Civility, Conflict and the Power of Disagreement with Michael Lee, Director of the Civility Initiative
10/02/24 • 32 min
In this episode of Speaking of...College of Charleston, we talk to Michael Lee, professor of communication and Director of the Civility Initiative. Lee has been an influential figure at the college since 2002, focusing on political communication. His research delves into political branding, identity, and strategic communication, earning him numerous awards. Lee is getting ready to launch season two of his podcast When We Disagree, which is focused on powerful, human stories about arguments, conflicts and disagreements.
The podcast is a guest driven show, and Lee says the goal is “to have a bunch of people from various walks of life telling a bunch of stories about the conflicts they've had. The conflicts they’ve wanted to have and the conflicts they’ve deeply, deeply avoided.”
Conflict is an embodied experience. “Think about how you feel during a conflict. Your blood pressure is rising, your brain is flooded with what some psychologists call the devil's cocktail, the combination of cortisol and adrenaline at the same moment," says Lee. "And so, the ways in which we can be mindful of how we show up during that embodied experience and the way it makes us feel can really help us navigate difficult conflicts in our lives.”
The Civility Initiative was launched in 2023 and features panels, debates, speakers and workshops that promote communal engagement and healthy disagreement. Upcoming events include the film screening of UNDIVIDE US, a film about polarization and free speech. The film challenges the idea that citizens who disagree are not capable of civil conversation and demonstrates the truth that, even in our differences, the American experiment is still alive and well. Ben Klutsey, executive director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, stars in this film and will lead a Q&A discussion following the screening.
Lee offers practical tips for navigating difficult conversations, particularly in the context of the impending election. He emphasizes the importance of curiosity, empathy, and the embodiment of communication as tools for navigating conflicts, especially in highly polarized environments.
Resources from this episode:
In this episode of Speaking of...College of Charleston, we talk to Michael Lee, professor of communication and Director of the Civility Initiative. Lee has been an influential figure at the college since 2002, focusing on political communication. His research delves into political branding, identity, and strategic communication, earning him numerous awards. Lee is getting ready to launch season two of his podcast When We Disagree, which is focused on powerful, human stories about arguments, conflicts and disagreements.
The podcast is a guest driven show, and Lee says the goal is “to have a bunch of people from various walks of life telling a bunch of stories about the conflicts they've had. The conflicts they’ve wanted to have and the conflicts they’ve deeply, deeply avoided.”
Conflict is an embodied experience. “Think about how you feel during a conflict. Your blood pressure is rising, your brain is flooded with what some psychologists call the devil's cocktail, the combination of cortisol and adrenaline at the same moment," says Lee. "And so, the ways in which we can be mindful of how we show up during that embodied experience and the way it makes us feel can really help us navigate difficult conflicts in our lives.”
The Civility Initiative was launched in 2023 and features panels, debates, speakers and workshops that promote communal engagement and healthy disagreement. Upcoming events include the film screening of UNDIVIDE US, a film about polarization and free speech. The film challenges the idea that citizens who disagree are not capable of civil conversation and demonstrates the truth that, even in our differences, the American experiment is still alive and well. Ben Klutsey, executive director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, stars in this film and will lead a Q&A discussion following the screening.
Lee offers practical tips for navigating difficult conversations, particularly in the context of the impending election. He emphasizes the importance of curiosity, empathy, and the embodiment of communication as tools for navigating conflicts, especially in highly polarized environments.
Resources from this episode:
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Introducing Dean Jayme Host: A New Era for the School of the Arts
On this episode of Speaking of...College of Charleston, Edward Hart, professor of music, sits down with Jayme Host, Dean of the School of the Arts, to discuss her background, career and first impressions of the college and the city of Charleston. Host speaks of her passion for dance and education, highlighting her past roles and achievements which include working with various international dance companies and educational institutions. Host talks about the newly renovated Albert Simons Center for the Arts, emphasizing the state-of-the-art facilities that will support the arts programs. She expresses her excitement about the opportunities and her commitment to fostering a vibrant and successful environment for students and faculty.
Featured on this Episode:
Jayme Klinger Host, Dean, School of the Arts
Host has more than 25 years of student success and higher education experience. Her comprehensive knowledge of higher education has been developed through work at three different public and private institutions of higher education. Host has extensive experience directing complex departments and projects, and intentionally bringing people together across divides and generating a positive vision that is long term, expansive and solution driven.
In her previous role as the director of East Carolina University’s School of Theatre and Dance, within the College of Fine Arts and Communication, Host led the school’s strategic plan while serving as its senior academic officer, and was responsible for curriculum, human resources and fiscal operations. Her extensive administrative, artistic and academic career is steeped in a tenacious advocacy for student success and support. She is intentional in cultivating artistry, inclusive practices and global citizenship.
Originally from Central Pennsylvania, she is a professor, dancer, choreographer, STEAM educator and Arts Integration specialist with 28 years of experience of teaching dance in higher education. As a dancer, she performed with Tandy Beal Dance Company in Tokyo, with the Pennsylvania Dance Theatre in State College, PA and as an independent artist. She has created over 50 original works throughout her career.
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Featured on this episode:
Bret Lott is the bestselling author of eight novels, three story collections and three nonfiction books; his fifteenth book, a nonfiction collection titled Cherries on the Golan, Olives in Jerusalem, will be out in 2023. His first novel, The Man Who Owned Vermont, was read in nationwide broadcasts on public radio. and his novel Jewel was both an Oprah Book Club selection and made into a film. His work has been translated into eight languages. He received his MFA in fiction from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in 1984, studying under Jay Neugeboren and James Baldwin.
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If you enjoyed this episode with Bret Lott, listen to an earlier episode where he shares why he loves teaching.
Resources from this episode:
Speaking of ... College of Charleston - Civility, Conflict and the Power of Disagreement with Michael Lee, Director of the Civility Initiative
Transcript
[00:00:00] On this episode of Speaking of College of Charleston, we talked to Michael Lee, Professor of Communication, Director of the Civility Initiative, and host of the podcast, When We Disagree, which is about to launch its second season. [00:00:20] Lee has been teaching and writing about political communication And rhetoric at the college.
[00:00:25] Since 2002, his research focuses on political branding, political identity, strategic communication, and audience positioning in Ameri
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