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SHADES OF COLOR
To The Best of Our Knowledge
from Wisconsin Public Radio
It used to be simple to pick out a shade of paint,
before computers made almost infinite gradations possible. Now if
you stare at those samples long enough they all start to look alike.
It turns out color is as much a mental construct as a physical substance.
In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, the world of
color. Also, Richard Rodriguez celebrates being brown.
SEGMENT 1:
Poet Molly Peacock talks with Steve Paulson
about the emotional impact of colors. Peacock recites a few poems,
including a long story-poem set in a Manhattan fruit and vegetable
market. Molly Peacock's latest collection is "Cornucopia:
New and Selected Poems." Also, Philip Ball is the
author of "Bright Earth: Art and the Invention of Color."
The book is a history of the development of paints and pigments.
Ball tells Anne Strainchamps that artists had to be chemists for
centuries and that often the paintings we see now look nothing
like the originals.
SEGMENT 2:
Doug Gordon decides to check his color chart,
with mixed results. Also, Marita Golden is the author of
"Don't Play in the Sun: One Woman's Journey through the Color
Complex." Golden tells Jim Fleming about the pernicious influence
of "colorism" within the Black community. She says that
even among African-Americans, people with lighter skin get preferential
treatment.
SEGMENT 3:
Richard Rodriguez calls his latest book "Brown:
The Last Discovery of America." He says brown people result
from a mixing of races such as when the European met the Indian
in the Americas. He says African-Americans share in this mixed
heritage. Rodriguez tells Steve Paulson why he celebrates being
brown and says Hispanics are the first minority to self-identity
by culture rather than race.
Cassette copies are available
at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 04-06-13-B.
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Books:
- Philip Ball, Bright
Earth: Art and the Invention of Color (FSG)
- Marita Golden, Don't
Play in the Sun: One Woman's Journey Through the Color Complex
(Doubleday)
- Molly Peacock, Cornucopia: New and Selected
Poems (Norton)
- Richard Rodriguez, Brown:
The Last Discovery of America (Viking)
Music:
- Button after Peacock: “Maroon”
from Ken Nordine’s Colors Asphodel 0954
- Button/Option after Ball: “Am I Blue”
Ralph Sutton & Kenny Davern Chaz Jazz Records CJ 106 (very
old lp)
- Button after Sadka: “Chrome” Trace Adkins
(on-line)
- Button/Option after Golden: “Colors”
Ice-T (on-line) Also available on Rhino CD “Say It Loud:
A Celebration of Black Music in America” Boxed Set
- Button after Rodriguez: “Sky” Richard
Stoltzman et al from New York Counterpoint RCA 5944-2-RC
- Close Music: See entry above
Distribution dates:
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Questions and comments can
be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org
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