Wednesday 16:00-16:30 Laurie Taylor discusses the latest social science research.
15 August 2007 repeat 19 August
THE OPRAH PHENOMENON The Oprah Winfrey show is probably the highest rated show in television history and Oprah Winfrey herself, now aged fifty three, is one of the world’s most influential women. Jennifer Harris, Professor of English at Mount Allison University in Canada, is Co-Editor of a recently published work of cultural criticism entitled The Oprah Phenomenon. She talks to Laurie about Oprah and her extraordinary appeal.
COMPLEXITY THEORY Complexity science studies all kinds of different complex systems which exist in the world, looking for a commonality which can be explained mathematically. It is hoped by the adherents that Complexity theory can provide a theory of change which can explain and predict change in a host of different areas, from the rise and fall of the stock market to traffic jams on the M25.
Laurie Taylor is joined by Neil Johnson, Professor of Physics from Oxford University, currently working at the University of Miami in Florida, author of Two’s Company, Three Is Complexity and David Byrne, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Durham.
Additional information:
Dr Jennifer Harris Professor of English, Department of English at Mount Allison University
The Oprah phenomenon Jennifer Harris (Editor), Elwood Watson (Editor) Publisher: University Press of Kentucky ISBN-10: 0813124263 ISBN-13: 978-0813124261
Professor Neil Johnson CABDyN Scientific Management Board, Professor of Physics, Department of Physics, Oxford / University of Miami
Two’s Company, Three Is Complexity Publisher: Oneworld Publications ISBN-10: 1851684883 ISBN-13: 978-1851684885
Professor David Byrne Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Durham
Complexity Theory and the Social Sciences: An Introduction Publisher: Routledge ISBN-10: 0415162963 ISBN-13: 978-0415162968
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