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The Next Big Thing
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Sherry Ortner's yearbook
A Careful Study
Profiles of people who are expert at paying very close attention –anthropologist Sherry Ortner, whose most recent subjects were fellow graduates of a New Jersey high school; pianist Jeremy Denk, who can spend months mastering a single composition; and Joanne Karpowitz, who years ago learned to "hear" the people around her just by watching them. Also this week, the sounds of old Penn Station, and of an extremely disgruntled housewife.
The Sound of Staring
Heard in a bar in Union Square, New York City, one Sunday night. Produced for the Next Big Thing by Amy Farley.
Anthro 101: Welcome to Weequahic High
Anthropologist Sherry Ortner is best known for her work on the Sherpas in Nepal. In her latest book, New Jersey Dreaming: Capital, Culture and the Class of ’58, she brings her ethnographic methods home – to her own high school graduating class. Produced by Amanda Aronczyk.
Old Penn Station
Four decades ago, the original Penn Station fell victim to demolition. The building was well-documented in photos, but few people know that there's another relic of the place - a documentary field recording intended for use in creating sound effects at a production house. Those sounds create a sense of place you just can't get from pictures.
Photo of Penn Station courtesy of the Library of Congress
Not Hearing
When Joanne Karpowitz was growing up, there were few resources available for the severely hearing impaired. So she learned to make do, to the point where now she is often able to “pass” as hearing, though in fact she can barely hear at all. But as she’s learned, passing comes at a price. Karpowitz shares her experiences of not hearing in a hearing world with The Next Big Thing’s Julie Subrin.
» Click here for a transcript of this piece
Blowing Steam
Sometimes the most ordinary activities can give rise to very strong feelings. Like, say, preparing a pot of chili. "The Cursing Mommy Cookbook" was written by Ian Frazier for the R.B.S. Gazette. It was adapted for radio and produced by Curtis Fox, and performed by Mary Purdy.
Still Playing That Song
It’s been months since pianist Jeremy Denk performed Czech composer Leos Janacek’s "On an Overgrown Path" in concert. Yet the music keeps coming back to haunt him. Denk joins host Dean Olsher in the studio to play from the composition and to try to figure out what makes it so compelling.