Karyn Kusama /// Race…An American Blind Spot /// E039

Karyn Kusama is an American film and television director. She made her feature film debut with the 2000 film Girlfight,[2] which she wrote, directed, and produced,[3]. She went on to direct the 2005 sci-fi action film Æon Flux, based on Peter Chung's animated series of the same name, and the 2009 cult horror comedy Jennifer's Body. She has recently worked as a television director.[4] In 2017 she directed a segment in the film XX, an all-female horror anthology. Her latest film is the 2018 crime thriller Destroyer, starring Nicole Kidman. Topics we cover: Family and career balance Family tragedy and how it shaped her life, her career trajectory and focus on what she needed to do The American Blind Spot on Race Her experience growing up as the "Japanese Family" and what a school transition did to her perspective Dynamics of power struggle in groups fighting power How defining demographics keeps the in group divides How words are not necessarily a reflection of our thoughts but our upbringing How we have empathy toward people with whom we disagree