Thinking Allowed

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Recent episodes (10)

• TA 08 Feb 12: Obesity - Cruel optimism

  Wed, 8 Feb 12

  Duration:
  29 mins

  We inhabit a precarious world of crisis and calamity which mocks the post war promise of upward mobility, social equality and job security. Cultural theorist Lauren Berlant calls it the 'cruel optimism' of contemporary life; she discusses her contention with Laurie and sociologist, Professor Bev Skeggs. Also, Karen Throsby talks of her ethnographic study of an obesity clinic and the hidden moral element to every aspect of the procedure.

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• TA 01 Feb 12: The Politics of Alcohol - Cooperation

  Wed, 1 Feb 12

  Duration:
  29 mins

  Has modern capitalism made us all obsessively competitive? Laurie is joined by Professor Richard Sennett and Philosopher John Gray to discuss how we can learn to cooperate for the benefit of all; James Nicholls talks about the British and booze.

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• TA 25 Jan 12: Conspiracy theories - International suffering

  Wed, 25 Jan 12

  Duration:
  29 mins

  Do you doubt they put a man on the moon? Laurie explores conspiracy theories with David Aaronovitch and Jovan Byford. Kate Nash discusses her forthcoming paper on what makes us care for the suffering of strangers.

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• TA 18 Jan 12: Stag tourism - Men and childbirth

  Wed, 18 Jan 12

  Duration:
  29 mins

  Once a stag night was more than enough, now young men are taking 'stag tours'. Laurie explores new research on the old male ritual with Thomas Thurnell-Read and Owen Jones; and also how men experience the process of childbirth with Alan Dolan.

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• TA 11 Jan 12: Cosmetic tourism - Debt 5000 years

  Wed, 11 Jan 12

  Duration:
  29 mins

  Cosmetic surgery tourism Ruth Holliday and Jacqueline Sanchez-Taylor tell Laurie why more people are combining a holiday with a nip and tuck. Debt is even older than money, David Graeber tells Laurie about his anthropological study of 5,000 years of Debt.

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• Uniforms and Cities Under Siege

  Wed, 4 Jan 12

  Duration:
  29 mins

  What happens when one uniform is imposed on a hospital? Stephen Timmons tells Laurie. Also, the increasingly military methods of urban policing: Stephen Graham and Melissa Butcher discuss.

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• TA 28 Dec 11: Home life 4: Shared home

  Wed, 28 Dec 11

  Duration:
  29 mins

  More people are sharing households than ever before. Laurie continues his exploration of private life as he and two sociologist Esther Dermott and Josh Richards visit the home of 6 young adults who live together.

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• Anti Psychiatry and Psychoanalysis 21 Dec 11

  Wed, 21 Dec 11

  Duration:
  29 mins

  The Anti Psychiatry movement of the 1960s, pioneered by R.D. Laing, asserted that societal ills were at the root of mental illness. Insanity was therefore a sane response to a repressive and unjust world. Michael Staub, Professor of English and author of 'Madness is Civilisation', talks to Laurie Taylor about the once popular, now discredited, theories of anti psychiatry. Also, new research uncovers the hidden history of psychoanalysis. Professor of Jung History, Sonu Shamdasani, suggests that psychoanalysis achieved its cultural power only by re-scripting history in its own image. He's joined by Stephen Frosh, Professor of Psychology.

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• TA 14 Dec 11: Tipping Points

  Wed, 14 Dec 11

  Duration:
  29 mins

  Laurie Taylor explores the idea of the Tipping Point with Tim Clark and Pat Waugh from Durham University and Alex Bentley from Bristol University who are all involved in major Tipping Points project at Durham; they are joined by Dr Shahidha Bari from Queen Mary, London.

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• TA 07 Dec 11: Parents Teens and the culture of sex - The claims of parenting

  Wed, 7 Dec 11

  Duration:
  29 mins

  Laurie Taylor examines research into the advice offered to parents with Judith Suissa and Frank Furedi, and looks at comparative research in America and Holland into teenage sex in the parental home with sociologist Amy Schalet from the University of Massachusetts.

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