This discussion explored how our identities shape our perspectives, and how we engage in political discourse when those perspectives do not align.
This discussion was about media literacy & its political implications.
There is a perceived correlation between ‘madness’ and creativity, perpetuated by the tortured artist trope. This week’s discussion asked if “the lunatic, the lover, and the poet are of imagination all compact” (William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream) by analyzing the legitimacy of the correlation, the persistence of the trope, and its societal implications.
This week explored what makes home, home, with a political focus. Communities can overlap with each other, often defying geographical boundaries of states and nations; how then can the identities of those nations be defined?
Modernization and development have encouraged us to be creative in making quick and simple solutions to all of our problems. Those forces also raise questions about whether we are creating as many problems as we are solving, and if some of these so-called solutions make our lives less fulfilling. At what point does innovation become “useless” to us? This discussion broached them all.
Housing affordability is one of the most pressing issues in the U.S. today. As demographics shift and cities expand, how are our ideas of “home” and “family” changing with them? This week discussed how housing connects to family structure and social identity while exploring the intersection of housing policy, affordability, and the evolving forms of family life in the U.S and others across the globe.
Why do we feel like we’re emotionally connected to people we’ve never met through parasocial relationships, or one-sided emotional bonds with a celebrity, media personality, or fictional character? These relationships could be harmless, but the lines between reality and the digital continue to be blurred, especially as the prevalence of social media increase. This discussion was tackled the topic.
From black cats to broken mirrors, superstitions have shaped how we make sense of uncertainty. But are these beliefs just ways to comfort ourselves when things feel unclear or could there be something deeper to the idea of luck? This discussion explored why humans are drawn to a bit of “magic” everyday, how religion and superstition intersect, and whether believing in luck is just another way to make sense of uncertainty.
What makes expressive media — theater, dance, film, and beyond — so influential in shaping resistance? Together, we explored how artists across eras and cultures have risked, resisted, and reimagined through performance, about the power of art to generate truth, create justice, and turn performance into protest.
This discussion explored how media is shaped and promoted for certain demographics. By age 8, 51% of children have their own mobile device (smartphone or tablet) and 98% have access to a television in their home. As technology advances, the primary audience seems to become younger and younger. The discussion analyzed the effects of media consumption across generations.
This week dove into all the wonderful traditions that surround us, exploring how different traditions emerge, evolve, and continue to play such a powerful role in society.