BFM :: Night School

The arts might seem like the least important thing on our minds during the current pandemic. Jo Kukathas joins us this week to argue against this assumption, assuring us that it is ok to feel lost, so that we can discover our collective responsibility creatively. You can read the article that was mentioned in the podcast here.

The arts might seem like the least important thing on our minds during the current pandemic. Jo Kukathas joins us this week to argue against this assumption, assuring us that it is ok to feel lost, so that we can discover our collective responsibility creatively. You can read the article that was mentioned in the podcast here.

This week, we are joined by anthropology major and gamelan ensemble director, Adam Farhan to explore what can we learn from the music of gamelan about limits and possibilities in the adaptive power of tradition.

This week, we are joined by anthropology major and gamelan ensemble director, Adam Farhan to explore what can we learn from the music of gamelan about limits and possibilities in the adaptive power of tradition.

How is the movement control order changing the ways educators teach? Joining us this week to dwell on learning under the condition of the new normal are two educators from across the private and public sectors, Prof. Ruslan Abdul Rahim and Dr. Azril K Ismail.

How is the movement control order changing the ways educators teach? Joining us this week to dwell on learning under the condition of the new normal are two educators from across the private and public sectors, Prof. Ruslan Abdul Rahim and Dr. Azril K Ismail.

Heading into week 6 of the Movement Control Order, Haniff Baharudin and Simon Soon check up on each other to ponder about how social distancing is changing the way we interact with one another.

Heading into week 6 of the Movement Control Order, Haniff Baharudin and Simon Soon check up on each other to ponder about how social distancing is changing the way we interact with one another.

How can a set of photographs help us to ‘restore’ the identities of other lived experiences? Hoo Fan Chon joins us via Skype to discuss the different ways for us to retrieve alternative histories via photographs.

How can a set of photographs help us to ‘restore’ the identities of other lived experiences? Hoo Fan Chon joins us via Skype to discuss the different ways for us to retrieve alternative histories via photographs.

In what ways have the coronavirus pandemic changed the ways we communicate? How have we been adapting to the current situation? Joining us this week over Skype is researcher in medical history Por Heong Hong from the Universiti Sains Malaysia.

In what ways have the coronavirus pandemic changed the ways we communicate? How have we been adapting to the current situation? Joining us this week over Skype is researcher in medical history Por Heong Hong from the Universiti Sains Malaysia.

In the age of social media celebrityhood, Korean wave, and middle-class ennui, three guys decided to create a printed quarterly journal to explore the many different literary and cultural voices in the Malay language. Hafiz Hamzah, Badrul Hisham Ismail and Nazir Harith Fadzilah join us this week to speak about why form and style matters.

In the age of social media celebrityhood, Korean wave, and middle-class ennui, three guys decided to create a printed quarterly journal to explore the many different literary and cultural voices in the Malay language. Hafiz Hamzah, Badrul Hisham Ismail and Nazir Harith Fadzilah join us this week to speak about why form and style matters.

Why do histories repeat themselves? For independent researcher Ong Kar Jin, repetition does not so much describe a historical process as a pattern of thinking where your average person tries to make meaning out of the past when faced with an uncertain future.

Why do histories repeat themselves? For independent researcher Ong Kar Jin, repetition does not so much describe a historical process as a pattern of thinking where your average person tries to make meaning out of the past when faced with an uncertain future.

A new generation of activists/intellectuals are holding power to account. Huda Ramli, founder of Journal Sang Pemula, and Azura Nasrun, assistant manager of Rekod Media, join us this week to explore the cost of thinking.

A new generation of activists/intellectuals are holding power to account. Huda Ramli, founder of Journal Sang Pemula, and Azura Nasrun, assistant manager of Rekod Media, join us this week to explore the cost of thinking.

Malaysian Chinese literature is undergoing a new renaissance. Postdoctoral fellow at the Australia National University, Show Ying Xin, joins us this week to discuss the recent global attention that Mahua literature has been receiving.

Malaysian Chinese literature is undergoing a new renaissance. Postdoctoral fellow at the Australia National University, Show Ying Xin, joins us this week to discuss the recent global attention that Mahua literature has been receiving.

What is it about the photographic image that makes it so magical? Photo-historian Azril Ismail joins us this week to discuss the wonder that is photography.

What is it about the photographic image that makes it so magical? Photo-historian Azril Ismail joins us this week to discuss the wonder that is photography.

R.AGE has come of age and gone digital. Ian Yee joins us from behind the editor’s desk, to reflect on the principles of journalism he holds dearly to. He also shares with us what it takes to build a team of woke investigative journalists of the 21st century.

R.AGE has come of age and gone digital. Ian Yee joins us from behind the editor’s desk, to reflect on the principles of journalism he holds dearly to. He also shares with us what it takes to build a team of woke investigative journalists of the 21st century.

Museums and galleries today are offering new ways of engaging with their exhibitions and collections, catering tailor-made programmes to different age groups. Rahel Joseph, director of Ilham Gallery, comes on the show to share with us why education is a priority for the privately funded public art institution she heads.

Museums and galleries today are offering new ways of engaging with their exhibitions and collections, catering tailor-made programmes to different age groups. Rahel Joseph, director of Ilham Gallery, comes on the show to share with us why education is a priority for the privately funded public art institution she heads.

What can design teach us about the work of bringing people together for a conversation? How does it differ from social work? Italian researcher on social innovation, Viola Petrella, discusses how design is more than just making things pretty and what it can contribute to addressing larger social issues.

What can design teach us about the work of bringing people together for a conversation? How does it differ from social work? Italian researcher on social innovation, Viola Petrella, discusses how design is more than just making things pretty and what it can contribute to addressing larger social issues.

Mwaffa’a Al-Hajjar helps us to buka panggung for the year 2020. We discuss poetry, translation and the staying power of words. Because nothing is more pertinent or urgent.

Mwaffa’a Al-Hajjar helps us to buka panggung for the year 2020. We discuss poetry, translation and the staying power of words. Because nothing is more pertinent or urgent.

As we cross over the threshold into 2020, nostalgia often looms large in our imagination. Haniff and Simon turns to each other to wonder aloud why we wax lyrical about the past.

As we cross over the threshold into 2020, nostalgia often looms large in our imagination. Haniff and Simon turns to each other to wonder aloud why we wax lyrical about the past.

Senario is a sketch comedy series that aired on public TV station, TV3 from June 1996 to 2013. Why take them seriously? Luqman Lee, a lecturer in screen studies from the University of Malaya, explores what television culture can tell us about state narratives.

Senario is a sketch comedy series that aired on public TV station, TV3 from June 1996 to 2013. Why take them seriously? Luqman Lee, a lecturer in screen studies from the University of Malaya, explores what television culture can tell us about state narratives.

Researcher and community builder Rocky How visits us from Singapore and shares with us his long term interest to critically unpack social housing rhetoric through fostering inclusive conversations around issues of land justice.

Researcher and community builder Rocky How visits us from Singapore and shares with us his long term interest to critically unpack social housing rhetoric through fostering inclusive conversations around issues of land justice.

How do we write a story about a colonial city from the perspective of the colonised? Scholar of Zamboanga’s visual culture, Felice Noelle Rodriguez, suggests we are required to place the city in its geographic context as it is part of events and changes of its neighbours and their relations as well with others. It is a story of borrowings and sharing.

How do we write a story about a colonial city from the perspective of the colonised? Scholar of Zamboanga’s visual culture, Felice Noelle Rodriguez, suggests we are required to place the city in its geographic context as it is part of events and changes of its neighbours and their relations as well with others. It is a story of borrowings and sharing.

What changes the way we communicate with one another in the 19th century and how did it change the world of literature? Wan Azriq joins us this week to discuss Munshi Abdullah, a pioneer in modern Malay literature, as a social media influencer.

What changes the way we communicate with one another in the 19th century and how did it change the world of literature? Wan Azriq joins us this week to discuss Munshi Abdullah, a pioneer in modern Malay literature, as a social media influencer.

Kellie’s Castle has been a cornerstone of Batu Gajah's history, receiving around 200,000 visitors each year. These numbers saw an interesting spike recently since the castle opened its doors to the public at night for the first time, exclusively in the month of October. The national heritage is an architecture carved in culture and shrouded in mystery. Admittedly, there's something ominous about the mansion that keeps its antiquity alive. And more importantly, what lies ahead for Kellie’s Castle in the future. BFM News explores.

Kellie’s Castle has been a cornerstone of Batu Gajah's history, receiving around 200,000 visitors each year. These numbers saw an interesting spike recently since the castle opened its doors to the public at night for the first time, exclusively in the month of October. The national heritage is an architecture carved in culture and shrouded in mystery. Admittedly, there's something ominous about the mansion that keeps its antiquity alive. And more importantly, what lies ahead for Kellie’s Castle in the future. BFM News explores.

This week we examine the fascinating life of Luso-Malay mestiço cosmographer Manuel Godinho de Erédia, who lived and worked in the Portuguese Estado da Índia (including Malacca) around the turn of the seventeenth century. Chase Caldwell Smith, co-producer of the Global History Podcast, crosses over from the intern desk here at BFM to join us in exploring hybrid identities that empire and cultural exchange helped to shape in the early years of globalisation.

This week we examine the fascinating life of Luso-Malay mestiço cosmographer Manuel Godinho de Erédia, who lived and worked in the Portuguese Estado da Índia (including Malacca) around the turn of the seventeenth century. Chase Caldwell Smith, co-producer of the Global History Podcast, crosses over from the intern desk here at BFM to join us in exploring hybrid identities that empire and cultural exchange helped to shape in the early years of globalisation.

Museums in our part of the world used to be called the Ajaib-khana, or the wonder house. It was a place that inspired through the collection and display of artefacts to tell a story about belonging to a place and also in the world. Joining us this week is Qaleeda Talib, a history graduate with a passion for public history. We explore the big question - what are museums established for? Are they still relevant today? How has it changed over time?

Museums in our part of the world used to be called the Ajaib-khana, or the wonder house. It was a place that inspired through the collection and display of artefacts to tell a story about belonging to a place and also in the world. Joining us this week is Qaleeda Talib, a history graduate with a passion for public history. We explore the big question - what are museums established for? Are they still relevant today? How has it changed over time?

What value can Islam bring to a state that prides itself for upholding laïcité (or secularism) as its founding principles? This week we are joined by Abdennour Bidar, a French philosopher on Islamic culture, who insists that understanding religion in our increasingly multicultural society can only happen if we are willing to engage in a conversation.

What value can Islam bring to a state that prides itself for upholding laïcité (or secularism) as its founding principles? This week we are joined by Abdennour Bidar, a French philosopher on Islamic culture, who insists that understanding religion in our increasingly multicultural society can only happen if we are willing to engage in a conversation.

There is renewed interest in history amongst the younger generation today and they are thinking about the value of history differently. One of them is Nadine Azalea Faisal, who joins us in our conversation this week. She has just returned from the University of Chicago from her undergraduate studies, where she read Indian Ocean history as well as South Asian languages and civilisations.

There is renewed interest in history amongst the younger generation today and they are thinking about the value of history differently. One of them is Nadine Azalea Faisal, who joins us in our conversation this week. She has just returned from the University of Chicago from her undergraduate studies, where she read Indian Ocean history as well as South Asian languages and civilisations.

The measure of democracy is not always defined by a process of consensus-building. The majority is not always right. Helping us understand the rights of migrants and refugees in this light, and her process of learning how to care is Elise Arya Chen, programme officer at Tenaganita.