Latest from Matthew Lazin-Ryder
Pro wrestling isn't fake, it's 'kayfabe' — a mix of fiction and reality we all employ
Despite what you may have heard, professional wrestling isn’t fake. It just has its own way of telling the truth, which insiders call ‘kayfabe.’ Some may consider the suspension of disbelief a sign of weak thinking, but we all do it in our own way that intrigues philosophers.
IDEAS AFTERNOON
'Liminal space' photography captures the eerieness and isolation of pandemic life
Early in the pandemic, an online community of photographers, artists and editors started creating and sharing pictures of what they described as “liminal spaces”: empty, dark hallways, old arcades and decrepit stairways, which echoed a sense of timelessness and eeriness that resonated in today's world.
Music on Mars: If you thought space was silent, take a closer listen
If you thought space was silent, think again. Thanks to NASA's latest Mars rover, anyone can hear the sound of the Martian wind. IDEAS tunes in to the sounds of space and the people working to make music from the beauty of the cosmos in this award-winning documentary by Matthew Lazin-Ryder.
The ongoing search for the perfect climate change metaphor
Some people describe it as a war. To others, it’s a race. Maybe it’s a sickness that needs to be cured, or a puzzle that needs to be solved. There are a lot of metaphors for the fight against climate change, and picking the right one might be the key to making real progress.
How writers are turning H.P. Lovecraft's racist work on its head
American short story writer H.P. Lovecraft is more popular now than he was in his lifetime. Part of the modern popularity of Lovecraft is in reaction to his racism. IDEAS examines why his brand of “cosmic horror” resonates in the 21st century, and how new writers are dealing with his racist legacy.
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Christmas Philosophy 101
Heat the cocoa, stoke the fire, and settle in for some good ol' fashioned philosophy. Christmas is a minefield of deep philosophical quandaries, like — is it ethically correct to lie to children? Who does a gift really benefit the giver, or receiver? How do we really know Santa exists, or doesn't? IDEAS takes on a dramatic journey through the philosophy of Christmas.
Beethoven's iconic scowl influences how we hear his work: musicologist
Since Ludwig van Beethoven's death, he’s been used as a symbol of big ideas, from liberalism to nationalism to manliness. This documentary examines the shifting image of Beethoven, and his malleability as a symbol.
What cult classics can teach us about art, representation — and failure
They’re weird. They break the rules. They’re kinda bad. They are cult movies. Dive into the stories of films from ‘Troll 2’ to ‘The Last Dragon’ to the ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ to learn what drives people to watch these oddball films again and again. Producer Matthew Lazin-Ryder looks at the history, future, and function of cult movies.
The misunderstood Adam Smith gets both credit and blame for modern capitalism
The 18th-century philosopher Adam Smith is often called “the father of economics,” and sometimes “the father of capitalism.” IDEAS contributor Matthew Lazin-Ryder examines how Smith’s name has been used and abused to both defend and attack free-market economics since his death.