Blog Post #8: Analyzing Podcasts
Podcast #1: In Our Time, Social Darwinism
Summary:
Darwinism influenced the way society felt towards race and groups of people during the 19th century. A heavy topic of debate then was Social Darwinism. As the people of the wealthy class feared were fearful that they “intellectual” would be the minority as the poor gave birth more often than the rich. At the same time, there was criticism amongst high class men inbreeding with non-intellectual beauties from different classes. This brought on the concept of Eugenics arose. A philosophy/belief that only those with desired characteristics such as (intelligence, beauty, and strength) should be allowed to procreate and everyone else could not.
Will you apply & adapt elements of the content and form to your own podcast?
I am uncertain if I will apply the elements of this podcast to my own. In the podcast, the speakers started with one topic and argument and branched out into several other arguments. I may use this in my own podcast to explain why people may have had this fear of Darwinism. Such as the different branches of Darwinism and new beliefs and theories associated with it.
Arguments:
- According to Darwin, natural selection determines that those who are fittest to survive.
- During the 19th century, the poorest were producing more children than the wealthy “intellectuals” therefore they were the fit.
- In order to maintain desired characteristics, humans should regulate procreation, not everyone should be allowed to produce.
Most Interesting Contributions to Topic:
- Artificial selection, choosing who gets to participate in mankind’s further evolution.
- Social Darwinism, it caused a divide within the society of the Victorian people as they began to question whether or not they were according to Darwin the most “fit”.
How will you apply these exciting contributions to your own podcast? Does it give you interesting ideas of your own?
These contributions to the topic have allowed me to understand that there are different branches to Darwinism. I would like to research more about social Darwinism and its affects on societies as well as how Bram Stoker may have used this in his novel. Dracula being displayed as a noble with features similar to an animal displays devolution which I find unique. Essentially he seems to be what the social elites of the Victorian Era feared most. Someone that is part of a high social class that displays characteristics of degeneration. Where the elite are supposed to display more intelligence, brawn, modesty, and reservation Dracula and his vampires do not.
New Information:
- Eugenics, a philosophy about only allowing people with specific characteristics to have children.
Works Cited:
Bragg, Melvyn. “In Our Time, Social Darwinism.” Edited by Thomas Morris, BBC Radio 4, BBC, 20 Feb. 2014, www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03vgq1q.
Podcast #2: Uncovering our Origins: Monkeys, Apes and ‘Primitive Man’ — And How Darwin Got It Wrong
Summary:
Darwin’s theory of evolution was never directed towards humans. It was about different animal species and plants. His book however did bring on people’s curiosity about human evolution. Darwin later made his own assumptions about human evolution in his journal. Darwin made an assumption that people originated from Africa due to his belief that humans are closely related to African apes, which is true. He believed that apes and humans shared closest relatives. This is false, as humans share the closest relative ancestors with chimpanzees. Darwin’s theories led people to questions who or what they are. Such questions resulted in excavations of fossils and past illustrations which depicted humans as violent and non-peaceful beings.
Will you apply & adapt elements of the content and form to your own podcast?
While I do not intend to apply or adapt the elements from this podcast to my own, I did find some of the content may be of use to my own research.
Argument:
Darwin’s theory of evolution is incorrect.
Most Interesting Contributions to Topic:
- History depicts humans with a violent nature.
New Information:
Human evolution is still unknown due to how limited our science is. It was just recently discovered that humans are more closely related to chimpanzees than apes. As a result where we came from is still vastly unknown.
How will you engage with this new information? In what ways does it come into your project?
- Bram Stoker’s depiction of vampires and how people became less civilized may be human devolution, as the transformed vampires are murderous blood lusting creatures which relates to old illustrations depicting human nature with violence.
Works Cited:
Fulley, R. (2009, June 30). Uncovering our Origins: Monkeys, Apes and ‘Primitive Man’ — And How Darwin Got It Wrong. Retrieved November 11, 2020, from http://www.darwinendlessforms.org/podcasts/episode-4/