PBS Idea Channel

As we progress further into the age of technology and social media, some new trends have emerged around how we as a society deal with death. The younger generation’s tendencies to mourn in the public space that is the internet has been met with a certain amount of criticism and contempt, but is it warranted? Our modern culture has created a stigma around the ways in which we choose to grieve, and has attempted to designate what is “acceptable” and “genuine,” and what is not. On this week’s Idea Channel, we offer a defense of online mourning, and why it should not be met with such disdain.

Mike responds to comments from the "Is It Okay To Mourn Celebrity Death Online?” episode.

Saitama, the ‘One Punch Man,’ is the most powerful hero that ever existed… but does that make him the best? The civilians in the OPM world would say no, but they may be judging their heroes on the wrong qualities. Even though Saitama is easily the most effective at defeating the bad guys, he doesn’t act like a hero; he speaks simply, fights with little enthusiasm, and admits that he is only doing it all for the fun of it. This seems to draw an interesting parallel with our own interpretations of real-life heroes. Are we worshiping celebrity over actual skill? Do we place too much emphasis on showmanship rather than accomplishment? Let us know in the comments below!

We often joke about what the cost would be to fix all of the destruction we see in superhero and disaster films, because we know that its not a real issue. But the reality is, we still haven’t solved this problem when natural disasters occur in real life. As Hurricane Katrina has shown, our response to catastrophe is sluggish and inefficient, largely because we still don’t have the conversation about ‘who is going to pay for all of this’ often.

Pizza might be an Italian invention, but it is a worldwide phenomenon. Pizza has managed to evolve from a simple, rustic food item to something much more impactful. For many it is a comfort food, something that can cause an actual psychological reaction. And it is also a product, heavily branded and resold on t-shirts, hats, socks, etc. Join us as we look back on the history of pizza, and what it has become today.