Views And Brews

“..true music must repeat the thought and inspirations of the people and the time. My people are Americans and my time is today.” -George Gershwin

But what does it mean to be American? How did being a first generation American inform Gershwin's perspective? Was he always on the outside looking in? How does he, and the work he produced, embody the American dream? 

In this edition of In Perspective we teamed up with Views and Brews for a discussion on various elements of and debates over artificial intelligence, discussing what it actually means to think; how knowledge of computers' inner-workings affect our understanding of the human brain; and the future of artificial intelligence. 

Listen back as KUT's Rebecca McInroy discusses all things A.I. with philosopher Dr. Galen Strawson, computer scientist Dr. Peter Stone and novelist-poet Dr. Louisa Hall. 

Saxophone great Coleman Hawkins helped to establish jazz as a stand-alone art form, separate from the popular swing music of the day.

With his originality, lyricism, and a keen sense for the latest trends, Hawkins' work was the foundation for bebop and the most expressive jazz ballads.

And yet, what is the price for a creative who expresses his art?

If you missed thi sepisode of Views and Brews it is definitely one to listen back to: KUT’s Rebecca McInroy hosts graphic designer DJ Stout and Austin-based composer and pianist Graham Reynolds to talk about a collaboration that illustrates the power of regionalism and the beauty of home on a global stage.

Stout of Pentagram, the world's largest independent design consultancy, discussed his latest publication featuring cowboy poets from West Texas, while Reynolds performed a live score along with the presentation. It was a version of the performance they gave at the Design Indaba conference in Cape Town, South Africa, in February 2014.

In partnership with the Harry Ransom Center, Views and Brews discussed the recent exhibition "The World at War, 1914–1918." The exhibit marks the centenary of the start of World War I, and seeks to recover the deeply personal experience of the war.

Listen back as Rabbi Neil Blumofe and Ransom Center curators Elizabeth Garver and Jean Cannon join KUT’s Rebecca McInroy to explore the layered causes, complicated effects and penetrating propaganda of a war that forever changed our relationship to grief, industry, faith and one another.

Tuesday’s Views and Brews discussion on "The Elegance of Physics with Dr. Steven Weinberg" was a standing room only event. Some patient fans of the Nobel Prize winning physicist were turned away because the event was at capacity despite of the chilly and wet night.

Professor Steven Weinberg is a Nobel laureate in physics, a theoretical physicist and  an outspoken thinker on topics ranging from nuclear weapons to atheism. But this night was about Weinberg’s life, career and development – not just as a thinker, but as an artist in his field.

Nov. 18 marked the 14th anniversary of Doug Sahm's passing. And KUT marked the day with a special look back on the life and legacy of Doug Sahm at a Views and Brews.

Listen back as KUTX’s Jody Denberg hosts, author and historian Joe Nick Patoski and musical guests Marcia Ball, Speedy Sparks and Ernie Durawa  for a night of stories and music from the life of Doug Sahm.