2014-03-05 Alchemy LIII. Society according to Zygmunt Bauman

This time we sit on a bench in Laisvės Alley along with the sociologist Zygmunt Bauman right after the lecture at Vytautas Magnus University.

The conversation with the scientist born in Poznan in 1925 starts from the question. “Can I smoke in television?” the professor asks stuffing his pipe. We may look at the question symbolically – as to the starting point of the society research. Who has the right to allow or ban in our society? What is television in the contemporary social environment? What does it mean to smoke in public?.. An endless sequence of questions may be written. However, this broadcast is the place for answers.

Contrary to the TV format requirements, the broadcast is not divided in order to keep the tone of the viewer. Bauman answers questions without forgetting nuances of various phenomena; therefore, his statements are long – they last 6, 7, 8 minutes... And it is not a drawback of the broadcast. It is an advantage for sure! The professor speaks in a clear and simple language without demonstrating terminology typical of specialists. He is easy and interesting to listen to. Event the ones who attended his lectures will hear something new.