Month: June 2025

Christa Teston: How to Teach Dignity

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Christa Teston, the Andrea Lunsford Designated Professor of English, discusses her book Doing Dignity: Ethical Praxis and the Politics of Care. Teston argues that dignity is not an inherent trait but a practice that depends on situations and can be taught. She supports her argument with ethnographic research and interviews with healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as case studies involving wheelchair fittings and medical aid in dying legislation. Teston see value in teaching dignity in medical training through simulations. Additionally, Teston describes her research methodology, which includes empirical research with human participants, and touches on the future impacts of AI on business and technical writing.

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Jason Rawls: On A Hip Hop Mission

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Dr. Jason Rawls, Assistant Professor of Hip Hop Studies, discusses his approach to education, which uses hip hop culture to connect with students. He talks about how he went from being a business major to an educator by emphasizing the importance of authenticity and building strong connections through hip hop. Rawls describes the elements of hip hop culture, youth culture pedagogy, and his innovative research into the producer’s role in hip hop music. He also discusses his co-authored book Youth Culture Power, his radio show “Crate Missions,” and his ambitions for developing a comprehensive Ohio State hip hip hop studies program.

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Björn Köhnlein: From Sounds to Language

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Björn Köhnlein, Associate Professor of Linguistics, studies sound systems in languages. He and host David Staley discuss how speech melodies and intonational patterns distinguish between statements and questions and the challenges of historical linguistic studies. Köhnlein shares his journey into linguistics, his fascination with generative grammar, and his current research projects, including the surprisingly complex rules that govern how curse words can be embedded into other words.

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Roger Beebe: Broadcasting on the Times Square Jumbotron and the McMurdo Station in Antarctica

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Roger Beebe, Professor of Art and Theater, Film and Media Arts at Ohio State University, describes his artistic practice of experimental filmmaking and expanded cinema, including his use of found images and multi-projector performances. Beebe’s work seeks to transform traditional film screenings into live events. Beebe shares his creative process, touching on innovative projects like his “Quickie Karaoke Factory” and how the pandemic inspired new artistic directions. He also talks about the significance of material investigation in his filmmaking and the influence of the community garden in his recent works. Lastly, the conversation covers various venues where Beebe’s films have been shown, such as the CBS Jumbotron in Times Square and McMurdo Station in Antarctica.

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