Reflecting History

Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness (1899) is both a scathing critique of European imperialism and a reminder that all humans have the capacity to succumb to the heart of darkness. It also is not without controversy, as...

<p>In this episode I'm joined by author Eve J. Chung to discuss her latest book The Young Will Remember, a historical fiction novel set during the Korean War. We discuss her book, different historical narratives and...

<p>The Congo Free State eventually dissolved, but what does it mean to us today? How did we collectively forget a tragedy on this scale? Why do some historical stories get buried in the sands of time while others don't...

<p>As atrocities and human rights violations continue in the Congo Free State, King Leopold II of Belgium sends out a "Commission of Inquiry" to the Congo to clear his name. Things don't go as planned. After one final...

<p>As the evidence of atrocities in the Congo Free State became impossible to ignore, direct African resistance developed in numerous places around the Congo. As this was happening, a large and sophisticated human...

<p >As a result of a worldwide rubber boom where rubber became a highly demanded economic resource, the agents of the Congo Free State kicked off efforts to gain as much rubber and profit as possible-leading to some of...

<p >With King Leopold II of Belgium now in full control of the Belgian Congo, the extraction of ivory and other resources could begin. The story of the plunder of the Congo is so brutal and unbelievable, and at times so...

<p >As European imperialism heated up in Africa in the late 1800's, King Leopold II of Belgium put into motion one of the most ambitious and villainous plans in all of European history - the theft of the entire Congo...

<p >From 1885 to 1908, King Leopold II of Belgium owned the Congo as his own personal colony. What transpired there over the course of his reign has credibly been called "the vilest scramble for loot that ever...

<p>One particular episode of "The Bear" inspired me to think about Kazuo Ishiguro's classic novel "Never Let Me Go"- friendship, love, memory, regret, and what it is that makes us human. </p> <p>This is a bonus episode...

<p>The Odyssey concludes with release, purification, and contradiction. A legendary bow and arrow contest sets the stage for Odysseus' rampage through the suitors who tormented his household for so long. The results of...

<p>Odysseus has finally made it home, but the Ithaca he has returned to is almost unrecognizable. "Dangerous men and fools" hold power now, and the island has fallen into disrepair. Odysseus comes up with a plan to...

<p >In books 11-16 of The Odyssey, Odysseus runs through a murderous string of mythological creatures on his long journey home. The Underworld, seductive Sirens, deadly whirlpools, and six headed monsters are menacing...

<p >This episode delves into books 6-10 of The Odyssey. Odysseus has finally found a helping hand on his journey home, but before he can go, he must tell the story of where he came from. Lotus eaters, cannibals...

<p >Homer's The Odyssey is one of the oldest and most enduring stories in all of civilization. Set in the aftermath of the legendary Trojan War, the great war hero Odysseus has been lost at sea for decades. As he...