Halloween edition featuring War of the Worlds
In this Halloween special Sean and Andrew are joined by Ed Finn, the founding director of the Center for Science and the Imagination. The conversation explores the historical impact of Orson Welles' radio adaptation of H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds, the role of technology in storytelling, and the cultural significance of Halloween. They discuss how speculative fiction can inspire collective imagination for better futures, while also reflecting on societal fears and anxieties. In this engaging conversation, the speakers explore themes of colonial anxieties, the power dynamic, and the unsettling nature of narratives in literature and media. They discuss the importance of human connection in the face of catastrophe, the nature of scary movies, and the community aspects of Halloween traditions.
Links:
• Ed Finn - ASU Bio (https://csi.asu.edu/people/ed-finn/)
• Center for Science and the Imagination (ASU) (https://csi.asu.edu/)
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Halloween Special
03:17 The Impact of War of the Worlds
11:59 Exploring the Center for Science and Imagination
18:54 The Role of Technology in Storytelling
26:59 Halloween: A Cultural Reflection
30:01 Spectacle and Unsettling Narratives
32:33 Human Connection in Catastrophe
36:35 The Nature of Scary Movies
45:14 Future of Sci-Fi and Upcoming Events
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Host Bios:
Sean M. Leahy, PhD - ASU Bio (https://search.asu.edu/profile/3183014)
Sean is an internationally recognized technologist, futurist, and educator innovating humanistic approaches to emerging technology through a Futures Studies approach. He is the Executive Director for the Future of Being Human Initiative (https://futureofbeinghuman.asu.edu/) and Research Scientist for the School for the Future of Innovation in Society (https://sfis.asu.edu/) and Senior Global Futures Scholar with the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory (https://globalfutures.asu.edu/) at Arizona State University (http://www.asu.edu/) .
Andrew Maynard, PhD - ASU Bio (https://search.asu.edu/profile/2670673)
Andrew is a scientist, author, thought leader, and Professor of Advanced Technology Transitions in the ASU School for the Future of Innovation in Society (https://sfis.asu.edu/) . He is the founder of the ASU Future of Being Human initiative (https://futureofbeinghuman.asu.edu/) , Director of the ASU Risk Innovation Nexus (https://riskinnovation.org/) , and was previously Associate Dean in the ASU College of Global Futures (https://collegeofglobalfutures.asu.edu/) .
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