Zulu Love Letter Podcast

This week we examine the South African film Zulu Love Letter by Ramadan Suleman. The film examines how a woman and a culture come to terms with South Africa's Apartheid past. The concept of reconstructing the personal and collective narrative comes to bear on this powerfully poignant film.


This podcast was written and produced by Shailin Patel, Frank Ciongoli, Claire Bradshaw, Megan Mcgregor, and Miranda Holmes.

Shipwrecked Body Podcast

Shipwrecked Body is the 2008 translation of Ana Clavel's Cuerpo naufrago which was released one year prior. In this novel Antonia wakes up one morning in a male body and tries to make sense of her new biological sex while working out her gender. 

This podcast was written and produced by Casey O’Neill, Zoe Adler, Taylor Deane, Manuel Figueroa, and Shannon Tarr.

Death and the Maiden Podcast

This week we examine Ariel Dorfman's Death and the Maiden. This seminal work deals with the complexity of a nation's return to democracy after a brutal dictatorship and the feelings of those that transition left behind.

This podcast was written and produced by Jun Suk (Andy) Byun, Tracy Knittel, James
Patrushev, Joelle Karlitz, and Chandi Mehta

Tsotsi (Film)

 This podcast follows the novel Tsotsi as it is adapted to film. While some of the differences are relatively minor, other alterations change the focus and perhaps violate the world of the original, or does it? We recommend that you read the novel and watch the film.

This podcast was written and produced by Natasha Bhave, Sara Mannion, Angie Hedglin, Chris Clark, Jacqueline Pinou, and Carli Truax. (Additional Images are forthcoming.)

Puccini For Beginners Podcast

The 2006 film Puccini For Beginners by Maria Maggenti is a wonderfully comedic film that deals with how people can struggle with relationships and identity politics. Allegra self identifies as a lesbian who has trouble dealing with commitment but soon finds herself in a complicated pair of relationships and in the end learns a great deal about herself.

The Puccini for Beginners podcast was written and produced by Marissa Boardley, William Graber, Sarah Eason, and Nick Boutin.

The Laramie Project Podcast

The Laramie Project Podcast

The Laramie Project is a play that deals with the trauma of the murder of Matthew Shepard. The Tectonic Theater Project went to the town of Laramie, Wyoming and interviewed the people of the town. They then organized the interviews into one of the more memorable and important plays of the turn of the century. This podcast takes a look at this momentous play.

The Laramie Project podcast was written and produced by Caroline Crasnick, Jason Hu, Collin McClane, Sahil Desai, Tracy Crouthamel, and Maika Yanagishita.

Athol Fugard's Tsotsi

Tsotsi: The Novel by Athol Fugard

This podcast is on Athol Fugard's novel Tsotsi. This novel took decades to finish and was turned into a film of the same name. It differs quite a bit from the film in both style and substance. We hope you will listen to this podcast and our upcoming look at the adaptation.

This podcast was written and produced by Nicole Farrell, Kelly Rose, Brian C. Kapaun, RJ Howard, Laura Barbosa, and Kevin Swanick.

Our latest podcast is on Mohsen Makhmalbaf's A Moment of Innocence. This film is a fascinating look at the concepts of forgiveness and redemption. Now the most famous film director in Iran, Makhmalbaf contacts the police officer he stabbed during the Iranian revolution in order to recreate that fateful moment.

This podcast was written and produced by Erin Gebhard, Kathrine Thomas, Ramya Gurunathan, Elizabeth Snell, Abigail Benninger, and Changchang Wu.

Deconstructing Harry

This podcast is on the 1997 Woody Allen film Deconstructing Harry. This is one of Allen's lesser known films and it received mixed reviews. Some critics thought it was funny while some thought it was downright nasty. Nevertheless, its inventive use of camera work and editing, its reflective mode, and commentary about film making and writing make it an interesting and important film for study. This podcast was written and produced by Brian Benigno, Nicholas Linnen, Madison Lippincott, Christina Lisciotto, Julia Rodriguez, Steven Stulock, and Tara Youssefi.

Welcome to CultureCast

Welcome to CultureCast. In the following podcasts we will be giving you information on some interesting pieces of world film and literature. Look for new updates every week.

Upcoming Podcasts include:



A Moment of Innocence  (Iran) directed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf

The Larmamie Project (US) Techtonic Theatre Company

Tsotsi (South Africa) written by Athol Fugard

Tsotsi (South Africa) directed by Gavin Hood

 Puccini for Beginners (US) directed by Maria Maggenti

Shipwrecked Body (Mexico) written by Ana Clavel

Death and the Maiden (Chile) written by Ariel Dorfman

Zulu Love Letter  (South Africa) directed by Ramadan Suleman