Because there is no ivory tower.
There is a fine line between political speech and propaganda, but where do we draw it, and are we always wrong to propagandize? Is there a natural division between spin and lies, and when is it acceptable to appeal to political emotions? On this episode, we cap off a tumultuous election by exploring the nature and morality of political speech, and ask how far is too far.Continue reading “How Does Propaganda Work?” with Guest Jason Stanley
The Bible is the most famous book we all think we know, but there are dozens of translations to choose from, and each religious denomination has its own preference. What makes one better than the other and what are the rules of biblical translations anyway? Why do we need another version?Continue reading “Why do we need a new translation of the Hebrew Bible?” with guest Robert Alter
Should we still read Shakespeare? That is a harder question than one might think. As universities focus on diversity, marginalized writers, and widening literary traditions, the so-called “dead-white man” becomes the symbol of everything unjust. Is this fair in Shakespeare’s case and does he still have stuff to teach us? And, how should we read him anyway? How do we approach someone whose work is so vast and so intimidating?Continue reading “Is Shakespeare Still Relevant?” with guest Adam Kitzes