stock photography site. What do these images individually say about our societal perceptions, expectations and sentiments towards women? What are the narratives that emerge from the images as a series, showing change from 2007 to 2017?
Episode 168: Depictions of War
Because of the consistent role war has held over the course of human history, its relevance in culture persists. It's worth considering how we discuss, think about and view war, but equally useful to look at how artists and creators depict it and the effects it has. This week, we welcome Travis Partington to look at the forms of media which illustrate war and how they might fixate on certain elements over others. How could we be more conscientious of non-combatant roles? Why do we fixate on the most violent, energetic moments of war? Whose narratives do we recognize and whose might we neglect?
Episode 167: The Learning Environment
The knowledge we possess rests clearly upon what, how and when we learn. But what about the spaces in which we learn? How do they affect our comprehension, comfort and perspective of the world around us? This week, we're joined by Harry Kalish to explore the concept of a learning environment. What kind of a "classroom" would be ideal if resources posed no limitation? What do we each prefer in our learning environments? How have we been stifled by antiquated or obtuse approaches to classroom arrangements?
Episode 166: "Scare the Bird"
We all perceive and interact with innocence in different ways. It's often written about, illustrated and described at length in cultures around the world. Whether defined by appearance, age, gender or other factors, it has a captivating effect on many of us. How do we engage with it in the border between humans and other animals? A younger Kip made an observation about birds in a parking lot which offers one perspective on the topic. What might the presumption of innocence do to limit our interactions with "the innocent" among us? How might that perspective presume a helplessness rather than a legitimate sense of adaptability?
