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    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    'Soft Power' imagines China as the world superpower

    David Henry Hwang’s new theater show “Soft Power” takes place in 2016 Los Angeles and 22nd Century China. It talks about the 2016 presidential election, China’s quest for artistic and intellectual influence, and cultural appropriation.

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    By Madeleine Brand • May 10, 2018 • 48m Listen

    David Henry Hwang’s new theater show “Soft Power” takes place in 2016 Los Angeles and 22nd Century China. It talks about the 2016 presidential election, China’s quest for artistic and intellectual influence, and cultural appropriation.

    Image of the ensemble from  "Soft Power" singing about the U.S. election system. Photo by Craig Schwartz.

    In this episode

    4 stories
    1. 0:00

      What to expect from the North Korea-U.S. summit

      President Trump says he’ll meet with North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un on June 12 in Singapore. The announcement comes after three Korean-American men were released from a North Korean prison. In the past, China has been a big part of the U.S.

      Read the story
      10 min
    2. 9:58

      'Soft Power:' Rise of China and flipping the yellowface trope

      Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang’s new show “Soft Power” takes place in 2016 Los Angeles and 22nd Century China.

      Read the story
      16 min
    3. 26:32

      Syphilis and gonorrhea reach record levels

      Infectious diseases like gonorrhea and hepatitis A are at epidemic levels. Syphilis and chlamydia are at record highs. These diseases are roaring back for several reasons, one has to do with energy conservation.

      Read the story
      9 min
    4. 36:58

      'Boom for Real' looks at artist Jean-Michel Basquiat as a teen

      Jean-Michel Basquiat’s painting of a skull sold for $110 million last year. That sale put Basquiat on the same level as Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol.

      Read the story
      11 min
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

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      Gina Pollack

      Producer

    • KCRW placeholder

      Sarah Sweeney

      Vice President of Talk Programming, KCRW

    • KCRW placeholder

      Michell Eloy

      Former Producer/Line Editor, Press Play

      News

    In this episode

    4 stories
    1. 0:0010 min

      What to expect from the North Korea-U.S. summit

    2. 9:5816 min

      'Soft Power:' Rise of China and flipping the yellowface trope

    3. 26:329 min

      Syphilis and gonorrhea reach record levels

    4. 36:5811 min

      'Boom for Real' looks at artist Jean-Michel Basquiat as a teen

    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand