Duality

The murder of Kitty Genovese and an outbreak in Belgium seem incongruous. They aren’t. This week's discussion looks at the history of sociogenic illness, the bystander effect, and how the two intersect.
Recommended resources for continued engagement with the Black Lives Matter movement: 30 Day #DoTheWork Course @rachel.cargle; support Black Trans people at theokraproject.com.

In light of recent events, Duality presents a special episode this week. Marshall Mabry IV and Jeffrey Cornelius are artists and activists who join the podcast this week to discuss the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as the pursuit of racial equity in the theatre and across America.

A witness in a courtroom swears to tell not just the truth, but the whole truth. In other parts of life, however, we get to be selective in the elements of a story we share. When we look for dualities in the real world, we are faced with complex stories. But are there times when a simple narrative is better? Using the stories of Matthew Shepard and Chanel Miller, we discuss how introducing confounding details both creates a nuanced understanding of an event and runs the risk of undermining its power.

Our world is full of questions and contradictions. How should universities respond to the Covid-19 Crisis? What can Senator Joseph McCarthy teach us about the YouTuber James Charles? Why is it that a tampon brand can figure out a public apology, but our elected officials can’t? Should acknowledging Matthew Sheppard’s privilege change the way we view his story? Join us. Duality premieres May 22.

In the season finale, Edward and Izzy look back at all of the previous episodes through a new lens: good and evil. This duality provides a single thread throughout our understanding of the world and of our podcast. Let's take a closer look.