Humanities (Audio): Recent Episodes
UCTV
Find an eclectic collection of authors, philosophers, filmmakers and thinkers who explore essential aspects of what makes us human. Visit uctv.tv/humanities
Filmmaker RaMell Ross joins moderator Mireille Miller-Young, UCSB Feminist Studies, for a discussion of Nickel Boys. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40545]
The rate of cancer and cancer malignancy differ greatly among mammalian species. The placental – maternal interface is also highly variable between placental mammals. This lecture will discuss recent advances that suggest that there is a causal connection between the evolution of placental biology and the biology and rate of cancer malignancy. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40694]
Menstruation is the cyclical shedding of the endometrium triggered by falling progesterone levels. Menstruation is a rare trait found in less than 2% of mammals and likely evolved independently at least 4 times. Why do some mammals menstruate while most do not? The leading hypothesis is that menstruation occurs as a nonadaptive consequence of spontaneous decidualization of the endometrium, which evolved to increase biosensoring of embryo quality. While the trait of spontaneous decidualization (and as a byproduct, menstruation) was likely shaped by natural selection, menstruation also disposes women to conditions such as endometriosis, pre-menstrual syndrome, and bleeding disorders, especially in the contemporary context. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40693]
Filmmaker Adamu Chan joins UC Santa Barbara’s Althea Wasow for a powerful conversation about "What These Walls Won’t Hold", a documentary he created while incarcerated at San Quentin during the COVID-19 pandemic. The film, which aired nationally on PBS’s "America ReFramed", captures the resilience and activism of incarcerated people and their communities in the face of crisis. Chan shares how filmmaking became a tool for resistance and healing, offering an inside look at life behind bars. This discussion explores the film’s creative process, its social justice impact, and the importance of centering incarcerated voices. It’s an inspiring program about storytelling, humanity, and the power of community—even in the most challenging circumstances. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40540]
Pressures of life on Earth experienced by our ancestors – as multicellular beings, as hosts to parasites, and as home to microbes – shaped the evolved structure and function of our immune systems. Some of the traits favored by natural selection have conferred resistance against infections while opening vulnerabilities to autoimmune diseases. I will illustrate why analysis of the deep-time origins of mammalian immune systems reveals general principles of optimal defense and helps to explain why hosts are so profoundly variable in their susceptibility to infectious and inflammatory diseases. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40692]
The Carsey-Wolf Center welcomes Jeff Bridges and Amy Brenneman, the award-winning stars of The Old Man, for a conversation with director/writer/producer Brad Silberling. Bridges and Brenneman share their creative perspectives on the series’ treatment of aging and discuss other aspects of their unique collaboration. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40544]
The human body has traits that evolved at different times, from 1.5 billion to 2 million years ago, each bringing health benefits and risks. Multicellularity enabled organs and cancer. The immune system defends us but can cause inflammation. Breastfeeding supports infant health but relates to breast cancer risk. Menstruation and invasive placentas improved reproduction but led to pain and cancer risks. Human-specific traits like bipedalism and aging brought new issues like back pain and childbirth problems. Hair loss and sweat glands helped us stay cool but increased skin cancer risk. Our hunter-gatherer past shaped our microbiome and health, but also made us prone to modern diseases from lifestyle changes. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40701]
Cancer is normal development spun out of control. It is the great plasticity and power of development, without the overarching controls that guide normal development toward an integrated adult form. Instead, whenever a newly developed kind of tissue acquires the ability to survive, grow, and resist control, there is nothing to stop it. That may be why normal adult cells are often terminally differentiated into a restricted cellular program. And it may be why wound healing, which releases the restricted cellular program and powerfully plastic tissue remodeling, is so tightly regulated and, when dysregulated, so often associates with cancer. With regard to evolutionary history, humans develop differently from their ape ancestors, and their lifestyle causes them to suffer different kinds of tissue damage. Those differences in development and wound healing likely led to new aspects of cancer disease over human history. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40691]
The Moon and Back is the directorial debut of UCSB Film and Media Studies alumnus Leah Bleich. The Carsey-Wolf Center was proud to welcome Leah back to campus for a discussion of her film with UCSB moderator Ross Melnick. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40543]
In collaboration with the Transnational Italian Studies Program, the Carsey-Wolf Center presents a discussion examining the long history of Black African life in Italy with filmmakers Daphne Di Cinto and Medhin Paolos and UCSB moderator Stephanie Malia Hom. They discuss the short films Il Moro and Asmarina. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40541]
Screenwriter and playwright Phyllis Nagy joins moderator Patrice Petro for a discussion of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1951 classic Strangers on a Train. Adapted from Patricia Highsmith’s debut novel, the film follows tennis player Guy Haines (Farley Granger), who meets the charming but disturbed Bruno Anthony (Robert Walker) during a chance encounter on a train. Bruno proposes they “swap” murders—he’ll kill Guy’s wife, and Guy will kill Bruno’s father—eliminating any obvious motive. When Bruno follows through, Guy finds himself caught in a dangerous game of blackmail and suspense. Known for its striking visual style and psychological complexity, Strangers on a Train is celebrated as one of Hitchcock’s most influential thrillers, offering a masterclass in tension and moral ambiguity. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40542]
Nicholas Baer, author of Historical Turns: Weimar Cinema and the Crisis of Historicism, joins moderator and Carsey-Wolf Center Director Patrice Petro for a discussion of Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40537]
Thirty years after the film’s release, Fresh Kill has been remastered by the Fales Library & Special Collections of New York University. Fresh Kill director/producer Shu Lea Cheang traveled with filmmakers Jean-Paul Jones and Jazz Franklin on a nationwide roadtrip to screen the remastered 35mm print of the film at independent arthouse cinemas across the country, and to engage local communities on issues of environmental racism and activist resistance. Shu Lea Cheang joins moderator Jigna Desai from UCSB's Center for Feminist Futures to discuss the film. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40538]
Author Joseph Wambaugh's success came from writing about what he knew - police work. He spent 14 years with the Los Angeles Police Department first as a street cop then as a detective. He wrote his first novel, “The New Centurions,” in 1971 while on the job. Wambaugh died on Feb. 28, 2025. It was the same day that the Writer's Symposium by the Sea was celebrating it's 30th anniversary. Host Dean Nelson pays tribute to his friend Joe Wambaugh and reflects on his appearance on the Writer's Symposium in 1997. Series: "Writer's Symposium By The Sea" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40659]
Filmmaker Madhuja Mukherjee joins UCSB professor Bishnupriya Ghosh for a conversation about Deep6, a Bengali-language drama set in Kolkata during the politically charged year of 2011. The film follows Mitul, a solitary journalist navigating the end of West Bengal’s 34-year Communist rule while confronting personal loss and shifting identities. Starring Tillotama Shome, Deep6 blends realism with elements of magical realism, exploring memory, trauma, and transformation in a changing city. The film premiered at the 26th Busan International Film Festival and was featured at both the International Film Festival of Kerala and the Kolkata International Film Festival. Mukherjee, also a professor of Film Studies at Jadavpur University, brings deep insight into the film’s themes and structure. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40539]
Cervical cancer remains a significant public health concern, but innovative approaches and community-based research are transforming prevention efforts, particularly immigrant communities. With over 600,000 new cases diagnosed annually, early detection and prevention strategies are crucial.However, accessibility and awareness gaps persist in immigrant communities due to language barriers, cultural stigma, and limited healthcare access.Community-based research plays a pivotal role in bridging these gaps. In engaging local populations through culturally sensitive outreach ensures that prevention strategies are accepted and effective. University of Miami Chief Health Equity Officer, Dr. Erin Kobetz, discusses how integrating cutting-edge technology with community engagement, moves us closer to reducing cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates, fostering a healthier future for immigrant populations. Series: "Exploring Ethics" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40464]
“When anchors fail, people die.” This line has many meanings for author, motivational speaker and expert mountain climber Manley Feinberg. In this Osher Author Talk interview, Feinberg describes a harrowing climb of Yosemite's El Capitan in 2022, where he and his son saved the life of their companion while suspended on the face of the mountain. He incorporates his experience climbing mountains into his books and presentations to help people reach their fullest potential while supporting those around them. The interview is hosted by Henry DeVries as part of UC San Diego's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Series: "Osher UC San Diego Distinguished Lecture Series" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40432]
Jesmyn Ward has been hailed as the standout writer of her generation, proving her “fearless and toughly lyrical” voice in novels, memoir, and nonfiction. She's been called “the new Toni Morrison.” Ward is a MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient and in 2017, she became the first woman and the first person of color to win two National Book Awards for Fiction—joining the ranks of William Faulkner, Saul Bellow, John Cheever, Philip Roth, and John Updike. Her books include "Let Us Descend," "Sing, Unburied, Sing," "Salvage the Bones," and "Navigate Your Stars." The professor of creative writing at Tulane University joins host Dean Nelson for this evocative conversation as part of the 30th anniversary of the Writer's Symposium by the Sea at Point Loma Nazarene University. Series: "Writer's Symposium By The Sea" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40217]
John A. Pérez, Regent Emeritus of the University of California, sits down with Robert Williams, Ph.D., CEO and Finci-Viterbi Executive Director of the USC Shoah Foundation, for a critical conversation about the rise of antisemitism on college campuses. They explore how history shapes present-day challenges, the dangers of misinformation, and the role of higher education in confronting hate. Drawing on lessons from the Holocaust and other historical atrocities, they discuss the urgent need for courage and action to combat antisemitism. Series: "Education Channel" [Humanities] [Education] [Show ID: 40249]
Sandra Cisneros is a Latina American short-story writer and poet regarded as a key figure in Chicano literature. She is best known for her first novel, "The House on Mango Street," and her subsequent short story collection, "Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories." Her work experiments with literary forms that investigate emerging subject positions, which Cisneros herself attributes to growing up in a context of cultural hybridity and economic inequality that endowed her with unique stories to tell. She is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, a Ford Foundation Art of Change Fellowship, the USA Literary Award, and a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, As part of the 30th anniversary of the Writer's Symposium by the Sea, Cisneros joins host Dean Nelson for this passionate conversation at Point Loma Nazarene University. Series: "Writer's Symposium By The Sea" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40218]
Human beings show a range of emotional attachment, affection, and infatuation often referred to as “love”. Love promotes long-lasting and secure relationships that involve nurturing and support. Biological mechanisms underlying such behavior involve ancient neuropeptides and their receptors in the brain. These systems are also involved in reproduction, ranging from mating and pair-bonding, to giving birth and lactation. They shape the earliest experiences of all mammals and their mothers. The concept of love and how we experience it are affected by culture and its diverse societal norms. This symposium will explore the evolutionary roots of human love, compare human love to corresponding emotions in other animals, consider human conditions that prevent the expression of such feelings, and examine the key role of love and affection for our development and daily lives. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40506]
Human fathers exhibit hormonal shifts in testosterone, prolactin, and oxytocin, enabling flexible responses to parenting. In species with costly paternal care, these shifts balance mating and parenting efforts, suggesting evolved neuroendocrine capacities that support fatherhood. Today, fathers collaborate with mothers worldwide, though their roles vary across cultures and family systems, much as they likely did evolutionarily. Using research from the Philippines, Congo-Brazzaville, and the U.S., alongside cross-cultural data, this talk examines how men’s hormonal physiology adapts to parenthood and influences family behaviors and bonds within diverse ecological and cultural contexts. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40387]
Author, screenwriter, philanthropist, journalist and broadcaster Mitch Albom is an inspiration around the world. He is the author of numerous books of fiction and nonfiction, which have collectively sold more than 40 million copies in 48 languages worldwide. He has written eight number-one New York Times bestsellers — including "Tuesdays with Morrie," the bestselling memoir of all time. As part of the 30th anniversary of the Writer's Symposium by the Sea, Albom joins host Dean Nelson for this far-reaching conversation at Point Loma Nazarene University. Series: "Writer's Symposium By The Sea" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40219]
The titi and owl monkeys of South America live in socially-monogamous groups where the male and female establish a pair bond and share parental duties. Why do males of these species mate in a monogamous relationship presumably foregoing other reproductive opportunities? And why are titi and owl monkey males such good fathers, investing heavily in the care of offspring that they cannot be certain they sired? Relying on ecological, behavioral and genetic data collected during 28 years from wild populations in Argentina, Peru and Ecuador. This lecture will discuss the role of food distribution, mate guarding and infant care in the evolution of pair-bonds, monogamy and paternal care. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40382]
Director Pamela Yates joins UCSB professor Giovanni Batz for a conversation about Borderland | The Line Within, a powerful documentary exploring the human cost of U.S. immigration policy. The film examines the “border industrial complex”—a vast system of surveillance, detention, and deportation—through the personal stories of immigrants resisting systemic injustice. Highlighting voices like Mayan activist Kaxh Mura’l and DACA recipient Gabriela Castañeda, Yates reveals how the border extends far beyond geography. This discussion sheds light on the role of storytelling in challenging structural violence and advocating for dignity, justice, and human rights. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40532]
Sound editor Javier Umpierrez joins moderator Greg Siegel (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) for a discussion of his work on director Apichatpong Weeresethakul’s film Memoria. They discuss how Umpierrez’s background in radio informed his work building the soundscape of the film. They also explore the challenges of designing and editing sound for films in which sound is an essential narrative component. Umpierrez further discusses his experience working with Apichatpong Weeresethakul. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40531]
Grandmothers play a key role as alloparents in human families. A leading hypothesis suggests that the inclusive fitness benefits of grandmaternal care selected for an extended female lifespan after reproduction, a unique trait among primates. Beyond lifespan extension, grandmothers may have biological adaptations for caregiving. Research from our lab shows grandmothers have lower DNA methylation of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) compared to non-grandmothers, with lower methylation linked to stronger bonds with grandchildren. MRI scans reveal grandmothers have a lower brain age than controls, further reduced among those with higher engagement. These findings suggest grandmotherhood may enhance oxytocin signaling, promoting bonding and slowing brain aging. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40383]
Through a focus on Spanish-speaking Catholics, Amanda Baugh sheds light on environmental actors hiding in plain sight. Drawing from ethnographic research conducted across Los Angeles, Baugh, Professor and Associate Chair of Religious Studies and Director of the MA Program in Sustainability at California State University, Northridge, demonstrates that minority communities are not merely victims of environmental problems. Instead, many Spanish-speaking Catholics embrace what Baugh calls “la tierra environmentalism,” an embodied ethic of living lightly on the Earth that is rooted in a sense of love and respect for God, fellow humans, and the rest of God’s creation. A focus on la tierra environmentalism challenges scholars and activists to rethink who counts as environmental leaders and what counts as environmentalism. Series: "Ethics, Religion and Public Life: Walter H. Capps Center Series" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40423]
Close relationships help us shape both our other social interactions as well as our internal physiology. Do these close relationships, also known as pair bonds, look and function similarly in species as diverse as titi monkeys, prairie voles, seahorses, and humans? How do negative experiences such as loss factor into, and perhaps strengthen, our close relationships? And what do we mean by luminance? This lecture will explore these topics while also touching on the underlying neurobiology of pair bonding. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40380]
Dr. Theofanopoulou studies neural circuits behind sensory-motor behaviors like speech and dance, aiming to develop drug- and arts-based therapies for brain disorders. Her brain imaging research reveals overlapping motor cortex regions controlling muscles for speech and dance, while transcriptomic studies show upregulation of the oxytocin gene pathway in key areas like the motor cortex and brainstem. Using zebra finches, Bengalese finches, white-rumped munias, and humans, she demonstrates oxytocin's role in vocal production. She also developed genomic tools to apply these findings across vertebrates. Her future work explores oxytocin-based drugs and dance therapies to treat speech and motor deficits in brain disorders. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40384]
Humans are an intensely social species. We experience social interactions as rewarding from infancy, and the social cognitive skills that we develop in the context of our earliest interpersonal attachments are critical for our survival and personal well being. Lack of social connection is common in many psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. In some disorders, like autism spectrum disorder, social cognition and social interaction impairments are the defining, core feature. Yet, despite the importance of social functioning in humans, our understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms that regulate social behavior is limited. This lecture will describe the roles of two neuropeptides, oxytocin and vasopressin, in the regulation of social behavior in animals, and how findings from this research are providing fundamental insights into human social disorders, with a particular focus on vasopressin and autism spectrum disorder. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40381]
Oxytocin is a peptide molecule with a multitude of physiological and behavioral functions. Based on its association with reproduction, including social bonding, sexual behavior, birth and maternal behavior, oxytocin also has been called “the love hormone.” This presentation will examine parallels between the healing power of oxytocin and love. As described here, many myths and gaps in knowledge remain concerning oxytocin and love. A few of these are described and we hypothesize that the potential benefits of both love and oxytocin may be better understood in light of interactions with more ancient systems, including the autonomic nervous system, vasopressin and the immune system. The shared functions of oxytocin, love and sociostasis have profound implications for health and longevity, including the prevention and treatment of excess inflammation and related disorders, especially those occurring in early life and during periods of chronic threat or disease. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40379]
Human beings show a range of emotional attachment, affection, and infatuation often referred to as “love”. Love promotes long-lasting and secure relationships that involve nurturing and support. Biological mechanisms underlying such behavior involve ancient neuropeptides and their receptors in the brain. These systems are also involved in reproduction, ranging from mating and pair-bonding, to giving birth and lactation. They shape the earliest experiences of all mammals and their mothers. The concept of love and how we experience it are affected by culture and its diverse societal norms. This symposium will explore the evolutionary roots of human love, compare human love to corresponding emotions in other animals, consider human conditions that prevent the expression of such feelings, and examine the key role of love and affection for our development and daily lives. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40505]
Ancient texts warn of love turning into hatred, as seen in stories like Cain and Abel or “Et tu, Brute?” This talk explores the neurobiology of hatred based on the biology of love: the oxytocin system, attachment networks, and biobehavioral synchrony, which mature through mother-infant bonding and later support group solidarity and out-group hostility. Using this model, we developed Tools of Dialogue© for Israeli and Palestinian youth. After 8 sessions, participants showed reduced hostility, increased empathy, hormonal changes (lower cortisol, higher oxytocin), and lasting attitudes of compromise. Seven years later, these changes supported their peacebuilding efforts, showing how social synchrony can transform hatred into reciprocity and cooperation. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40386]
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence went viral in conservative media in June 2023 when the L.A. Dodgers announced plans to honor the local house of the order at the team’s annual Pride Night. Reporting on the ensuing scuffle focused largely on sports, politics, and culture wars, not on religion, and it largely misrepresented or overlooked the international order of queer and trans nuns at the heart of the story. In this program, Melissa M. Wilcox, Professor and Holstein Family & Community Chair of Religious Studies at UC Riverside, talks about who these nuns are and why they keep rankling the right and delighting the left. Series: "Ethics, Religion and Public Life: Walter H. Capps Center Series" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40374]
In the early 20th century, Budapest was the second-largest Jewish city in Europe, and Jewish artists and intellectuals played a major role in the city’s cosmopolitan cultural life. Among them was theater and cinema director and producer Béla Pásztor, whose career was marked by early success and later oppression. In a conversation with UC San Diego history professor Deborah Hertz, Béla’s son, Rafael Pastor, explores his family’s history before, during, and after the Nazi occupation of Hungary, including his parents’ emigration to Israel, where he was born. In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the deportations and annihilations of Hungarian Jews in 1944, which Béla survived in hiding, the conversation is preceded by a brief historical overview and survivor testimonies of this harrowing—and unforgettable—tragedy. Series: "Library Channel" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40227]
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) an estimated 1.3 billion people or 16% of the global population have a significant disability. A disability is a condition that can be mental or physical, and can affect a person's vision, movement, thinking, learning, communication, hearing, mental health or social relationships. However, not all disabilities are the same. Some disabilities are genetic, passed down from generation to generation, while others may have been caused by an incident out of the person's control. In this episode of Exploring Ethics, Professor Joseph Stramondo will discuss the narrative, identity and ethics of choosing disability. Series: "Exploring Ethics" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40241]
In late September 1941, tens of thousands of people were massacred over two days in a ravine known as Babyn Yar on the outskirts of Nazi-occupied Kyiv. Most of the victims were Jews, though Roma, Crimean Tatars, and Ukrainian and Russian Communists were also among those murdered. In her 2017 book of poems, “The Voices of Babyn Yar,” award-winning poet Marianna Kiyanovska engages with this tragedy as a Ukrainian who learned of the mass killings only as an adult. Kiyanovska is the author of more than a dozen books of poetry, prose, and literary translations and her works have been translated into 18 languages. In this bilingual poetry reading, Kiyanovska shares poems in the original Ukrainian, including selections from “The Voices of Babyn Yar.” UC San Diego Professor of Literature Amelia Glaser will read the English translations. Series: "Library Channel" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40068]
At a global level, Homo sapiens have reshaped the planet Earth to such an extent that we now talk of a new geological age, the Anthropocene. But each of us shapes our own worlds, physically, symbolically, and in the worlds of imagination. This symposium focuses especially on one form of construction, the construction of buildings, while stressing that such construction is ever shaped by diverse factors from landscape to culture and the construction of history embodied in it - and more. After a brief look at birds building their nests as an example of variation on a species-specific Bauplan, we sample a broad sweep of cultural evolution and niche construction from the earliest stone tools of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens through the Neolithic and the rise of cities to the formal and informal architecture of the present day. Finally, we explore the ways artificial intelligence may further change how humans construct their mental and physical worlds. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40170]
The symbolic tools we use to design and construct our environments have been transformed by the so-called Cybernetic revolution and the innovations in materials technology that have accompanied them. The integration of computers, the Internet of Things, embedded robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI) supports the development of intelligent/smart buildings where specific levels of automation can be tailored to every type of building use and occupancy. This talk will emphasize smart architecture as being based on insights into how buildings may affect human well-being whether or not novel technology is employed. This involves a critical assessment of when and where AI and related technologies should be incorporated into the built environment. A complementary concern is with how AI will affect the way humans see their place in their social and "natural" worlds when we can no longer see humans as the only possessors of "intelligence." Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40168]
This talk explores the needs of the poor and homeless around the world, charting the interplay between formal and informal settlements. The key example for this talk will be the favelas of Saõ Paulo in the context of a broader concern with Latin American urbanism and the role of individual initiative, social forces and politics as agencies of urban transformation. Built environments are to be seen not only as technological artifacts but also as providing a spatial politics for transforming where and how vulnerable communities immigrate to cities. Key questions arise concerning the relation of informal housing to the formal infrastructural systems of cities, including access to utilities. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40167]
This program explores the decolonizing potential of Indian aesthetic-social philosophy by challenging two entrenched colonial prejudices: the supposed radical dissimilarity and inferiority of pre-modern Indian traditions compared to modern social theory. Through an analysis of the Upanishads and Vaisnava theology and poetry, Sudipta Kaviraj, professor of Indian Politics and Intellectual History at Columbia University, examines conceptions of paradise as a life without suffering, arguing that divergent ideas of paradise have shaped Indian aesthetic thought. Central to this philosophy is the interdependence of cognitive curiosity and aesthetic enjoyment, seen as essential for fully accessing and understanding the universe. Kaviraj suggests that these traditions offer valuable insights for modern secular thinkers reflecting on the human condition. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40222]
The site of Göbekli Tepe is well known as a settlement of the transitional phase in SW-Asia, in which the greater mobility of the Palaeolithic increasingly gave way to the more permanent settlement of the Neolithic. This talk uses the example of Göbekli Tepe to explore the linkage of buildings with ecology, climate, economy, cultural, political, symbolic systems, and creation of networks between dwellings. The central question is to what extent it is possible to understand how people in the Neolithic constructed their world. Based on this, the talk will challenge the regnant hypothesis that Göbekli Tepe served as a central ritual site and meeting place that acted as a driving force for the spread of Neolithization. This provides an important addition to developing a perspective on the precursor forms of habitation for buildings whose architectural remains we can examine today. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40164]
What defines a person’s character, and how does it shape who they are? In this lecture, Susan Wolf, emeritus professor of philosophy at the University of North Carolina, challenges traditional ideas about character. She argues that character is more than just a set of traits or values an individual endorses—it can include aspects of ourselves we may not even recognize or approve of. Wolf explores how a deeper understanding of character, rooted in active intelligence and thoughtful reflection, can reshape how we view agency, moving beyond just actions and intentions. This thought-provoking talk offers fresh insights into what makes us who we are and how we navigate the complexities of identity and selfhood. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40221]
Troubled interactions are moments when communication breaks down in subtle, often unnoticed ways. In this program, Waverly Duck, an urban ethnographer and professor of sociology at UC Santa Barbara, discusses these breakdowns, revealing surprising aspects of how we create meaning and self-identity. Through video and audio recordings, Duck shows how misunderstandings lead people to assign motives to each other, creating conflict. Examples from Duck's research include neighborhood poverty, food inequality, and autism assessments. These cases highlight hidden social rules and practices, demonstrating how studying these troubles can help us understand everyday interactions better. Series: "GRIT Talks" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40131]
This presentation will briefly trace 70,000 years of cultural evolution from the ancient crossing from Sunda to Sahul, via the swift continental colonization during the Ice Age, through the severe impacts on survival during the Last Glacial Maximum, and the socio-territorial reconfigurations during Holocene sea-level rise. The Australian Aboriginal world had become characterized by low environmental impact habitation, complex social organization systems anchored within constructed sacred origin histories, the persistence of relatively simple dwelling types situated within complex settlement sociospatial structures, and a high quality of life for most, with institutional dispute resolution mechanisms to contain conflicts. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40162]
The transition from Neolithic villages to early cities marked the greatest social transformation faced by our species before the Industrial Revolution. Our ancestors had to learn how to live in new settlements that had more people, higher densities, and more activities than had been known previously. The new adaptations to urban life involved changes in society and social processes, not just individual learning. Some changes came about through social interactions in a process called energized crowding; these include innovations in housing and the use of space, and the establishment of neighborhoods in cities. Other changes were driven by powerful new institutions, including formal governments and social classes. Do ancient cities—and they ways they responded to shocks—might hold useful insights for the development of urban adaptations to climate change today? Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40165]
Humans construct their physical worlds in part by designing and constructing new tools, habitations, and in due course diverse buildings and, in some cases, towns and cities and construct their symbolic worlds by putting words together to tell stories, articulate plans, tell lies, seek truth, and much more. This talk offers hypotheses that address a key question for anthropogeny: How did biological evolution yield humans with the “construction-ready brains” and bodies that made us capable of the cultural evolution that created the diversity of our mental and physical constructs that we know today? Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40161]
Pragmatism is a “philosophy” in two senses of the term. It is a general outlook on life and an academic theory of the universe and our place in it. In this program, Aaron Zimmerman, professor and chair of the Philosophy Department at UC, Santa Barbara, discusses the nature of America's pragmatism. The axiom of pragmatism is Alexander Bain’s (1865) theory of belief, which was subsequently developed by Charles Sanders Peirce and William James. Despite its Scottish origins, pragmatism is distinctively American, as philosophers, like Dewey and Rawls (in his later work), adapted American’s founding creed to the changes wrought by the Darwinian revolution in biology, offering a pragmatic rationale for natural rights originally grounded in creationist biology. Series: "GRIT Talks" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40130]
This talk provides a deep time perspective for assessing the behavioural implications of the creation of the earliest known structure and the technologies used in its making. Evidence for the earliest structure appears relatively late, about 500,000 years ago in Zambia, and before the evolution of Homo sapiens. The next oldest structures were made by Neanderthals in Europe, 176,000 years ago. The site in Zambia preserves rare evidence for the shaping and fitting together of two tree trunks to make a stable framework. The process of combining parts to make a whole reflects a conceptually new approach to technology, one which remains central to everything we make as humans, including structures. Did the invention of combinatorial technology require the use of language to discuss and evaluate diverse ways to form new constructs and constructions? This question arises from the extended planning and expertise needed in the making of combinatorial tools. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40160]
Director Don Hertzfeldt joins moderator Miguel Penabella (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) for a discussion of his films ME and It’s Such a Beautiful Day. They discuss his time as a UCSB student and his early interest in animation, as well as the development of his new film. Hertzfeldt also shares insights into his influences from silent cinema, and his thematic interests in deep time and memory across his work. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40070]
As distinct from the buildings of termites (interesting though these are), bird nests offer a more apropos point of comparison for human buildings – they are conducted by single vertebrate (or a few) and can be adapted to varied circumstances, with even a small effect of social learning. However, the basic Bauplan remains species-specific, unlike the creativity of the human architect. Since nonhuman primates lack interesting building skills, and so we suggest that bird nest construction may come to play a similar comparative role for architectural design. The static Bauplan of birds can be compared to the near-stasis of human tool use until the end of the Paleolithic, challenging us to assess the changes in human practice that unlocked an increasingly rapid process of cultural evolution. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40159]
At a global level, Homo sapiens have reshaped the planet Earth to such an extent that we now talk of a new geological age, the Anthropocene. But each of us shapes our own worlds, physically, symbolically, and in the worlds of imagination. This symposium focuses especially on one form of construction, the construction of buildings, while stressing that such construction is ever shaped by diverse factors from landscape to culture and the construction of history embodied in it - and more. After a brief look at birds building their nests as an example of variation on a species-specific Bauplan, we sample a broad sweep of cultural evolution and niche construction from the earliest stone tools of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens through the Neolithic and the rise of cities to the formal and informal architecture of the present day. Finally, we explore the ways artificial intelligence may further change how humans construct their mental and physical worlds. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40169]
Every building – from the Parthenon to the Great Mosque of Damascus to a typical Georgian house – was influenced by the energy available to its architects. This talk offers a historical perspective on a topic of great relevance today, the linkage of architecture and energy. It provides a useful complement to the non-urban perspective on ecology offered by the talk on “The indigenous architecture of Australia.” Architecture has been shaped in every era by our access to energy, from fire to farming to fossil fuels. The talk will discuss a range of buildings of the past fifteen thousand years from Uruk, via Ancient Rome and Victorian Liverpool, to China's booming megacities. If we are to avoid catastrophic climate change one important ingredients is to design beautiful but also intelligent buildings, and to retrofit - not demolish - those that remain. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40166]
Composer Christopher Willis joins moderator Tyler Morgenstern (Assistant Director, Carsey-Wolf Center) for a discussion of his work on Schmigadoon! They discuss how theatrical and movie musical history, as well as Willis’ musicology background, informs the music of the show. They explore the challenge of composing an underscore, and incorporating the stylistic variation of decades of musicals, from the Golden Age musical tradition to the darker themes of 1960s and 1970s productions. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39993]
Director Lynn Hershman Leeson joins moderator Letícia Cobra Lima (History of Art & Architecture, UCSB and curator of A Box of One’s Own) for a discussion of her film !Women Art Revolution. They discuss her history as an artist, and the difficult process of piecing together a narrative from hundreds of hours of footage, interviews, and extensive archival research. They also examine the institutional issues faced by women in the art world and make connections between past and present artists. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39975]
Human "place-making" began over a million years ago when early humans made the hearth the center of social life. By 450,000 years ago, they were using caves in southwest Asia and sometimes buried their dead beneath the floor, linking memory-making with place-making. Hunter-gatherers started settling seasonally around 24,000 years ago, with permanent stone settlements by 13,000 BCE. Large, co-resident communities became common in the Holocene. The Neolithic (9600-6000 BCE) saw major social, economic, and cultural innovations, including architecture, monuments, and symbolic systems. Neolithic societies, with their complex economic relations, proto-urban patterns, and ritualistic architecture, were the first "imagined communities," deeply tied to memory and social symbolism. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40163]
Writer/director Sam Kadi and actors William Atherton and Rizwan Manji join moderator Juan Campo (Religious Studies, UCSB) for a discussion of their film The Citizen. They share their experiences making the film and drawing inspiration from real Arab-American stories. They also discuss the continued relevance of the film’s themes, including issues of citizenship, the immigrant experience, racial prejudice, and the right to protest, as well as the representation of Arab-Americans on-screen. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39978]
Lucy is one of the most famous fossils of all time. The discovery of this species had a major impact on the science of human origins and evolution. Why? What was that impact? The symposium speakers—each a prominent scientist in their field—will address this question and specifically discuss the discovery’s impact through time, starting with the first few years after the discovery, the lasting impact, and the state of the art in that research area today. We're celebrating the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the fossil skeleton “Lucy” with the aim of reigniting a global interest in how we “became human” and promoting the importance of connecting our human past to the global future on the planet. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39830]
The discovery of a 3.2-million-year-old hominin skeleton named Lucy revolutionized human evolutionary studies. Her Linnean classification as Australopithecus afarensis sparked debates on taxonomy, highlighting the complexity of interpreting fossil evidence and shaping our understanding of hominin evolution. Lucy's systematics provide insights into the challenges of classifying early hominins, emphasizing how interpretations evolve with new evidence and knowledge. Comparing fossils with living ape taxa and extinct species helps infer evolutionary relationships, while considering temporal variation adds depth to our understanding. Lucy's case illustrates the ongoing debate on species classification in paleoanthropology and the critical role of evidence in shaping taxonomic hypotheses. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39837]
Filmmaker Sreemoyee Singh joins moderator Shiva Balaghi (Area Global Initiative, UCSB) for a discussion of her film And, Towards Happy Alleys. They discuss the impetus for the film and Singh’s research into the cinema of Iran, as well as her travels to the country. Singh reflects on her experiences documenting Iranian filmmakers like Jafar Panahi and meeting those close to and following in the footsteps of the late Forugh Farrokhzad. She also discusses lessons learned as a documentary filmmaker. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39779]
Lucy, discovered in 1974, revolutionized paleoanthropology, sparking interest in Africa's fossil-rich regions. This led to significant discoveries, pushing human origins records beyond six million years. Lucy's find prompted the establishment of research facilities in Africa, aiding local scholars' training. As we mark her 50th anniversary, we celebrate scientific progress and African research infrastructure while recognizing the need for further support to advance paleosciences in Africa. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39828]
Producer Angela Laprete and actor Lindsay Watson join moderator Tyler Morgenstern (Assistant Director of the Carsey-Wolf Center) for a discussion of their film The Wind and the Reckoning. They discuss the film’s origins and telling the story in the ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi language. They also speak on the development of the script, its approach to genres like the Western and historical drama, working with cultural consultants, and the importance of authentic and thoughtful cultural representation. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39977]
Director Sam Pollard joins moderator Wendy Eley Jackson (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) for a discussion of his film Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes. They discuss his long and remarkable career as a documentary filmmaker and the life of jazz musician Max Roach. They also reflect on Pollard’s varied documentary subject matter throughout the decades, from dressage to graffiti to the civil rights movement, and working closely with director Spike Lee. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39974]
Lucy's 50-year legacy as a superstar in human evolution is undeniable. Yet, with newer, older fossils and a growing understanding of her ancient world, her status as our ancestor is questioned. This talk delves into how these discoveries reshape Lucy's narrative and our understanding of human evolution, likening her to a middle-aged celebrity facing new challengers. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39827]
Happiness is often described as being U-shaped over adulthood—starting high, declining to a midlife slump, then improving thereafter despite social losses and declines in health. Though some claim that this U-shape is a fundamental feature of human lives, happiness has mostly been studied in high-income countries. To provide a broader perspective, Michael Gurven, Professor of Anthropology at UC Santa Barbara, discusses age-profiles of subjective well-being among non-industrialized societies where people lack formal institutions that promote social welfare. Gurven says the average trajectory of happiness over adulthood differs among populations. Series: "GRIT Talks" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40085]
Director and co-writer Erica Tremblay joins moderator Lisa Parks (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) for a discussion of her film, Fancy Dance. They discuss the development of the film and Tremblay’s three-year-long journey to study the Cayuga language in preparation. They also discuss Lily Gladstone’s central performance, the role of dance as a central motif, and the foregrounding of queer identity and culture in the film. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39971]
Director Kemp Powers joins moderator Mireille Miller-Young (Feminist Studies, UCSB) for a discussion of his film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. They discuss the development of the film, the origins of characters like Spider-Punk, and various artistic influences. Powers also shares his experiences working with a large, diverse animation team and thoughtfully addressing issues of representation and authenticity. They also discuss the storytelling and expressive possibilities of animation. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39976]
Since Lucy's 1974 discovery, African heritage management and paleoscientific research have evolved significantly. Partnerships with international organizations have supported these efforts, leading to flourishing research and collaborations. However, foreign researchers' access restrictions have hindered efficiency, innovation, collaboration, and diversity. Balancing access restrictions with scientific openness and responsible stewardship is crucial. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39826]
The modern world is not disenchanted. On the contrary, it is full of gods and heroes and myths and magic. In this talk, Philip Gorski sketches out a new narrative of Western modernity that can account for this state of affairs: the fragmentation of the sacred. Series: "Ethics, Religion and Public Life: Walter H. Capps Center Series" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39810]
Humans are a spectacular outlier among the millions of species of life on planet earth, with incredibly unique biological success. Slowly, scientists have begun to understand the traits that interacted to make us unique, such as cumulative culture, unique scales of cooperation, cognitive abilities, language, and a unique life history and mating system. However, the sequence of evolutionary events that led to our unique species was very much a mystery until the discovery of early bipedal hominins like the australopithecine, Lucy. Here, Kim Hill explains how we have learned so much about this improbable sequence and evolutionary pathway by discovering that early hominins were fully bipedal but still had small brains and little evidence for human mating and life history patterns or cumulative cultural evolution. Lucy helped us understand why the evolution of bipedality was a critical first step that led to an amazing evolutionary sequence that resulted in our spectacular outlier species. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39825]
Director Nicole Newnham joins moderator Kyna McClenaghan (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) for a discussion of her film The Disappearance of Shere Hite. They discuss the origin of the film and her interest in Shere Hite, as well as the archival research undertaken in making the documentary. Together, they also detail the work of Shere Hite in the context of the feminist movement of the time, the sexist backlash she received, and the enduring impact of The Hite Report and other studies. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39973]
The connection between paleoanthropology and primatology began with Darwin's theory of human origins. Lucy's discovery challenged existing ideas, coinciding with observations of wild primates. This sparked a surge of research on primate behavior, enriching our understanding of human evolution. Despite behavior not fossilizing, studying living primates has deepened insights into ancestral lifestyles. By examining their social and ecological dynamics, researchers unravel the origins of complex behaviors like cooperation and culture, shedding light on human adaptations. This interdisciplinary approach has refined methods for studying social processes and their biological effects. Fifty years since Lucy's find, these tools continue to shape our understanding of human evolution and its relevance today. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39824]
Filmmaker Jess X. Snow joins UCSB's Heidi Amin-Hong to discuss a selection of Snow’s films and their broader artistic journey. As a multidisciplinary artist, Snow's work encompasses poetry, visual art, and film, often addressing themes like the model minority myth, community care, mutual aid, and the Asian-American immigrant experience. They also explore how their films depict queer intimacy and the romantic and erotic agency of Asian-Americans. The conversation provides a deep dive into Snow’s creative process and how their diverse body of work challenges stereotypes and offers empowering narratives for marginalized communities. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39972]
This program discusses humanist and scholar Walter Capps’ political career and the ongoing value of public service. The panel discussion features four people who have all worked as public servants: former U.S. Senator and Nebraska Governor Bob Kerrey; Lois Capps, former Congresswoman who served as a U.S. Representative from 1998-2017 representing Santa Barbara and the Central Coast, Laura Capps, the Second District Supervisor for Santa Barbara County; and Todd Capps, founding Executive Director of the Common Table Foundation. Series: "Ethics, Religion and Public Life: Walter H. Capps Center Series" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 39721]
In this program, Russell M. Jeung, professor of Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University, explores COVID-19 racism against Asian Americans, which led to what he terms a period of “collective racial trauma.” Twenty-five peer-reviewed articles have since documented the deleterious impacts of direct and indirect racism on the mental health of Asian Americans. Yet Asian Americans have been resilient in the face of this trauma, and utilized their ethnic and cultural wealth as buffers against anti-Asian hate. Jeung identifies three key ways that Asian Americans responded to this trauma and even grew from this painful time. Asian Americans’ posttraumatic growth, the positive psychological change after trauma incidents, is also be detailed. Jeung is the author of many books and articles on race and religion. In 2020, he co-founded Stop AAPI Hate to track instances of bias, harassment, and violence against AAPI people during Covid-19 and to fight racism. Series: "Ethics, Religion and Public Life: Walter H. Capps Center Series" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 39867]
Lucy's 1974 discovery reshaped our understanding of early hominins. Geological studies dated her to 3.21 million years ago. Questions arose about her life and death, leading to investigations into her burial site and skeletal preservation. Found scattered on the surface, less than 40% of her skeleton was preserved. Some parts were articulated, indicating rapid burial, possibly by a river. Missing elements suggest scavenging and erosion. Debate surrounds her cause of death, with theories including a fall or predation. Bone fractures hint at trauma, but the exact circumstances remain unclear. Geological evidence disputes death by mudslide or flood. Tooth marks on her bones lack conclusive evidence of predation. These debates underline Lucy's enduring influence on paleoanthropology, sparking ongoing research into human evolution. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39823]
Writer/director Gregg Araki joins moderator Bhaskar Sarkar (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) for a discussion of his film, Nowhere. Araki reflects on post-punk and do-it-yourself subcultures, as well as his memories taking film classes at UCSB as an influence on his work. He also discusses the cult following and home distribution of the film, the legacy of independent and new queer cinema on his career, and finding influence in new wave film movements and the city of Los Angeles. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39781]
This program aims to recover Plato’s idea of craft or art, Greek technê, in the expansive sense which includes not only the handicrafts but skilled practices from housebuilding to navigation. Rachel Barney, professor of philosophy at the University of Toronto, examines Plato and other Greek thinkers who were fascinated by the craft model: the idea that both the moral virtue of the good person and the political widom of the expert ruler are — or could be made into — skilled practices as reliable as shoemaking or carpentry. Similar ideas appear in classical Chinese philosophy, developed in very different ways by Daoist and Confucian thinkers. In our time, craft is in a bad way: marginalized in theory and everywhere endangered in practice. Ancient thinkers can help us to see what remains valuable and urgent about craft today, and what a reinvigorated understanding of it might contribute to our ethical and political thought. Crafts to be considered include carpentry, medicine, drawing, film editing, the ‘multicraft’ of the restaurant, tennis, and traditional Polynesian navigation. Philosophical points of reference, in addition to Plato, Aristotle, Zhuangzi, and Xunzi, include Murdoch, MacIntyre, Korsgaard, and the Hart-Fuller debate, as well as literary reflections from Kazuo Ishiguro and Cormac McCarthy. Barney is joined by Adam Gopnik, Rachana Kamtekar, Christine Korsgaard, and Alexander Nehamas to discuss the topic of craft. Series: "Tanner Lectures on Human Values" [Humanities] [Business] [Show ID: 39865]
The AI revolution and other innovations are bolstering equitable, community-centered solutions to major societal issues from disease to wildfire, and technologies piloted at UC San Diego are laying the groundwork for a better future. UC San Diego’s experts are making the case for why public higher education institutions must be a driving force to ensure that ethical, people-centered technology is at the center of AI advancements, and why the U.S. must invest in infrastructure that ensures institutions like UC San Diego are able to work alongside industry and government to develop the next generation of AI technology and advocate for responsible development, regulation and investment. Series: "A Deep Look into the Future of Biology" [Humanities] [Science] [Education] [Show ID: 39709]
Lucy's discovery in eastern Africa reshaped human origins research, highlighting our ancestors' diverse habitats. Initially thought vegetarians like chimpanzees, Lucy's group were adaptable omnivores. Recent findings suggest they used tools and hunted, challenging notions of early human development. This raises questions about when humanity's defining traits emerged. Did Lucy's dietary flexibility pave the way for our intelligence and tool use? Ongoing research aims to unravel these mysteries, using innovative methods to understand ancient diets and behaviors. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39822]
This program discusses humanist and scholar Walter Capps’ teaching of ethics and civic values in the classroom and beyond. The panel consists of Katya Armistead, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Dean of Student Life at UCSB and co-directs the Civic Engagement Scholars Program, Tim Kring, a screenwriter whose work focuses on themes of interconnectivity and global consciousness, and Shawn Landres, a civic strategist and a Senior Fellow at UCLA Luskin. Series: "Ethics, Religion and Public Life: Walter H. Capps Center Series" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 39719]
Lucy is one of the most famous fossils of all time. The discovery of this species had a major impact on the science of human origins and evolution. Why? What was that impact? The symposium speakers—each a prominent scientist in their field—will address this question and specifically discuss the discovery’s impact through time, starting with the first few years after the discovery, the lasting impact, and the state of the art in that research area today. We're celebrating the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the fossil skeleton “Lucy” with the aim of reigniting a global interest in how we “became human” and promoting the importance of connecting our human past to the global future on the planet. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39829]
The discovery of Lucy in 1974 gave insight into early hominin body form but lacked hand bones. Subsequent findings revealed Australopithecus afarensis hand morphology. New discoveries and research since then, including associated hand skeletons and archaeological evidence, have enhanced our understanding of hominin hand evolution and tool use. These advancements inform us about Lucy's tool-related abilities and dexterity, reshaping our interpretation of early human behavior. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39821]
What is a craft? For Plato, paradigmatic craft-practitioners include the doctor, carpenter and navigator; an updated, more generous conception should include the dancer, coder, waitress, painter, chef, professional athlete, and firefighter. Rachel Barney, professor of philosophy at the University of Toronto, discusses how each of these skilled practices is oriented to the achievement of a distinctive end, the goodness of which is independent of the self-interest or inclinations of the practitioner. This Platonic conception of craft as involving disinterested teleological rationality can explain how craft sets objective norms for correct action, and for the excellence of the practitioner. And it shows that to master a craft is not merely to acquire knowledge or skills but to take on the ‘internal standpoint’ definitive of the craft, internalizing its values and treating its reasons for action as authoritative. Barney is joined by Adam Gopnik and Rachana Kamtekar for commentary on the topic of craft. Series: "Tanner Lectures on Human Values" [Humanities] [Business] [Show ID: 39863]
This program discusses humanist and scholar Walter Capps’ famous course on the Vietnam War and its impacts. The panel consists of former U.S. Senator and Governor Bob Kerrey, who is a veteran of the Vietnam War and co-instructor in Walter Capps' Vietnam War class. Shad Meshad is Founder and President of the National Veterans Foundation who served as a psych officer in Vietnam. Meshad met Walter Capps in 1977 and their conversation about the war led to the Vietnam War class, which Shad continued to help teach for the next 20 years. And Richard Hecht, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Religious Studies at UCSB, who taught the Vietnam War course for nearly 25 years. Series: "Ethics, Religion and Public Life: Walter H. Capps Center Series" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39718]
Paleoanthropology is booming with discoveries, reshaping our understanding of human evolution. Lucy's 1974 find stands as a milestone, providing crucial insights into early hominins. Her species, Australopithecus afarensis, remains a key reference, revealing bipedalism and dietary adaptations. Recent findings suggest bipedality evolved from arboreal upright apes, not chimpanzee-like ancestors. Earlier australopiths show bipedality predates dietary changes, indicating walking aided dietary shifts. Some australopiths may have used stone tools before significant brain enlargement in Homo. Lucy's discovery led to an explosion of insights, showing she was part of a diverse group of bipedal apes in the mid-Pliocene. Lucy remains central to understanding human evolution, highlighting the importance of her discovery in shaping our knowledge. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39820]
Especially when practiced as a line of work — as a job or métier — craft sets norms for its practitioners. On the whole, a shoemaker should try to be a good shoemaker, and the good person who is a shoemaker routinely does just that. But what kind of ‘should’ is this, and what could connect these two kinds of goodness? Rachel Barney, professor of philosophy at the University of Toronto, examines prominent philosophical conceptions of craft, ancient and modern, offer wildly various explanations of its normative authority. The picture is complicated by the way in which craft-as-work is paradigmatic both for successful practical reason and for social roles or practical identities in general. But the most fundamental source of craft’s normativity is the one which Plato and Aristotle bring out: the fact that, when practised as a job or métier, practicing your craft can be a way to realize the human good. And so thinking about craft turns out to be a way of thinking about Utopia: a society in which a just distribution of work could secure both the flourishing of the worker and the common good. Barney is joined by Christine Korsgaard and Alexander Nehamas for commentary on the topic of craft. Series: "Tanner Lectures on Human Values" [Humanities] [Business] [Show ID: 39864]
The savanna hypothesis suggests that early human ancestors evolved in open grasslands. Raymond Dart's 1925 discovery of Australopithecus africanus at Taung supported this idea. Lucy's 1974 discovery confirmed bipedalism in Australopithecus species but raised questions about their tree-dwelling habits. Studies since then have refined our understanding of ancient habitats and climates, showing that human evolution involved interactions with various environments, not just savannas. This requires a nuanced view of biomes, climates, and habitats to understand how early humans adapted and evolved. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39819]
Rev. Dr. Bernice A. King is a global thought leader, peace advocate, and CEO of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center For Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center), which was founded by her mother as the official living memorial to the life, work, and legacy of her father, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. As part of the Helen Edition Lecture Series, Dr. King talks with Cheryl Anderson, Dean of UC San Diego's School of Public Health, about her work educating youth and adults around the world about the nonviolent principles and strategies modeled by her parents. Series: "Helen Edison Lecture Series" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 39523]
Alessandro Duranti, Distinguished Research Professor of Anthropology at UCLA, presents archival footage he filmed of Walter Capps' 1996 campaign for U.S. Congress to analyze how the political candidate framed his choice to run for office. Using semantic and narrative analyses, Duranti shows how Capps refined his campaign announcement to better generate voter enthusiasm and how Capps' public and private comments about the campaign reflected his ethical and political values. Capps was elected to Congress in 1996, and died in October 1997 after serving 10 months in office. Duranti became a close friend of the Capps family during his year-long ethnographic research, and he reflects on the role of family in Capps' life and campaign. Series: "Ethics, Religion and Public Life: Walter H. Capps Center Series" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 39720]
In 1974, understanding early human evolution was limited. Lucy's discovery provided insights into one early hominin, while her species, Australopithecus afarensis, revealed broader patterns. The abundance and quality of A. afarensis fossils help understand diversity, relationships, and the pace of evolution among hominins. Lucy's ilk sheds light on crucial topics such as taxic diversity, phylogenetic relationships, and the tempo of evolution within the hominin clade. They are key to unlocking the secrets of hominin evolutionary history before and after A. afarensis, offering valuable context for fossils found in southern and eastern Africa. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39818]
Owing to its morphological and temporal placement, the Lucy species, Australopithecus afarensis, plays a pivotal role in our understanding of the human evolutionary career. Though many more fossil remains were recovered subsequent to Lucy’s discovery, the impact of the latter cannot be overstated not least its role as a trove of scientific data as well as its iconic nature. Research on Lucy and its species and continued fieldwork have inspired many research projects across Africa especially the Afar region of Ethiopia. One such project is the Dikika Research Project, which has discovered the earliest and most complete skeleton of a juvenile A. afarensis, dating back to 3.32 million years ago, filling in a major gap in our knowledge of the species. Here, I will briefly discuss what we learn from this skeleton about the Lucy species and what that implies to our knowledge of the many descendants of A. afarensis including our own species. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39817]
As part of a special series celebrating the legacy of humanist and professor Walter H. Capps, this program examines Capps’ scholarly contributions and the study of religion today, featuring renowned scholars of religion who were Walter’s graduate students: Tomoko Masuzawa, Professor Emerita of History and Comparative Literature, University of Michigan, Julie Ingersoll, Professor of Religious Studies, University of North Florida, and Sarah McFarland Taylor, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Northwestern University. Series: "Ethics, Religion and Public Life: Walter H. Capps Center Series" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 39707]
The discovery of Lucy, a fossil from the 1970s, changed paleoanthropology. Before Lucy, scientists saw human ancestors as rough guides, not distinct species. This mindset dominated the interpretation of fossils. Lucy's discovery, representing a new species called Australopithecus afarensis, showed the need to define species clearly. The clash of old and new views was seen in a 1981 debate between Richard Leakey and Donald Johanson. Leakey's refusal to offer an alternative emphasized flaws in traditional practices. This marked a shift towards a better understanding of human origins and diversity, despite some scientists holding onto old ways. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39816]
As part of a special series celebrating the legacy of humanist and professor Walter H. Capps, this program examines Capps’ scholarly contributions and the study of religion today, featuring renowned scholars of religion who were Walter’s graduate students: Edward Linenthal, Professor Emeritus of History, Indiana University Bloomington and Wendy M. Wright, Professor Emerita of Theology, Creighton University. Series: "Ethics, Religion and Public Life: Walter H. Capps Center Series" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 39706]
Filmmaker/curator Márton Orosz joins moderator George Legrady (Media Arts & Technology, UCSB) for a discussion of György Kepes: Interthinking Art + Science. They discuss the career of György Kepes and his groundbreaking work at MIT, and presenting his life onscreen. They also explore the development of the field of art and technology in the twentieth century, as well as Kepes’ continued significance and legacy in the present day. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39735]
Since entering into the field of paleoanthropology in 1970, Donald Johanson has found a more focused and rigorous implementation of an expanded collaborative, multinational, transdisciplinary strategy of inquiry with the application of new theoretical and technical innovations that has resulted in a richer picture of our origins and a deeper understanding of how we became human—not only in Africa, but Eurasia as well. The discovery of Lucy 50 years ago provides an appropriate benchmark by which to contrast what we know in 2024 versus what we thought we knew prior to her discovery in 1974. Knowledge of the environment in which our ancestors lived and interacted and successfully navigated the challenges of survival is now coming into clearer focus. We are in a period of specialization, and it is imperative to embrace an integrated approach that melds biological and cultural evolution. Only in this way can we continue to provide a more far-reaching vision of our ancestry. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39815]
Actor Meg Ryan joins moderator Brad Silberling for a discussion of the romantic comedy classic When Harry Met Sally. They share behind-the-scenes stories of the film’s late screenwriter Nora Ephron and the enduring legacy of the film. They also reflect on the development of the film’s script and iconic characters, the process of shooting scenes and bringing Harry and Sally to life onscreen, and Meg Ryan’s work both in front of and behind the camera over the course of her career. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39638]
What role do the humanities - history, art, philosophy, language, religion - play in the modern world? Prominent leaders of humanities organizations discuss the contributions of noted humanist and professor Walter H. Capps and the value of the humanities today. Series: "Ethics, Religion and Public Life: Walter H. Capps Center Series" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39705]
What does it take to survive persecution and exile? The story of Greta Taussig and Rudy Gans offers answers to this tantalizing question. Born in Linz, Austria, Greta emigrated to London after the country’s incorporation into the Third Reich, eventually enduring the horrors of the Blitz. Rudy was able to make his way to Shanghai after imprisonment in the notorious Dachau concentration camp. Along their arduous journey, each experienced the life-saving kindness of courageous strangers. As part of the UC San Diego Holocaust Living History Workshop, their son, Bob Gans, shares their thought-provoking story, supplemented by a display of artifacts and original documents. Series: "Library Channel" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39008]
Almost every child born in the United States undergoes state-mandated newborn screening within the first 48 hours of life. The blood collected from a "heel stick" helps test for 80 different serious but treatable genetic disorders. These disorders can be either genetic (passed down in families) or congenital (present at birth). But... what if we could go further? What if we could test a newborn's entire genetic sequence? Pediatric geneticist Ingrid Holm discusses the risks, benefits, costs and ethics of genomic sequencing in newborns. Series: "Exploring Ethics" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39266]
Associate producer Steve Starkey and screenwriter Peter S. Seaman join moderator Tyler Morgenstern (Assistant Director of the Carsey-Wolf Center) for a discussion of the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit. They discuss the early development and complex visual effects of the film. They also discuss the state of Walt Disney Studios in the 1980s and the industrial contexts surrounding the film, as well as allegories of segregation and urban sprawl in Los Angeles worked into the narrative. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39737]
New York Times bestselling author Anne Lamott returns to the 2024 Writer's Symposium by the Sea to talk about her new book "Somehow: Thoughts on Love." In a funny and spirited conversation with host Dean Nelson, Lamott talks about grief, addiction, hope, faith and love. Lamott is author of "Bird by Bird," "Grace," "Plan B" and "Hard Laughter." Series: "Writer's Symposium By The Sea" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39512]
Director Deborah Stratman joins moderator Alex Lilburn (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) for a discussion of her film, Last Things. Stratman discusses the varied ecological, geological, literary, and cinematic inspirations of the film and thinking beyond anthropic time scales. Together, they also discuss the structure of the documentary, the use of voiceover and outside excerpts, the scientific concepts explored throughout, and the research undertaken in the development process for the film. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39639]
As part of the 2024 Writer's Symposium by the Sea, New York Times bestselling author Amor Towles talks about his new book "Table for Two" with Dean Nelson, director of Point Loma Nazarene University's journalism program. Towles is best known for his novels "Rules of Civility," "The Lincoln Highway" and "A Gentleman in Moscow," which was recently adapted as a television series starring Ewan McGregor as Count Rostov. Series: "Writer's Symposium By The Sea" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39666]
Cookbook author and television host Ina Garten, founder and creative director of UPRISERS and co-founder of Hate Is A Virus Michelle K. Hanabusa, and author of ”Hidden Figures" Margot Lee Shetterly sit down with Lynn Sherr for a wide-ranging discussion of women and society, personal journeys and hopes for the future. Series: "Education Channel" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 39279]
Kashif Shaikh, co-founder and president of Pillars Fund, joins moderator Mona Damluji (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) for a discussion of the film Polite Society. Shaikh discusses working closely with director Nida Manzoor and themes of sisterhood, class hierarchy, and patriarchal power in the film. Together, they also discuss ways of subverting cliches and stereotypes in South Asian and Muslim representation onscreen and share perspectives on authenticity and a new generation of filmmakers. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39736]
Filmmakers Valerio Ciriaci and Isaak Liptzin join UC Santa Barbara moderator Stephanie Malia Hom to discuss their film, Stonebreakers. They detail the origins of the project and their interest in monuments as a trigger for political action and historical discourse. They also discuss their experiences filming protests and broader political action against police brutality and systemic racism, and share perspectives on documentary film’s delicate tension between history and memory. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39636]
Filmmaker James N. Kienitz Wilkins joins moderator Tyler Morgenstern, Assistant Director of the Carsey-Wolf Center, for a discussion of Still Film. They discuss its narrative and formal structure, as well as its thematic interests in the problems plaguing contemporary Hollywood. They also reflect on the film’s use of language and larger questions of cinema, memory, and nostalgia. Moreover, Wilkins discusses his use of 35mm press kit photos in the film and multiple meanings behind the term “stillness.” Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39637]
On December 19, 1980, Shlomo Lewin, the former chairman of the Jewish community in Nuremberg, and his partner Frida Poeschke were shot dead in their house in Erlangen. Instead of pursuing the leads that led to the right-wing extremist group Wehrsportgruppe Hoffmann, investigators concentrated on Lewin’s social environment for a long time. As part of UC San Diego's Holocaust Living History Workshop, German historian Uffa Jensen reconstructs the crime and its motivations, in the process unearthing a history of violence, trivialisation and repression that continues to this day. Jensen is a historian of modern history and serves as the deputy director at the Centre for Research on Antisemitism at the Technische Universität in Berlin. Series: "Library Channel" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38976]
Lucas Hilderbrand of UC Irvine joins UC Santa Barbara moderator Graham Feyl to discuss the film Paris is Burning. They review the history of its exhibition and the film’s enduring legacy as a powerful portrait of queer life, resistance, beauty, and art. They also discuss the unique structure of the documentary, the cultural contexts of drag balls for trans communities of color, and Paris is Burning’s significance in the history of trans representation onscreen. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39635]
Director Miguel Coyula and actor Lynn Cruz join UC Santa Barbara's Kiley Guyton Acosta and Cristina Venegas to discuss their film, Corazón Azul. They discuss the allegorical significance of its imagery, which draws from Cuban political and historical contexts for its alternate reality narrative. They also share insights into the long, complicated development of the film over the years and reflect on what independent cinema means in Cuba. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39634]
Filmmaker Juel Taylor joins UC Santa Barbara moderator Mireille Miller-Young for a discussion of his film They Cloned Tyrone as part of our Black Hollywood series. Taylor details the development of the film and its narrative and thematic inspirations and ideas. Together, they discuss each of the three main characters and the film’s playful subversion of racial stereotypes and Blaxploitation tropes. They also reflect on the film’s exploration of conspiracy theories in Black communities. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39633]
As part of the 2024 Writer's Symposium by the Sea, novelist, poet, and memoirist Paulette Jiles explores her life as a writer, including her newest book, "Chenneville: A Novel of Murder, Loss, and Vengeance." Jiles is known for her books "Enemy Women Stormy Weather," "The Color of Lightning," "Lighthouse Island," and "News of the World," which was a finalist for the 2016 National Book Award. Jiles talks with Ben Cater, director of the Point Loma Nazarene University Honors Program. Series: "Writer's Symposium By The Sea" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39009]
Filmmaker Alejandro M. Flores Aguilar and moderator Giovanni Batz discuss the film Ixiles: Voices from the Shadows of Time. Aguilar details the origin of the project, as well as the historical contexts of Indigenous resistance in the Ixil region of Guatemala. They also discuss issues surrounding ethnographic research, the responsibilities of academics, and the future of anti-colonial resistance. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39575]
Filmmaker Anthony Banua-Simon joins moderator Patrice Petro to discuss his documentary film Cane Fire. They explore the historical and colonial relationships between the plantation economy, the film industry, and tourism in Hawai’i, and larger questions posed by the film. Banua-Simon also discusses his approach to interrogating Hollywood history and how archival materials, oral records, and conspicuous historical absences drive his central critique. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39574]
Writer/producer Gabe Liedman and moderator Tyler Morgenstern discuss the film Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, a screening programmed alongside a workshop on comedy writing. Liedman discusses the collaborative work of comedy and the unique comedic style of the film. He also shares his favorite jokes and moments in the movie, and how the film has been impactful for their own work as a comedian and screenwriter. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39565]
As part of the 2024 Writer's Symposium by the Sea, writers Nick Hornby and Susan Orlean have a far-reaching conversation about their work, inspirations and human connections with Dean Nelson, director of Point Loma Nazarene University's journalism program. Hornby is an award-winning author and Oscar-nominated screenwriter whose books include the best-selling novels "High Fidelity" and "About A Boy." His latest nonfiction book is "Dickens and Prince: A Particular Kind of Genius." Orlean is the New York Times best-selling author of seven books, including "The Library Book," "Rin Tin Tin," and "The Orchid Thief." Series: "Writer's Symposium By The Sea" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39011]
Permanent body modification is a unique and variable practice among humans, not observed in other mammals. Despite being costly and risky, it is regularly performed. Scientific understanding of this phenomenon is nascent, prompting a symposium aiming to assess current research status and prioritize questions for the next decade. The event brings together academics and industry practitioners, exploring historical and contemporary practices like tattooing, piercing, finger amputation, and cranial modification. The symposium aims to investigate the 'when' and 'where' of permanent body modification and understand the motivations behind it, considering personal justifications and scientific hypotheses. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39476]
Director Arthur Jones and producer Giorgio Angelini join moderator Chelsea Kai Roesch from UC Santa Barbara to discuss their film "Feels Good Man." They talk about working with artist Matt Furie and unpack the social and political contexts behind Pepe the Frog and its cooptation by the alt-right. They also reflect on the cinematic challenges in telling a story about the internet and discuss the larger implications of internet culture and political polarization in the United States. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39567]
Timothy Corrigan of the University of Pennsylvania joins moderator Patrice Petro to discuss Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s classic film Ali: Fear Eats theSoul. Together, they examine the larger body of work and influences of the German filmmaker, which include Brechtian aesthetics and classical Hollywood melodramas like that of Douglas Sirk. They also offer close readings of scenes from the film, analyzing themes of class, race, and gender and the social relations of melodrama. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39573]
In the literature on lip plates in Southern Ethiopia there has been a strong emphasis on their socio-cultural importance and little information about their biocultural significance. Shauna LaTosky proposes that cultural keystone species theory and cultural keystone place theory could provide a useful frameworks for understanding relationships between the agro-pastoralist Mursi of Southern Ethiopia and the plant species and places that are integral to maintaining their cultural bodily practices. Keystone designations are applied here to the indigenous fruit tree lomay (Ximenia americana) and special clay pits in recognition of their role in the success of permanent body modification practices such as the piercing and stretching of women’s lower lips, but also in the promotion of health, social well-being and a sustainable environment. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39470]
Musician Jake Blount delves into the intersection of Afrofuturism and folk music, particularly emphasizing its relevance in reshaping narratives of the past and envisioning alternative futures. He highlights the concept of the trans historic feedback loop, wherein the reinterpretation of historical narratives influences present and future understandings. Blount illustrates how this loop applies to his music, particularly in the context of addressing climate change.Blount's discussion extends to the transformative power of traditional folk songs, which he sees as ripe for reinterpretation to address contemporary issues. By altering lyrics and themes, he adapts these songs to speak to the challenges of the present, particularly the looming climate crisis. This process not only updates the meaning of the songs but also engages listeners in critical conversations about the future. Series: "Arts Channel " [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 39553]
Across continents, material evidence of body piercing jewelry abounds in the archeological record. However, the varying procedures and processes of piercing, healing, and stretching these wounds for adornment remains unfamiliar to most archeologists. This talk discusses the early self-experimentations that led to the development of the Euro-American body piercing industry. From the late 19th throughout the 20th centuries shared personal correspondence, illustrations, and photographs document the adaptations, innovations, successes, and failures that came to coalesce a current community’s collective knowledge. Understanding the processes of these secretive explorations provides insights into many of the cross-cultural practices of the past for which no clear records remain. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39474]
Jason Magabo Perez, San Diego's Poet Laureate, engages with UC San Diego's Erik Mitchell in a revealing conversation about his poetic journey and its impact on community and self-awareness. Perez shares readings from his work, which weaves together narratives of grief, identity, and resilience. His ability to articulate complex emotions and historical contexts through poetry provides a window into the experiences of Filipino-American communities and broader societal issues. He also discusses his initiatives as Poet Laureate, emphasizing his commitment to making poetry accessible and relevant to a wide audience. His projects aim to foster a vibrant literary culture in San Diego, highlighting the power of poetry to build solidarity, empower youth, and give voice to marginalized communities. Series: "Writers" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39322]
Archaeological research in Mexico and Central America reveals insights into cultural practices, focusing on the history of body modification. Examining long-term patterns helps unravel motivations for adoption, change, and abandonment of these practices. The talk emphasizes how body modification histories in this region illuminate shared identities across linguistic, ethnic, and political boundaries, while also highlighting distinctions within regional traditions and individual societies. It suggests that indigenous societies viewed the human body as shaped by the community, challenging the notion of a universal boundary between the natural body and the social person. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39469]
This talk offers an overview of the many forms of permanent genital modifications embedded in human cultures, where they occur, the reasons why, the archaeological investigations of origins, and future trends. Included are female clitoridectomy, excision, infibulation, and other practices that affect about five percent of females worldwide; and the male practices that affect one-third of males: circumcision, superincision, and subincision. Why have so many cultures invented and preserved these modifications as part of their valued heritage? Controversies abound: the current human rights opposition to all female practices is met with backlash, and others question the “justifications” for continuing male circumcision. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39471]
Bioarchaeological studies of Pleistocene populations, examining practices like tooth ablation, facial piercing, and cranial modification, contribute to our understanding of social identities and population dynamics. Recent analyses of Ohalo II H2 in southwestern Asia and Oldupai Hominid 1 in Tanzania reveal dental evidence of intentional body modifications. Ohalo II H2 likely represents the earliest case of intentional incisor ablation in Southwest Asia, a common practice in Iberomaurusian and Natufian cultures. Oldupai Hominid 1 exhibits dental wear suggestive of facial piercings, a previously unknown practice in Late Pleistocene/Early Holocene East Africa. These early cases shed light on the cultural practices and social identities of Pleistocene populations. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39468]
Filmmaker Sam Kadi joins moderator Juan Campo, professor of religious studies at UC Santa Barbara, for a discussion of the film Lamya’s Poem. Together, they consider how the film employs magical realism to interweave scenes from the lives of contemporary Syrian refugees with the experiences of 13th century poet Rumi. Kadi discusses the uses of animation in crafting a fantastical world, and shares perspectives on the important role of music, a conversation that continued with input from composer Christopher Willis, who was in attendance for the screening. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 39479]
Today, permanent body modification (PBM) is very popular. Studies suggest that well over a billion living people have experienced one or more types of PBM. But what is the history of PBM? When did the different types originate? Were they invented recently, or do they have a long history? Did they appear simultaneously or at different times? This presentation examines evidence in non-human animals and extinct hominins, delving into early archaeological and historical records of seven main PBM types: tattooing, scarification, amputation, piercing, genital modification, dental modification, and bone shaping. Strong evidence supports human PBM for at least 15,000 years, with intriguing hints suggesting a history dating back as far as 80,000 years. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39467]
Māori novelist Witi Ihimaera, author of the 1987 novel The Whale Rider, joins moderator Nicola Daly (University of Waikato) for a post-screening discussion of Niki Caro’s 2002 film Whale Rider. Ihimaera discusses the novel’s relationship to Māori stories and cultural practices, his writing process, and the film’s enduring legacy. This event was presented in conjunction with the 26th biennial Congress of the International Research Society for Children’s Literature (IRSCL). Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39338]
Our ability to adapt our bodies to culture has ancient origins. We suggest a timeline for how the culturalization of the human body evolved, starting around 500-300 thousand years ago. This timeline highlights key moments at 140 thousand years, 70 thousand years, and 45 thousand years, followed by a faster pace linked to the rise of production economies. The underlying idea is a gradual growth in the complexity of technologies shaping the body, along with increased time and effort invested in obtaining and transforming necessary materials. Simultaneously, the development of symbolic codes required the creation of specific cognitive functions and neural circuits, allowing for the decoding of intricate messages conveyed by these cultural practices. These practices likely became more intricate in terms of techniques, symbolic codes, and the involvement of specialized individuals over time to ensure their continuation and potential further development. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39466]
Permanent body modification is a unique and variable practice among humans, not observed in other mammals. Despite being costly and risky, it is regularly performed. Scientific understanding of this phenomenon is nascent, prompting a symposium aiming to assess current research status and prioritize questions for the next decade. The event brings together academics and industry practitioners, exploring historical and contemporary practices like tattooing, piercing, finger amputation, and cranial modification. The symposium aims to investigate the 'when' and 'where' of permanent body modification and understand the motivations behind it, considering personal justifications and scientific hypotheses. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39475]
This talk presents a new account of the development of professional tattooing in Britain and America since the late 19th century. Research based exclusively in primary sources reveals that the story of what kickstarted the creation of commercial tattooing, and what sustained it, ultimately becomes intelligible as a small and interconnected network of transnational artists and – crucially – clients. These newly clarified networks problematise both the date and form of the customary notion of a “Tattoo Renaissance” in the 1970s and 80s. Moreover, this research presents a more diverse account of the transmission of design, technology and influence throughout Euro-American tattooing than had previously been understood both within the industry, and beyond. Research is drawn from Dr Lodder’s next book on the history of the modern Euro-American tattoo industry, due to be published in late 2024 with Yale University Press. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39473]
What does it mean when we use the first-person pronoun ‘I’? And how does it relate to self-consciousness? In this program, Béatrice Longuenesse, professor of philosophy emerita at New York University, compares the analysis of philosophers Elizabeth Anscombe and Jean-Paul Sartre on consciousness, self-consciousness and the use of 'I'.Languenesse's current work spans the history of philosophy, especially Kant and nineteenth century German philosophy; the philosophy of language and mind; and philosophical issues related to Freudian psychanalysis. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39240]
This talk explores the 1000-year practice of "footbinding" in ethnically Han Chinese families, involving modifying young girls' feet by wrapping the toes under the sole, often resulting in broken toes. Two main hypotheses—Labor Market and Evolutionary Social Sciences—are considered for explaining the origins, maintenance, and cessation of footbinding. This talk presents evidence from autopsy results, medical examinations, anthropological records, interviews, and historical texts. It argues that evolutionary social and psychological principles related to hypergyny, mate guarding, parental competition, mate competition, and paternal uncertainty offer better explanations for the origins and maintenance of footbinding than labor market factors. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39472]
When Pope Pius XII died in 1958, his papers were sealed in the Vatican Secret Archives, leaving unanswered questions about what he knew and did during World War II. In 2020, the archives were finally opened. Based on thousands of never-before-seen documents, Brown University Professor Emeritus David Kertzer’s book “The Pope at War” paints a dramatic portrait of what the Pope did and did not do as war enveloped Rome and the continent, and as the Nazis began their systematic mass murder of Europe’s Jews. Kertzer's earlier book, “The Pope and Mussolini: The Secret History of Pius XI and the Rise of Fascism in Europe,” won the Pulitzer Prize. Series: "Library Channel" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38975]
UC Santa Cruz has renamed the Research Center for the Americas in honor of social justice icon Dolores Huerta, whose legacy has influenced the center’s work and values.Huerta co-founded the United Farm Workers with Cesar Chavez in 1962, and has spent more than 60 years leading community organizing and lobbying efforts to address issues like labor rights, gender discrimination, voter registration, education reform, LGBTQ rights, and economic inequality on behalf of farm workers, immigrants, women, youth, and others in California and the United States. Series: "UC Santa Cruz News" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39253]
In Rome in 1644, four butchers were accused of killing seven of their fellow Roman citizens, stripping the meat from their bones, and grinding it together with pork to make sausage, which was then sold from their shop behind the Pantheon. Although the butchers were quickly executed, their tale was not so easily forgotten. In pamphlets issued around the event, the story of the butchers turned into a morality tale about what to and not to eat. Using these pamphlets, along with trial documents, edicts, and other contemporary diaries, historian Bradford Bouley explores the context of this unusual story of cannibalism, the veracity of the sources, and the meaning of meat and the ways it was produced in early modern Rome. Series: "GRIT Talks" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39336]
What are the shapes of stories? This is a longstanding question in narrative arts, from the plot arcs of novels and rhyme schemes of poems to the shot sequences of films. This program discusses two narrative media forms: interactive branching stories (as in games, gamebooks, and hypertext fiction) represented as networks, and graphic narratives (as in comics, manga and webtoons) with individual pages represented as grid compositions. Through description, encoding, and data visualization, we will explore the shapes of stories in comics and games. Series: "GRIT Talks" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39335]
Comparative Anthropogeny (CompAnth) is the study of distinctly human traits and characteristics in the context of comparisons with our closest living relatives, the “great apes.” This symposium, the third of CARTA's CompAnth series, will present a collection of distinctive human traits, ranging from molecular, cellular, and anatomical biology to behavioral, societal, and cultural features. Given the large number of human traits for which no counterparts have yet been described in nature, the limitations of the comparative method will also be addressed and alternative approaches to the singularity that is the human phenomenon will be discussed. The goal is a better understanding of human origins and a full appreciation of our species’ planet altering effects. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39281]
Between 1918 and 1921, Ukrainian peasants, townsmen, and soldiers who blamed the Jews for the turmoil of the Russian Revolution murdered over a 100,000 Jews. Aid workers warned that six million Jews were in danger of extermination. Twenty years later, these dire predictions would come true. In his new book “In the Midst of Civilized Europe,” acclaimed historian Jeffrey Veidlinger shows for the first time how this wave of genocidal violence created the conditions for the Holocaust.Veidlinger is Joseph Brodsky Collegiate Professor of History and Judaic Studies at the University of Michigan and the author of multiple prize-winning books, including “The Moscow State Yiddish Theater: Jewish Culture on the Soviet Stage” (2000), “Jewish Public Culture in the Late Russian Empire” (2009), and “In the Shadow of the Shtetl: Small-Town Jewish Life in Soviet Ukraine” (2013). Series: "Library Channel" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 39078]
Comparative Anthropogeny (CompAnth) is the study of distinctly human traits and characteristics in the context of comparisons with our closest living relatives, the “great apes.” This symposium, the third of CARTA's CompAnth series, will present a collection of distinctive human traits, ranging from molecular, cellular, and anatomical biology to behavioral, societal, and cultural features. Given the large number of human traits for which no counterparts have yet been described in nature, the limitations of the comparative method will also be addressed and alternative approaches to the singularity that is the human phenomenon will be discussed. The goal is a better understanding of human origins and a full appreciation of our species’ planet altering effects. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39280]
Human language is a strong contender for the title of most often named species-specific feature in the literature. But why is that? In this talk, Eva Wittenberg explores what we could mean by "human language", and how different conceptions of language inevitably lead to different answers about whether it is species-specific. While syntax is a central feature, it is only one of several, and the uniqueness of human language is that it arose from a combination of, perhaps, ordinary ingredients. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39277]
Human ovulation lacks visible signs, unlike chimpanzees and bonobos with conspicuous genital swellings during fertility. This led to the concept of "concealed ovulation," seen as a human adaptation. Proposed reasons include encouraging paternal investment, confusing paternity to deter infanticide, enabling secret mating and female choice, and reducing female rivalry. Many non-human primates also have unsignaled ovulation. While self-reported human mating doesn't match ovulation, debates persist on subtle reproductive cycle influences. Some cultures use menstrual taboos to disclose fertility status. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39275]
Life history theory suggests that inter-birth intervals (IBIs) depend on a trade-off between maternal investment in current and future offspring, influenced by the mother's energy and somatic maintenance. Normally, IBI aligns with maternal and infant body size, larger relative infant size leading to slower breeding. In contrast, humans have relatively shorter IBIs due to cooperative breeding, support from the social group. Some other species with cooperative behaviors also exhibit shorter IBIs, possibly aided by factors like meat-eating enabling early weaning around 2.5 million years ago in the Homo lineage. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39276]
High-altitude adaptation stands out as one of the most notable examples of evolution within our species. Despite similar challenges of decreased oxygen availability, human groups on different continents have followed unique evolutionary trajectories. I will discuss how genomic, molecular, and physiological discoveries reveal key insights into human-specific evolutionary changes, examine comparative findings and limitations, and consider alternative approaches for understanding distinct facets of this extraordinary human phenomenon. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39274]
Theologian and social activist Father Bryan Massingale, professor of theology and social ethics at Fordham University, is an outspoken voice for anti-racism and LGBTQ+ rights, both within the Catholic Church and society as a whole. His 2010 study, “Racial Justice and the Catholic Church,” was prophetic in the way it spoke about racism in religious institutions. His life and work embody a commitment to addressing issues of racism, social inequality, and LGBTQ+ rights from a spiritual and ethical perspective. In this program, Father Massingale addresses the shocking rise of white Christian nationalism, its threat to democracy and how to move forward. He challenges institutions, including the Catholic Church, to confront their own complicity in perpetuating racial disparities and to actively work towards racial justice and reconciliation. He believes in the power of open but uncomfortable conversations to bridge divides and create spaces for healing and growth. Series: "Burke Lectureship on Religion and Society" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39381]
The human genome contains segments of DNA with non-human origins. This introgressed genetic material is remnants of mating events between early modern humans and their archaic contemporaries (e.g., Neanderthals and Denisovans). In this talk, Andrew Schork will review the evidence for such genetic material, its consequences on phenotypic diversity in modern humans, and discuss if this process - archaic introgression - is typical among other great ape species. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39273]
In 2002, a UC Santa Cruz college with the theme of social justice and community opened with distinguished professors, politically engaged students, and a number for a name: College Ten.That changed for good, and for better, in 2023 when College Ten was named for John R. Lewis, the late American civil rights leader and politician who stood up to Jim Crow–era segregation in the 1960s. He was one of the key organizers of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.The son of Alabama sharecroppers, Lewis went on to become a longstanding congressman. He was elected in 1986 to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Georgia’s fifth congressional district. He held his post until his death in 2020.The naming endowment will allow the college to advance its mission of justice and social equity with a number of potential projects including the Good Trouble Academy, social justice internships and support, and expansion of programs geared toward the graduates of historically black colleges. Series: "UC Santa Cruz News" [Humanities] [Education] [Show ID: 39283]
The most complex organizations in the living world beside those of humans are the colonies of ants. Mark Moffett will argue that points of comparison between sharply different organisms like ants and humans are exceptionally valuable to science, and indeed that modern humans are in many ways much more like certain ants than we are to our nearest relatives, the chimpanzees. He considers such issues as the role of individuality and group identity in ant societies; the advantages to ants of flat organizations without leaders or hierarchies; and what we can learn from ants with respect to direct and indirect communication, self-organization, job specialization, labor coordination, and global domination. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39272]
Ethnology, also known as cross-cultural analysis or comparative anthropology, involves comparing features of historically documented human societies. It has historical ties to archaeology, with notable figures like Augustus Pitt Rivers and Lewis Binford being proponents. Despite this, it's not commonly seen as a vital archaeological tool. This talk argues for its importance, citing both theoretical and practical benefits. Including ethnology in archaeological education can expedite our understanding of patterns in the archaeological record. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39271]
UC San Diego Library’s Signature Event Series kicks off with a conversation with filmmaker and author Mason Engel. Engel talks about his current work, “Books Across America,” as well as his past films and his novel “2084.” The discussion is moderated by Audrey Geisel University Librarian Erik T. Mitchell. Series: "Writers" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39321]
Since humans split from their primate ancestors, their brains evolved with a larger mass relative to body weight, more cortical neurons, and distinct connectivity patterns. Human neurons mature more slowly, a trait known as neoteny, likely influencing these differences. Gene regulation, not new genes, may underlie species differences, particularly in the primate lineage. The role of these regulatory mechanisms in human neuron development remains poorly understood. This lecture explores the molecular factors affecting prolonged human neuron maturation and its implications for human development and neurodevelopmental diseases. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39270]
We know Homo sapiens started in Africa, but we're uncertain about how they spread. Limited fossils and data have hindered our understanding. I'll discuss popular theories about our origins and how recent genetic data from Khoe-San people in southern Africa sheds light on this. Our research suggests a complex history, with population structures dating back to about 120,000-135,000 years ago. Early populations had connections, or gene flow, for hundreds of thousands of years. These "weakly structured stem" models explain genetic diversity that was once thought to come from other hominin species. Unlike previous ideas of interbreeding with archaic humans, our models predict that fossils from these populations should be genetically and physically similar. This variability in theories stems from not considering different possibilities, highlighting the importance of exploring various models to gain more accurate insights into our deep history. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39269]
Dr. Stuart Finder, a renowned clinical ethicist, will discuss the meaning of ethics as it is encountered and understood in actual healthcare contexts. This lecture will explore what matters to patients, families, and healthcare professionals in real-world clinical settings. Using concrete examples, ranging from end-of-life choices to reproductive decisions, to simply coming up with appropriate care plans, Dr. Finder will show how clinical ethics is grounded in the real dynamics and complexities that drive contemporary healthcare practices. Series: "Ethics, Religion and Public Life: Walter H. Capps Center Series" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Show ID: 39150]
As new climate disasters remind us every day, our world is not stable—and it is changing in ways that expose the deep dysfunction of our relationship with water. Increasingly severe and frequent floods and droughts inevitably spur calls for higher levees, bigger drains, and longer aqueducts. But as we grapple with extreme weather, a hard truth is emerging: our development, including concrete infrastructure designed to control water, is actually exacerbating our problems. Because sooner or later, water always wins. Science journalist Erica Gies introduces us to innovators in what she calls the Slow Water movement who start by asking a revolutionary question: What does water want? Experts in ecology, engineering, and other fields are already transforming our relationship with water. Figuring out what water wants—and accommodating its desires within our human landscapes—is now a crucial survival strategy. Series: "Ethics, Religion and Public Life: Walter H. Capps Center Series" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39149]
Discover the power of journaling. Join host Morgan Appel as he delves into the transformative world of journaling with guest Irene Ekdahl. Learn how journaling can help you express your thoughts, manage stress, and unlock your creativity. From structured journals to art journaling, explore the diverse benefits of this introspective practice. Series: "Education Channel" [Humanities] [Education] [Show ID: 39111]
Professors France Winddance Twine (Sociology, UCSB) and Lisa Parks (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) join Marc Francis (Assistant Editor of Film Quarterly) in a conversation about power dynamics and inequality in the tech world of Silicon Valley, showing and discussing clips of the shows Super-Pumped and WeCrash. The topics they discuss expand upon their published article in Film Quarterly, addressing the exploitative working conditions for women and people of color inside this industry. Their conversation highlights the wastefulness and corruption of massive Silicon Valley corporations and unpacks larger cultural assumptions about corporate self-regulation and the celebrity personas of CEOs. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39055]
Writer/director Todd Field joins moderator Tyler Morgenstern (Assistant Director of the Carsey-Wolf Center) in a post-screening discussion of TÁR. Field details the origins and development of the film, including the creation of protagonist Lydia Tár. He elaborates on the public persona she curates in the film and larger thematic questions of exploitation, cultural authority, and the geopolitics of abuse. They also discuss the involvement of non-profit organization Xapiri Ground and their work with the Indigenous people of the Amazon rainforest, as well as photographer David Díaz Gonzales, who created a key image with actress Cate Blanchett for the film. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39057]
Director/executive producer David Mandel joins Patrice Petro (Dick Wolf Director of the Carsey-Wolf Center) for a post-screening discussion about the HBO miniseries White House Plumbers. In their discussion, Mandel details the origins of the show and distinguishes it from other noteworthy historical adaptations of the Watergate scandal, emphasizing its focus on overlooked figures and its balancing of political drama and tragedy. He also shares his experiences working with lead actors Justin Theroux and Woody Harrelson, as well as the efforts he and his crew made to faithfully recreate the show’s period aesthetic in the midst of a pandemic. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39056]
Shelley Stamp (Film & Digital Media, UC Santa Cruz) joins moderator Kelsey Moore (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) in a post-screening discussion on George Cukor’s classic 1944 film Gaslight, sharing thoughts on genre, the origin of gaslighting as a term, and the film’s historical legacy. Their conversation also dives into the complexities of gender and the historical contexts of the Second World War and Hollywood’s Golden Age. They discuss the relationships between Gothic melodrama and film noir, as well as these films’ appeal to female audiences. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39053]
Director Yoruba Richen joins moderator Mireille Miller-Young (Feminist Studies, UCSB) for a post-screening discussion of her film The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks. Richen elaborates on the overlooked but significant breadth and impact of Rosa Parks’ lifelong contributions to the Civil Rights movement in and beyond the Montgomery bus boycott, and positions her radical politics alongside Dr. King and Malcolm X. She also details the archival work and collaborative process that brought this film to life during the challenges of the pandemic, and the importance of incorporating Parks’ actual words from her journal entries. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39052]
Del Zamora (writer, director, and producer) joins moderator Ben Olguín (English, UCSB) in a post-screening discussion of The Last Brown Beret, an adaptation of a play by Alfredo Ramos that explores Chicanx activism and history in Los Angeles. Together, they discuss the impact of the civil rights movement that arose in the 1960s and the connections between the Brown Berets, the Black Panther Party, and the American Indian Movement, and its influence on the film. Zamora also details the development of the film, the challenges that Latinx filmmakers face, and storytelling choices in the film’s structure and characterization. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39051]
Writer Eliza Jiménez Cossio joined moderator Chip Badley (English, UC Davis) for a post-screening discussion of the show Our Flag Means Death. Cossio shares her experiences as a writer and details various casting insights during the pre-production of the show, including their unique approach to adapting familiar characters and bringing in guest stars. She also elaborates on the influence of sitcoms and romantic comedy films in her writing, and how the diversity of their writers’ room helped shape the diversity of characters onscreen. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39054]
Yvett Merino (Producer, Walt Disney Animation Studios) joins moderator Dolores Inés Casillas (Chicana and Chicano Studies, UCSB) in a post-screening discussion of Encanto, the acclaimed Disney animation film about a multigenerational family with magical powers in the mountains of Colombia. In their conversation, they discuss the importance of Latinx representation in mainstream media, reflecting on the film’s themes of intergenerational trauma and its power to spark important conversations among family audiences. Merino also shares the significance of including an immigrant story in the film and details the development and release of the film, including the impact the pandemic had on viewing practices. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39050]
The human penchant for storytelling is universal, early-developing, and profoundly culture-shaping. Stories (folk tales, narratives and myths) influence the costs of social transactions and organize societies at every scale of human interaction. Story as a mode of communication is also unprecedented in the animal kingdom: although we are compelled to tell stories about other animals, they are not likewise compelled to tell stories about us (or anything else, for that matter). Even our ability to manage urgent human problems such as global health and climate change are affected by the stories and myths humans choose to tell. This symposium explores several stories about how the evolution of story-telling shaped, and continues to shape, the human epoch. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39006]
Animals and tricksters are highly prominent beings in the mythology of the San Bushmen of southern Africa, as well as of hunter-gatherers in other regions of the world. Their actions and interactions provide the plot lines for most of the stories people tell about myth time. Why are these two beings so preeminent in San mythology and storytelling? Is there a connection between the two beings? Mathias Guenther discusses these two questions and the answer reveals a deep – and deep-rooted –mystical connection also between animals and humans. The hunting-gathering people that provide the cultural context for my talk are the San Bushmen of southern Africa, amongst whom I have done ethnographic field work. I will also consider hunter-gatherers from other parts of the world, both from present or recent times and from prehistory. These considerations may shed some light on certain aspects of prehistoric cave paintings. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39004]
Political, financial and environmental crises coupled to the rise of social media have, in recent years, created a perfect storm of mis- and disinformation that leverage long standing reservoirs of belief within and across communities. These stories on social media mirror face-to-face storytelling and other storytelling environments in that they allow for the negotiation of cultural ideology (norms, beliefs, values), yet they also change the scope, speed and amplification of that storytelling. Importantly, storytelling has real world effects, and often motivates people to take action. We present a graphical model of the underlying narrative frameworks, estimated from the data itself, and show how various network based methods can form the basis for understanding the narrative coherence—and their possible outcomes—even when the discussions on social media are incomplete and noisy, as conversations in real life often are. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39003]
Director Paromita Vohra joins moderator Bhaskar Sarkar (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) in a discussion of her film Partners in Crime, which dives into the world of copyright law, piracy, and the fluid nature of authorship. She dives into concepts like the cultural commons and the complicated nature of artistic value. She also details the social and economic contexts of the bazaar and the impacts of a rapidly changing economic landscape on art. They share perspectives on the diversity of people involved in the “illegal” market, the impacts of colonization and neoliberal practices, and the nuances of conflicting definitions of ownership. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 39048]
In the foundational texts of Western civilisation (the Bible, Iliad), plagues are symbols of divine retribution, signifying Godly displeasure with human misdeeds. But in Thucydides’ classic account of the mysterious plague that swept Athens in 430 BC, Camus’s La Peste, and Emily St John Mandel’s Station Eleven, literary accounts of plagues and pandemics are also morality tales and metaphors for the dissolution of the social bonds necessary for the functioning of modern societies. In this talk, I bring the history of plague writing into dialogue with the history of trust, to examine what plague texts tell us about our foundational myths and our obsession with calamities and crises. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39002]
Lucy Fischer (English and Film Studies, University of Pittsburgh) joins moderator Patrice Petro (Dick Wolf Director of the Carsey-Wolf Center) in a post-screening discussion of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane, a psychological thriller about the rivalry between aging Hollywood sisters. In their conversation, they illuminate the similarities between the film’s themes and the much publicized behind-the-scenes drama between stars Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. Fischer reflects on the film’s playful incorporation of conventions from Gothic horror and melodrama, as well as its status as a camp classic. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39049]
As the response to global warming leads towards a fundamental recalibration of our relationship to fire it is timely to look back into deep time at the origins of our entanglement with combustion. This brief talk draws on my experience working on the recovery of early evidence for human use of fire at the sites of Wonderwerk Cave, South Africa and Evron Quarry, Israel. I will argue that we should not think of an origin of human use of fire but rather of an emerging relationship between humans and fire. The hallmark of this relationship is that fire draws together technology and society; material and the intangible; adaptation and the sacred. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39001]
Director Ramona S. Diaz joins moderator Miguel Penabella (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) for a post-screening discussion of her documentary A Thousand Cuts. She details her experiences closely following Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist Maria Ressa and the Rappler team’s fight for press freedom in the Philippines, as well as observations from political rallies of those aligned with former President Rodrigo Duterte. The discussion also explored issues surrounding journalistic persecution, the emergence of social media disinformation. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39015]
Artist Vishal Jugdeo and poet vqueeram join moderator Cathy Thomas (English, UCSB) to discuss their film Does Your House Have Lions, which features a queer household of activists and academics in New Delhi living under the shadow of increasing authoritarianism. They discuss the film’s exploration of different forms of queer intimacy and propose possibilities for resistance against state violence. They also reflect on communal ideas of freedom, ways of building spaces of joy, and incorporating friendship as a method of artistic and scholarly practice. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 39016]
Humans have been telling stories about animals as long as humans have been telling stories. One story humans tell about animals is the one about how, with enough care and patience humans might one day listen to the stories animals themselves have to tell. Some folks see this story as nonfiction, a truth about animals manifest in the dance of bees, the grunts of monkeys, the antics of their dogs and cats, or the signs produced by trained gorillas. In this talk, I attempt examine these conflicting views. Despite the fact that animals do not sit around fires telling stories, are their minds organized in story-like formats? Do their mental representations of the events of the past, present and future constitute general narratives? Do they construct and reflect on their own personal narratives? And finally, and perhaps more paradoxically, are our scientific answers to these questions a better reflection of the internal world of animals or the humans who study them? Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39000]
The Science & Technology Ethics Center (STEC) is proud to present a series of lectures and a panel discussion that explores the intersection of genomics, medical ethics, and patient rights. This thought-provoking session delves into the ethical considerations surrounding genetic testing, data privacy, and informed consent. It examines the challenges and opportunities presented by advancements in genomics and how they impact patient care. The panel will discuss the importance of advocating for patients' rights, ensuring equitable access to genetic information, and fostering a patient-centered approach in genomic medicine. Throughout this presentation, you will grasp a deeper understanding of the ethical complexities in genomics and the critical role of patient advocacy in shaping responsible and inclusive genomic practices. Series: "Exploring Ethics" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38940]
Awarded the 2023 Bancroft Prize for her book "Bad Mexicans: Race, Empire, and Revolution in the Borderlands," UCLA history professor Kelly Lytle Hernández tells the dramatic story of the magonistas, the migrant rebels who sparked the 1910 Mexican Revolution from the United States. Taking readers to the frontlines of the uprising and the U.S./Mexico counter-insurgenecy campaign that failed to stop it, Lytle Hernandez puts the magonista revolt at the heart of U.S. history. Long ignored by textbooks, the magonistas threatened to undo the rise of Anglo-American power, on both sides of the border, and inspired a revolution that gave birth to the Mexican-American population, making the magonista story integral to modern American life.
Lytle Hernández is a professor of History, African American Studies, and Urban Planning at UCLA where she holds The Thomas E. Lifka Endowed Chair in History and directs the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies. One of the nation’s leading experts on race, immigration, and mass incarceration, she is the author of "Migra! A History of the U.S. Border Patrol," and "City of Inmates: Conquest, Rebellion, and the Rise of Human Caging in Los Angeles." She also leads Million Dollar Hoods, which maps fiscal and human cost of mass incarceration in Los Angeles. For her historical and contemporary work, Lytle Hernández was named a 2019 MacArthur “Genius” Fellow. Series: "Burke Lectureship on Religion and Society" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38937]
Filmmakers Joyce García and Alvaro Parra join moderator Alexandra Lippman to discuss their two documentaries on cumbia sonidera, or Colombia-inspired dance music, in Mexico City and Los Angeles, "Yo No Soy Guapo" and “Sonidero Metropolis.” They explore the cultural significance of the sonidero in shaping regional music scenes and tastes, as well as the impacts of migration patterns, diasporic experiences, and technological and generational changes in transforming cumbia culture. They also share their insights on the experiences and difficulties in documenting the protagonists of their films, and the surprising lives those figures lead both professionally and personally. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38944]
Renowned psychologist Richard Atkinson, president emeritus of the University of California and professor emeritus of cognitive science and psychology at the UC, San Diego, presents an in-depth exploration of the Atkinson-Shiffrin model, a fundamental theory in memory research. The model proposed memory comprises three components: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. Information moves from sensory to short-term memory with attention, and through rehearsal, it can transfer to long-term memory. The model highlighted attention and rehearsal's significance and laid a foundation for memory research, leaving a lasting impact on psychology. [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38852]
Using real-life examples and historical evidence, French anthropologist Philippe Descola aims to understand the unique characteristics of communities that exist outside of modern societies. These communities have often been misunderstood because they were mistakenly compared to nation-states. However, Descola argues that we should examine the components and relationships within these communities based on how they perceive the world. By doing so, we can challenge the Eurocentric and human-centric view of social structures, which rely on Western ideas of progress and functionality. Series: "Tanner Lectures on Human Values" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38617]
Doris Berger, co-curator of Regeneration: Black Cinema, 1898-1971 at the Academy Museum, joins moderator Peter Bloom to discuss the film Carmen Jones and the legacy of actress Dorothy Dandridge. Berger explains the backstory of how the Regeneration exhibition was originally conceived and developed, detailing her experiences digging through archival materials and discovering materials from films with all-Black casts in the 1920s and 30s. She also discusses her perspective on Carmen Jones and its significance to film history, as well as on the career of Dorothy Dandridge, from early soundies like Cow Cow Boogie to late career works like Porgy and Bess. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38894]
Writer/director Maysoon Pachachi joins moderator Mona Damluji for a discussion of her film "Our River...Our Sky," which tells the story of ordinary people living in Baghdad under occupation. Pachachi details the origin of the project and the film’s early development, including casting considerations and lessons learned from her documentary work. She also discusses the political contexts of the film and how life in Iraq changed as a result of civil war and occupation, and how real-world stories inspired the film. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38945]
The human penchant for storytelling is universal, early-developing, and profoundly culture-shaping. Stories (folk tales, narratives and myths) influence the costs of social transactions and organize societies at every scale of human interaction. Story as a mode of communication is also unprecedented in the animal kingdom: although we are compelled to tell stories about other animals, they are not likewise compelled to tell stories about us (or anything else, for that matter). Even our ability to manage urgent human problems such as global health and climate change are affected by the stories and myths humans choose to tell. This symposium explores several stories about how the evolution of story-telling shaped, and continues to shape, the human epoch. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39005]
The hunting hypothesis proposes that the dietary shift to meat procurement was the catalyst favoring a suite of transformative human biological and behavioral adaptations. Evolutionary changes in the human diet are associated with the emergence of food sharing, the division of labor and pooled energy budgets. To balance this discussion, I revisit several misconceptions linked to the hunting hypothesis. Revising myths about the centrality of hunting to more closely reflect the archaeological and ethnographic records has important implications for updating the entrenched emphasis on male behaviors. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38999]
Director Julia Mintz and executive producer Eva Haller engage in a post-screening discussion of their film Four Winters, where they provide insights into the making of the documentary. Mintz details the process of collecting and editing footage of countless interview subjects to tell the heroic story of Jewish partisans during the Second World War, and Haller emphasizes the importance of sharing those stories for posterity. They recount personal stories of loved ones and their experiences during the war, and reflect on the challenges and significance of revisiting and preserving history. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38895]
Some 350 to 400,000 years ago when our ancestors gained control of fire, the day was extended to provide many hours for social interaction, undisturbed by economic activities. How were those hours spent in societies that only had firelight after nightfall? In most preindustrial societies, music, dance, healing and storytelling fill the darkness. Myths and legends create common understandings on such matters as the origins of humans, social groups, rituals or features of the landscape. Hilarious trickster traditions explore the successes and failures of those who have the pluck to break with social norms. Stories about the adventures of real people add other dimensions, a topic Polly Wiessner addresses here. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38998]
Why are humans a compulsively storytelling species? Why especially do we invent stories, why do we tell one another stories that both teller and audience know to be untrue? Why do many of us come to believe some invented stories? What difference has our compulsion to tell stories made to us as individuals, societies, and a species? How do we understand stories so seemingly effortlessly? Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38995]
For more than a century, folklorists have indexed a vast number of the world’s folkloric narratives according to varying structures (i.e. tale types) and to discrete elements (i.e. motifs) that commonly appear across cultures. This talk will introduce and analyze several examples of motifs indexed in folklorist Stith Thompson’s system. Ultimately, I ask whether stories about origins (human origins or otherwise) might constitute a genuine cultural universal? And if so, what might the folkloric representations of human origins say about a contemporary science of anthropogeny? Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38996]
Among the most striking exhibits at the Auschwitz museum are undoubtedly the mountains of loot stolen from Jews murdered upon arrival. Shoes, suitcases, spectacles, and more fill entire rooms in the former barracks of the main camp. Surviving the Shoah when their owners did not, they constitute a potent proof of the Nazis’ abiding concern with material gain. In this talk, author and historian Peter Hayes traces the ways by which the German corporate world became deeply implicated in—and in many respects indispensable to—the Nazi regime’s persecution, exploitation, and murder of Europe’s Jews. He argues that these developments stemmed inexorably from decisions made and actions taken by the nation’s leading corporate executives in 1933, at the very outset of Nazi rule.
Hayes is author or editor of 13 books, including the best-selling “Das Amt und die Vergangenheit” and “Why? Explaining the Holocaust,” which has been translated into several foreign languages including German, Slovak, Spanish, and Chinese. He is currently completing (with Stephan Lindner of Munich) “Profits and Persecution: German Big Business, the Nazi Economy, and the Holocaust.” Series: "Library Channel" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38423]
In this program, scholars Philippe Descola, Adom Getachew, Timothy LeCain and David Wengrow discuss how views of humans verses non-humans shaped the modern world. Series: "Tanner Lectures on Human Values" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38618]
Roman Koropeckyj, Professor in the Department of Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Languages & Cultures at UCLA, joins moderator Sasha Razor for a discussion of Sergei Parajanov’s film Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors, sharing insight into Ukrainian culture and history. Koropeckyj discusses the making of the film and details the complexities of Ukrainian culture and history, including the Hutsul ethnic group around which the film revolves. They contextualize the political volatility during the film’s production and broaden discussion to a longer history of Ukrainian oppression, all the way to contemporary struggles. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38876]
Ray Santisteban, director and producer, joined Ben Olguin, the director of the global Latinidades project of UCSB, in the Carsey Wolf center to talk about his documentary Time of the Phoenix: The First Rainbow Coalition. In their discussion, Ray Santisteban mentions how he came to make this documentary and how he started his film making career. He also talks about how documentary film-making enables him to do what Hollywood film making does not. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38821]
Production designer Akin McKenzie joined moderator Mireille Miller-Young (Feminist Studies, UCSB) for a post-screening discussion of his work in visualizing the world of The Woman King. The discussion revolved around McKenzie’s extensive research from out-of-print books, photos, and other archival materials to disentangle complex historical events from colonial revisionism. McKenzie also detailed his collaboration process with director Gina Prince-Bythewood and shared thoughts on Black representation in Hollywood and the future of Black cinema. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38875]
French anthropologist Philippe Descola examines the evolution of modern thinking about societies. He argues that the rooting of the descriptive tools of the social sciences in Enlightenment philosophy has blinded us to the fact that what are loosely called ‘societies’ are in fact, for extra-moderns, assemblages that, unlike ours, contain and associate much more than just humans, either because their institutions are able to integrate other-than-humans into collectives, or because other-than-humans are seen as political subjects acting within their own collectives. In other words, the kinds of beings that result from these assemblages are not those to which philosophy or the social sciences usually pay attention: they are associations of humans and other-than-humans that take very diverse forms and, in this sense, can also offer food for thought about the much-needed transformation of the political and social institutions proper to the Moderns. We could call these assemblages cosmopolities in that they bring under the same regime of cosmic sociability a vast set of components that the ontology of the Moderns has tended to dissociate. Series: "Tanner Lectures on Human Values" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38616]
Olympic champion Erin Jackson, director of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Laurie Leshin, and professor of American Studies and Ethnicity at USC and author Natalia Molina sit down with Lynn Sherr for a wide-ranging discussion of women and society, personal journeys and hopes for the future. Series: "Education Channel" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 37973]
What's the future look like with a changing climate? And who will lead the way to help us mitigate the environmental, economic and social impacts? In this program, internationally acclaimed author Kim Stanley Robinson talks about what motivates him to write science fiction that focuses on the environment. Robinson is author of more than 20 books, including "The Ministers for the Future," the "Mars" trilogy and "2312," which was a New York Times bestseller nominated for all seven of the major science fiction awards — a first for any book. He was named a “Hero of the Environment” by Time magazine and asteroid 72432 was named “Kimrobinson” in his honor.The program also features four UC San Diego students who talk about their research on dealing with climate change. Series: "Writers" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38733]
Writer/director Antonio Dikele Distefano and scholar/filmmaker Fred Kuwornu discuss the film Autumn Beat with Claudio Fogu. Distefano details his experiences writing books and magazines and his transition to cinematic work, as well as his experiences growing up as a young Black man in Italy. Kuwornu elaborates on the evolving Black cultural renaissance in Italy and the struggles involved with it. They reflect on the themes of the film, including disability, parenthood, self-expression, and legacies of colonialism, all of which center on a story about the Italian rap scene. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38820]
Nobel Laureate and physicist Barry Barish, professor at UC Riverside, reflects on his life in science, being curious, experiencing imposter syndrome, and working in the field of physics with Brian Keating, host of the "Into the Impossible" podcast and professor of physics at UC San Diego. [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38727]
Modern slavery, which encompasses 45 million people around the world, is intricately linked to the economy, politics, violence and war, gender and the environment. In this panel discussion, Kevin Bales, professor of contemporary slavery and research director of the Rights Lab at the University of Nottingham, talks about the impact of contemporary slavery with three UC Berkeley professors, Arlie Hochschild, professor emerita, Department of Sociology, Enrique Lopezlira, Ph.D., director, Low-Wage Work Program, and Eric Stover, adjunct law professor and faculty director, Human Rights Center.Slave-based activities, like brick making and deforestation, are estimated to generate 2.54 billion tonnes of CO2 per year – greater than the individual emissions of all the world’s nations except China and the U.S. Globally, slaves are forced to do work that is highly destructive to the environment. This work feeds directly into global consumption in foodstuffs, in minerals – both precious and for electronics – construction materials, clothing, and foodstuffs. Most of this work is unregulated leading to extensive poisoning of watersheds, the clear-cutting of forests, and enormous and unregulated emissions of carcinogenic gases as well as CO2. Political corruption supports this slave-based environmental destruction and its human damage. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Humanities] [Science] [Business] [Show ID: 38615]
Moderator Peter Bloom is joined by Kim Knowles and Carrie Noland for a discussion of how contemporary experimental film represents multi-species relationships and dependencies. Together, they consider how experimental cinema can animate alternative understandings of the relations between human and non-human animals. Addressing questions of genre, style, narration, and performance, Knowles, Noland and Bloom highlight the political and aesthetic complexity of the cinematic representation of animals. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38777]
The origin of humans is a difficult scientific problem in evolution that is grounded in biology and molded by culture. Recent advances in neuroscience and artificial intelligence have led to synergies and surprising new hypotheses. Mysteries such as the origin of language and human sociality are being illuminated by these advances. This CARTA symposium will be explored by researchers at the frontiers of A.I., machine learning, language and sociality. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38688]
Pragmatics poses a headache to developers of artificial systems. But how did language evolve to efficiently relay so much pragmatic trickery? Eva Wittenberg presents a new paper that builds on the idea that grammar evolved gradually, and with it, pragmatics. We argue that the simpler a grammar is, the stronger the reliance on pragmatic inferences for many aspects of meaning, including even basic questions such as who did what to whom. As grammars gradually evolve towards more complex systems, these coarse pragmatic inferences give way to pragmatic processes that are different in character: Syntax, semantics, and the lexicon evolve to contain reliable and systematic triggers for highly structured pragmatic phenomena. Our account thus links a gradualist scenario of the evolution of syntax that triggers distinct qualitative processes in pragmatic reasoning. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38685]
There are 45 million enslaved people in the world today. The links between slavery, conflict, environmental destruction, economics and consumption began to strengthen and evolve in the 20th century. The availability of people who might be enslaved dramatically increased in line with population growth. According to Kevin Bales, professor of contemporary slavery and research director of the Rights Lab at the University of Nottingham, the large and negative environmental impact of modern slavery is just now coming to light. Slave-based activities, like brick making and deforestation, are estimated to generate 2.54 billion tonnes of CO2 per year – greater than the individual emissions of all the world’s nations except China and the U.S. Globally, slaves are forced to do work that is highly destructive to the environment. This work feeds directly into global consumption in foodstuffs, in minerals – both precious and for electronics – construction materials, clothing, and foodstuffs. Most of this work is unregulated leading to extensive poisoning of watersheds, the clear-cutting of forests, and enormous and unregulated emissions of carcinogenic gases as well as CO2. Political corruption supports this slave-based environmental destruction and its human damage. Kevin Bales, CMG, FRSA is Professor of Contemporary Slavery and Research Director of the Rights Lab, University of Nottingham. He co-founded the American NGO Free the Slaves. His 1999 book Disposable People: New Slavery in the Global Economy has been published in twelve languages. Desmond Tutu called it “a well researched, scholarly and deeply disturbing expose of modern slavery.” The film based on Disposable People, which he co-wrote, won the Peabody Award and two Emmys. The Association of British Universities named his work one of “100 World-Changing Discoveries.” In 2007 he published Ending Slavery: How We Free Today’s Slaves (Grawemeyer Award). In 2009, with Ron Soodalter, he published The Slave Next Door: Modern Slavery in the United States. In 2016 his research institute was awarded the Queens Anniversary Prize, and he published Blood and Earth: Modern Slavery, Ecocide, and the Secret to Saving the World. Check out his TEDTalk. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Humanities] [Science] [Business] [Show ID: 38614]
Patrice Petro and E. Ann Kaplan discuss Irving Rapper’s classic 1942 melodrama, Now, Voyager. Together, Petro and Kaplan situate the film historically in the context of the Second World War and the changing dynamics of the domestic and public spheres. They also address the film’s unique depiction of psychiatry and psychoanalysis, and consider its complex representation of mother-daughter relationships. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38776]
Parallel Architecture is a theory of the mental representations involved in the language faculty. These representations are organized in three orthogonal dimensions or levels: phonology, syntax, and semantics, correlated with each other through interface links. Words are encoded in all three levels and serve as part of the interface between sound and meaning. In the representation of an entire sentence, the words are spread out across the combinatoriality of the three levels. An important requirement for a theory of language is that it must offer an account of how we can talk about what we see. It is proposed that conceptual structure in language interfaces with a level of physical space – which in turn interfaces with visual, haptic, and proprioceptive perception, and with the planning of action. Thus, the basic principles of the Parallel Architecture for language can be extended to major aspects of mental function. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38684]
Vocal learning is one of the most critical components of spoken language. It has only evolved several independent times among mammals and birds. Although all vocal learning species are distantly related and have closer relatives that are non-vocal learners, humans and the vocal learning birds have evolved convergent forebrain pathways that control song and speech imitation and production. Erich Jarvis presents an overview of the various biological hypothesis of what makes vocal learning and spoken language special, how it evolved, and what differs about the molecular and neural mechanisms compared to other behavioral traits. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38686]
Co-writer and co-director Jessica Woodworth joined moderator Stephen N. Borunda (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) for a post-screening discussion of her film Altiplano and the process of developing a film about environmental and indigenous exploitation in Peru. Woodworth reflected on the role of music in shaping the emotional experience of the film. She also shared details of how current ecological issues and the culture of the region contributed to the narrative. Moreover, she discussed the real-life mercury spill and locally produced photography under the TAFOS project in Peru from 1986 to 1998 as key elements that contributed to the development of the film and its ideas. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38775]
Common sense is shared knowledge about people and the physical world, enabled by the biological brain. It comprises intuitive psychology, intuitive physics, and intuitive sociality. Unlike deep neural networks, common sense requires only limited experience. Human intelligence has evolved to deal with uncertainty, independent of whether big or small data are available. Complex AI algorithms, in contrast, work best in stable, well-defined situations such as chess and Go, where large amounts of data are available. This stable-world principle helps to understand what statistical algorithms are capable of and distinguish it from commercial hype or techno-religious faith. Gerd Gigerenzer introduces the program of psychological AI, which uses psychological heuristics to make algorithms smart. What we need is a fusion of the adaptive heuristics that embody common sense with the power of machine learning. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38683]
The emergence of language is routinely regarded as a major (or even the main) evolutionary transition in our species’ history. Much less attention and awe has been dispensed to the fact that humans evolved the capacity to successfully create, learn, and use a myriad of different languages which, while similar in some aspects, are radically different in many others. In this presentation, I will argue that these differences have observable consequences for non-linguistic aspects of cognition and behavior. Finally, I will discuss how these effects play out in the design, testing, and deployment of AI, as the linguistic peculiarities of behemoth languages like English are extrapolated to the world’s languages. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38681]
As part of the 2023 Writer's Symposium by the Sea, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Maria Hinojosa talks with host Dean Nelson about her work, including her experience being the first Latina in many newsroom she worked in. She has written three books: "Once I Was You: A Memoir of Love and Hate in a Torn America," "Raising Raul: Adventures Raising Myself and My Son," and "Crews: Gang Members Talk with Maria Hinojosa." Her career includes reporting for PBS, CBS, WNBC, CNN, NPR, and anchoring the Emmy Award-winning talk show "Maria Hinojosa: One-on-One." She is anchor and executive producer of the Peabody Award-winning show Latino USA. Series: "Writer's Symposium By The Sea" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38121]
The origin of humans is a difficult scientific problem in evolution that is grounded in biology and molded by culture. Recent advances in neuroscience and artificial intelligence have led to synergies and surprising new hypotheses. Mysteries such as the origin of language and human sociality are being illuminated by these advances. This CARTA symposium will be explored by researchers at the frontiers of A.I., machine learning, language and sociality. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38687]
Highly organized social groups require well-structured and dynamic communication systems. Naked mole-rats form some of the most rigidly structured social groups in the Animal Kingdom, exhibiting eusociality, a type of highly cooperative social living characterized by a reproductive division of labor with a single breeding female, the queen. Using machine learning techniques we demonstrated that one vocalization type, the soft chirp, encodes information about individual identity and colony membership. Colony specific vocal dialects can be learned early in life--pups that were cross-fostered acquire the dialect of their adoptive colonies. We also demonstrate that vocal dialects are influenced in part by the presence of the queen. Alison Barker summarizes these findings and highlight our current work investigating how social and vocal complexity evolved in parallel in closely related species throughout the Bathyergidae family of African mole-rats. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38680]
Political philosopher and Harvard professor Michael Sandel talks about his latest book, "The Tyranny of Merit: Can We Find the Common Good?" Sandel reflects deeply on the fundamental moral principles behind our political institutions and democratic society. His books on justice, democracy, ethics, and markets have been translated into more than 30 languages. He has been described as “a rock star moralist” and “the world’s most influential living philosopher.” Series: "Burke Lectureship on Religion and Society" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38718]
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Anthony Doerr sits down for a fun and heartfelt conversation about what inspires him with host Dean Nelson as part of the Writer's Symposium By the Sea. Doerr won the Pulitzer Prize and Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction for "All the Light We Cannot See," which was on the New York Times bestseller list for over 200 weeks. His other works include "Cloud Cuckoo Land," "About Grace," "Four Seasons in Rome," and the short story collections "The Shell Collector" and "Memory Wall." Series: "Writer's Symposium By The Sea" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38119]
Pulitzer Prize-winning artist, illustrator and author of “Maus,” Art Spiegelman talks with Cristina Della Coletta, Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities, as part of the UC San Diego Library Author Talk and Holocaust Living History Workshop series. Series: "Library Channel" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38420]
Tage S. Rai is a psychologist who studies ethics, culture, and violence. Drawing on both qualitative and experimental methods, he examines the social-relational nature of morality, its origins, and its consequences. In recent work, he has found that when perpetrators are motivated by moral sentiments, they may humanize rather than dehumanize their victims, experience greater rather than lesser self-control when harming them, and respond irrationally to material costs and benefits. Moving forward, he is especially interested in developing psychological approaches to the study of organizational and institutional violence. Series: "Exploring Ethics" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38800]
Large language models (LLMs) have now achieved many of the longstanding goals of the quest for generalist AI. While LLMs are still very imperfect (though rapidly improving) in areas like factual grounding, planning, reasoning, safety, memory, and consistency, they do understand concepts, are capable of insight and originality, can problem-solve, and exhibit many faculties we have historically defended vigorously as exceptionally human, such as humor, creativity, and theory of mind. At this point, human responses to the emergence of AI seem to be telling us more about our own psychology, hopes and fears, than about AI itself. However, taking these new AI capacities seriously, and noticing that they all emerge purely from sequence modeling, should cause us to reassess what our own cerebral cortex is doing, and whether we are learning what intelligence, machine or biological, actually is. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38679]
UC San Diego Latinx STEM faculty sharing their journey, research and relationship to the Latinx community and experience. Robert Castro, Director of Chicanx and Latinx Studies sits down with Javier Duatre, Ph.D., Olivia Graeve, Ph.D., and Julio Barreiro, Ph.D. Series: "Mi Universidad " [Humanities] [Education] [Show ID: 38627]
UC San Diego Latinx STEM faculty sharing their journey, research and relationship to the Latinx community and experience. Robert Castro, Director of Chicanx and Latinx Studies sits down with Rommie Amaro, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Alex Frano, Assistant Professor of Physics, and Gilberto Mosqueda, Professor of Structural Engineering Series: "Mi Universidad " [Humanities] [Education] [Show ID: 38494]
Grammy award-winning tabla musician Zakir Hussain is the 2022 Kyoto Prize Laureate in Arts and Philosophy. He has opened new possibilities beyond the framework of traditional Indian music in collaboration with artists of other diverse genres worldwide. Dr. Hussain's performance innovations include a unique method of creating melodies on the tabla, orginally regarded as a rhythmic instrument of accompaniment. In the process, he has expanded the tabla's possibilities and established it as one of the most expressive percussion instruments in the world. UC San Diego Professor of Indian Classical Music, Kartik Seshardi hosts an enlightening conversation with Dr. Hussain, before the laureate takes to the stage for thought-provoking lecture performance on the tabla and Indian classical music. Series: "Kyoto Prize Symposium" [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 38887]
Evolution always presented life forms with new challenges -- due to changes in weather, terrain, competition between different organisms, and other reasons. To increase the chance of survival, instead of solely optimizing current performance, it is in an agent's interest to maximize its ability to adapt to changes. Possibly this old evolutionary trait manifests itself in modern humans in their ability to adapt to new tasks and challenges quickly. Even if we consider a lifetime of a human, the ability to adapt is critical. An open question is what enables humans to adapt, a trait that modern AI systems lack. Frivolous play prepares infants for future life by laying down the foundation of a high-level experimentation framework to quickly understand how things work in new environments for constructing goal-directed plans. Pulkit Agrawal discusses how the idea of experimentation can be leveraged to construct robots that improve with experience and solve novel problems presented to them. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38678]
Moderator Cristina Venegas joined Chicano and Chicana Studies Professors Gerardo Aldana, Giovanni Batz, and Daina Sanchez to discuss Wakanda Forever and Indigenous Worldbuilding. Professor Gerardo Aldana served as a consultant on the film’s representation of Mesoamerican cultures and played the role of UN assembly chairperson in the film. The panel discussed the politics of representation and the film’s themes of displacement and diaspora. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38744]
Feedback interconnections are widespread in the brain; yet clear explanations for most of them are currently lacking. Carmen Amo Alonso and John Doyle explore current experimental evidence on the relationship between the auditory and motor parts of the brain during speech perception and production. These models provide a plausible explanation for how the structure of language, as described in the Parallel Architecture, is implemented in the brain. Together, they provide a plausible account for how the Parallel Architecture of language originates as a result of functional constrains in the sensorimotor system. They compare the brain’s implementation of the language capacity with other cognitive capacities, such as vision or motor planning and control, which also have massive internal feedbacks that our new theory explains for the first time. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38682]
Guests Elizabeth Gabler (President, 3000 Pictures) and Marisa Paiva (Executive Vice President, 3000 Pictures) join moderator Emily Zinn (Associate Director, Carsey-Wolf Center) for a post-screening discussion of their 2022 adaptation of D.H. Lawrence’s classic, Lady Chatterley’s Lover. Together, Gabler and Paiva discuss how they came to adapt D.H. Lawrence’s classic novel for through a feminist lens for a contemporary audience. They also address the challenges of bringing classic works to the screen through creative collaboration, and the key role of screenwriter David Magee in bringing Lawrence’s language and voice to life. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38719]
How do structures and practices of privatization and commercialization affect capacities for deliberating and defining limits? How do questions of purpose, desirability, and public good relate to the prioritization of commercialization and profit? What means, formal and informal, exist for setting limits or seeking alignment between public and private interests? Krishanu Saha, Ph.D, Rosemarie Garland-Thomson, Ph.D., Reuven Brandt, Ph.D., and J. Benjamin Hurlbut, Ph.D., engage in a lively discussion of cosmopolitan ethics. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 38730]
How do research communities contend with controversial science? J. Benjamin Hurlbut, Ph.D., Arizona State University, Alysson Muotri, Ph.D., UC San Diego, Matthew Porteus, M.D., Ph.D., Stanford University, and Jacob (Yaqub) Hanna, M.D., Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, explore controversial case studies and the limitations of scientific deliberation/dissent/ambivalence. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38729]
Composer and filmmaker Clarence Barlow joined moderator Peter Bloom (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) for a post-screening discussion of Barlow’s pioneering work on composition and experimental film, including: Uccelli Ungheresi (1988), Kuri Suti Bekar (1998), Estudio Siete (1995/2015), )ertur( (2015), Evanescent Evidence (2021), and Zero Crossing (2001). Barlow shared insights on the development of his films and the importance and use of sound, particularly his unique approach to tonality and metricism. He also reflected on his long career and his fascination with mapping sound to visual media. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38717]
Twentieth-century fascism was a political ideology encompassing totalitarianism, state terrorism, imperialism, racism, and, in Germany’s case, the most radical genocide of the last century: the Holocaust. Historians of the Holocaust tend to reject the notion of fascism as a causal explanation for its origins. Conversely, scholars of fascism present the Shoah as a particular event that is not central to fascist historiography. In this lecture Federico Finchelstein examines the challenge the Holocaust presents to the transnational history of ideology and politics.A leading contemporary authority on global fascism, Finchelstein is Professor of History at the New School for Social Research and Eugene Lang College and Director of the Janey Program in Latin American Studies at NSSR. Series: "Library Channel" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38422]
Guests Trinankur Banerjee (Film & Media Studies, UCSB) and Bishnupriya Ghosh (Global Studies & English, UCSB) join moderator Bhaskar Sarkar (Film & Media Studies, UCSB) for a post-screening discussion of Satyajit Ray’s The Hero (1966). Together, Ghosh, Sarkar and Banerjee discuss how The Hero became one of Ray’s most iconic films thanks in part to the star power of beloved screen couple Uttam Kumar and Sharmila Tagore. They also consider how Ray deftly explores themes of stardom and celebrity in the contest of the Indian film industry. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38716]
Anthropogeny, has provided many new discoveries over the past decade, ranging from new fossil finds to ancient DNA data, including from extinct hominins. New methods and multi-disciplinary collaborations are providing exciting new insights into the complicated evolutionary journey that gave rise to our species. However, we remain far from understanding some of the most striking human-specific characteristics: the reasons for our bipedality, the factors selecting for our dexterity at creating and using tools, and the true age of fire use in our distant ancestors. This CARTA symposium features advisory committee members who highlight where they hope future efforts should be focused and what type of novel collaborations are most promising for improving our understanding of the human phenomenon. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38305]
Guests Pujita Guha (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) and Bishnupriya Ghosh (Global Studies & English, UCSB) join moderator Bhaskar Sarkar (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) for a post-screening discussion of Satyajit Ray’s The Golden Fortress (1974). Together, Guha, Ghosh, and Sarkar discuss the literary origins of Ray’s film, its popular appeal in the 1970s in India, and how it helps us to better understand Ray as a maker of popular genre film. They also discuss how Ray channeled influences from science fiction, detective fiction, travelogues, and other popular genres to create a distinctive and iconic body of cinematic work. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38715]
Director James Hayman joins moderator Patrice Petro, (Dick Wolf Director of the Carsey-Wolf Center) for a post-screening discussion of episode 51 of The Sopranos. Together, they explore how Hayman created a riveting, nuanced portrait of mafia and family life. Hayman offers insights into matching the darkly comedic style of the series, and how his education in film and media studies has shaped his work. He also addresses the relationship between cinematography, direction, and storytelling, and how these elements work together in the penultimate conclusion to season four. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38734]
Poet, novelist and Native American scholar N. Scott Momaday has spent decades bringing his culture and the landscape alive through his writing. He received a Pulitzer Prize for his first novel, "House Made of Dawn." His books include "The Way to Rainy Mountain," "In the Bear's House," "In the Presence of the Sun: Stories and Poems, 1961-1991," and "The Gourd Dancer." He is also the editor of various anthologies and collections centered on his Kiowa heritage. As part of the Writer's Symposium By the Sea, host Dean Nelson sat down with Momaday at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, to talk about his life in literature. Series: "Writer's Symposium By The Sea" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38122]
Anthropogeny, has provided many new discoveries over the past decade, ranging from new fossil finds to ancient DNA data, including from extinct hominins. This CARTA symposium highlights where the future efforts should be focused and what type of novel collaborations are most promising for improving our understanding of the human phenomenon. Evan Eichler talks about the discovery and resolution of genetic variation is critical to understanding disease and evolution. The data suggests that large-scale genome structural variation continues to play a crucial role in the evolution of the human species.Daniel Geschwind discusses human cognition and how human brain evolution are particularly susceptible to disruption of neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Education] [Show ID: 38630]
Anthropogeny, has provided many new discoveries over the past decade, ranging from new fossil finds to ancient DNA data, including from extinct hominins. This CARTA symposium highlights where the future efforts should be focused and what type of novel collaborations are most promising for improving our understanding of the human phenomenon. Pascal Gagneux offers a zoological view of the human cultural animal. Robert Kluender talks about the evolution of language structure and the future of linguistics. Anne Stone discusses ancient DNA research and the surprising insights into human evolutionary history. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Education] [Show ID: 38633]
Anthropogeny, has provided many new discoveries over the past decade, ranging from new fossil finds to ancient DNA data, including from extinct hominins. This CARTA symposium highlights where the future efforts should be focused and what type of novel collaborations are most promising for improving our understanding of the human phenomenon. Yohannes Haile-Selassie discusses the importance of fossil based human origin research. Carol Marchetto talks about the use of stem cells to study human origins. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Education] [Show ID: 38632]
Anthropogeny, has provided many new discoveries over the past decade, ranging from new fossil finds to ancient DNA data, including from extinct hominins. This CARTA symposium highlights where the future efforts should be focused and what type of novel collaborations are most promising for improving our understanding of the human phenomenon. Terry Sejnowski discusses how large-scale neural network models have inspired major advances in artificial intelligence. Sarah Tishkoff talks on how Africa is thought to be the ancestral homeland of all modern human populations. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Education] [Show ID: 38631]
Moderator Ben Olguín joined filmmaker Ellie Walton and poet Sami Miranda for a post-screening discussion of the documentary La Manplesa: An Uprising Remembered. Together, they discussed the importance of artistic collaboration and community, the relationship between art and activism, and current events that echo the story of injustice in DC’s Mount Pleasant neighborhood. Walton reflected on the experiences that compelled her to create this documentary, and Miranda shared his personal discovery of his grandfather’s old photographs, which helped him better understand his own artistic practice. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38621]
Disability rights activist Judy Heumann has been fighting for inclusion for over six decades, in ways that transformed legal and societal understandings of equality. Her life-long experience has included co-founding the organization Disabled in Action, working on Capitol Hill to shape landmark disability rights laws, co-organizing the extraordinary protest and advocacy efforts that spurred the implementation of Section 504, and advising presidential administrations and the World Bank on disability issues. In this conversational program, Heumann focuses on those aspects of her journey that are most salient to the perils and possibilities of the present. Heumann sees in this moment a fragile and imperfect democracy, but one that is nonetheless worth investing in. She also sees deep structures of exclusion, vigorously defended but also vulnerable to political pressure and moral suasion. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Show ID: 37730]
Moderator Bhaskar Sakar joined Professor Moinak Biswas, Professor Emerita Supriya Chaudhuri, and graphic illustrator-designer Pinaki De for a post-screening discussion of two films by Satyajit Ray, The Adventures of Goopy and Bagha (Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne) and The Kingdom of Diamonds (Hirak Rajar Deshe). Together, they addressed the personal background of Satyajit Ray, his contributions to Indian cinema, the historical and political contexts of the films, and their artistic significance. Pinaki De elaborated on the significant detail and craftsmanship of Ray’s set design, while Supriya Chaudhuri and Moinak Biswas weighed in on the political and literary influences of the films. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38564]
Marion Nestle, Ph.D., MPH, reflects on her late-in-life career as a world-renowned food politics expert, public health advocate, and a founder of the field of food studies after facing decades of low expectations. She discusses her new memoir, "Slow Cooked," that tells her personal story, including her rise from bench scientist to the pinnacles of academia, while overcoming the barriers and biases facing women of her generation and finding her life's purpose after age 50. Series: "Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Science] [Business] [Show ID: 38620]
Anthropogeny, has provided many new discoveries over the past decade, ranging from new fossil finds to ancient DNA data, including from extinct hominins. New methods and multi-disciplinary collaborations are providing exciting new insights into the complicated evolutionary journey that gave rise to our species. However, we remain far from understanding some of the most striking human-specific characteristics: the reasons for our bipedality, the factors selecting for our dexterity at creating and using tools, and the true age of fire use in our distant ancestors. This CARTA symposium features advisory committee members who highlight where they hope future efforts should be focused and what type of novel collaborations are most promising for improving our understanding of the human phenomenon. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38296]
Current knowledge of our deep past is primarily derived from ancient fossils of our ancestors that paleoanthropologists search for and discover in some of the most remote areas of the world. In the last two decades, significant fossil discoveries have been made and these discoveries have re-written some parts of our deep past. However, the fossil record is still far from complete, primarily due to the absence of fossils from some critical geological times and the lack of robust samples for the species already identified. The best way to fill temporal gaps in the fossil record and meaningfully increase the sample size is by conducting surveys and exploration to locate new areas of paleoanthropological significance. If we want to fully understand our evolutionary history, especially how we became who we are today and where we are going, continued paleoanthropological fieldwork is of paramount importance. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38499]
For the past 30 years, the frontiers of language science have been in the areas of neurolinguistics and genetics, both of which arose in conjunction with new technologies emerging in the 1990s. It is probably safe to say that these trends will continue apace as technology in these areas continues to advance, allowing for increasingly sophisticated and fine-grained analysis. From its inception, the study of language has been inextricably linked with cultural anthropology and the arts. It was only in the 20th century that linguistics was able to break free of its sister disciplines and establish itself as an autonomous field all its own. In this talk, I first look backwards in time, in a review of the provenance and history of linguistics as a field. The idea is to take stock of where we have come from in order to get a sense for where we might be headed. Much of what we do today in linguistics has its roots in what the Sanskrit grammarians did several millennia ago. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38300]
Human cognition and behavior are highly heritable and so is liability to disorders that affect them. This includes neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We have started to integrate genetic risk data with the emerging maps of gene regulation to study human specific aspects of gene expression and gene regulation. These analyses indicate that human specific aspects of gene regulation, such as genes regulated by human specific enhancers, are indeed enriched in mutations or common genetic variants that increase risk for ASD and allied neurodevelopmental disorders. This provides evidence that genetic elements underlying human brain evolution are particularly susceptible to disruption in disease. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Education] [Show ID: 38299]
Africa is thought to be the ancestral homeland of all modern human populations within the past 300,000 years. It is also a region of tremendous cultural, linguistic, climatic, and genetic diversity. Despite the important role that African populations have played in human history, they remain one of the most underrepresented groups in human genomics studies. A comprehensive knowledge of patterns of variation in African genomes is critical for a deeper understanding of human genomic diversity, the identification of functionally important genetic variation, the genetic basis of adaptation to diverse environments and diets, and the origins of modern humans. We have characterized genomic variation in thousands of ethnically and geographically diverse Africans in order to reconstruct human population history and local adaptation to variable environments and have identified candidate loci that play a role in alcohol metabolism and skin color. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Education] [Show ID: 38304]
Our species is between 300,000 and 200,000 years old. For most of this one-quarter of a million years, up until just 12,000 years ago, it appears that our ancestors lived in small populations, in small-scale societies of which we can only guess the real nature. We remain in the dark about the age of some of the most diagnostic features of our species: our striding bipedalism, complex tool manufacture and use, fire use, language and societies defining their own identities, collaborating with and competing against neighboring societies. Data from studies of non-human animal behavior remind us of the underappreciated capacities of many other species. However, it has so far not provided evidence for any other species that shares the long list of distinctly human characteristics; chief among those, our species’ capacity to not only simultaneous modify and threaten planetary ecosystems but also document and study such ecosystems across the globe. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38298]
As part of the UC San Diego Author Talk Series, class of '76 alumnus and two-time Oscar-winning screenwriter and author Rex Pickett talks about his most recent novel, “The Archivist,” a murder mystery that takes a deep dive into the archiving world set in a fictional Geisel Library. Joining Pickett in the discussion are Brian Schottlaender, UCSD University Librarian Emeritus, Caryn Radick, Digital Archivist, Rutgers University, and UCSD's University Librarian Erik Mitchell. Series: "Writers" [Humanities] [Education] [Show ID: 38519]
The discovery and resolution of genetic variation is critical to understanding disease and evolution. Our most recent work sequences diverse human and nonhuman primate genomes using both ultra-long and high-fidelity long-read sequencing technologies. Advances in this area have made possible the first telomere-to-telomere assemblies of the human genome and much more complete chimp, gorilla and orangutan genomes providing new biological insights into regions typically excluded from human genetic and comparative studies. We have discovered mega basepairs of duplicated sequence and/or rapidly evolving sequence present in humans that are absent from other non-human primates. These changes have predisposed our species to recurrent rearrangements associated with disease but also have led to the emergence of new genes important in the expansion of the human frontal cortex of the brain. Our data suggest that large-scale genome structural variation has played and continues to play a crucial role in the evolution of the human species. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38297]
Explore the politics, economics and art in the time of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Gregorio Luke, UC San Diego lecturer, author, specialist in Mexican art and culture and former Director of the Museum of Latin American Art, presents a fascinating portrait of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, including their paintings, photographs and rare film footage. This lecture is part of the San Diego Opera's world premiere of "El último sueño de Frida y Diego" ("The Last Dream of Frida and Diego") by Grammy Award–winning composer Gabriela Lena Frank and Pulitzer Prize–winning librettist Nilo Cruz. Series: "Helen Edison Lecture Series" [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 38454]
Neuroscience has made great strides in the last decade following the Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative, a science and engineering grand challenge that has greatly accelerated research on large-scale recordings from neurons and reconstructions of neural circuits. Large-scale neural network models have in turn inspired major advances in artificial intelligence. These network models have been trained on large-scale data sets to recognize objects in images, caption photographs, and translate text between languages. The most recent advance has been the emergence of pre-trained foundational language models that are self-supervised and can be adapted with fine tuning to a wide range of natural language tasks, each of which previously would have required a separate network model. This is one step closer to the extraordinary versatility of human language. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Education] [Show ID: 38302]
New technologies, shifting demographics and changing societal expectations point to the need for people from all walks of life to be part of fact-based discussions regarding the checks and balances in place when it comes to human research. Anthony Magit, M.D., M.P.H., shares the importance of institutional review boards (IRBs), oversight, and consent when doing research with human subjects. He is joined by Pratheesh Sathyan, Ph.D., and George Hightower, M.D., for a wide-ranging discussion of clinical trials, HIPAA, research design, consumer genetic testing and more. Series: "Exploring Ethics" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Show ID: 38421]
Moderator Mireille Miller-Young joined Diversity in Cannes founder Yolonda Brinkley and filmmaker Wendy Eley Jackson to discuss this important initiative and to celebrate the achievements of global Black women in film. Collectively, they outlined the background and impact of the initiative and strategies for Black women and their allies to create global change. They also reflected on the serious representation gaps in the international film industry and their own experiences breaking barriers. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38549]
The human brain has a larger mass with respect to body weight, increased cortical neurons with respect to size, an expanded proliferative zone, and unique connectivity patterns. Human-specific neurodevelopment is not only marked by physical differences, but also by temporal changes. Human neurons, during both prenatal neurodevelopment and adult neurogenesis, exhibit an exceptionally delayed time course, a characteristic termed neoteny. Signatures of human-specific neoteny have been observed and reproduced across different systems including induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) and brain organoids models. We compared neurogenesis across stem cells from five primate species - rhesus, gorilla, bonobo, chimpanzee, human - and assessed the differences in transcriptional dynamics. We identified a pioneer transcription factor, GATA3, that exhibited elevated neuronal expression only in humans. This finding provides evidence for the divergence of gene regulation as a contributor to human neoteny. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Education] [Show ID: 38301]
How do we move from purpose to action? Fundación Tú Más Yo focuses on community development through education and collaboration. Toñe Beguerisse and Dalia Rodriguez speak with Morgan Appel about how they implement programs and work directly with communities to create change. Series: "Education Channel" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Education] [Show ID: 38414]
Fake news. Misinformation. Disinformation. The role of journalism in society has never been more important. So what's the future of news in a country deeply suspicious of information? Veteran journalists Kevin Merida, Los Angeles Times executive editor, and Donna Britt, author and Washington Post syndicated columnist, talk about the state of news and information. The discussion is moderated by Point Loma Nazarene University journalism professor Dean Nelson.
This event is supported by the UC San Diego Helen Edison Lecture Series which offers free public lectures that advance humanitarian purposes and objectives. Series: "Helen Edison Lecture Series" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 38462]
In this program, Heather Royer, Ph.D., discusses the challenges and benefits of parental leave, including the impact on families, companies, the labor force and the economy. Series: "Critically Human" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Business] [Show ID: 38278]
Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles prides itself on being the world's first LGBTQ mariachi band. Their tight, energetic, and intricate sound has been honed by the work they've had to do to navigate the typically hypermasculine and heteronormative world of mariachi as gay and trans musicians. The band has performed at numerous gay and transgender pride events as well as in the #SchoolsNotPrisons tour for the California Endowment. They have been featured multiple times on Univision morning shows, and in the Smithsonian Folklife magazine. Series: "Critically Human" [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 38287]
A look at reading old age with Dr. Louise Aronson, a leading geriatrician, writer, educator, professor of medicine at UCSF and the author of the New York Times bestseller and Pulitzer Prize finalist Elderhood: Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, and Reimagining Life. Series: "Critically Human" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Show ID: 37077]
Production designer Chae Kyoung-Sun discusses with moderator Rita Raley and interpreter Eunjin Choi her design work for the TV sensation, Squid Game. Kyoung-Sun goes into detail on her design process, all the way from her initial ideas and discussions with her creative collaborators to how the final products were built and used on set. She discusses how her collaborations with the director, cinematographer, and other design departments completed the iconic look of Squid Game, such as the pink and green color scheme and the final design of the guards’ masks. Kyoung-Sun also recounts the hidden meanings and influences in her designs that reflect the hierarchies of the world of Squid Game as well as evoke cultural references like children’s games, school tracksuits, and fairy tales. Apart from Squid Game, Kyoung-Sun reflects on her early influences that inspired her to work in production design, which involved going to see films with her parents starting from a young age. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38312]
Sweden is mostly known internationally for being a pop music powerhouse, but they also have an equally vibrant folk and world music scene less well known to the outside world. Sallyswag is a 9-woman band that has taken that scene by storm, weaving together its roots in dance hall, Balkan, R&B, Swedish folk, hip-hop, and afro-beat to create an entirely original sound that's been electrifying audiences since their foundation in 2014. They took home the Newcomer of the Year award at the 2015 Swedish Folk and World Music Gala for being a "refreshing sucker punch" (approximate translation) and have been performing to rave reviews on their national circuit ever since. Series: "Critically Human" [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 38283]
On March 4th, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln delivered his Second Inaugural Address. He considered it his “greatest speech” and his “best effort." Join Academy Award-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss and best-selling Lincoln biographer Dr. Ronald C. White for a fascinating look at the Second Inaugural Address. Through a powerful, fascinating voyage of discovery, one comes away with a better understanding of where the country was in 1865 and Lincoln’s feeling towards the Civil War, the defeated Confederacy and, perhaps most importantly, American slavery. A century and a half later, as the U.S. faces a similar struggle over who we are as a people and a nation, Lincoln's speech still resonates. [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 38385]
These five siblings got their start playing in various bands in the Vancouver music scene before joining together to form SuddenRush. Their sound is a seamless blend of Hmong sentimental song style and epic country rock, which works so well together it's surprising more people haven't thought to do it. The band had a break-through hit with their song "Mi Noog" in 2007, and has remained popular with Hmong audiences in Canada and the US ever since. Series: "Critically Human" [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 38285]
Lost for Words: A Medical Humanities Approach to Understanding Speech Disorder Series: "Critically Human" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Show ID: 37076]
As humans have evolved, so has our ability to drastically alter the planet we call home. In this collection of talks from the CARTA symposium, "Humans: The Planet-Altering Apes" you will learn about specific examples on how humans have changed Earth and what can be done to prevent its cataclysmic demise. David Holway addresses the challenges of emerging invasive species in our ecosystem. Oliver Ryder discusses the accelerated rate of loss of species due to human activities. Patricia Hunt talks about how human made chemicals and pollutants are impacting global fertility rates. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38207]
In this program, Erica-Kohl Arenas, Ph.D., discusses the lessons learned so far in her research on how to transform higher education to better support public engagement in academia and shares her personal journey as an engaged scholar. Series: "Critically Human" [Humanities] [Education] [Show ID: 38281]
In this program, Emily Lin, with the UC Merced Library, explains the process of digging into archives, including a look at how archives are created, where to look and what to expect to find, and strategies and possibilities for research. Series: "Critically Human" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38279]
Screenwriter Katie Silberman discusses the writing process for the hit coming-of-age film Booksmart with moderator Matt Ryan. Silberman examines the challenges in developing unique characters and overcoming high school stereotypes. She reflects on her work with director Olivia Wilde and the creation of key scenes and themes in the film. Breaking down the script, Silberman explores the importance of pacing, character development, and emotional authenticity. She explains how the cast worked collaboratively to make this high school comedy stand out and faithfully represent a modern generation of youth. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38382]
In this program, Rabbi and UC Santa Barbara Modern Jewish Literature and Feminist Studies Professor Wendy Zierler discuss S.Y. Agnon and Devorah Baron on the large and the small in Jewish culture. Series: "Taubman Symposia in Jewish Studies" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38310]
As humans have evolved, so has our ability to drastically alter the planet we call home. In this collection of talks from the CARTA symposium, "Humans: The Planet-Altering Apes" you will learn about specific examples on how humans have changed Earth and what can be done to prevent its cataclysmic demise. Rob Knight will talk about how all microbiomes that have been studies are impacted by human activity. Alice Goramn discusses how accumulating space debris surrounding our planet that may prevent us from leaving the Earth in the future. Asher Rosinger addresses the global water challenges that humans may face as climate change begins to affect water supplies. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38206]
The band La Santa Cecilia, named for the patron saint of music, is dedicated to voicing the experience of a new bicultural generation in the United States. Their music is rooted in their Mexican heritage, but also inspired by traditions of bossa nova, rumba, bolero, tango, jazz, rock, and klezmer. They have made seven albums, and their 2013 release Treinta Días won the Grammy for Best Latin Rock Album (Alternative or Urban). They have also been nominated for two Latin Grammies, and their album El Valor was named one of the best of the year by NPR's Alt Latino. Series: "Critically Human" [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 38286]
Ernie Lowe is a photographer who documented life in the Central Valley of California in the 1960s, with a focus on labor activism among farmworkers. He was mentored by Dorothea Lange and also studied under John Collier, Jr. Lowe’s archive of photos can be found at the UC Merced Library, which has made them available online through Calisphere. Series: "Critically Human" [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 38289]
As humans have evolved, so has our ability to drastically alter the planet we call home. In this collection of talks from the CARTA symposium, "Humans: The Planet-Altering Apes" you will learn about specific examples on how humans have changed Earth and what can be done to prevent its cataclysmic demise. Walter Willett will discuss how climate change is having devastating effects that will undermine our ability to feed the world’s growing population. Jessica Thompson talks about humans transformed the environment and the damage it has done to our ecosystem. Finally, David Tilman addresses the global alteration of Earth's nitrogen cycle, and what it means for u as a species moving forward. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38205]
Professor Jennifer Rhee (English, Virginia Commonwealth University) joins Melody Jue (English, UCSB) to discuss the film Arrival and its short story predecessor, “Story of Your Life” by Ted Chiang. They explore the dynamics of free will, determinism, disorientation, communication, language, and temporal non linearity in the science fiction film. Furthermore, they discuss the similarities and differences between the film and the original short story. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38161]
LADAMA is a group of four women, virtuosic musicians, and educators— Lara Klaus, Daniela Serna, Mafer Bandola and Sara Lucas— from different countries and cultures of the Americas, who are sisters in song, rhythm and spirit. Harnessing music from their respective countries of origin, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, and the United States, the group utilizes traditional and non-traditional instruments from across the Americas, but with a modern twist to produce Latin Alternative music. Series: "Critically Human" [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 38293]
Paul Espinosa, an award-winning filmmaker and producer, is the President/CEO of Espinosa Productions, specializing in films focused on the U.S.-Mexico border region. He has been involved with producing films for over 35 years and is professor emeritus in the School of Transborder Studies at Arizona State University. He has worked with public television stations in San Diego and Dallas as a Senior Producer and Executive Producer and has produced, directed, written and hosted numerous programs for PBS. Espinosa received his Ph.D. from Stanford University in Anthropology. Series: "Critically Human" [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 38288]
In this program, UC Santa Barbara Professor of Religion and Literature, Philosophy of Religion and History of Judaism Sarah Hammerschlag discuses Emmanuel Levinas’ Talmudic Lectures. Series: "Taubman Symposia in Jewish Studies" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38311]
Writer/director Oualid Mouaness discusses his film 1982 with moderator Paul Amar (Global Studies, UCSB). Mouaness details the development of the film and the importance of depicting an honest representation of the war in Lebanon, especially as a means to bridge gaps between older and younger generations. He explains the significance of telling 1982’s story through a child’s perspective and the unique point-of-view they have in experiencing war and history. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38159]
Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars have risen like a phoenix from the ashes of war and enflamed the passion of fans across the globe with their uplifting songs of hope, faith and joy. From their humble beginnings in West African refugee camps, Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars have performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages and matured into one of Africa’s top touring and recording bands. Series: "Critically Human" [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 38277]
This CARTA public symposia will address specific examples of how humans have drastically altered the planet. Acknowledged experts will discuss clearly defined global-scale negative impacts on planet earth, our life support system (other than climate change, population growth and infectious diseases, which are well-known). Each talk will succinctly describe a specific impact, the role that our species has played, and conclude with ongoing or potential approaches to mitigation. In the process, we are coming full circle to Anthropogeny, asking how a single species could have evolved the ability to so drastically alter the entire planet. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38009]
Acclaimed co-writer/director Abderrahmane Sissako discusses his film Timbuktu with moderators Richard Watts and Peter Bloom. Sissako details the development of the script and its connection to real-world news stories from Mali. He also recalls the political and logistical challenges during the film production. Watts and Bloom discuss the poetic qualities of the film, and in his own words, Sissako describes his artistic objectives with landscape and setting. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38160]
LADAMA is a group of four women, virtuosic musicians, and educators— Lara Klaus, Daniela Serna, Mafer Bandola and Sara Lucas— from different countries and cultures of the Americas, who are sisters in song, rhythm and spirit. Harnessing music from their respective countries of origin — Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela and the United States — the group uses traditional and nontraditional instruments from across the Americas, but with a modern twist to produce Latin Alternative music. Series: "Critically Human" [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 38276]
In this program, Yvette Flores, professor of psychology at UC Davis, discusses how to cope during a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, especially social stress and the impact of it on disadvantaged and marginalized groups. Series: "Critically Human" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Show ID: 37074]
Mexico is the 10th most populous country, 15th largest economy in the world, and is connected with the United States through its geographic border and strong economic, cultural, and historical ties. California was once Mexico, so it is no surprise that there have been centuries of migrant flows throughout the region. The two countries share nearly 2,000-miles of border, are partners in trade and commerce, and share a fluid binational culture. However, this symbiotic and mutually beneficial US-Mexico relationship has not been part of the national narrative for many decades. Series: "Design at Large" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Business] [Show ID: 38221]
Professor Stephanie Malia Hom (French and Italian Studies, UCSB) joins moderator Anna Brusutti (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) to discuss Italian series Inspector Montalbano to conclude a yearlong screening series on global television. Brusutti provides a thorough breakdown of the history of Italian television broadcasting and distinguishes it from other national contexts. Hom explores the show’s Sicilian setting and ties contemporary discrimination towards migrants from abroad within a broader history of regional and global flows. Hom and Brusutti also examine the regional dialects of the show, as well as the structure of organized crime in Italy. They discuss the prolific work of author Andrea Camilleri and the long history of Inspector Montalbano in Italian television broadcasting. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38156]
Growing up in Bakersfield, California, Manuel Vargas had parents who instilled the value of education and learning in him at an early age. Starting his academic career at a local community college, he found his way to UC Davis and then graduate school and a Ph.D. program. He is now a professor at UC San Diego and his research focuses on the history of philosophy in Latin America. He shares what life is like as a professor and his advice for prospective and current college students. Series: "Education Channel" [Humanities] [Education] [Show ID: 37938]
Quality education that leads to employment opportunities is considered an essential platform for social mobility. Unfortunately, not all children have access to robust k-12 education that provide avenues to college. Educational disparities exist across socioeconomic backgrounds, race and ethnicity, and geography. While educators and policymakers are grappling with these challenges, they are also faced with educating the future workforce in a rapidly changing economy. California is at the forefront of technological innovations, including automation, artificial intelligence, and robotics, that will radically transform the labor market. Series: "Design at Large" [Humanities] [Business] [Education] [Show ID: 38218]
Director Marc Shaffer discusses his documentary Exposing Muybridge, which sheds light on the life and impact of photographer Eadweard Muybridge, a pioneer of early motion pictures. Muybridge is most famously known for capturing consecutive images of a galloping horse, which proved that all four hooves leave the ground mid-stride. Shaffer details the importance of this photographic experiment in the development of cinema, as well as the other strange and captivating details of Muybridge’s life. He also elaborates on the interview subjects of the film, including the involvement of actor Gary Oldman. He talks through the process of recreating and reimagining Muybridge’s famous multi-camera shoot and explains the importance of Muybridge in photographic and cinematic history, as well as the lasting influence of his work. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38155]
When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, the controversial decision ended the right to abortion that was upheld for nearly 50 years. So what does a post-Roe world look like? In this program, UC Irvine law professor Michele Bratcher Goodwin and UC Santa Barbara feminist studies professor Laury Oaks discuss the wide-ranging impact of the decision on legal, medical, and political mobilizations.
(Note: this program was recorded on May 9, 2022, prior to the ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade.) Series: "Ethics, Religion and Public Life: Walter H. Capps Center Series" [Public Affairs] [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Show ID: 38308]
Finding solutions to the housing crisis in California is daunting. Skyrocketing rents and housing prices, almost non-existent housing supply and pent-up demand, and pervasive homelessness result from a set of complex and multifaceted problems. Housing policy is also a contested territory in a state governed by “home rule” where over 482 local jurisdictions have authority to shape land use regulations and zoning. How can we reverse the downward spiraling trajectory and decades of discriminatory and unfair policies that have made housing within the state unaffordable and untenable for low- to moderate-income families? Series: "Design at Large" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Business] [Show ID: 38125]
Climate change is an existential threat. The U.S. will face more frequent and extreme disasters in the coming years due to climate change. How can we harness the power of technology and indigenous knowledge to reduce risks to save lives and property, especially for the most vulnerable communities? This program looks at wildfires, one of California’s biggest climate threats, how to optimize the state for a transition to clean energy, and how we can be good stewards of our natural resources. Series: "Design at Large" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38124]
What is the nature of American English in its most recent forms? How does generational distance affect changes in language? What is the relationship between digital culture and the forms of everyday and professional expression? How can the study of the history of English over past centuries help us understand the changes we see today? Seth Lerer, Distinguished Professor of Literature and Dean Emeritus of Arts and Humanities at UC San Diego, addresses these questions and provokes discussion about the most recent features of the American vernacular. Series: "Osher UC San Diego Distinguished Lecture Series" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37972]
Rick Prelinger, Professor of Film and Digital Media at UC Santa Cruz, is a world-renowned archivist, writer, filmmaker, and founder of the Pray-linger Archives and the Pray-linger Library in San Francisco. He’s also been a pioneer in making archives accessible to the public. In this episode, Prelinger talks about his work and how it has been influenced by diversity, equity, and inclusion issues. Series: "The Art of Change" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38123]
Philosophy almost alone among disciplines appears to lack a distinctive subject matter. The world has chemical, biological and political aspects, but no philosophical aspects. If subject matter does have a role to play here, it’s to do less with the field’s descriptive ambitions than the genealogy of philosophical problems. MIT's professor of philosophy's Stephen Yablo’s interests are wide-ranging, from metaphysics, philosophical logic and epistemology, to the philosophy of language and the philosophy of mathematics. A prolific writer, Yablo is the author of a two-volume collection of papers called Thoughts: Papers on Mind, Meaning, and Modality (2009) and Things: Papers on Objects, Events, and Properties (2010). His most recent book, Aboutness (2014), attempts to make topic an equal partner in meaning with truth-conditions, applying meanings so conceived to knowledge, logic, ontology, discourse theory, and philosophical methodology. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37732]
UC Santa Cruz drama lecturer Don Williams talks about how he founded, in 1991, UCSC's African American Theater Arts Troupe, or "AATAT" as it’s often called. The theater group has had a profound and lasting effect on countless numbers of African American students throughout the years. His students have a deep appreciation and love for his willingness to address head on not only what it means to be Black on the UCSC campus, but also the importance of exposing African American students, and all students, to the Black experience through plays written by Black playwrights. Series: "The Art of Change" [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 38077]
Through the Earth Microbiome Program and complementary efforts, we have sampled a broad range of microbiomes from across the planet. All microbiomes that have been studied are impacted by human activity — the effects of industrialization on the human microbiome are best characterized, but capture of animals in zoos, domestication, modification of soils through agricultural practices, and modification of freshwater and marine microbiomes have all been well characterized. Indeed, the pervasive role of environmental microbiomes in biogeochemical cycles necessary to sustain life led to a position paper entitled "Scientists’ warning to humanity: microorganisms and climate change”, the title of which speaks for itself. However, there is hope. Efforts such as the Microbiota Vault will be especially important in this respect, but also new monitoring and modeling approaches will be understand where to look globally for the best specimens and microbes to preserve. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37909]
The founders of Pride Ortho, an organization that supports LGBTQ+ people in the field of orthopedic medicine, talk about the importance of creating a support, safe space for their community. [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Show ID: 38220]
For San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, public office is about the opportunity to improve the lives of the people he serves. Fletcher's road to public service is grounded in a difficult upbringing where he and his mother endured domestic violence and poverty in the South. He worked during high school to support his family, went to college on a football scholarship and served a decade in the Marine Corps. Fletcher says looking forward and a commitment to community is important. As the leading face of San Diego's COIVD-19 response plan, Fletcher acknowledges how difficult the pandemic was on people, from health care workers to parents to small business owners. He says many challenges - homelessness, poverty, mental illness and high cost of housing - remain, and he is committed to continue to fight forward. Series: "Triton Talks" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 38069]
Director/co-writer Pamela B. Green and producer/co-writer Joan Simon discuss their documentary Be Natural: The Untold of Alice Guy-Blaché with moderator Cynthia Felando. Green and Simon explain the 10-year-long process of researching making the documentary, as well as their respective inspirations for discovering more about the pioneering film making of Alice Guy-Blaché. Green also discusses her unique directorial approach that involved relaying film history like a “detective story” by involving the audience in her archival work. Simon talks in detail about the feminist scholars and film festivals that first brought Guy-Blaché’s films into academia, and how many of Guy-Blaché’s contributions to early cinema are often overlooked. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38079]
How does the concept of space enhance our understanding of the Holocaust? In this talk, British historian Tim Cole tells the story of the Shoah through an exploration of landscapes victims moved—and were moved—through across Europe. His exploration of the “Holocaust landscapes” shines a powerful light on the geographic dimensions of the Shoah. Series: "Library Channel" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37452]
Moderator Jean Beaman joined doctoral candidate Leonard Cortana and Professor Ricado Jacobs to discuss Murder in Paris: The Assassination of Dulcie September. They explore the legacy of Dulcie September, her antiapartheid activism and work in the African National Congress (ANC), and the aftermath and ongoing investigation of her assassination. Cortana and Jacobs also examine the importance of media in the antiapartheid struggle, the continuing challenges of restricted archives, and the need to investigate the broader, intersecting systems of racism and global capitalism in assessing the case of Dulcie September. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38047]
Now leading one of the largest school districts in the country, Lamont Jackson, Ph.D., the new superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District, is also the product of San Diego's public schools. Jackson says it is important to have a clear vision about access to education. He says the district believes in equity, diversity, and inclusion but that historically it didn't always welcome black and brown children and those who are most marginalized. Jackson shares how his personal journey shaped who he is and his view on making education accessible to all. Series: "Triton Talks" [Humanities] [Education] [Show ID: 38072]
In California, the car is king. Most travel is conducted by car across all socio-economic groups and has been incentivized by massive government investment in roads, infrastructure, and sprawling land use developments. Will gas-fueled cars continue to dominate the roads or do we need an alternative transportation future? How can we redesign our transportation system to reduce chronic traffic congestion, promote healthier environments, reduce the cost of travel, and provide greater mobility between work, home, and play for all? Series: "Design at Large" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Business] [Show ID: 38118]
Screenwriter David Koepp discusses with moderator Matt Ryan how wrote the iconic film, Jurassic Park. Koepp breaks down his process of adapting the novel by Michael Crichton, as well as how he worked with director Steven Spielberg to bring the film to life. He describes working from Spielberg’s storyboards to draft key sequences such as the entrance of the T-Rex. Koepp also shares stories from the set of Jurassic Park, including how Jeff Goldblum reacted to the filming of special effects sequences and how the ending of the movie changed during filming. Furthermore, Koepp discusses writing the sequel to Jurassic Park and a number of his other films, including Spider-Man and Panic Room. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38104]
In 1957, the USSR launched Sputnik 1, the first human object to leave Earth. In the 65 years since then the region of Earth orbit has become filled with satellites and space junk. The proliferation of debris has led to the prediction of Kessler Syndrome, a state where a never-ending cascade of collisions between orbital objects renders parts of space unusable for human purposes. However, there are many different ways to look at the space junk surrounding Earth. For example, it is also an archaeological record of humanity’s first steps into outer space, a cultural landscape created by the combined effects of natural and cultural processes, and a technological signature of the same kind that SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) researchers are looking for around exoplanets in other solar systems. It’s unclear when or whether the tipping point into Kessler Syndrome might be reached, but if humanity is confined to Earth in the future, what will this mean? Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37913]
Professor Sharon Daniel talks about a remarkable undergraduate class called Making an Exoneree that she currently teaches with Georgetown University. This unusual class consists of a group of highly motivated undergraduate students who reinvestigate likely wrongful conviction cases, produce short documentaries that suggest innocence, and create social media campaigns calling for exonerations. Series: "The Art of Change" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38078]
Rick Rosen, WME Agency co-founder and representative for writer/director Hagai Levi, discusses Scenes from a Marriage and the state of global television with moderator Patrice Petro. Rosen details the development of the HBO miniseries and the challenges of adaptation from Ingmar Bergman’s original Swedish television series. He explains the vision of Hagai Levi for this contemporary retelling and a number of other Israeli adaptations he helmed. Rosen also discusses the talents of stars Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain, and how their friendship helped bring to life their fictional counterparts. He also notes the changing media landscape in the wake of streaming platforms, and the past, present, and future of global television. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38080]
We are experiencing an accelerated rate of loss of species due to human activities. This anthropogenic phenomenon extends beyond extinction. It encompasses an expanded loss of biodiversity as the genetic diversity of species diminish, reducing gene pools to “gene puddles.” We know details of species extinctions events from the fossil record, historical record, and from ancient DNA studies, and that historical processes shape extinction risk. Habitat loss and changing eco-environmental conditions, competition, and other factors produce genomic impacts, also influencing extinction risk. The legacy of past events impacts resiliency of species in the current environment in interpretable ways. Demographic trajectories reveal vulnerability to extinction. Remarkable advances in genomics technologies portend a deeper understanding of the evolution of life and the vulnerability of extant species to changes now taking place through human agency. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37906]
Humans now annually add more biologically available nitrogen to the Earth’s land surfaces than do all natural processes. For 3 billion years, available nitrogen had been the major limiting currency for life on Earth. The recent human disruption of the global nitrogen cycle is causing major environmental harm, including water and air pollution, marine dead zones, 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and species extinctions. Three major ways to solve this nitrogen problem are: (1) much more efficient global use of nitrogen fertilizers; (2) shifts to lower-meat and healthier diets; and (3) halting the conversion of food crops into biofuels, such as US corn ethanol used for transport. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37910]
The Kumeyaay are native inhabitants of San Diego and Imperial counties and Baja California, Mexico. For thousands of years, the Kumeyaay people farmed the land and ocean, managed forest fires, manufactured pottery and basketry and engaged in commerce and trade. Stan Rodriguez, Ed.D., executive director of the Kumeyaay Community College, talks about the deep physical and spiritual connection the Kumeyaay people have to the Earth. Despite brutal religious, economic, political and social hardships under European rule, Kumeyaay culture and traditions continue in the region to this day. Series: "Triton Talks" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38071]
This episode features Isabel Dees, who was the associate vice chancellor for the Equity and Equal Protection Office at UC Santa Cruz. She recently was hired to serve as deputy Title IX director at UC Office of the President. Originally from the Los Angeles area, Dees has lived and worked in Santa Cruz since 1998. She is the daughter of Mexican immigrants and the first in her family to attend university. She completed her B.A. in Politics at UC Santa Cruz and then received her law degree from Monterey College of Law. She is an educational rights advocate with over 10 years’ experience working on compliance in higher education. Series: "The Art of Change" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37985]
Journalist and Los Angeles Times columnist Jean Guerrero covers immigration issues and the current political climate. She is the author of "Hatemonger: Stephen Miller, Donald Trump and the White Nationalist Agenda." Her first book, "Crux: A Cross-Border Memoir," won a PEN Literary Award and was named one of NPR's Best Books of 2019. Her writing is featured in Vanity Fair, Politico, The Nation, Wired, and The New York Times. Series: "Helen Edison Lecture Series" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 38003]
We are losing species much more rapidly now than in the last two million years! At that pace, we may lose a large proportion of vertebrates, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fishes, in the next two to three decades. Modern extinctions caused by human activities is higher that the normal or natural extinction rate. This is important because it would let us understand if we are causing a mass extinction. In the history of life on Earth, there have been five mass extinctions – episodes where large numbers of species became extinct in a short period of time. All mass extinctions have been caused by natural catastrophes, such as the impact of a meteorite. We are the only species that has the capability to save all endangered animals. Paradoxically, saving them is the only way to save humanity. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37904]
The field of performance studies is interested in not just performance but how it intertwines with social and cultural contexts. It sees value in taking a scholar practitioner approach. Monica Stufft, PhD, shares how she uses performance to tackle issues surrounding the climate crisis and science communication. Series: "Exploring Ethics" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37318]
Filmmaker Ann Kaneko spoke with moderator Kelsey Moore about the process of directing and editing her documentary, Manzanar, Diverted: When Water Becomes Dust, which depicts an alliance between former Japanese American WWII prisoners, Native Americans, and environmentalists to defend their sources of water. Kaneko describes the decisions behind the structure of the film, as well as its focus on a certain place, which helped to depict the issue of water in relation with different communities. She also discussed the notable use of sound and music in the film, which worked to solidify the characterization of Manzanar, as well as the harshness of its situation. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38039]
This CARTA public symposia will address specific examples of how humans have drastically altered the planet. Acknowledged experts will discuss clearly defined global-scale negative impacts on planet earth, our life support system (other than climate change, population growth and infectious diseases, which are well-known). Each talk will succinctly describe a specific impact, the role that our species has played, and conclude with ongoing or potential approaches to mitigation. In the process, we are coming full circle to Anthropogeny, asking how a single species could have evolved the ability to so drastically alter the entire planet. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 38008]
Beginning with Homo erectus at least a million years ago, hominins have used fire to engineer the world around them. The earliest uses of fire surely included cooking, changing the energy yields of foods. Such innovations altered the course of our evolution, facilitating the evolution of species that could adapt quickly using tools and social ingenuity. After 200,000 years ago, hominins also used fire to change the material properties of stone, pigments, sap, and wood. Although these changes represent a fundamental shift in the role of humans as dominant shapers of their environments, ecosystems adjusted as early humans remained embedded within them. Although we built our ability to bend environments to our needs on millions of years of evolution and innovation, humans are not now simply shifting to another sustainable balance. Rather, we continue to push environmental thresholds across one tipping point after the next. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37907]
Humans have adapted to meet their water needs across disparate environments over time using behavioral adaptations. Yet, as temperatures rise and freshwater sources become depleted, it is critical to understand 1) how populations modify their environments to meet their water needs, and 2) the consequences of these anthropogenic - or human caused changes - on the environment and further on human health. This talk will provide an overview of different global water challenges and focus on a couple of case studies to highlight how development projects in remote areas that provide easier access to water, which may be high in salt or other contaminants, can unintentionally worsen health outcomes and hasten water depletion. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37908]
Human-made chemicals with the unexpected ability to interfere with our body’s endocrine system have become prominent contaminants in daily life. Because the hormones produced by our endocrine system create complex signaling networks that control our growth, maturation, fertility, immunity, behavior, and sleep, these endocrine disrupting chemicals, or EDCs, can exert powerful biological effects. Declines in human fertility evidenced by falling sperm counts and increases in the incidence of infertility raise concern that daily exposure to EDC contaminants already is impacting human fertility. By design, all species are responsive to their environment. In humans, this responsiveness means that changes in our environment can affect the production of eggs and sperm, the growth and development of the fetus, and adult susceptibility to disease. Thus, in a 21st century world characterized by environmental crises, EDCs represent a planetary health problem with the potential to affect future generations. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37912]
The world is facing a health crisis due to increasing rates of obesity and diabetes, and the consequences of this pandemic will accumulate over the coming decades. Simultaneously, climate change is accelerating and is already having devastating effects that will undermine our ability to feed the world’s growing population. In turn, our food systems contribute importantly to greenhouse gas emissions, water and land use, and multiple forms of pollution. Thus, a solution to feeding what will be about 10 billion people by 2050 diets that are both healthy and environmentally sustainable presents an opportunity to mitigate many global challenges.
The EAT-Lancet commission addressed this challenge by defining healthy diets quantitatively, determining whether these can be produced within planetary boundaries for greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental factors, and identifying strategies to achieve these goals. Any solution must assume that we rapidly shift from fossil fuels to green energy. The commission found that global adoption of a flexitarian dietary pattern that could include up to about two servings per day of animal sourced foods, together with improvements in agricultural practices and reductions in food waste, would have major benefits for human health and allow us to stay within planetary boundaries. Achieving this will require the engagement of governments at all levels, civil society, and individuals. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37911]
Moderator Stephanie Malia Hom joined Professor Joan Roman Resina to discuss Death in Venice and the work of filmmaker Luchino Visconti. Resina contextualized the film within the larger context of Visconti’s German trilogy and his long, storied career. He also discussed the film’s adaptation from the Thomas Mann novella. Resina examined the idea of decadence in the film and the aristocratic Venetian milieus, as well as the film’s larger commentary on art and beauty across the mediums of literature, music, and cinema. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38038]
In this inaugural episode of The Art of Change, filmmaker, film scholar and Dean of Arts at UC Santa Cruz, Celine Parreñas Shimizu, talks about her personal history as well as her vision for the Arts Division at UCSC. She is well known for her work on race, sexuality and representations, and is the first Asian American female arts dean in the UC system. The daughter of political refugees from the Philippines who immigrated to the U.S. when she was a teenager, Dean Celine (as she likes to be called) earned her B.A. from UC Berkeley, her MFA from UCLA, and her Ph.D. from Stanford University. Series: "The Art of Change" [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 37990]
Moderator Jennifer Tyburczy discusses the production and impact of HBO miniseries Veneno with star Daniela Santiago. Santiago talks about the process and pressures of portraying transgender icon La Veneno, and the importance of representation both in front of and behind the camera. She detailed the significance of La Veneno, including her famous charisma and glamor, as well as the struggles she faced in her life. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37991]
Our series bringing arts and humanities practice to medicine continues with educators Holly Walter Kerby and H. Adam Steinberg as they show you a simple and repeatable method you can use to explain your work to the public via story and poster design. Series: "Let's Jam: The Arts in Medicine" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Show ID: 37996]
"Still We Rise" is a concert celebrating American diversity in music and the legacy of UC San Diego Professor Emeritus and pianist Cecil Lytle. This year’s program celebrates both the 25th anniversary of the Lytle Scholarship and the establishment of the Cecil Lytle Endowed Chair in African and African American Music. The concert features music and poetry from the African American experience. Series: "Rebecca Lytle Memorial Concerts" [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 37564]
Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, screenwriters of "Captain America: The First Avenger," discuss the film with moderator Matt Ryan. Markus and McFeely cover how they adapted the beloved comic book hero to the screen, and their collaboration with director Joe Johnston. They explained in detail how they crafted the characters of Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes, and Peggy Carter, as well as some of the behind-the-scenes work they witnessed while on set. They also spoke about their role in crafting the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe with their other Captain America and Avengers films. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37986]
UC Santa Cruz Professor of Music, Director of Jazz Studies, and Director of the Digital Arts and New Media program Karlton Hester talks about being appointed as UCSC’s first Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Arts. Professor Hester began his career as a composer and recording artist in Los Angeles where he worked as a studio musician and music educator, performing both flute and saxophone. He received his Ph.D. in composition from the City University of New York Graduate Center. Series: "The Art of Change" [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 37989]
Hugo Marcus (1880–1966) was a man of many names and identities. Born a German Jew, he converted to Islam and took the name Hamid, becoming one of the most prominent Muslims in Germany prior to World War II. Renamed Israel by the Nazis, he was sent to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp before escaping to Switzerland. In exile, he fought for homosexual rights and wrote queer fiction under the pen name Hans Alienus.
Marc David Baer discusses his new book “German, Jew, Muslim, Gay” in which he tells the story of a highly unconventional man and reveals new aspects of the interconnected histories of Jewish and Muslim individuals and communities, including Muslim responses to Nazism and Muslim experiences of the Holocaust. Series: "Library Channel" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37451]
This CARTA public symposia focuses on the long and short-term impact of humans on the planet that we inhabit, and the consequences for the future of our species. This also gives us the opportunity to celebrate the memory of the late Paul Crutzen, who coined the term “Anthropocene.” It is relevant to ask how a single species evolved the capacity to completely alter the surface of an entire planet and dominate its governing environmental and ecological processes. This symposium brings together experts regarding human impact on the planet and also addresses the current and future implications for our species. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37937]
Kate Crawford, author of "Atlas AI: Power, Politics and Planetary Costs of Artificial Intelligence," is a leading international scholar of the social and political implications of artificial intelligence. This program looks at the intersection of art, activism and artificial intelligence. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37967]
Our series of bringing arts and humanities practice to medicine continues with Thomas Dooley, poet-in-residence at the Center for Compassionate Communication at UC San Diego's Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion. Series: "Let's Jam: The Arts in Medicine" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 37987]
UC Santa Barbara's Script to Screen, hosted by Matt Ryan, was invited onto the 2022 Santa Barbara Film Festival red carpet to interview filmmakers from many 2022 Oscar-nominated movies. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37995]
Is the U.S. poised for a civil war? New York Times bestselling author and UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy's Barbara F. Walter, has spent over 30 years studying civil conflict. In her new book "How Civil Wars Start: And How to Stop Them" she examines the dramatic rise in violent extremism around the globe – in Iraq, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Philippines, India, Syria – and reveals how many of the risk factors for civil war are emerging here in the United States. [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 37971]
Speakers Leslie Aiello, Michael Purugganan and Vanessa Ezenwa discuss humanity's past, present and future of the Anthropocene. Aiello speaks on how the human capacity to change the planet is not something new, but is rooted in our deep evolutionary past. One of the hallmarks of humans is our large brain size, which began to expand about 2 million years ago. Purugganan discusses how domesticated species are an interesting group of organisms that have co-evolved with Homo sapiens, and have been important in human survival and fitness. Ezenwa explores the idea that interactions between climate change and infectious diseases can increase disease prevalence in human and animal populations, but disease, in turn, may exacerbate climate change. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37936]
This CARTA public symposia focuses on the long and short-term impact of humans on the planet that we inhabit, and the consequences for the future of our species. This also gives us the opportunity to celebrate the memory of the late Paul Crutzen, who coined the term “Anthropocene.” It is relevant to ask how a single species evolved the capacity to completely alter the surface of an entire planet and dominate its governing environmental and ecological processes. This symposium brings together experts regarding human impact on the planet and also address the current and future implications for our species. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37875]
UC San Diego Professor of Sociology and Co-Director of the Institute of Practical Ethics, John Evans discusses the work of Kyoto Prize laureate Bruno Latour with UC San Diego Professor Emerita of Communication and Science Studies Chandra Mukerji. Latour has revolutionized the conventional view of science by treating nature, humans, laboratory equipment, and other entities as equal actors, and describing technoscience as the hybrid network of these actors. His philosophy re-examines "modernity" based on the dualism of nature and society. He has a large influence across disciplines, with his multifaceted activities that include proposals regarding global environmental issues. Included is Latour's acceptance address delivered in Kyoto on the occasion of his being honored with the prestigious award. Series: "Kyoto Prize Symposium" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37922]
Speakers Mark Moffett, Charles Kennel and Martin Rees discuss humanity's past, present and future of the Anthropocene. Moffett examines the effects of the most aggressive ants on the environment, arguing that certain invasive species resemble humans in their capacity for global conquest and environmental destructiveness. Kennel speaks about the connections between past and present human exploitation of the environment, the coming crisis of the Anthropocene and what we humans can do to alleviate the crisis. Rees explores potential utopian and dystopian futures for humans on Earth. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37934]
Cornel West, Ph.D., is a prominent and provocative intellectual. He is Dietrich Bonhoeffer Chair at Union Theological Seminary and has written 20 books and edited 13. He's best known for his classics, "Race Matters and Democracy Matters," and for his memoir, "Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud." His most recent book, "Black Prophetic Fire," offers an unflinching look at nineteenth- and twentieth-century African American leaders and their visionary legacies. As part of the annual Writer's Symposium by the Sea, director of Point Loma Nazarene University's journalism program Dean Nelson has an engaging and inspiring conversation with West about his lifelong work as a theologian, civil rights activist and author. Series: "Writer's Symposium By The Sea" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37097]
Speakers V. Ramanathan, Nancy Knowlton and Jonah Western discuss humanity's past, present and future of the Anthropocene. Veerabhadran Ramanathan has had the privilege and pleasure of collaborating with Paul Crutzen for more than 40 years. Crutzen is one of the most creative, innovative and original geo-scientists of his generation. Nancy Knowlton speaks on how the ocean is enormous, indeed so large that for centuries we assumed there was nothing we could do to substantially harm it. Unfortunately, we now know that this is not true. David (Jonah) Western emphasizes how conservation is common to all societies which learned to live within ecosystem limits. If we use our unique capacity for cooperation and planning, there is hope for combating global warming and sustaining the diversity of life globally. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37935]
When the Second World War came to an end, Berlin, the capital of the Third Reich, lay in ruins. Few contemporaries, if any, could have anticipated that 70 years later, Berlin would boast large diaspora communities of Palestinians and Israelis who have made a home among Germans.
In “The Moral Triangle,” Sa’ed Atshan and Katharina Galor draw on ethnographic fieldwork and interviews with Israelis, Palestinians and Germans in Berlin to explore the fraught relationship between the three groups in the context of official German policies, public discourse and the private sphere.
Atshan is author of “Queer Palestine: Empire of Critique.” Galor, an art historian and archaeologist, is the Hirschfeld Senior Lecturer of Judaic Studies at Brown University. Her publications include ”The Archaeology of Jerusalem: From the Origins to the Ottomans” (co-authored with Hanswulf Bloedhorn) and ”Finding Jerusalem: Archaeology Between Science and Ideology.” Series: "Library Channel" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37751]
With relentless focus on scalability and innovation, how does society navigate the environmental impact of our global computing needs? George Porter, PhD, shares a path forward with an emphasis on how we teach students about computer science and how we design and build networked systems. Series: "Exploring Ethics" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37317]
The ocean is enormous, indeed so large that for centuries we assumed that there was nothing we could do to substantially harm it. Unfortunately, we now know that this is not true. We are having success on some fronts, such as saving species from extinction, protecting ocean waters, fishing more sustainably, and restoring damaged ecosystems by replanting critical species and reducing pollution. Even actions on land, such as removing dams from rivers and rats from islands, can make an important difference to marine life. Of course, we still need to do much more, and do it faster. In the future, we can turn to new tools drawn from the natural and social sciences. Big data and genetic interventions have a role to play, as do ocean-based renewable energy sources and new financing schemes. Perhaps most important is the growing recognition that success depends on empowering local communities in efforts to create a healthier ocean. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37775]
The last decade has seen a dramatic capture of digital material for machine learning production. This data is the basis for sense-making in AI, not as classical representations of the world with individual meaning, but as mass collections: ground truth for machine abstractions and operations. What happens when data is seen as an aggregate, stripped of context, meaning, and specificity? In what ways does training data limit what and how machine learning systems interpret the world? And most importantly, what forms of power do these approaches enhance and enable? Professor Kate Crawford is a leading international scholar of the social and political implications of artificial intelligence. In this lecture, Crawford shares new work that reflects on what’s at stake in the architecture and contents of training sets, and how they are increasingly part of our urban, legal, logistical, and commercial infrastructures. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37729]
David Brooks is an op-ed columnist for the New York Times. He is a commentator on The PBS Newshour, NPR's All Things Considered, and NBC's Meet the Press. His books include "Bobos in Paradise," "The Social Animal," and "The Road to Character." His latest book is "The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life," a New York Times No. 1 bestseller. As part of the annual Writer's Symposium by the Sea, director of Point Loma Nazarene University's journalism program Dean Nelson has a candid, humorous and inspiring conversation with Brooks about his lifelong work as a journalist and writer, how events in his life shaped who he is today and his spiritual journey. Series: "Writer's Symposium By The Sea" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 37096]
Jesuit priest and editor at large of America Magazine, Father James Martin, SJ, talks about his personal journey ministering to the LGBTQ community. For Martin, working with people on the margins, walking with the excluded, has always been part of his Jesuit life. Early in his career, he began writing about the LGBTQ community because he felt these were people in the church who had very few people to advocate for them. Then, after the 2016 nightclub massacre in Florida, he was deeply concerned about the lack of public support from Catholic bishops which inspired him to write a book, “Building a Bridge,” emphasizing the simple but life-changing tenets of respect, compassion, and sensitivity.
Martin is the best-selling author of “Jesus: A Pilgrimage, The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything” and “Learning to Pray.” He has written for many publications, including the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, and he is a regular commentator in the national and international media. Series: "Burke Lectureship on Religion and Society" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37861]
The human capacity to change the planet is not something new, but is rooted in our deep evolutionary past. One of the hallmarks of humans is our large brain size, which began to expand about 2 million years ago. This expansion did not come without consequences, and two are particularly important. The first is the additional energy requirements needed to fuel this larger brain size together with the concomitant life history factors such as shorter inter birth intervals, more dependent offspring and longer periods of growth and development, and longer lifespans. The second is the solution to these energy requirements that involve cooperative breeding and the development of the high risk/high return hunting and gathering foraging strategies. From this foundation we trace the increasing capacity of humans to extract more energy from the environment through the development of a reliance on fire, the agricultural revolution leading to the industrial revolution and modern times. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37770]
Cornel West, Ph.D., is a social justice advocate, best-selling author, renowned university professor, and one of the nation's most iconic Black intellectuals. In his dynamic and engaging style, West speaks with middle and high school students about the power of the persistent strength young people possess and what it takes to channel that strength for positive change as a leader today. West shares his personal story and what shaped his worldview. He talks about his lifelong journey as an activist for civil rights, how to know when to speak up and when to take action, as well as how to shift rage over injustice to bring about positive change. Series: "Helen Edison Lecture Series" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37833]
Nadia Bolz-Weber is an ordained Lutheran Pastor, founder of House for All Sinners & Saints in Denver, Colorado, and the author of three New York Times bestselling memoirs: "Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith Of A Sinner & Saint," "Accidental Saints: Finding God In All The Wrong People," and "SHAMELESS: A Sexual Reformation." In 2017, Bolz-Weber won the coveted Audience Award at the Nantucket Project. Her latest project is a podcast, "The Confessional with Nadia Bolz-Weber," a partnership with PRX and The Moth. As part of the annual Writer's Symposium by the Sea, director of Point Loma Nazarene University's journalism program Dean Nelson has a witty, probing and spiritual conversation with Bolz-Weber about her evolution from youthful rebellion to her journey of spirituality and compassion. Series: "Writer's Symposium By The Sea" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37095]
Domesticated species of crops are an interesting group of organisms that have co-evolved with Homo sapiens, and have been important in human survival and fitness. We trace the origin and spread of these domesticated crop species over the last 12,000 years, discussing both their impacts on human society as well as to the climate and human evolution. We will also present the challenges in modern agriculture and food security. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37771]
Conservation is common to all societies which learned to live within ecosystem limits. In breaking the evolutionary and biological straight-jackets constricting other species, we became the ultimate multi-niche free-ranging species. Our rise to global conquest and ecological emancipation from nature through domestication and manufacturing expanded conservation for survival to saving whales, elephants, the Acropolis and Mona Lisa. The universal rules for overcoming a tragedy of the commons locally offers hope for combating global warming and sustaining the diversity of life globally—if we use our unique capacity for cooperation and planning. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37776]
Climate change is one of the hallmarks of the Anthropocene. Rising global temperatures are having profound effects on ecosystems and the organisms that inhabit them, including disease-causing organisms such as viruses, bacteria, and parasitic worms. However, much less is known about the potential for infectious agents to contribute to changes in climate. Many infectious agents have the potential to affect greenhouse gas emissions via effects on their hosts. In her talk, Vanessa Ezenwa explores the idea that interactions between climate change and infectious diseases are not solely unidirectional, specifically, that climate change can increase disease prevalence in human and animal populations, but disease, in turn, may exacerbate climate change. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37774]
This century is the first in Earth's history when the catastrophic threats to the entire planet can be induced by one species, humans. We have an ever-heavier collective footprint on the planet. We’re empowered by ever more powerful technologies that can be hugely beneficial, but which if misapplied could trigger calamitous setbacks to civilization. Such events could be global: we’re so interconnected that no continent would be unscathed. It’s an ethical indictment of humanity that the gap between the actual state of the world, and the way it could be, is widening rather than narrowing. COVID-19 has been a wake-up call. It has shown that our increasingly interconnected civilization is vulnerable - but also that well-directed science can be our salvation. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37777]
Connections between past and present human exploitation of the environment, the coming crisis of the Anthropocene and what we humans can do to alleviate the crisis. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37773]
This talk considers the effects of the most aggressive ants on the environment, arguing that certain invasive species resemble humans in their capacity for global conquest and environmental destructiveness. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37772]
UC Berkeley’s Kroeber Hall became the fourth building on campus to be stripped of its name in a year’s time. The decision by Berkeley officials capped a formal review process and was made, in large part, because the building’s namesake - Alfred Louis Kroeber, born in 1876 and the founder of the study of anthropology in the American West - is a powerful symbol that continues to evoke exclusion and erasure for Native Americans. Series: "UC Berkeley News" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37827]
Eric Roth, screenwriter of Dune, discusses the film with moderator Matt Ryan. Roth talks about how he tackled adapting Frank Herbert’s novel to the screen, and his collaboration with director Denis Villeneuve. He also talks about various details of his process, such as how he approached portraying the characters of Paul and Lady Jessica, and bringing the world of Dune to life with his portrayal of the Fremen and the sandworms. Roth elaborates on working with the Herbert family early on to make sure that the legacy of the novels was properly respected. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37862]
In The Revenge of Power: How Autocrats Are Reinventing Politics for the 21st Century, Moisés Naím, former Editor-in-Chief of Foreign Policy, turns to the trends, conditions, technologies and behaviors that are contributing to the concentration of power, and to the clash between those forces that weaken power and those that strengthen it. Naím concentrates on the three “P”s—populism, polarization, and post-truths. All of which are as old as time, but are combined by today’s autocrats to undermine democratic life in new and frightening ways. The Revenge of Power shows how power has not changed but the way people go about gaining it and using it has been transformed. Series: "Institute of the Americas" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 37831]
Dr. Simon Todd, assistant professor in the Department of Linguistics at UC Santa Barbara, talks about what you can learn simply by listening. His research focuses on the incredible power of passive listening for developing and accessing knowledge about language varieties and the people that speak them. Series: "GRIT Talks" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37872]
Social media content ranges from benign to traumatizing - but who is responsible for deciding what is appropriate for a given audience? Kristen Vaccaro, PhD, examines the history of content moderation, current practices, and future models. Series: "Exploring Ethics" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37316]
UC Berkeley Assistant Professor, Jack Tseng, explains his research on juvenile T. rexes and what the findings tell us about the lifestyle of the teenage tyrannosaur. Series: "UC Berkeley News" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37829]
Throughout Nepal, large freight trucks painted by artists provide special visual entertainment for travelers along the highways and dangerous mountain roads of the Himalayas. These creatively painted scenes and sayings can be clever, witty and even profound - offering food for thought to the viewer. Former Peace Corps volunteer and UC San Diego lecturer emeritus Ron Ranson, along with filmmaker Sudarson Karki, document the Nepali custom of painting trucks with icons of their country, spiritual life, European sports teams and even major movies like "Titanic." [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 37685]
Join a panel of typers as they explore the underlying themes of Daniel Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon." Series: "Autism Tree Project Annual Neuroscience Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37657]
Through the lens of the study and impact of aerosols, Vicki Grassian argues that collaboration, innovation, and implementation are the only way forward for successful science and a healthy society. She addresses the role of research institutions, traditional science boundaries, and the need for interdisciplinary work. Series: "Exploring Ethics" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37402]
Moderator Matt Ryan spoke with Maria Schrader about her film "I’m Your Man," which she directed and co-wrote and is now Germany’s submission for the international film category for the 2022 Academy Awards. The film focuses on Alma, a researcher who is chosen to test a humanoid robot named Tom, who is programmed to be the perfect partner for her. Schrader discussed the exciting and challenging aspects of writing such an unconventional romance story, as well as the process of directing lead actors Maren Eggert and Dan Stevens through the film’s comedic, intimate, and emotional scenes. In response to some questions from the audience, Schrader shared insights on themes of memory and anthropology throughout the film, as well as her own inspirations for filmmaking and screenwriting. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37681]
Destin Daniel Cretton, director and co-writer of Marvel’s Shang-Chi, answered questions about the film from moderator Matt Ryan. Cretton discussed a wide range of topics, including the casting of legendary actors Tony Leung and Michelle Yeoh, as well as the intense physical training and emotionally complex performances required of cast members Simu Liu and Meng’er Zhang. He also talked about some of his favorite elements of the film, including the rich familial themes that drive the story. Cretton elaborated on the influences behind his decisions to incorporate complex ideas such as grief and the family dynamics of Asian households, and how these allowed for an unconventional relationship between the film’s hero and villain. He also commented on the importance of Asian representation in the film, and how important it was to portray realistic Asian and Asian American perspectives through its characters. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37683]
A panel consisting of UCSB faculty Lisa Parks, Jean Beaman, and France Winddance Twine discusses the sociological impacts of Netflix’s Lupin. Beaman and Twine dive into the show’s political relevance, handling of representation, and nuanced portrayal of Paris, all of which work to make the show such an effective critique of state power. Each guest brings their own unique background and specialization to contribute thoughtful perspectives on the global dimensions of the show’s political commentary. The discussions on race and representation are of key importance for this panel and make for an important conversation about the film and television industry in general. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37682]
More than 20 years before the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education decision, a small Mexican community in Lemon Grove, California fought for and secured for their children the right to an equal education. Luis Alvarez, PhD, a professor of history at UC San Diego, grandson of the plaintiff in Roberto Alvarez vs. the Board of Trustees of the Lemon Grove School District, shares how his family's history shaped his world view and career path. Series: "Education Channel" [Humanities] [Education] [Show ID: 36559]
Moderator Wendy Eley Jackson speaks with Gareth Crocker about his film-making process for the South African television show, Shadow. Crocker discusses various elements of the series, including his decision to shoot in his hometown of Johannesburg to lend authenticity to location, the process of collaborative writing with his friend and co-creator, seeking feedback from diverse voices to craft genuine characters, and acknowledging the room for growth. He also spoke on internet bandwidth issues in some parts of the country and the accessibility of Netflix. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37611]
There is a puzzle about counterfactuals that parallels a more familiar puzzle about free will. The familiar puzzle is the apparent incompatibility between free will and determinism. Robert Stalnaker, Professor of Philosophy at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, argues, first, that the general puzzle gives us reason to look more closely at the details of the semantics for counterfactuals, and second, that the parallel with the standard argument for incompatibilism (labeled ‘the Consequence Argument’) gives us reason to look more closely at the central role of counterfactuals in practical reasoning. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37310]
Moderator Patrice Petro speaks with Scott Frank about the influence of German series Babylon Berlin on his own series, The Queen’s Gambit. Scott discusses multiple aspects of Babylon Berlin, including the score, location, plot structure, and production choices, which contributed to his appreciation of German history and television as well as influenced his own choices when making The Queen’s Gambit. Frank explores both the making of The Queen’s Gambit and his opinions on Babylon Berlin. He also comments on viewing habits in the modern era and whether the ability to watch episodes all in one sitting changes the way we experience television. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37629]
Moderator James McNamara speaks with writer Ben Power about his adaptation of Shakespeare’s Richard III for the BBC series, The Hollow Crown. Power discusses various elements of the series, commenting on the casting choices, which included actors of color and the political context of the series, which was developed during a visible rise of authoritarian figures in the United Kingdom. He also speaks on the challenges of adapting from Shakespeare and offers his perspective on what allowed the series to be engaging for audiences while still remaining true to Shakespeare’s vision. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37610]
Official forms often asks us to pick from limited categories to define who we are - white, Black, American Indian, or Asian. This narrow view of identity has deep impacts on Indigenous and Latinx communities. Daphne Taylor-Garcia talks about her research in Ethnic Studies and how she works to uncover how our identities have been shaped by colonialism and how we can work to reshape and redefine those identities. Series: "Education Channel" [Humanities] [Education] [Show ID: 36561]
UC San Diego professor Carol Marchetto discusses how a comparative gene expression analysis of human and non-human primates revealed differences in the regulation of a class of transposable elements LINE1 retrotransposons between species. University of Southern California professor Joseph Hacia discusses studies profiling phytanic acid levels in red blood cells obtained from humans and captive non-human primates all on low phytanic acid diets. Emory University professor James Rilling discusses the difference of arcuate fasciculus between human and non-human primate brains and how the specialization of speech has helped humans evolve. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37527]
This symposium addresses several important distinctly human characteristics that range from molecules, to metabolism, anatomy, disease, and behavior. Goals include transdisciplinary interactions, improved self-understanding, promotion of ethically sound studies to explain known differences, and the generation of new, potentially unexplored, insights on uniquely-human specializations. Given the interest in understanding our evolution, this symposium will also help to organize how and in what sequence distinctly human physical, mental, social, and cultural features evolved. Such understanding may help explain the origin of our species and how it came to now directly shape the planet, giving rise to the Anthropocene (a proposed geological epoch distinguished by human influence on climate and the environment). Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37534]
Identifying cellular and molecular differences between human and non-human primates is essential to the basic understanding of the evolution and diversity of our own species. While preserved tissues are the main source of comparative studies between humans, chimpanzees and bonboos, the samples do not accurately represent the traits of live cell behavior and cannot be genetically manipulated. UC San Diego professor Carol Marchetto discusses how a comparative gene expression analysis of human and non-human primates revealed differences in the regulation of a class of transposable elements (Long Interspersed Nuclear Element 1 or LINE1 retrotransposons) between species. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37377]
Unlike our closest primate relatives, chimpanzees and bonobos, humans form strong intergroup ties which can mitigate coalitionary aggression and make peace possible. However, such bonds can also be used to build larger alliances that take such conflicts to a new level of magnitude, supported by cultural and linguistic proficiencies. Arizona State University and University of Utah professor Polly Wiessner addresses intergroup ties between humans, chimpanzees and bonobos, explores some of the possible evolutionary developments that contributed to the human disposition to form mutually supportive external bonds, and then discusses the impact of social ties on coalitionary action. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37383]
Emory University professor Dietrich Stout discusses an evolutionarily motivated definition of technology that highlights three key features: material production, social collaboration, and cultural reproduction; UC San Diego professor Pascal Gagneux discusses how recent comparative genome studies have revealed that this polymorphic system is ancient and shared between humans and non-human primates, this despite the fact that none of the great ape species carries all four ABO blood types; and University of Utah professor James O’Connell discusses food sharing, evaluates one hypothesis that focuses on males acquiring big game meat and marrow to provide for mates and offspring. The other hypothesis surrounds how certain kinds of savanna plant food set up the forager interdependence which propelled all aspects of life history change. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37528]
Arizona State University and University of Utah professor Polly Wiessner addresses intergroup ties between humans, chimpanzees and bonobos and explores some of the possible evolutionary developments that contributed to the human disposition to form mutually supportive external bonds, and then discusses the impact of social ties on coalitionary action; UC San Diego professor Rafael Nuñez discusses the comparative analysis of “quantity” and “number”, and the implications it has for debates about the origins of other human special capacities such as geometry, music, and art; and UC San Diego School of Medicine professor Nissi Varki discusses the incidence of carcinomas, including the rarity of occurrence of common human carcinomas in captive chimpanzees. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37529]
Technology is clearly central to human life and evolution but remains hard to define and study. Emory University professor Dietrich Stout discusses an evolutionarily motivated definition of technology that highlights three key features: material production, social collaboration, and cultural reproduction. This perspective has important implications for the way we conceptualize and study the origins and evolution of human technologies. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37385]
This symposium addresses several important distinctly human characteristics that range from molecules, to metabolism, anatomy, disease, and behavior. Goals include transdisciplinary interactions, improved self-understanding, promotion of ethically sound studies to explain known differences, and the generation of new, potentially unexplored, insights on uniquely-human specializations. Given the interest in understanding our evolution, this symposium will also help to organize how and in what sequence distinctly human physical, mental, social, and cultural features evolved. Such understanding may help explain the origin of our species and how it came to now directly shape the planet, giving rise to the Anthropocene (a proposed geological epoch distinguished by human influence on climate and the environment). Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37447]
Helen Epstein, a prolific journalist and author, discusses her mother's memoir about her life in Nazi-occupied Europe. "Franci's War" starts in 1942 when 22-year-old Franci Rabinek began a three-year journey that would take her from Terezin, the Nazis’ “model ghetto,” to the Czech family camp in Auschwitz-Birkenau, slave labor camps in Hamburg, and finally Bergen Belsen. Trained as a dress designer, Franci survived the war and would go on to establish a fashion salon in New York. Series: "Library Channel" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37412]
Humans and many other species have biologically endowed abilities for discriminating “quantities” to some degree (e.g., subitizing), but only humans, via the distinct capacity of “symbolic reference” exhibit “number” — i.e., exact symbolic quantification. Language, with its symbolic properties although present in all human cultures, is a necessary condition for “number” but it is not a sufficient condition for it. UC San Diego professor Rafael Nuñez discusses the comparative analysis of “quantity” and “number”, and the implications it has for debates about the origins of other human special capacities such as geometry, music, and art. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37386]
Joel Dimsdale discusses his latest book “Dark Persuasion: A History of Brainwashing from Pavlov to Social Media,” which traces the evolution of brainwashing from its beginnings in torture and religious conversion into the age of neuroscience and social media. Dimsdale is distinguished professor emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry at UC San Diego. Series: "Writers" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Show ID: 37324]
Beginning in the 1950s, the United States embarked on an elaborate program to study how LSD might be used to alter the behavior of an enemy. This collaboration between academia and government conducted astonishing studies with little regard for the ethics of experimentation. Joel E. Dimsdale, MD, describes how this research program evolved and shares stark examples of its impact on science and society. Series: "Osher UC San Diego Distinguished Lecture Series" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Show ID: 37465]
Sialic acid-recognizing immunoglobulin-type lectins (Siglecs) are a family of cell surface proteins prominently expressed on immune cells in mammals. Siglec-11 is an example of an inhibitory Siglec. It was the first protein in the brain found to be “human-specific”: non-human primates express Siglec-11 in other tissues but not in the central nervous system. UC San Diego School of Medicine professor Ajit Varki discusses the importance of Siglec-11 and the paired receptor Siglec-16, and how they play significant roles in regulating inflammation, and have several uniquely human features including expression in brain. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37380]
Brian Spitzberg, PhD examines the nature of disinformation, misinformation, and fake news in social media through the lens of the COVID-19 pandemic. Series: "Exploring Ethics" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Show ID: 37400]
Language is a human cognitive specialization, and as such, is expected to be supported by human neurological specializations. The arcuate fasciculus is a white matter fiber tract that connects Wernicke’s and Broca’s language areas in the human brain, and also connects the homologues of Wernicke’s and Broca’s areas in non-human primate brains. Emory University professor James Rilling discusses the difference of arcuate fasciculus between human and non-human primate brains and how the specialization of speech has helped humans evolve. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37381]
During embryogenesis, the three germ layers (endoderm, ectoderm, mesoderm) differentiate into epithelial and non-epithelial cells, which eventually form differentiated tissues and organs. Abundant data now indicates that we humans are very closely related to other hominids including chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans, the so-called "great apes". UC San Diego School of Medicine professor Nissi Varki discusses the incidence of carcinomas, including the rarity of occurrence of common human carcinomas in captive chimpanzees. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37382]
Diet has played a major role in the evolution of human and non-human primate digestive systems. Phytanic acid is a potentially toxic branched chain fatty acid that can be acquired in humans by ingesting plant and/or animal products. Although it was established that humans cannot derive phytanic acid from chlorophyll and instead normally obtain it only from meat, dairy, and fish products, less was known about the capacity of non-human primates with proportionally larger hindguts to obtain phytanic acid from plant materials. University of Southern California professor Joseph Hacia discusses studies profiling phytanic acid levels in red blood cells obtained from humans and captive non-human primates all on low phytanic acid diets. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37379]
ABO Blood groups represent the first described human molecular polymorphism. The ABO gene encodes variants of a protein (a glycosyltransferase) that produces the short sugar chains on glycoproteins and glycolipids that define the A, B, or O antigens. These antigens are found on red blood cells, plasma glycoproteins, and other cell types in various tissues. Individual humans can have one of four blood types based on the two alleles inherited from both parents at the ABO locus: blood type A, B, AB, or O. UC San Diego professor Pascal Gagneux discusses how recent comparative genome studies have revealed that this polymorphic system is ancient and shared between humans and non-human primates, this despite the fact that none of the great ape species carries all four ABO blood types. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37378]
Humans are unusual in that we depend on shared foods, especially among families and friends and between potential mates. Food sharing occurs between healthy individuals and those that are infirm or elderly. We also differ from other great apes in our early ages at weaning, late ages at maturity, short birth intervals and survivorship decades past menopause. The emergence of these patterns was crucial to early human development. In light of observations among modern East African hunter-gatherers, University of Utah professor James O’Connell evaluates two alternatives. He discusses one hypothesis that focuses on males acquiring big game meat and marrow to provide for mates and offspring. The other hypothesis surrounds how certain kinds of savanna plant food set up the forager interdependence which propelled all aspects of life history change. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37384]
In December 2020, Jennifer Doudna received her Nobel Prize in Chemistry during a small, socially-distanced ceremony at her home - followed by takeout. The traditional celebration will have to wait until next year. A videographer and photographer captured the intimate gathering and presentation of the gold medal by Barbro Osher, Sweden’s Honorary Consul General in San Francisco, with Anna Sjöström Douagi representing the Nobel Foundation. Doudna, the Li Ka Shing Chancellor’s Chair in Biomedical and Health Sciences at UC Berkeley, was joined by her husband, Jamie Cate, UC Berkeley professor of molecular and cell biology, son, Andrew, and sister Ellen Doudna of Berkeley. Series: "UC Berkeley News" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37398]
As Wendell Bass explains, when you see children as brilliant, the possibilities are endless. Bass has spent a lifetime in education working towards an equitable future for all of his students. In this wide ranging interview, he shares what he has learned while emphasizing love, compassion, and connection during all parts of the school day. Series: "Education Channel" [Humanities] [Education] [Show ID: 37250]
Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles prides itself on being the world’s first LGBTQ mariachi band. Their tight, energetic, and intricate sound has been honed by the work they’ve had to do to navigate the typically hypermasculine and heteronormative world of mariachi as gay and trans musicians. The band has performed at numerous gay and transgender pride events as well as in the #SchoolsNotPrisons tour for the California Endowment. They have been featured multiple times on Univision morning shows, and in the Smithsonian Folklife magazine. Series: "Critically Human" [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 37330]
Ilan Stavans of Amherst College, discusses The Seventh Heaven: Travels through Jewish Latin America (2020). In this travelogue, Stavans talks to families of the desaparecidos in Buenos Aires, to “Indian Jews,” and to people affiliated with neo-Nazi groups in Patagonia. He also visits Spain to understand the long-term effects of the Inquisition, the American Southwest habitat of “secret Jews,” and Israel, where immigrants from Latin America have reshaped the Jewish state. Series: "Taubman Symposia in Jewish Studies" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37322]
This short film showcases two community-engaged graduate student research projects related to California Indian baskets. Learning about basket traditions from local Yokuts basket weavers connects to an exploration of how 3D digitization of baskets can assist with cultural revitalization. These projects were funded by the Henry Luce Foundation. Series: "Critically Human" [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 37331]
Despite the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in health research, too many investigators face challenges in recruiting diverse study participants. Using current examples, Jesse Nodora, DrPh highlights some of those challenges and the implications for interpreting and applying results. He also explores how community-engaged research can address these deficits and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in health research. Series: "Exploring Ethics" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Show ID: 36638]
Filmmaker and author Cheryl Foggo joins moderator Stephanie Batiste for a virtual discussion of Foggo’s new documentary, John Ware Reclaimed. The film follows Foggo’s quest to recover the story of John Ware, a Black cowboy and rancher who settled in Alberta, Canada prior to the turn of the twentieth century. In conversation with Batiste, Foggo addresses how Ware’s story illuminates histories of Black settlement and anti-Black racism in the Canadian west, touching on questions of national myth-making, intergenerational kinship, and identity across borders. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37195]
Who was Josef Mengele? After the end of the Holocaust, the German physician has been increasingly viewed as the personification of supreme evil both in the minds of survivors and the public at large. In this lecture based on his highly acclaimed book “Mengele,” David Marwell untangles history and myth surrounding the man known variously as the Angel of Death and the good uncle, suggesting that Mengele was not so much a uniquely monstrous perpetrator, but more a willing part of a monstrous machine of destruction.
Marwell has had a distinguished career as chief of investigative research at the US Department of Justice, associate museum director at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and director and CEO of the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City. Series: "Library Channel" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36713]
Writer/director Sourav Sarangi discusses his 2012 documentary, Char...The No Man's Island, focusing on the challenges and opportunities of working in the India/Bangladesh borderlands. Joined by moderator Bhaskar Sarkar, Sarangi recounts his inspiration for making the film, the struggles he faced during production, and the importance of telling this unique story of life on the border. Char...The No Man's Island follows Rubel, a fourteen-year-old boy who makes a living for his family working as a smuggler around the border island of Char. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37072]
How can parents help their children develop healthy habits around gaming and technology? Game developer Hilary Lok and digital well-being expert Nadja Streiter discuss current gaming models, technology addiction warning signs, helpful guidelines and more. Series: "Education Channel" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37007]
Moderator Diane Fujino joins activist and documentary subject Mike Africa Jr. for a discussion of Tommy Oliver’s new documentary, 40 Years A Prisoner. A riveting chronicle of the controversial 1978 Philadelphia police raid on the radical back-to-nature group MOVE, 40 Years a Prisoner follows Africa Jr.’s decades-long fight to free his parents from prison in the aftermath. Together, Fujino and Africa Jr. discuss how Oliver’s documentary situates the MOVE raid within a longer history of police violence against Black communities in Philadelphia, and the lasting impact of MOVE’s radical philosophy. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37108]
Actor, director, producer, and comedy icon Henry Winkler joins moderator Matt Ryan for a discussion of his work on the hit HBO comedy, Barry. Barry stars Bill Hader as a depressed, low-rent hitman from the Midwest who reluctantly travels to Los Angeles to execute a hit on an aspiring actor. In conversation with Ryan, Winkler provides an in-depth look at his character Gene Cousineau, while also recounting some highlights from his prolific, multi-decade career in television and film. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37110]
Writer/director Catherine Hardwicke discusses her directorial debut film, Thirteen, a realistic drama of an innocent teenage girl thrown into a curious world of rebellion, sex, and drugs. In conversation with moderator Matt Ryan, Hardwicke discusses the process of working with co-writer Nikki Reed to capture the reality of Reed’s own teen years, and to transform them in turn into this harrowing yet relatable film. Hardwicke also discusses the joys and challenges of directing, touching briefly on her other directorial work, Twilight. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37106]
Hester Blum, David Clark, and Korenna Estes discuss the film Frozen Obsession, which follows the 18-day, 2,000-mile Northwest Passage Project expedition through the stunningly beautiful and extreme Canadian Arctic, aboard the Swedish research icebreaker Oden. In conversation with Ian Kellett, Blum, Clark, and Estes discuss the process of making the documentary and the lessons they learned as a part of this project, as well as larger issues of climate change. Frozen Obsession follows the expedition of some of the many scientists who are racing to understand a fast-warming Arctic, exploring how environmental changes currently unfolding in the polar regions will affect life on a planetary scale. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37105]
In conversation with moderator Sara Pankenier Weld, filmmaker Holly Morris discusses her 2015 documentary, The Babushkas of Chernobyl. The film offers an intimate look at the remarkable women who continue to live, fish, and forage in the shadow of the ruined Chernobyl nuclear power plant, having refused to leave their homes following the 1986 explosion at reactor 4. Morris details the triumphs and challenges of making this film, the ongoing impacts of the Chernobyl disaster, and the power of community in the face of adversity. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37107]
Join us for a candid conversation between trailblazing women leaders about their personal journeys, their hopes, and their visions for the future. Feminist scholar and author Brittney Cooper, astronaut and scientist Kathy Sullivan, news anchor and reporter Maria Hinojosa share with author and journalist Lynn Sherr what it means to them to be leaders and inspire others. Series: "Women in Science" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 36626]
Colin Gunckel and Mirasol Enríquez discuss the impact and importance of the 1983 epic film El Norte, directed by Gregory Nava. In conversation with moderator Ross Melnick, Gunckel and Enríquez reflect on the production and reception of the film in the context of Chicanx filmmaking in the 80s. El Norte tells the story of a Guatemalan brother and sister who flee persecution and journey north along the length of Mexico, with a dream of finding a new home in the United States. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37066]
How does a kid from Compton, California find his way to career in neurobiology? Gentry N. Patrick, PhD knows the answer: access, mentorship, and advocacy. A singular vision of “who” can be a scientist is detrimental to all and there is an acute need to create a scientific community representative of the community in which we all live. Dr. Patrick’s story and his efforts call on all of us to empathize, innovate, and come together to do our part in shaping a better future for all students including those who remain underserved. Series: "Exploring Ethics" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 36636]
Director Sanjay Rawal and editor Alexander Meillier discuss their new documentary Gather, which explores the growing movement among Native Americans to reclaim their spiritual, political and cultural identities through food sovereignty, all while battling the trauma of centuries colonial genocide. In conversation with Greg Johnson, Rawal and Meillier discuss the process of making the film, addressing in particular the complicated ethics of documentary representation. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37065]
Experts address altered states of the mind that are deliberately induced by humans. We will address what is known about origins and mechanisms of these mind-altering practices. In doing so, we hope to gain new insights into the origins and workings of the human mind. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 36670]
Experts address altered states of the mind that are deliberately induced by humans. We will address what is known about origins and mechanisms of these mind-altering practices. In doing so, we hope to gain new insights into the origins and workings of the human mind. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 36673]
Creating vaccines was only the first hurdle in ending the spread of COVID-19. Limited vaccine supplies, the need for specialized storage, and careful administration techniques have led to restrictions and the creation of vaccine priority lists. The need for specialized storage and techniques compounds the difficulties of reaching rural, indigenous, and homeless populations. Members of some populations of color and ethnic groups lack trust in the health care establishment due to a long and ongoing history of maltreatment and systemic racism. All of these factors, combined with need for internet access, flexible schedules, and transportation to vaccine sites are barriers to achieving the high vaccination rates needed for herd immunity. How do we reach this goal in the most equitable, reasonable and humane way possible, particularly in our San Diego community? This panel will be a conversation about vaccine distrust and disparities in San Diego County. Series: "Exploring Ethics" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Show ID: 36824]
Allan Havis, UC San Diego Professor of Theater and Dance and Director of the UC San Diego Film Studies program, is joined by visiting scholar Robert Marx to host a rare, candid discussion with revolutionary theater director Ariane Mnouchkine, who founded the Parisian avant-garde stage ensemble Théâtre du Soleil in 1964, which she continues to direct today. Series: "Kyoto Prize Symposium" [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 36810]
Rita Colwell discusses her pioneering research that led to the discovery of how cholera survives between epidemics. During an open question and answer session, she addresses themes and issues covered in her recently published book, “A Lab of One’s Own—One Woman’s Personal Journey Through Sexism in Science.” Considered a science book for the #MeToo era, Colwell offers an astute diagnosis of how to fix the problem of sexism in science—and a celebration of the women pushing back. Series: "Women in Science" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 36767]
Dr. Stuart Eisendrath, UCSF Professor Emeritus in Psychiatry, explores the psychology behind both anxiety and depression as well as how mindfulness can help to tackle these issues. Series: "Mini Medical School for the Public" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Show ID: 36943]
What is everyday life, and how is it experienced under extreme stress? This is the broader question that animates the research of Anna Hájková, an associate professor of Modern Continental European History at the University of Warwick. In her talk, Hájková examines sex work, sexual violence, and coercion of Jewish women and men in concentration camps, ghettos, and in hiding. She is the author of many journal articles and books, including her current project, “Boundaries of the Narratable: Transgressive Sexuality and the Holocaust.” This pioneering study seeks to contribute to our understanding of gender and sexual violence during the Holocaust and explores the erasure of narratives of gays and lesbians who were deported as Jews and who subsequently vanished from the historical record. Series: "Library Channel" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36710]
This discussion considers the contemporary politics of wireless communication, with special attention paid to the cultural and governmental imaginaries that accrue to emerging wireless infrastructures like 5G. In conversation with Tyler Morgenstern, Marisa Duarte, Shannon Mattern and Rahul Mukherjee explore how wireless ICTs shape historical and current understandings of uncertainty, conspiracy, and development. Together, panelists considered how dreams of untrammeled, high-speed connectivity tend to obscure or crowd out alternative imaginaries of relation. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36885]
The challenges of the past year have shaped the way we think about and watch television. Moderated by Patrice Petro, this conversation explores how television continues to mediate urgent debates over questions of community, racial justice, and protest. In addition, panelists consider how the pressures of the current moment—viral pandemic, social unrest, and political upheaval—are reshaping our understanding of news, sports, and celebrity culture. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36828]
With Amazon's Alexa spying on her owners, a massive data breach masterminded by Cambridge Analytica, and evidence of election interference promulgated by Facebook, tech policy has never had more significant implications for our society and democracy. Roger McNamee—noted tech venture capitalist, early mentor to Mark Zuckerberg, and Facebook investor—talks with Henry Brady, Dean of the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley, about how he came to realize the serious damage that Facebook and other social media giants are doing and how he has committed to try to stop them. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 36880]
Trent Atkinson and Brandon Stansell discuss their new film Three Chords and a Lie, which explores the experiences of LGBTQ+ people in country music. In a conversation with Tyler Morgenstern, Stansell and Atkinson discuss the process of making the documentary and the challenges it presented, as well as larger issues of representation and diversity in the country music industry. Three Chords and a Lie follows Stansell as he returns to his hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee, ten years after coming out as gay to his family. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36815]
A Normal Girl director Aubree Bernier-Clarke, activist/producer Pidgeon Pagonis, and Ponyboi director River Gallo discuss their experiences creating these innovative portraits of contemporary intersex life. In conversation with moderator Xiuhe Zhang, Bernier-Clarke, Pagonis, and Gallo address the challenges that intersex media makers, performers, and writers face in telling their stories, but also highlight how documentary and fiction filmmaking can help to shift popular (mis)conceptions about intersex people and their communities. Ponyboi tells the story of a young intersex sex worker struggling to navigate the terrain's of intimacy and identity, while A Normal Girl focuses on the work of activist Pidgeon Pagonis, who advocates for intersex peoples’ rights to medical non-conformity and bodily self-determination. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36821]
In this roundtable discussion, professors Stephen Groening, Maggie Hennefeld, Brian Jacobson, and Jocelyn Szcepaniak-Gillece reflect on how pandemics past shed new light on how the current COVID-19 pandemic is reshaping the world of cinema. Moderated by Patrice Petro, this conversation addresses questions of risk and exposure in the media industries, the movie theater’s role as public space, and how pandemic-induced streaming changes our understanding of cinema. Participants also explore how fears of viral infection reshape the literal and figurative “atmosphere” of moviegoing. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36820]
Screenwriter and actress Guinevere Turner discusses her experience working on the groundbreaking 1994 film, Go Fish. In a conversation with Assatu Wisseh, Turner recounts how she and director Rose Troche developed their unique story of romance and friendship in a lesbian community in Chicago. A low-budget, independent romantic comedy, Go Fish tells a girl-meets-girl love story that subverts the conventions of the Hollywood romance and the male-centric narratives of New Queer Cinema alike. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36816]
Gabriel Meléndez discusses Herbert J. Biberman’s 1954 film Salt of the Earth, a classic of Chicanx and feminist cinemas. With Stephen Borunda, Meléndez discusses the film’s historical context and the political controversies surrounding its production and release. Salt of the Earth offers a neorealist retelling of a fifteen-month-long strike against the Empire Zinc mining company, initiated in 1951 by Mexican-American miners and their families in Grant County, New Mexico. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36792]
Actress and filmmaker Marielle Heller discusses adapting Phoebe Gloeckner’s graphic novel, The Diary of a Teenage Girl: An Account in Words and Pictures, into a screenplay. With UCSB Pollock Theater Director Matt Ryan, Heller addresses the challenges of constructing a realistic and honest coming-of-age narrative, told from the perspective of a teenage girl in 1970s San Francisco. The Diary of a Teenage Girl follows Minnie Goetz as she grapples with questions of sexuality, identity, and power in a moment of social and cultural upheaval. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36783]
Children's museums can be a challenging environment for parents who feel the urge to explain the science behind all the novel activities that dazzle youngsters. New research suggests that timing is key to supporting children's learning in these environments. Series: "UCTV Prime" [Humanities] [Education] [Show ID: 36765]
Charles Randolph discusses adapting the complex story of The Big Short into an Academy Award-winning screenplay. In conversation with UCSB Pollock Theater Director Matt Ryan, Randolph recounts how he went about constructing a narrative is highly experimental but nonetheless cohesive and compelling. Recounting the events that precipitated the 2008 financial crisis, The Big Short conveys the complexities of modern finance through a wide range of innovative and humorous storytelling techniques. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36775]
Moderator Emily Zinn sits down with director/executive producer Brad Silberling for a conversation about Netflix’s new holiday rom-com series, Dash & Lily. Their discussion explores how music, books, and location shooting come together to tell this heartwarming love story. Brad Silbering gives the audience an inside look into the production process and the joy of capturing Christmas in New York before the COVID-19 pandemic. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36757]
At the height of World War II, a team of Soviet scholars embarked on an ambitious goal to collect recently written songs dealing with the Holocaust. Lost until the early 1990's, these songs were rediscovered and recorded with an ensemble of recognized soloists. Thanks to the painstaking labor of Anna Shternshis and the talent of Psoy Korolenko, audiences worldwide can now enjoy and reflect upon this treasure trove of songs that offer a precious glimpse into an unfolding tragedy and the artistic reaction to it. Series: "Library Channel" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36542]
In conversation with Jeremy Moore, Professors Myles McNutt and Laurie Ouellette discuss the complicated politics and cultural legacy of the path-breaking CBS reality show, Survivor. Together, McNutt, Ouellette, and Moore explore questions of genre, power, race, and the changing nature of labor and finance in the media industries. Touching as well on issues of fandom and celebrity, this discussion highlights how Survivor continues to shape the codes and conventions of reality TV even today, twenty years on from its iconic debut season. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36771]
Moderator Miguel Penabella joins writer/director/actor/producer/editor of Lingua Franca (2019), Isabel Sandoval, for a conversation focusing on the film’s social and cultural resonances. With patience and nuance, the film addresses questions of immigration and migrant justice, labor, family, and the diverse experiences of trans women of color. Penabella and Sandoval discuss the evolution of the film and its central story, as well as Sandoval’s intimate involvement in all aspects of its production. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36758]
In 2016, Dr. Steffanie Strathdee was involved in a remarkable case where she and her colleagues revived a hundred year old forgotten cure - bacteriophage therapy - to save her husband’s life from a deadly superbug infection. Strathdee shares the details of her family’s story and discusses ethical issues related to treating bacterial infections with viruses. Series: "Exploring Ethics" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Show ID: 36633]
Writer, producer, and director Anna Biller talks about feminism, witches, and creating movies for female viewing pleasure in this Q&A for her 2016 horror film The Love Witch. Biller’s dedication to exploring feminist themes throughout her work lent itself to an insightful discussion the female gaze. Alongside moderator Rachael Ball, Biller invites us to explore the various feminist themes in The Love Witch and gives further insight into how she consciously explores these in her work and personal life. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36602]
Moderator Patrice Petro joins series co-creator Scott Frank in a discussion of Netflix’s series The Queen’s Gambit. Their discussion explores the drama of chess, the process of adapting a complex novel to the screen, and the role of the child prodigy. Frank discusses working with world renowned chess masters in the development of fictional games, and issues involved in production, casting and design for the series. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36683]
Writer/director Jeff Barnaby sat down with discussant Chelsea Vowel and Moderator Tyler Morgenstern to discuss his subversive zombie plague film, Blood Quantum. This discussion explored how the film took the contagion narrative and flipped it on its head. The speakers explored how the film confronts the violent history of Canadian settler-colonialism through its thoughtful use of genre, language, and narrative. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36613]
Moderator Matt Ryan joined screenwriter/co-producer Christina Hodson in a conversation about the chaotic, funny, action-packed movie Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). This discussion explored the transformation of the story from the Birds of Prey comics to the screen, as well as the major themes of emancipation, independence, and finding your own path. Christina Hodson offered an inside look at the narrative, characters, and character relationships within the film. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36614]
Moderator Cheri Steinkellner joined writer/actor George McGrath (Globey/Pterri/Cowntess/Fish) and artist/designer/puppeteer Wayne White (Dirty Dog/Randy/Mr. Kite), as well as writer Bill Steinkellner in a conversation about the iconic Saturday morning television program Pee-wee's Playhouse. This freewheeling discussion explored the radical visual style, origins, and enduring legacy of the franchise that centered around the subversive and bizarre Pee-wee Herman character. The panelists offered an inside look at their involvement with the show and the lasting impacts that their work with Paul Reubens had on their lives and careers. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36600]
Who will be getting COVID-19 vaccines and when? Susan Little, MD works with the COVID-19 Prevention Network (CoVPN), leading Phase III efficacy trials for COVID-19 vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. In this timely talk, Dr. Little shares an overview current COVID-19 vaccine trials (including Phizer and Moderna) and discusses the ethical dimensions of vaccine distribution. Series: "Exploring Ethics" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Show ID: 36310]
Professor Maggie Hennefeld talks about the subversive nature of Charlie Chaplin’s famous WWII satire in this Q&A for The Great Dictator. Hennefeld also examines the debate over the effectiveness of its deployment of comedy to critique the cruelty of fascism. Alongside moderator Miguel Penabella, Hennefeld invites us to think about the controversiality of this film for its time and how it compares to our understanding of the film in the present day. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36601]
Moderator Alexandra Noi joins author Paul Gregory and director Marianna Yarovskaya in this Q&A for a discussion about their inspiring collaboration on Women of the Gulag. This book and documentary traverse the stories of the victims and survivors of the Gulag, demonstrating the resilience, suffering, and silencing of the women who lived under Stalins dictatorship. The conversation between Gregory, Yarovskaya, and Noi gives insight to their involvement with the project, the difficulties of telling a true story that is widely unknown, and the ways in which a wide scope of reception heightened awareness for patriarchy, violence, and inequality. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36603]
In a world of clickbait, it is hard for people to receive information without reacting emotionally. Can artificial intelligence provide a way to measure bias and validate content? VeriCrypt autonomously measures objectivity in news from 30,000 providers using AI. Tamara Zubatiy, CEO and co-founder of VeriCrypt, discusses the challenges of validating algorithms and navigating human biases. Series: "Exploring Ethics" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 36273]
It has been called many things—a spaceship, a large mushroom, an enormous concrete and glass jewel held aloft by concrete fingers … the list goes on. UC San Diego’s flagship building, Geisel Library, fascinates and captures the imaginations of all who encounter it. At this virtual event, a panel of experts peel back the layers of its history and explore the basic architectural principles that make this icon an architectural masterpiece. Lynda Corey Claassen, director of Special Collections & Archives at the UC San Diego Library, moderate the discussion with Caroline Acheatel, Teddy Cruz and Kevin deFreitas. Series: "Library Channel" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36219]
Writer, director, and musician Boots Riley talks about labor politics, surrealism, and hip-hop music in this Q&A for his 2018 subversive comedy Sorry to Bother You. Boots’ dedication to a lifetime of activism and storytelling lent itself to his insightful commentary about the social relevance and ideological impact of his film. Alongside moderator Miguel Penabella, Boots takes us into his mind and shows us the importance of standing up for yourself and others in the face of adversity. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36548]
Each species of our primate cousins is unique as it represents the outcome of independent evolution. Yet, humans appear to be a remarkable outlier as we have numerous characteristics so far un-described in any other primate. Why should this be? This symposium will address several important distinctly human "biologically enculturated" characteristics, both in relation to each other and in contrast to our evolutionary cousins, and will also help to organize how and in what sequence distinctly human physical, mental, social, and cultural features evolved. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 36196]
Co-directors/producers Jim Lebrecht and Nicole Newnham talk about their award-winning film, Crip Camp, giving insight to the disability revolution in America. This film tells a story of Camp Jened and offers a unique perspective on equality. Lebrecht and Newnham discuss their initial involvement with the project and the way that it has impacted their lives as well as millions of viewers. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36556]