The Art of Reinventing Yourself

Sound and Color

Ahmad Dirini (CC0)

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Every so often life forces you to reinvent yourself. And that’s especially true for certain artists, who discover new ways to express themselves. This hour, we hear the stories of four noted artists who experienced pivotal turns in their own lives: artist Rashid Johnson, writer/photographer Teju Cole, singer Nikka Costa, and musician Michael Nesmith.

This program originally aired on July 16, 2017 and was re-aired on December 16, 2017. 

Artist Rashid Johnson Explores Race, Yearning and Escape

Rashid Johnson, Antoine’s Organ, 2016.
Articles

Rashid Johnson is a rising star in the art world. Using signature materials like shea butter and black soap, he explores themes of race, yearning and escape, and grapples with what it means to come of age as a black artist and intellectual.More

Length: 
8:55

How Temporary Blindness Taught Teju Cole How to See

Teju Cole
Articles

Going blind in one eye would unnerve anyone. And for a photographer, it’s especially upsetting. But Teju Cole found that his big blind spot syndrome taught him a new way to look at the world — and actually changed his photography.More

Length: 
12:47

Why Not Abolish Literary Genres?

Books on books on books
Dangerous Ideas

Why do we keep dividing the world of books into different genres — like romance novels, science fiction and literary fiction? Novelist Lauren Beukes says we should simply get rid of the whole idea of genre.More

Length: 
1:46

From Child Pop Star to Jazz Singer: Nikka Costa Performs America’s Songbook

Nikka and Strings
Deep Tracks

When Nikka Costa was ten, she was a pop sensation in Europe. In her 20s, she was Britney Spear’s opening act. But she’s left pop music behind and now she’s performing songs by some of the musicians she’s known, including Prince and Frank Sinatra.More

Length: 
13:12

From the Monkees to Country Rock: The Remarkable Career of Michael Nesmith

Nesmith and the guys
Articles

If you’re old enough, you’ll remember the Monkees, the pop group with a hit TV show. Michael Nesmith wore the green stocking cap. Since then, he’s reinvented his career several times over. He (sort of) invented country rock. And the music video.More

Length: 
12:41
Show Details 📻
Airdates
December 15, 2017
July 15, 2017
Guests: 
Rashid Johnson
Teju Cole
Lauren Beukes
Nikka Costa
Michael Nesmith
Categories: 
Art
Music
Last Updated: 
7 months 3 days ago