Critically Human (Video): Recent Episodes
UCTV
What does it mean to be human? The Critically Human Channel explores human experience around the world and throughout time, with topics that range from the search for beauty to the quest for power. Join us in discovering concerts, interviews, lectures, and cutting-edge research projects that record, reflect, and express human solidarity, conflict, and transcendence. Presented by UC Merced's Center for the Humanities.
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]
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]
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]
Our ability to speak helps us define who we are and how we process the world around us. Strokes have both physical and mental impacts, especially when they impede our ability to speak. In this program, Brian Dolan, Ph.D., talks about his research on the importance of speech, including talking to oneself, and the challenges that can follow a stroke. Series: "Critically Human" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Show ID: 37076]
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]
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]
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]
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]
Ellas is a new trio that performs an exciting blend of mariachi, jazz, country, and various other styles. Series: "Critically Human" [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 38284]
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]
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]
These five siblings got their start playing in various other 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" [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 37328]
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]
Ellas is a new trio that performs an exciting blend of mariachi, jazz, country, and various other styles. This performance presented by UC Merced UpstART is one of their debut concerts. Series: "Critically Human" [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 37327]
This short film showcases two community-engaged graduate student research projects. “Historic Places Merced” is an online database developed by graduate students that permits residents to co-produce an inventory of historical places in downtown Merced, including the social memory of lived experiences. “Merced: A City of Arts and Culture,” studies the opinions of residents about creating an inclusive downtown arts and culture district for a diverse Merced. These projects were funded by the Henry Luce Foundation. Series: "Critically Human" [Education] [Show ID: 37333]
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" [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 37329]
This short film showcases two graduate student community-engaged research projects related to youth and access to resources in the San Joaquin Valley. One is on the experience of collaborating with local youth as they research and produce a comic book about historical inequities in Merced and the other is on the process of cannabis legalization in Merced and an inquiry into whether new tax revenues are being allocated to youth services as intended. These projects were funded by the Henry Luce Foundation. Series: "Critically Human" [Education] [Show ID: 37332]
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 nine-woman power 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. This was Sallyswag’s first concert for a North American audience. Presented by UC Merced UpstART. Series: "Critically Human" [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 37326]
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]