2020

Democracy Podcasts

What is democracy? Is it the best form of government? Is the U.S. a democracy? What is at stake in democracy today?

The Themester podcast series features College of Arts and Sciences’ faculty exploring ideas framed by this year’s theme. They share insights from a wide range of disciplines, and challenge us to think more deeply about issues of governance and the ideals and realities of democracy today.

Democracy Play List

Sex, Race, and Voting Rights

Professors Wendy Gamber, Lauren MacLean, Lisa-Maria Napoli, and Stephanie Sanders reflect on a semester of co-teaching “Sex, Race, & Voting Rights,” an exploration of the complicated legacy of the 19th amendment.

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Tracing Whiteness, Liberating Blackness

Dr. J. Kameron Carter, a professor in Religious Studies, discusses the origins and development of the racial imaginary that lays ground for white supremacy. Carter explains how whiteness operates as religion.

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Democracy Waning

Dr. Hussein Banai, a professor in the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, discusses the phenomena of democratic backsliding and the global rise in nationalism.

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Democracy is Dissent

Dr. Freya Thimsen, a professor in the English department, discusses the power of rhetoric to create social change.

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Capitalism and Democracy

Dr. Ben Robinson, a professor in the Department of Germanic Studies, discusses the emergence of capitalism as the mode of production and questions its continued utility.

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Racial Violence: A Continuum

In part one of a two-part episode conversation, Dr. Rasul Mowatt discusses the eleven forms of racial violence on a continuum, from what is intolerable to what is impossible to conceive.

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Myths of Protecting and Serving

In part two of a two-part conversation, Dr. Rasul Mowatt discusses the origins of policing and an employed police force. He breaks down the late 20^th-century narratives that now inform mainstream public understanding of police.

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Podcasts hosts

Noura Ahmed is a 2020 graduate of the Media School. She majored in Media Science, with a concentration in culture and society. During her time at IU she was an active member of American Student Radio regularly made podcasts in collaboration with her peers. She is passionate about creating a more informed public and telling the stories of the voiceless.

Eliza Craig is a senior majoring in African American African Diaspora Studies (AAADs)and Spanish with a concentration in cultural studies. She is also earning a certificate in Political and Civic Engagement (PACE). As Vice President of Content for WIUX student radio, and previously a podcast team director and host, Eliza values audio—podcasts and radio, as a monitor of the pulse of society.

Photo credits

_{"Vote," Brogan Sharon, Flickr Creative Commons, (CC BY-NC 2.0), illustrating "Sex, Race & Voting Rights.”}
_{“Grid," Sandor Weisz, Flickr Creative Commons, (CC BY-NC 2.0), illustrating "Tracing Whiteness, Liberating Blackness”}
_{“Tulsa Race Massacre 1921,” United States Library of Congress, Wikimedia Commons, (Public Domain), illustrating “Racial Violence: A Continuum”}
_{"Extinction Rebellion," Suzanne Morris, Pixabay, illustrating "Democracy is Dissent"}
_{“Motorcycle Kawasaki Close Up,” Linnaea Mallette, Needpix (Public Domain), illustrating “Myths of Protecting and Serving”}
_{"People Powered on Booth St," Joe Brusky, Flickr Creative Commons, (CC BY-NC 2.0), illustrating "Democracy and Capitalism"}
_{"Bust," Engin Akyurt, Pixabay, illustrating "Nationalism Rising"}
_{Photos of Noura Ahmed and Eliza Craig by Lauren Gronek}

2020

Democracy Podcasts

Democracy Play List

Sex, Race, and Voting Rights

Tracing Whiteness, Liberating Blackness

Democracy Waning

Democracy is Dissent

Capitalism and Democracy

Racial Violence: A Continuum

Myths of Protecting and Serving

Podcasts hosts

Photo credits

Themester social media channels

The College of Arts & Sciences