talkPOPc's Podcast
talkPOPc (Philosophers' Ontological Party club), is public philosophy + cognitively-engaged art nonprofit founded by Dr. Dena Shottenkirk, who is both a philosopher and an artist. As a topic-based project (we are now on our fourth) talkPOPc sponsors one-to-one conversations between a participant and a philosopher (who always dons our amazing gold African king hat, along with our mascot Puppet!) These conversations are consensus-building conversations and feed back into Shottenkirk's related artworks and published philosophy. The conversations become collaborative acts of making both philosophy and art. Thus, each topic - #1. nominalism, #2. censorship, #3. art as cognition, and #4 power - has three "pillars" the associated artworks, the published philosophy book, and podcast conversations. Various philosophers participate (see our website talkpopc.org for the list of philosophers) and these conversations happen in various places. For example, we go into bars and have one-to-one conversations. We sit down next to the deli counter and hold a conversation with someone who has walked in to get a ham sandwich and walked out knowing so much more about their own thoughts. We go into the MDC prison in Brooklyn and have conversations. We set up in galleries where the artworks and the philosophy are also displayed. And we listen. Here are some of those conversations.
Change happens when people talk.
talkPOPc's Podcast
Episode #125 R.P. Dena talks with talkPOPc participant Joshua about art, expression, and censorship
1:00 They discuss the significance of the arts in facilitating free speech and expression.
5:00 They delve into the complexities of humor and artistic expression in navigating sensitive topics.
8:00 They ponder the concept of censorship in theater, admitting uncertainty about its bounds as they haven't experienced it firsthand. However, they suggest that modern theater may offer more freedom for marginalized voices to share their stories.
10:00 They discuss how individuals edit the information they consume, choosing which ideas to allow themselves to engage with. This selective intake of information, influenced by the online dialogue regarding the validity of certain facts and perspectives, is seen as a form of censorship in the modern era.
13:00 Dena suggests that this lack of recognition of what it takes to acquire knowledge contributes to the difficulty in establishing facts. Despite these challenges, she finds value in engaging people in conversation to collate diverse opinions and perspectives on topics like censorship.
16:00 They highlight the value of collective engagement in fostering a sense of unity and collaboration, whether in a theatrical performance or an educational setting.
19:00 They draw parallels between engaging in conversation and sharing an experience in theater, both involving the idea of coming together to exchange viewpoints and connect on a deeper level.
22:00 They explore the difference between being involved in an experience versus merely observing it, and highlight the freedom and lack of defense associated with being a viewer rather than an active participant.