December 6, 2023

First up,  we remember the titan of  TV: Norman Lear.  He not only changed television, he changed the way we see ourselves by doing away with the traditional sitcom that idealized the nuclear family–instead finding humor in the messiness of life. From “All in the Family to Maude.”  From there, MassArt is celebrating its 150th anniversary by celebrating others with the inaugural Common Good Awards. MassArt  president Mary Grant joins us to talk about the artists and advocates they’re honoring.   Then, what happens when you combine the band Guster, with the band the Zambonis? You get the Jewish rock band The LeeVees. They  write songs about Jewish identity–and they have a lot to say about latkes and the struggle to correctly spell Hanukkah.  Finally, in these ever darkening days of December. SOLSTICE,  a large-scale light and sound installation is a cure for the winter blues.  That’s next on The Culture Show.