Humanities (Audio)

Cancer is normal development spun out of control. It is the great plasticity and power of development, without the overarching controls that guide normal development toward an integrated adult form. Instead, whenever a newly developed kind of tissue acquires the ability to survive, grow, and resist control, there is nothing to stop it. That may be why normal adult cells are often terminally differentiated into a restricted cellular program. And it may be why wound healing, which releases the restricted cellular program and powerfully plastic tissue remodeling, is so tightly regulated and, when dysregulated, so often associates with cancer. With regard to evolutionary history, humans develop differently from their ape ancestors, and their lifestyle causes them to suffer different kinds of tissue damage. Those differences in development and wound healing likely led to new aspects of cancer disease over human history. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40691]

The human body has traits that evolved at different times, from 1.5 billion to 2 million years ago, each bringing health benefits and risks. Multicellularity enabled organs and cancer. The immune system defends us but can cause inflammation. Breastfeeding supports infant health but relates to breast cancer risk. Menstruation and invasive placentas improved reproduction but led to pain and cancer risks. Human-specific traits like bipedalism and aging brought new issues like back pain and childbirth problems. Hair loss and sweat glands helped us stay cool but increased skin cancer risk. Our hunter-gatherer past shaped our microbiome and health, but also made us prone to modern diseases from lifestyle changes. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40701]

The Moon and Back marks the feature‑length directorial debut of UCSB Film & Media Studies alumnus Leah Bleich. The film follows high‑school senior Lydia Gilbert (Isabel May) as she grapples with her father’s death and mounting family challenges. When she discovers a space‑opera screenplay her dad left behind, Lydia assembles a low‑budget crew—armed only with a VHS camera—to bring his story to life. Shot in just nine days on a $50,000 budget through the Six Feet Apart Experiment, the project won “Best Women’s Film” at the 2022 San Diego International Film Festival and screened at numerous festivals. Bleich returns to UCSB for a conversation with moderator Ross Melnick, sharing insights into the making and inspiration behind her heartfelt coming‑of‑age drama. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40543]

In collaboration with the Transnational Italian Studies Program, the Carsey-Wolf Center presents a discussion examining the long history of Black African life in Italy with filmmakers Daphne Di Cinto and Medhin Paolos and UCSB moderator Stephanie Malia Hom. They discuss the short films Il Moro and Asmarina.

Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40541]

Screenwriter and playwright Phyllis Nagy joins moderator Patrice Petro for a discussion of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1951 classic Strangers on a Train. Adapted from Patricia Highsmith’s debut novel, the film follows tennis player Guy Haines (Farley Granger), who meets the charming but disturbed Bruno Anthony (Robert Walker) during a chance encounter on a train. Bruno proposes they “swap” murders—he’ll kill Guy’s wife, and Guy will kill Bruno’s father—eliminating any obvious motive. When Bruno follows through, Guy finds himself caught in a dangerous game of blackmail and suspense. Known for its striking visual style and psychological complexity, Strangers on a Train is celebrated as one of Hitchcock’s most influential thrillers, offering a masterclass in tension and moral ambiguity. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40542]

Nicholas Baer, author of Historical Turns: Weimar Cinema and the Crisis of Historicism, joins moderator and Carsey-Wolf Center Director Patrice Petro for a discussion of Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40537]

Thirty years after the film’s release, Fresh Kill has been remastered by the Fales Library & Special Collections of New York University. Fresh Kill director/producer Shu Lea Cheang traveled with filmmakers Jean-Paul Jones and Jazz Franklin on a nationwide roadtrip to screen the remastered 35mm print of the film at independent arthouse cinemas across the country, and to engage local communities on issues of environmental racism and activist resistance. Shu Lea Cheang joins moderator Jigna Desai from UCSB's Center for Feminist Futures to discuss the film. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40538]

Author Joseph Wambaugh's success came from writing about what he knew - police work. He spent 14 years with the Los Angeles Police Department first as a street cop then as a detective. He wrote his first novel, “The New Centurions,” in 1971 while on the job. Wambaugh died on Feb. 28, 2025. It was the same day that the Writer's Symposium by the Sea was celebrating it's 30th anniversary. Host Dean Nelson pays tribute to his friend Joe Wambaugh and reflects on his appearance on the Writer's Symposium in 1997. Series: "Writer's Symposium By The Sea" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40659]

Filmmaker Madhuja Mukherjee joins UCSB professor Bishnupriya Ghosh for a conversation about Deep6, a Bengali-language drama set in Kolkata during the politically charged year of 2011. The film follows Mitul, a solitary journalist navigating the end of West Bengal’s 34-year Communist rule while confronting personal loss and shifting identities. Starring Tillotama Shome, Deep6 blends realism with elements of magical realism, exploring memory, trauma, and transformation in a changing city. The film premiered at the 26th Busan International Film Festival and was featured at both the International Film Festival of Kerala and the Kolkata International Film Festival. Mukherjee, also a professor of Film Studies at Jadavpur University, brings deep insight into the film’s themes and structure. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40539]

Cervical cancer remains a significant public health concern, but innovative approaches and community-based research are transforming prevention efforts, particularly immigrant communities. With over 600,000 new cases diagnosed annually, early detection and prevention strategies are crucial.

However, accessibility and awareness gaps persist in immigrant communities due to language barriers, cultural stigma, and limited healthcare access.

Community-based research plays a pivotal role in bridging these gaps. In engaging local populations through culturally sensitive outreach ensures that prevention strategies are accepted and effective. University of Miami Chief Health Equity Officer, Dr. Erin Kobetz, discusses how integrating cutting-edge technology with community engagement, moves us closer to reducing cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates, fostering a healthier future for immigrant populations.

Series: "Exploring Ethics" [Health and Medicine] [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40464]