Civics 101

Civics 101

Author: International Festival of Arts & Ideas October 8, 2025 Duration: 57:54

Join The Honorable Clifton Graves for a thought-provoking discussion that bridges Ray Bradbury's classic dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 with the urgent civic challenges facing America today. Speaking at New Haven Public Library -  Stetson Branch, Judge Clifton Graves draws powerful connections between Ray Bradbury's 1953 vision of censorship and book burning in Fahrenheit 451  and contemporary concerns about democratic institutions, media manipulation, and civic engagement.

What You'll Hear
In this candid and wide-ranging conversation, Judge Graves explores how dystopian themes from literature have become reality for many Americans throughout history—from the suppression of literacy during slavery to the McCarthy Era's political persecution to today's ongoing struggles with book banning and institutional control. He shares personal family history, including stories of his great-grandfather, one of the first African American U.S. Deputy Marshals, while connecting historical patterns to present-day challenges

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From the vibrant stages and conversations of New Haven's International Festival of Arts & Ideas comes Great Art, Big Ideas, a podcast that captures the festival's spirit of curious collision. Here, a choreographer might explain the geometry of movement alongside a physicist, or a playwright's process illuminates a community's untold history. This isn't a lecture series; it's a collection of dialogues where artistic practice and intellectual inquiry are inseparable, exploring everything from the deeply serious to the delightfully whimsical. Each episode is built on the belief that a novel and a scientific hypothesis can spark similar wonder, and that a performance can challenge assumptions as powerfully as a debate. You'll hear artists, thinkers, and innovators discuss the pressing topics that shape our local communities and the wider world, offering perspectives that often subvert expectations. Tuning into this podcast means accessing the festival's eclectic programming year-round, discovering how a single idea, examined through different lenses, can fundamentally shift your point of view. The conversations are designed to linger, prompting new connections long after the episode ends. It’s for anyone who finds fuel in the space where disciplines meet, where a big idea gives art its resonance and great art makes an idea tangible.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 37

Great Art, Big Ideas
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Duration: 1:28
Introducing Great Art, Big Ideas Podcast from the International Festival of Arts & Ideas in New Haven, CT. This series delves into the most pressing topics in our local community and around the world. All of this season'…