In the latest edition of The Culture Show, we first 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 the show to talk about the artists and advocates they’re honoring across the Commonwealth.
Then, what happens when you combine Guster with 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, as musician Adam Gardner explains. The band will go on at Beverly’s First Baptist Church, hosted with Temple B’nai Abraham, on Saturday.
Finally, in these ever-darkening days of December, SOLSTICE: Reflections on Winter Light, a large-scale light and sound installation is a cure for the winter blues. Sam Okerstrom-Lang from MASARY Studios and Matthew Stephens, President and CEO of Mount Auburn Cemetery, talk about the annual event.
It's all on The Culture Show. Listen to the full episode above.