Alexander Schmid Podcast

Alexander Schmid
  • 4.4 (7)
  • EDUCATION

We are always surrounded by stories: movies, TV shows, plays, games, video games, books and even advertisements. So, why do humans tell stories, and what function do stories serve? Our goal is to unravel the fundamental structure of narratives old and new and to untangle what their connection to human consciousness is.

  1. Lecture 6: Introduction to Sophocles, Athenian Tragedy, and Antigone (Lines 1-1352)

    03/11/2020

    Lecture 6: Introduction to Sophocles, Athenian Tragedy, and Antigone (Lines 1-1352)

    In this lecture, we cover the major plot-points of Sophocles' "Antigone." We consider (a) its chronology in relation to the other two plays from "The Theban Trilogy" which was never meant to be a trilogy; (b) considered Antigone's argument for burying her brother, Polyneices, against the edict of her uncle and the new King of Thebes, Creon; and (c) we considered the position of Creon as a new ruler with a potentially tenuous hold on power.

    30 min
  2. Dante's The Divine Comedy 2019/2020 Lecture 40: Dante's Paradiso Review Lecture: Cantos 1-33

    03/11/2020

    Dante's The Divine Comedy 2019/2020 Lecture 40: Dante's Paradiso Review Lecture: Cantos 1-33

    In this review lecture, we review (a) major characters, (b) quotes, and (c) themes from each sphere of the final canticle of Dante's "The Divine Comedy."

    40 min
  3. Dante’s The Divine Comedy 2019/2020 Lecture 39: Paradiso's Empyrean: Cantos 30-33

    03/05/2020

    Dante’s The Divine Comedy 2019/2020 Lecture 39: Paradiso's Empyrean: Cantos 30-33

    In this lecture, we observe (a) Dante drink from a river of light and witness the majesty of heaven; (b) Beatrice's disappearance and replacement by Dante's final guide, St. Bernard, and then we conclude by seeing (c) Dante's beatific vision of Mary and the Holy Trinity.

    34 min
  4. Lecture 5: Introduction to Sophocles, Athenian Tragedy, and Oedipus the King (Lines 983-1531)

    03/05/2020

    Lecture 5: Introduction to Sophocles, Athenian Tragedy, and Oedipus the King (Lines 983-1531)

    In this lecture, we consider (a) Oedipus' final revelation that he has lived out his fate; (b) witness Oedipus blind himself and what that means; and (c) we conclude by observing Oedipus' final abdication and touching moment with his daughters.

    25 min
  5. Lecture 4: Introduction to Sophocles, Athenian Tragedy, and Oedipus the King (Lines 462-982)

    03/04/2020

    Lecture 4: Introduction to Sophocles, Athenian Tragedy, and Oedipus the King (Lines 462-982)

    In this lecture, we consider (a) both Freudian theory and Motivation Theory in order to understand Oedipus' cognitive dissonance; we observe: (a) Creon address Oedipus' accusations of treachery and Jocasta's attempt to exonerate both men; and (c) we conclude by considering Jocasta' famous words which serve as the source of Freud's "Oedipal Complex."

    36 min
  6. Dante’s The Divine Comedy 2019/2020 Lecture 38: Paradiso's The Primum Mobile and Entry to Empyrean: Cantos 27-30

    03/03/2020

    Dante’s The Divine Comedy 2019/2020 Lecture 38: Paradiso's The Primum Mobile and Entry to Empyrean: Cantos 27-30

    In this lecture we consider (a) the nature of space and time and how "the roots" of all the universe are contained in the Primum Mobile; (b) we think over several cosmological/theological questions: the relative speed of each sphere of heaven, the intelligence and memory of angels, and number of angels; and then (c) we ascend to the Empyrean and see a river of light.

    39 min
  7. Lecture 3: Introduction to Sophocles, Athenian Tragedy, and Oedipus the King

    03/03/2020

    Lecture 3: Introduction to Sophocles, Athenian Tragedy, and Oedipus the King

    In this lecture we ask: (a) does Oedipus truly care for his people or is he full of overweening hubris? (b) Using psychoanalysis as a standard, is this a play about being both willing and unwilling to consider a truth/a conflict between one's conscious and unconscious motives; and (c) is Teiresias telling the truth or is he actually colluding with Creon? Is this just a confabulation of Oedipus' to keep him from an even more disturbing truth?

    37 min
  8. Dante’s The Divine Comedy 2019/2020 Lecture 37: Paradiso's The Sphere of the Fixed Stars Pt. 2: Cantos 22-27

    02/26/2020

    Dante’s The Divine Comedy 2019/2020 Lecture 37: Paradiso's The Sphere of the Fixed Stars Pt. 2: Cantos 22-27

    In this lecture, we (a) observe Dante's statement of faith and selections from "The Epistle of St. James" and "The Gospel of John"; (b) we see St. James' position on the debate of faith vs. acts, and then Dante's questioning of Adam, the first man, and then we conclude with (c) an angered St. Peter lambasting the (1) corruption/simony in the church and (2) its support of factionalism.

    34 min
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About

We are always surrounded by stories: movies, TV shows, plays, games, video games, books and even advertisements. So, why do humans tell stories, and what function do stories serve? Our goal is to unravel the fundamental structure of narratives old and new and to untangle what their connection to human consciousness is.

Information

  • Creator
    Alexander Schmid
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2020
  • Episodes
    405
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Alexander Schmid