Peoples & Things

Colleen Dunlavy, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and author, delves into how government initiatives shaped U.S. manufacturing. She discusses the critical role of standardization in enabling economies of scale, especially during wartime. Colleen highlights the impact of figures like Herbert Hoover on simplification practices and how these efforts influenced consumer goods. The conversation also touches on how pre-war product diversity gave way to standardized practices and later returned to variety amid post-war economic shifts.

Join Kate Epstein, an associate professor of history at Rutgers University-Camden and author of Analog Superpowers, as she dives into how twentieth-century technology theft influenced the national-security state. She discusses the legal battles over naval fire-control systems, the complexities of intellectual property in wartime, and the implications of secrecy on innovation. Epstein also shares insights on the competitive tensions in military procurement and the rigorous research methods that shaped her work.

Peoples & Things host, Lee Vinsel, talks with Whitney Laemmli, Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Science and Cultural Studies at the Pratt Institute, about her forthcoming book, Making Movement Modern: Science, Politics, and the Body in Motion. The book traces a technique for visualizing human movement, Labanotation, from its origins in expressionist dance, Austro-Hungarian military discipline, and contemporary physiology to its employment in factories and offices a half-century later. In this way, Making Movement Modern provides a beautiful example of following an object of study into many different, surprising, and unexpected worlds. The pair also discuss one of Laemmli’s new projects, which examines the history of Western ideas and theories that memory might be stored not only in brains but also in bodies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ashleigh Greene Wade, Assistant Professor of Digital Studies at the University of Virginia and author of Black Girl Autopoetics, dives into how Black girls use social media to express self-identity. She shares her ethnographic journey from teaching to researching, emphasizing the balance between empowerment and negative stereotypes. Wade discusses the importance of ethical practices in documenting girls' experiences and the evolution of their online identities. The conversation also touches on the impact of young influencers and the changing dynamics of childhood in the digital age.

Julien Mailland, an Associate Professor at Indiana University and author of The Game That Never Ends, dives into the fascinating world where law meets the video game industry. He discusses how legal battles since the 1970s have shaped game development and innovation, emphasizing critical themes like intellectual property and freedom of speech. Mailland also shares insights on the geopolitical history of Tetris, revealing its complex legal challenges and the intertwined relationships in gaming that highlight both collaboration and competition.

Tiia Sahrakorpi, a Visiting Professor at Weber State University, delves into her book project, exploring the oral histories of electricity usage in Finland. She critiques conventional views on technology, highlighting personal narratives that reveal how energy adoption shapes daily life. The discussion spans renewable energy dynamics, emotional responses to nuclear power, and the historical perspectives of socialist women on electricity's affordability. Sahrakorpi emphasizes community resilience and the ethical responsibility of understanding indigenous connections to energy.

Mary Bridges, an Ernest May Fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School, delves into her book, 'Dollars and Dominion,' exploring how U.S. banks unexpectedly shaped global finance. She reveals how banking infrastructure laid the groundwork for U.S. dominance post-World War II, examining the Federal Reserve's pivotal role. The conversation highlights the complex interplay between banking history, U.S. imperialism, and economic power, offering insights into the evolution of financial practices and their contemporary implications.

Savannah Mandel, a space anthropologist and writer completing her PhD at Virginia Tech, argues for halting human space exploration in her insightful discussion. She emphasizes that urgent issues on Earth, like poverty and civil rights, should take precedence over space endeavors. Mandel shares her transformative journey from pro-space advocacy to critiquing its ethics, revealing tensions in the space community following her controversial views. She also explores the history of asteroid mining, combining academic rigor with a touch of humor in her reflections on apocalyptic narratives.

Matthew Wisnioski, a Professor of Science, Technology, and Society at Virginia Tech, discusses his book, 'Every American an Innovator,' exploring how innovation in America evolved from elitist perspectives to encompass diverse voices, including women and people of color. He emphasizes the government's crucial role in promoting innovation and reflects on societal changes in perceptions of the innovator. Wisnioski also dives into how children contribute to innovation culture and hints at his upcoming project about 'The Magic School Bus,' highlighting education's impact on creativity.

Ben Snyder, an Associate Professor of Sociology at Williams College and author of *Spy Plane: Inside Baltimore’s Surveillance Experiment*, dives into the controversial aerial surveillance program in Baltimore. He discusses how this military-grade technology aimed to track individuals raised significant privacy concerns among the community. Snyder reveals the technological optimism clashing with ethical dilemmas and the eventual legal challenges that deemed the program unconstitutional. The conversation highlights the complex relationship between surveillance, community trust, and the accountability of law enforcement.