Venezuela is once again at a crossroads. The opposition leader Juan Guaidó has declared himself the interim leader of the country, while calls are growing internationally for President Nicolas Maduro to step aside. But what is the historic context behind the ongoing political polarisation in Venezuela? Maria Armoudian speaks with Daniel Levine, Jennifer McCoy, and David Smilde.
What are the fault lines that have fractured the United States? What are the historical roots of the present day political turmoil, divisions, and partisanship in the US? Historian Julian Zelizer talks about his new book "Fault Lines: A History of the United States Since 1974."
Can international finance systems be harnessed to protect human rights? While historically financiers have funded some of the worse of human rights abuses, finances also enabled great human leaps. Our guest argues that it is time to alter the financial system for the good of humanity.
Matt Liggings, from the School of Architecture, comes up to the studio in light (ha, ha) of his piece in the Bright Nights exhibition. His Vitruvian Tunnel, draws attention to the historic connection between art and architecture and Rachel asks what's the line between architecture, and art? Is there even one? Stay tuned.
All over the world, and throughout history, music has been a vital part of effecting social and political change. At times the powers-that-be resist that change by oppressing the arts and the artists. Can music bring about social and political change? How has music shaped politics historically and today? Maria Armoudian discusses these questions with Professors Mark LeVine, Josh Kun, and Richard Flacks.
bMovies is back! In Part One, Rachel chats to Simon Coldrick about By The Balls (2019), a documentary about some of the historic events in New Zealand's Rugby culture. And in Part Two, Amelia reviews You Don’t Nomi (2019) directed by Jeffrey McHale, another documentary style film, from the Incredibly Strange section of NZIFF that analyses the different thoughts of the cult film, Showgirls(1995). Get your tickets sorted as soon as possible, folks.
Mercury Plaza is about to be knocked down. But not beforeone last exhibition. Joni Lee and Jia Luo are the curators. Jia talks to Tom to the historic importance of the Plaza to the Chinese community. She also discusses the artists involved, including herself and her own practice. She highlights the fact that there have hardly ever been any fully Chinese shows in Auckland.
Kate Hannah is a Research Fellow at the Department of Physics in the Faculty of Science at the University of Auckland. She pops into the studio to chat about her research, Uncovering historic ‘whisper’ networks: women’s friendships in mid twentieth century New Zealand science. Rachel and Kate chat about women's 'whisper' networks and how we're all in one somewhere. Get yourself along to Spring Week to hear more.
Sam's reviewing Hunter (2020) this week, and he's pretty into it. A show tackling some heavy historical topics, directed and produced by Jordan Peele. A couple of long episodes but Sam reckons this show can handle it. No spoilers.
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