Voices of Excellence

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.

Amy Brunell, Professor of Social Psychology at The Ohio State University, researches narcissism in social contexts. In this interview, she discusses with host David Staley the clinical definition of narcissism versus its understanding from a social psychology perspective and details the three different types of narcissism. Brunell describes how narcissistic traits manifest in individuals, the impact of narcissism in various relationships, and the lack of systematic research on coping mechanisms for dealing with narcissists. She shares her academic journey, teaching experiences, and future research directions, including uncovering public perceptions of narcissism and discrepancies between self-reported and actual risky behaviors in narcissists.

Eric Schoon, Associate Professor of Sociology at The Ohio State University, discusses his research interests, such as how social scientists produce knowledge and what makes something have legitimacy. He touches upon his work on linear regression in the book Regression Inside Out, co-authored with David Melamed and Ronald Breiger, and shares insights from interviewing ethnographers about their fieldwork in Turkey. Additionally, he reflects on his own journey to sociology from a background in viola performance and philosophy.

Dominik Stecula, Assistant Professor of Communications, discusses his research on political and science communication, focusing on where the public gets its information and the impact of various media types on public attitudes and behaviors. He studies the evolving landscape of media from traditional news to social media, the influence of podcasts such as “The Joe Rogan Experience,” and the phenomenon of canine vaccine hesitancy. Dr. Stecula also shares insights from his research on COVID-19 misinformation and how modern media, including podcasts, can shape political landscapes and public health behaviors.

Paul Reitter, a Professor of Germanic Languages and Literatures at Ohio State University, discusses his recent translation of Volume 1 of Karl Marx’s Capital with host David Staley. Reitter discusses the nuances and challenges of translating Marx’s work, the intricacies of Marx’s theories on value and capitalism, and how Reitter’s translation aims to preserve Marx’s original meaning and literary style. Staley and Reitter also cover the broader implications and significance of translation studies, the historical undervaluation of translation in academia, and Reitter’s future projects on translating the remaining volumes of Capital.

Julia Applegate, Senior Lecturer at The Ohio State University, discusses her documentary film Free Beer Tomorrow. The film focuses on the historically significant and longest-running lesbian-owned Ohio bar, which was located near The Ohio State University. For her, it’s a story of the patrons of the bar and how they lived during the 1970s and ’80s. The bar served as a safe space for lesbians amid broader societal homophobia and discrimination.