Category Archives: Science in culture & policy

Because science is all up in everybody’s business, whether they know it or not.

Guilty as charged

Posted on August 23, 2007 by cicada

Stephen King’s column in the 8/10/07 Entertainment Weekly charmed me. Struck by a silly YouTube video, he launches into a paean to entertainment that, without regard for artistic integrity or prestige, purely entertains: I sat there amazed and full of … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Film, Video & Music, Science in culture & policy | 6 Comments

The End of Jane

Posted on July 12, 2007 by cicada

Apparently Conde Nast has pulled the plug on Jane Magazine. I’m depressed. Jane was trash, but always amusingly, smugly arch in its trashiness. The result was a sometimes disorienting pastiche of fashion, gossip, and quirky cultural surprises. Case in point: … Continue reading →

Posted in Science in culture & policy | 3 Comments

The battle between art and science begins (its US run)

Posted on May 7, 2007 by cicada

“Science-in-fiction” novelist/chemist Carl Djerassi’s play Phallacy marks its American premiere this month, hosted by Redshift Productions. The play’s teaser? “The battle between art and science begins.” If I were in NYC I’d definitely go see this, although I’m not sure … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Destinations, Science, Science in culture & policy | Comments Off

A little reading is a dangerous thing

Posted on February 13, 2007 by cicada

I’ve been reading more than posting for the past week, and have a collection of odds, ends and lint to pass on. I have a love/hate relationship with the New Yorker. It’s just too much reading for me to keep … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Frivolity, Poetry, Science, Science in culture & policy | 1 Comment

Beauty, Art and Fantasy

Posted on February 9, 2007 by cicada

Amanda Marcotte at Pandagon posted yesterday about a photography firm that offers photo retouching. Their portfolio is yet another reminder that nothing you see in a fashion magazine is real – even beautiful, waif-thin models get the airbrush treatment. Lord … Continue reading →

Posted in Frivolity, Photography, Science in culture & policy | Comments Off

Remember that one time, when God did that thing?

Posted on January 31, 2007 by cicada

Slate blogs the Bible, by David Plotz I’m really enjoying the archives of this Slate series. I’ve planned to go back and re-read the Bible for some time now, but you know – it’s so darn long. Every page provokes … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Books, Education, Science in culture & policy | 5 Comments

That this too solid flesh should melt?

Posted on January 13, 2007 by cicada

This is the poster for the 2008 Australian and New Zealand Shakespeare Association (ANZSA) conference: Possible topics might include, but are not limited to: Shakespeare and histories and theories of the body, representations of the body, the actor’s body, cultural … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Littademia, Science in culture & policy, Words | Comments Off

A GOOD idea

Posted on December 28, 2006 by cicada

A friend sent me a link to this new magazine called GOOD. It includes features such as “The Color of War: An embedded artist chronicles Iraq” and “Search And Destroy: Ramming and sinking whale boats wherever they can be found.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Science in culture & policy, Uncategorized, Words | Comments Off

The Economist on free will

Posted on December 22, 2006 by cicada

The Economist: Liberalism and neurology | Free to choose? As if the concept of free will wasn’t fraught long before we had MRI. Update: this post from musings on neurology, etc. offers a reading list of primary literature on neurology … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Science in culture & policy | Comments Off

Why Women Aren’t Funny

Posted on December 17, 2006 by cicada

Vanity Fair: Christopher Hitchens On Why Women Aren’t Funny This piece is titled “Provocation.” So I’m not really offended. I mean, come on; it’s Christopher Hitchens, what do you expect? Over at Scienceblogs, some bloggers have responded about the science, … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Books, Science in culture & policy | Comments Off