A New Co-Host, the True Crime podcast wave, and a Final Word on All That Harvard Crap
Jan 10, 2024
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In this episode, the new co-host Tyler Austin Harper and the host discuss topics such as climate apocalypse movies, climate fiction in Hollywood, a plagiarism scandal at Harvard, controversy in academia, true crime podcasts, and the influence of Silicon Valley in idea ecosystems.
The true crime genre's focus on specific cases and narratives distorts the reality of crime victims, overshadowing the fact that the majority are people of color and marginalized communities.
Revisiting traumatic events in true crime coverage can be harmful to the families of victims and prioritizes sensationalism over their well-being and privacy.
The rise of true crime podcasts perpetuates a narrow narrative that centers around white women in suburban areas, failing to capture the true diversity of crime and victims in society.
Deep dives
The Impact of True Crime on Crime Perceptions
The explosion of true crime podcasts and literature has skewed our perception of crime, making it seem more salacious and present than it actually is. True crime content often focuses on cases involving white women, leading to a distorted view of who the typical crime victim is. This fixation on specific cases and narratives has overshadowed the reality that the majority of homicide victims are people of color and those from marginalized communities. The true crime genre has contributed to a culture of fear and misinformation, which can have detrimental effects on public perceptions of crime and victims.
The Consequences of Exploitative True Crime Reporting
The popularity of true crime podcasts and media has led to an influx of coverage on cold cases and salacious murders. This constant revisiting of traumatic events can be triggering and harmful to the families of victims who are trying to move on and heal. True crime journalism often prioritizes sensationalism and extraction over the well-being and privacy of those involved. The intense focus on crime and the glamorization of criminals can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and perpetuate fear within society. It is essential to critically examine the ethical and moral implications of true crime reporting.
The Distorted Narrative of Crime Through Podcasts
The rise of true crime podcasts has created a narrative that centers around specific types of crimes and victims, often focusing on white women in suburban areas. This selective narrative, while gripping and entertaining, fails to represent the true diversity of crime and victims in society. It is crucial to challenge and expand the narrative to include a broader perspective that accurately reflects the reality of crime. By doing so, we can address the underlying issues, such as systemic inequality and social determinants, that contribute to crime and create a more inclusive understanding of the complexities surrounding crime and victimhood.
The challenges of diversity on college campuses
The podcast episode delves into the challenges and benefits of diversity on college campuses. The speaker highlights the importance of having diverse campuses and acknowledges that affirmative action plays a role in achieving this diversity. They mention that although there are vocal proponents and skeptics of diversity, the majority of people, including professors, recognize the value of diversity. The discussion emphasizes that while there is still progress to be made, the vision of a more representative campus is moving forward, albeit slowly.
Gradients of academic plagiarism and the pressures of publish or perish culture
The podcast explores the issue of plagiarism in academia, specifically in relation to recent cases involving academic figures. The speaker discusses the similarities between the cases and reflects on the pressures of publish or perish culture. They suggest that there is a pressure to produce a high volume of scholarship, often resulting in work that goes unnoticed or is read by very few individuals. The discussion highlights the need for better standards in evaluating different levels of plagiarism and emphasizes the importance of exercising compassion and adjudicating different degrees of academic integrity.
I’m very excited to announce that Tyler Austin Harper will be our co-host for the next month or so.
Tyler was on the show last month and introduced himself then, but for those who missed it, he’s a writer at the Atlantic and a professor of literature in the environmental studies department at Bates College. He specializes in extinction literature and film.
For the next month or so, Tyler and I are going to talk to guests and to one another about a variety of topics, including literature and movies. In this episode, for example, you’ll find a “Book Corner” at the end where we talk about the rise of true crime podcasts and a recent op-ed in the Times.
As always, if you’re getting this email and want to support the show, please subscribe for $5 a month and you’ll receive access to our Discord server, where all these things are discussed at great length.
thank you!
Jay
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