The Sunday Magazine for May 23, 2021
This week on The Sunday Magazine with guest host David Common:
What next for Palestinians and Israelis post-ceasefire?
Israel and Hamas reached a deal for a ceasefire, bringing an end to 11 days of widespread destruction that has killed more than 250 people. But now that arms are down, is there a way for talks to begin? And can discussion lead to lasting peace? Paul Rogers is Emeritus Professor of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford, U.K. He speaks to David about the appropriate way forward — and whether those inside Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories have a commitment to peace.
Play was a casualty of the pandemic. Here's what kids really need as lockdowns are lifted
We're all concerned about how well kids have been learning this pandemic year, but what about how well they've been playing? With playgrounds closed and play dates cancelled, some are worried that play has been an overlooked casualty of COVID-19. Tim Gill is an independent scholar who focuses on childhood and play. He speaks to David about the importance of play, why we should make the upcoming months a "summer of play" for our kids, and how to better open up our cities so kids can play more freely.
Cabin, camp or cottage? The word you use is more revealing than you think
If you've ever innocently called someone's summer home a cabin or camp when they prefer to call it a cottage, you'll know how evocative those descriptors can be. On the first long weekend of cabin/camp/cottage season, linguist Sali Tagliamonte walks us through the cultural, geographic and economic factors that have shaped the language we use when describing Canada's summertime escape hatches.
Rising literary star Kevin Lambert on his new novel and newfound success
Québécois writer Kevin Lambert may only be 28 years old, but he's already an award-winning author. His novels exploring the darker side of life in his hometown of Chicoutimi, Que. have earned him several municipal and provincial awards and nominations, most notably the 2019 Prix Ringuet. Lambert joins David to discuss his recently translated debut novel You Will Love What You Have Killed — and his newfound success.
Spiky, hypodermic, or long: Biologist who studied animal penises says it shouldn't be a 'measure of a man'
Science writer and biologist Emily Willingham talks about her book Phallacy: Life Lessons from the Animal Penis. She takes us through the wide world of penises in the animal kingdom and how they compare to the relatively-boring human penis, how the penis plays such an outsized role in our conception of masculinity — and what's at stake for men, boys and society at large when we reduce a person down to a body part.
