Anyone who has taken a personality test knows that they tend to be long, indepth, and even invasive. But today we discover how a group of researchers is testing levels of narcissism with one simple question. And, we’ll look into what an inflated sense of self means for society at large. Then, a philosopher and ethicist joins us to discuss the delicate balance between confidence and vanity in the age of the selfie. Plus, New Hampshire has a bigger role in cinema than you may have realized. We look at what roles put our state on the map.
Listen to the full show:
Are You A Narcissist?
- Researchers at the Ohio State University recently discovered that testing for narcissism isn’t all that complicated – there’s only one question you really have to ask. Brad Bushman is a professor of communication and psychology at Ohio State University’s School of Communication. He helped develop and test the validity of the Single Item Narcissism Scale, or SINS.
Know Thy Selfie
- Philosopher and professor Simon Blackburn ponders the nature of self-regard and how it has evolved in “Know Thy Selfie” and essay we found at Aeon.com. He most recently authored Mirror, Mirror: the Uses and Abuses of Self Love.
Getting To Know Your Neighbors
- They are everywhere. We are surrounded by them. You are probably one yourself. Of the range of people you can know in the world, the neighbor occupies a curious spot. As Sean Hurley writes, here in New Hampshire we have our own special kind of neighbor...and sometimes, they have helicopters.
New Hampshire's Role in Film
- Jumanji, filmed in Keene, was something of a rarity, as very few major motion pictures have been filmed in New Hampshire. But around this time every year, production companies flock to the Granite State to capture that classic New England look. Matt Newton is director of New Hampshire’s Film and TV Office and he spoke to us about New Hampshire’s roll in film.
TMNT’s Reflection on Crime
- The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle’s 1990 original movie opens with a decidedly 80’s soundtrack, and an ominous news report about a crime wave striking New York City. Now, the turtles and the Foot Clan are back in Michael Bay’s reboot of the franchise – but according to writer Adam Hofbauer, differences between the two versions offers a telling portrait of how our perceptions of crime have changed over the past 25 years. His article “The Weird Prescience of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” appeared in The Atlantic.
And, in case you missed it, here's a link to a clip of Last Week Tonight in which John Oliver talks about Keene's very own armored vehicle, the BearCat. Starting around 7:25, Oliver discusses the military grade equipment being used to assure the safety of all those pumpkins at the annual festival.
