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...
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,...
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...
In this episode, we explore Zen Culture by Thomas Hoover, a fascinating journey through the history and cultural impact of Zen Buddhism in Japan. From its roots in Buddhism’s arrival and blending with Shinto beliefs, to its profound influence on Japanese art, architecture, gardens, theatre,...
In this episode, we explore Across the Oceans: Development of the Overseas Business Information Transmission by Seija-Riitta Laakso, tracing the 19th-century revolution in global communication. From letters carried by ships and horses to the game-changing innovations of steamships, railways, and the telegraph, we’ll uncover how...
In this episode, we explore the compelling themes of "Wine and Otherness", edited by Augustin Voegele, Thomas Nicklas, Frédérique Toudoire-Surlapierre, Michel Faure, and Sonia Goldblum. This insightful collection reveals wine as more than just a drink; it embodies the essence of terroir, landscape, and cultural...
Join us in this episode as we explore "Truth and the Will to Illusion" by Stanisław Filipowicz, a thought-provoking examination of the complex relationship between truth and deception in our modern world. Have you ever wondered why we seem to crave narratives over facts? Filipowicz...
In this exciting episode, we explore the captivating world of The Aesthetics of Taste: Eating within the Realm of Art by Dorota Koczanowicz. What if your next meal was not just food, but a work of art? Join us as we unravel how taste shapes...
In this episode, we explore "Some Ways of Making Nothing" by Curt Cloninger, a thought-provoking examination of art as an "apparatus" that entangles audiences in transformative experiences. What if art could challenge our understanding of existence by creating nothings instead of somethings? Cloninger draws from...
In this episode, we explore "Reimagining Marginalized Foods," edited by Elizabeth Finnis. This compelling volume features ethnographic analyses that uncover the evolving meanings and representations of foods, ingredients, and cooking practices from marginalized and indigenous cultures. Our contributors reveal how these culinary traditions intertwine with...