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Politics of Culture (Entertainment)

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Sometimes a panel discussion about current controversies in the cultural world, other times and in-depth interview with an author or leading figures in media, the arts, entertainment or politics, The Politics of Culture examines the intersection where the world of politics and culture meet and sometimes collide.
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Genres: Entertainment, Investigative, Politics
Location: Santa Monica, CA
Language: English
Networks: NPR

Last updated 426 days ago Update program info

Recent Topics

UCLA Live to Offer an Eclectic 2008 Season

Tue, Sep 30

UCLA Live has another exciting, dramatic and challenging season ahead, featuring international theatre, music, dance and spoken word...

Considering David Foster Wallace

Tue, Sep 16

Author David Foster Wallace died on Friday leaving the literary world in astonished disbelief. In the special edition of Politics of Culture, Bookworm host Michael Silverblatt speaks with literary critic Anthony Miller about Wallace's impact on fiction, his generation and American culture. Hear why many feel that the death of Wallace is to literature as the death of Curt Cobain was to rock music.

The Grand Inquisitor's Manual

Tue, Sep 9

Author Jonathan Kirsch has written a book about the dark side of religion, The Grand Inquisitor's Manual: A History of Terror in the Name of God. Sara Terry hosts.

Georgia, Ossetia and Russia

Tue, Sep 2

The countries are separated by a wide cultural divide, which has had a major impact on the current political situation. Host Jonathan Kirsch discusses their differences with political scientist Ronald Steel of USC, historian Peter Kenez of UC Santa Cruz and Eugene Levin of Los Angeles-based Russian-language media group Panorama.

The Black List

Tue, Aug 19

KCRW's Elvis Mitchell and photographer Timothy Greenfield-Sanders have produced a critically acclaimed documentary called The Black List, that profiles prominent African-Americans. It's spawned a companion book and an art exhibition.

Sam Zell's LA Times Deal from Hell

Tue, Aug 12

It's been a period of vast upheaval at the Los Angeles Times under Sam Zell's ownership. How exactly did he manage to use the employees' pension fund as collateral? How secure are the futures of Times employees?

The Decline of Foreign News Coverage

Tue, Aug 5

International coverage is on the decline on American TV network-news broadcasts and in newspapers across the country. Will Lewis talks with correspondents and others about this state of affairs.

RED, Rhapsody and Digital Music

Tue, Jul 8

Celia Hirschman, host of KCRW's On the Beat, talks about the future of the music business as it expands into the digital music universe with Don Mackinnon, director of the RED Campaign, and Tim Quirk of Rhapsody.

Architecture, Education and Money

Tue, Jul 1

As money pours in for building projects at museums and colleges, is there money for the art to fill the galleries and the educational needs of students?

Right Is Wrong: Shearer and Huffington

Tue, Jun 24

KCRW's resident satirist and host of Le Show, Harry Shearer, talks with Arianna Huffington about her new book, Right Is Wrong. They get off some pretty funny lines – and some serious political discussion, too. Not to be missed!

Who Owns Antiquities?

Tue, Jun 10

In his new book, Who Owns Antiquity: Museums and the Battle over Our Ancient Heritage, James Cuno, Director of the Chicago Art Institute, argues that the treasures of antiquity belong to all of civilization...

The Post-American World

Tue, Jun 3

In his new book, The Post-American World, Fareed Zakaria argues that the "rise of the rest" is the great story of our time.

The Pornography of Power

Tue, May 27

Robert Scheer talks about his latest book, The Pornography of Power: How Defense Hawks Hijacked 9/11 and Weakened America with host Steven Ross, Professor of History at USC.

The Bin Ladens

Tue, May 13

The rise of the Bin Laden family is one of the great stories of the 20th century, and its repercussions have already marked the 21st. It's also a story that has never fully been told till now: Pulitzer Prize winner Steve Coll talks with Will Lewis about his new book, The Bin Ladens: An Arabian Family in the American Century.

Britweek 2008

Tue, May 6

KCRW has its own group of Brits (Nic Harcourt, Music Director; Frances Anderton, DnA: Design and Architecture). We celebrate the advent of BritWeek 2008 by discussing the UK's influence on US culture, with Frances on architecture; Nic on music; author Simon Doonan, Barney's New York Creative Director, on fashion; and Gary Dartnall, former chair of BAFTA, on film. Ruth Seymour hosts.

The Race Issue, Part II

Tue, Apr 8

Controversial comments by Barack Obama's pastor have created a giant news storm. Join Ruth Seymour for Part II of a conversation about race in America with civil rights leader, Reverend James Lawson; NPR's Juan Williams; and USC historian Robin D.G. Kelley.

Race and the Black Church in America, Part 1

Tue, Apr 1

Barack Obama's speech was supposed to calm the waters concerning controversial comments by his Pastor, It generated more headlines instead. Ruth Seymour joins Reverend James Lawson, Harvard Law Professor Randall Kennedy and USC Professor Robin D.G. Kelley and National Public Radio senior analyst Juan Williams, for a conversation about race. (Part 1 of 2: Part 2 will air next week at this time.)

Fake Memoirs

Tue, Mar 25

The Literary Liars Club recently expanded its roster. The latest scandal involves a suburban white woman writing as a half-white, half-Indian inner-city gangbanger. Why is there such a proliferation of fake memoirs. Why not just sell an imaginary story as fiction.

LACMA's Lazarof Collection

Tue, Mar 11

Collector Henri Lazarof donated an incomparable collection of 20th century art to LACMA. The way it's displayed at the museum is a work of art itself. Join Ruth Seymour, KCRW art critic Edward Goldman and LACMA's senior curator of modern art, Stephanie Barron, who brought and curated the permanent exhibition.

Are Bloggers Journalists.

Tue, Mar 4

Joshua Micah Marshall just won the prestigious journalism Polk Award. He's a blogger --- TalkingPointsMemo.com. Have the lines between news and opinion been permanently erased. Join LA Observed blogger and KCRW commentator, Kevin Roderick, in conversation with bloggers and media analysts.

Is the Cold War Back.

Tue, Feb 26

Putin's playing hardball and the Russian bear is on the rise.

Change and the Culture of DC

Tue, Jan 29

Cokie Roberts of NPR and ABC News, and Lawrence O'Donnell of MSNBC and The McLaughlin Group, join Ruth Seymour to discuss what candidates mean when they talk about change.

The American Idea: The Best of The Atlantic Monthly

Tue, Jan 22

For 150 years, The Atlantic Monthly has published some of the most influential articles, essays, and stories by many of the literary, intellectual and political giants who have defined our national life. Join James Sterngold in conversation with Robert Vare, Editor of The American Idea: The Best of The Atlantic Monthly.

Norman Mailer Tribute

Tue, Dec 11

Norman Mailer and his literary reputation were both larger than life. KCRW's Bookworm Michael Silverblatt pays tribute to the man and his writing with Arianna Huffington, Gore Vidal, Michael Tolkin and Steve Erickson.

Starbucked

Tue, Nov 27

Journalist Taylor Clark has been following Starbucks' global ascendance since three stores first opened in his Oregon hometown. He ponders how the coffee-house movement has changed our daily lives, and how Starbucks transformed coffee into beverage entertainment--- not always for the good.

Mutanabbi Street: Literature in Iraqi Culture

Tue, Nov 13

The heart of intellectual Iraq was Mutannabi Street, the booksellers' alley in Baghdad. But it was bombed in March this year. "Aloud at Central Library" will memorialize Mutannabi Street with readings and music on November 19. KCRW explores literature's place in Iraqi culture, as General Manager Ruth Seymour speaks to NPR's Deborah Amos, her Iraqi translator, and local bookseller Doug Dutton.

Jihad Media

Tue, Nov 6

American born and raised Islamists are posting messages from Jihadis worldwide. Is the First Amendment aiding our enemies. How do terrorists use the Internet. James Sterngold hosts a conversation with terrorism experts and globalization scholars.

Surveillance vs Privacy

Tue, Oct 30

A forthcoming film called Look is shot entirely from the perspective of surveillance cameras. Although the film is fiction, real life surveillance pervades our lives, every day and every where. Privacy rights versus security is the topic when Sharon Waxman hosts The Politics of Culture.

Ricky Jay: Extraordinary Exhibitions

Tue, Oct 23

Ricky Jay is one of the world's foremost sleight-of-hand artists, but he's also an author and historian, an actor and film consultant, and a collector of some of the world's most unusual ephemera related to magic and showmanship. Join Ricky Jay for a conversation about his latest venture, a new book and a new museum show called "Extraordinary Exhibitions," featuring historical broadsides ---theatrical advertisements---at the Hammer Museum in Westwood.Ricky Jay is one of the world's foremost...

Gil Garcetti Photos: Water Is Key

Tue, Oct 9

Gil Garcetti once was LA's District Attorney, but he's always been a photographer. In his fifth book and a new exhibition at UCLA Fowler Museum, Garcetti puts his photos to work, on a mission to bring clean water to Africa. Join him in conversation with journalist and photographer Sara Terry.