Shut Up and Sing

CLAIRE SISCO KING is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Studies and affiliated with the Cinema and Media Arts program at Vanderbilt University. She is a scholar of media and visual culture, with a particular emphasis on the study of gender and sexuality. Her book, Washed in Blood: Male Sacrifice, Trauma, and the Cinema (Rutgers University, 2011), was named an Outstanding Book of the Year in 2013 by Critical Cultural Studies division of the National Communication Association, addresses the intersections between cinematic violence, masculinity, and discourses of civic identity. Her work has been published in numerous journals in the fields of communication and media studies, and she is currently writing a new book on celebrity culture, gender, and race. King is the Editor-Elect of Women’s Studies in Communication, a peer-reviewed, feminist journal addressing the relationships between communication and gender. Learn more about Claire here. 

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To follow along with the pieces discussed in this episode, visit www. vlcox.com

V. L. Cox is a professional artist of 29 years whose recent work has been highly active in projects that involve Human Rights and Equality. In 2015 she launched her National ‘End Hate’ project, an anti-discrimination series based on segregation era doors in response to HB1228, a dangerous Religious Freedom Bill in Arkansas which originated under Gov. Mike Pence in Indiana. This powerful series employs authentic and found objects that create a visceral presentation commenting on raw emotions and relevant human rights issues that continue to be important topics in the 21st century. The doors were placed twice on the steps of the Arkansas State Capitol then twice at the base of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The response was overwhelming. Images of the door installation went viral and were seen on Yahoo News, USA Today, in numerous newspapers across the country and as far away as India and South Korea.

The ‘End Hate’ project which has now grown to over 53 pieces, is beginning its fifth year of a nationwide tour. It has opened at prominent locations such as The LGBT Center in New York, NY, The Virginia Longwood Center for the Visual Arts Museum in collaboration with the Moton Museum where the Vice Presidential debates were held, the Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery, Alabama coinciding with the Equal Justice Initiative, National Memorial for Peace and Justice opening, and the Virginia Holocaust Museum in Richmond, Virginia. It opened on September 27, 2019 at the Delta Cultural Center in Helena, Arkansas to commemorate the 100 Year Anniversary of the Elaine Massacre.

Cox understands how to draw the viewer into her work through her experience with working with large installations and audiences.

Olivia Trimble, a noted muralist, painter, and artist in Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas, discusses how she has used and continues to use her art to speak out against hate and a range of injustices. Olivia is a strong, much-needed voice and continues to bring about change through her artistic pursuits.  I’m proud to share a community with her in Arkansas and to share this great conversation. Listen now to hear Olivia talk about her positive messages and what's she planning next! 

Sarah Vos, the lead singer and songwriter with the Dead Horses, an incredible band you absolutely need to listen to, shares the deep and profound place that many of her song lyrics emanate from. Numerous songs Sarah has written fully engage on issues of great importance in this time – including poverty, hunger, equality, mental health, and more.  Sarah’s voice is so powerful, pure, and much needed, especially now. Plus, if you’re like me, you won’t be able to get enough of the Dead Horses – their music is incredible. Listen to their music and check out this podcast to see and feel, at an even deeper level, the scenes, stories, people, and vision they paint of where we are in this country and the wrongs we can and should right.

Join us as I talk with Drew Powell, an Indiana native and L.A. based actor starring in numerous television shows and movies, as he speaks of how we’re all called to serve others and make a difference, how he seeks to fulfill that calling and discusses his deep belief in politics as a way to effect positive change in the world—which necessarily means a departure from the current situation in Washington and the current President. Drew is a strong, uplifting voice and that voice allows us to see why he has played many successful roles such as Butch a.k.a. Solomon Grundy in Gotham and in so many more. Drew is a good friend and you’ll leave this episode fired-up, I promise!

Get to know what Shut Up and Sing is all about! Meet our podcast host, Conner Eldridge, and learn about what's in store for future episodes.