Cultural Sensitivity in Artistic Exchange

Experience the enduring impact of cultural sensitivity in artistic exchange, fostering understanding, dialogue, and innovation across diverse traditions and perspectives....

16 October, 2024

East Asia’s Radical Transformation After World War I

In this episode, we explore how the First World War transformed East Asia in ways that still resonate today. Based on Frank Jacob’s eye-opening book "East Asia and the First World War," we’ll uncover Japan’s dramatic rise to power during the conflict and the social...

15 October, 2024

Loyalty or Betrayal? Inside Assyria’s Culture of Spying

Curious about how ancient empires controlled their people? In this episode, we explore "Creating an Empire of Informers" by Poppy Tushingham, which takes us back to 672 BC when Assyrian King Esarhaddon imposed a shocking system of surveillance. Imagine an empire where everyone, from neighbors...

15 October, 2024

Art as Resistance: The Political Pulse of Albania’s Contemporary Scene

In this episode, we explore "Broken Narrative: The Politics of Contemporary Art in Albania" by Marco Mazzi and Armando Lulaj, a thought-provoking look at how art and politics intertwine in Albania’s turbulent recent history. Through an in-depth interview with artist Armando Lulaj, we trace the...

14 October, 2024

Whiskers and Words: Exploring Beards in German Texts

In this engaging episode, we delve into Sebastian Coxon's "Beards and Texts," which explores the significant role of beards in medieval German literature from the mid-twelfth to the early sixteenth centuries. Coxon reveals how beards symbolize masculinity and serve as important motifs in discussions of...

14 October, 2024

Forgotten Voices: The Untold History of Europe’s ‘Barbarians’

Join us for an engaging episode as we explore "Barbarian Europe" by Karol Modzelewski, a fascinating examination of the profound yet often overlooked influence of early Germanic and Slavic societies on European culture. While the legacies of the Christian Church and classical antiquity are well-documented,...

13 October, 2024

Echoes of the Past: Soldiers and the Environment

In this episode, we explore "Armies and Ecosystems in Premodern Europe" by Sander Govaerts, a thought-provoking examination of the intricate ties between military forces and their environments in historical Europe. Focusing on the Meuse Region, a significant battleground between France and Germany, Govaerts reveals how...

13 October, 2024

Who Were They? The Many Faces of the Medieval Self

In this episode, we explore the fascinating world of medieval Western Scandinavia and how people understood their own identities between 800 and 1500. "Approaches to the Medieval Self," edited by Stefka G. Eriksen, Karen Langsholt Holmqvist, and Bjørn Bandlien, uncovers intriguing insights from archaeology, art,...

12 October, 2024

Icons with a Voice: Rethinking Sacred Art

In this episode, we explore "Animism, Materiality, and Museums" by Glenn Peers, where he flips the script on how we view sacred art. Instead of seeing Byzantine icons as mere windows to the divine, Peers invites us to consider their materiality as something vibrant and...