Politics of Culture
Politics of Culture
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Sometimes a panel discussion about current controversies in the cultural world, other times an in-depth interview with an author or leading figures in media, the arts, entertainment or politics, The Politics of Culture examines the intersection where the world of politics and culture meet and sometimes collide.
RECENT SHOWS
Ramparts Magazine: A Bomb in Every Issue
Ramparts magazine turned the 60's on its head with a high-octane combination of avant-garde satire and gumshoe investigative reporting. KCRW's own Robert Scheer served as its editor, and contributors included the likes of Noam Chomsky, Seymour Hersh, Cesar Chavez, Angela Davis and Susan Sontag. Peter Richardson has written about the largely untold story of this hugely influential magazine in his book A Bomb in Every Issue and he talks with KCRW's Will Lewis about it.
The Wende Museum's Berlin Wall Project
Twenty years ago, the Berlin Wall was torn down. Now, original segments of the wall are on display in front of 5900 Wilshire, across the street from LACMA. While it stood, the wall served as a public art canvas for graffiti and protests. While in Los Angeles, artist Shepard Fairey and muralist Kent Twitchell will paint on these segments. Historian Steven Ross discusses the project with the founder of the Wende Museum, muralist Twitchel and others.
Central Avenue and Beyond
The 20th century's Harlem Renaissance has come to define the first great explosion of African American culture in the US. But Los Angeles had a hub of its own where black culture also flourished: Central Avenue. KCRW's Michael Barnes hosts this conversation about the Huntington Library's upcoming exhibition, "Central Avenue and Beyond: The Harlem Renaissance in Los Angeles."
R Crumb's 'Illustrated Book of Genesis'
From Keep on Truckin’ to Fritz the Cat, R. Crumb was pushing the boundaries of comics long before the graphic novels became so popular. Now he’s taken on the Bible.
The Fight over Frida
A treasure trove of Frida Kahlo papers, recipes, letters and diary entries have been discovered in Mexico, but are they real?
The Cartoons That Shook the World…without the Cartoons
Yale University is publishing a book about the controversial cartoons that appeared in a Danish newspaper depicting the prophet Mohammed, which resulted in worldwide Islamic protests, riots and deaths. But the book itself will omit any and all images of the prophet. Jonathan Kirsch discusses this decision with religious scholars and others.
UCLA Live Season Begins Anew
In what's become an annual tradition, the always fascinating David Sefton gives us the skinny on the upcoming season of international theater and other performing arts events, taking place at UCLA this year.
LA's Checkered Past
The lure and lore of LA's checkered past help define the city that exists today. John Buntin, author of LA Noir and Richard Rayner, author of A Bright and Guilty Place, talk with LA Observed's Kevin Roderick about why they both chose to view LA history through the lens of paired opposites.
Henry Waxman: How Congress Really Works
It's said that if you like politics and sausage, you probably shouldn't watch how they're made. But so much depends upon the legislative process. Congressman Henry Waxman shares the insights he's gleaned from three and half decades in government about how congress works. He talks to Marc Cooper about his new book, The Waxman Report: How Congress Really Works.
The Way We Read Now: Online versus Print
The experience of reading a newspaper online is just not the same as holding it in your hands, turning a page, finding a story you never expected. KCRW General Manager Ruth Seymour, KCRW's movie reviewer Joe Morgenstern of the Wall St. Journal and Bob Scheer, formerly of LA Times, now of TruthDig.com and KCRW's Left, Right & Center, share their respective feelings toward the printed word on the computer screen.
American Radical: The Life and Times of I.F. Stone
Investigative journalism is an endangered species. One of its most renowned and revered purveyors was I.F. Stone, a man who ran his own newspaper and never took advertising. D.D. Guttenplan has written a biography that puts Stone into the context of American history and politics. Will Lewis interviews him.
Robert Wright on 'The Evolution of God'
In The Evolution of God, author Robert Wright examines God's role in the histories of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. He concludes that over time, religion has evolved into something that can be useful in guiding us to a higher moral plane. He argues his point with his old friend, Mickey Kaus and the conversation gets feisty.
Filmmaker Agnes Varda
The Beaches of Agnes is Agnès Varda’s latest film, a self-portrait documentary. An early member of the French New Wave, her life has been filled with politics, passion, personal commitments and intellectual preoccupations. She’s lived 80 years, 50 of which have been devoted to film. She talks with KCRW General Manager, Ruth Seymour – whom she has known for many years.
Budget Cuts to Higher Education
Colleges will be hard hit by the time the budget dust settles. Ruth Seymour talks to the leadership of Santa Monica College, CalArts and UCLA about the impact of education cuts on their institutions and on the future of the state.
Liberation Technology: Social Media and Political Movements
With media blocked, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube have become the main conduits for news out of Iran. What's the impact of social media on political movements? Ruth Seymour and KCRW's director of new media Anil Dewan talk with new media big thinkers Philip Sieb, Evgeny Morosov and Jonathan Zittrain.
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A CD copy of Politics of Culture is available by calling 1.888.600.5279.
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