Interviews

The Figure/Ground interview collection amounts to a study and practice in academic journalism inspired by Bryan Magee‘s philosophical interviews and Hans Ulrich Obrist‘s Interview Project. Our conversations provide accessible pathways into a wide range of higher education, issues through in-depth dialogue with academics, artists and intellectuals. Our aim is to inform and entertain a highly literate audience about new scholarly and artistic trends. The ever-expanding collection of interviews is compelling for the following reasons:

The content is free. Critical academic voices are thus made available to diverse publics. This is a crucial component of democratizing technology.
The content is accessible. In order for broad dissemination of high theory and innovation to be effective, it must be expressed in a form that non-specialist readers will find accessible. The interview format Figure/Ground uses is thus ideal: we ask lively and penetrating questions that allow his respondents to cover both personal and professional terrain in resonant ways that don’t require dumbing down leading points.
The content is diverse. From philosophers to media experts to education specialists. This diversity enhances appeal as the texts address difficult matters of ideology without themselves cohering around any narrow ideological frame.
The content is of the highest caliber. There are no brief and superficial conversations here. Each interview is comprehensive, not to say exhaustive. Figure/Ground poses thought-provoking questions and then steps back and allow them to explain and expound upon their ideas.

To learn more about our project, download Laureano Ralon‘s recent feature article, Figure/Ground Communication: The Meaning of Meaning is Relationship, published by the University of Southern California’s International Journal of Communication.

Your feedback is welcome and appreciated! If you like what you see, please consider commenting or donating to help this section grow. For specific suggestions regarding future/potential interviewees or to obtain permission to republish any of the interviews already on the site, write to laureano@alumni.sfu.ca.