Philosophy of Culture

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A very interesting and controversial film is being discussed in Italy right now: Girlfriend in a Coma. It was going to be shown in Rome at the MAXXI cinema but then the venue cancelled the show, promting some to suggest [self-censorship]. Sky-Italia (a Rupert Murdoch station which competes with Berlusconi controlled media) aired the film last week, it is still mostly unavailable in Italy and the films sites appear to be blocked by Italian government. [1] and [2]. Facebook links to watch the film online appear to be blocked. The film is very critical of Berlusconi. There is a showing Tuesday evening (2/19) at [Teatro Verdi] with the films director.

This case fits with our theme of "how to criticize a culture."

Italian History Timeline

• Check out this timeline of Italian History. You can do informal work on the timeline for your grading scheme. 5% for editing/creating 10-15 events. It's fun!

Miscellaneous Items

• Are Native Americans decendents of the Chinese? [3] and this recent result (thanks to Nick Alfino!) [4]

• Quick Read: Carbon samples seem to disprove theory on the evolution of bipedalism. Interesting new finding contradicting previous thought on Early Africa. (http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21571845-cherished-theory-about-why-people-walk-upright-has-just-bitten-dust-grassed?fsrc=scn/tw/te/pe/grassedup)

Links on E.O. Wilson's book and the controversies around kin and group selection

• Check out wikipedia articles on Kin Selection and Group Selection
• The Social Conquest of Nature Richard Dawkin's review of E. O. Wilson's The Social Conquest of Nature
• David Sloan Wilson's review of Dawkin's review of E. O. Wilson's The Social Conquest of Nature
• Here's a permalink to the original Nature article on the evolution of Eusociality that Nowak and Tarnita, and Wilson published in 2010. You'll need your GU network login to access it. Nowak, Martin A., Corina E. Tarnita, and Edward O. Wilson. "The evolution of eusociality." Nature 466, no. 7310 (August 26, 2010): 1057-1062. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed January 17, 2013).