FORA.tv is a video site that wants to make you smarter. Without saying anything bad about YouTube and its imitators, this is a rare ambition on the web today. FORA.tv gathers videos of speeches, lectures and panel debates on topics such as politics, science and culture. The videos are long, often boring, and rarely contain even a single TV-worthy soundbite. It’s my favourite new website in a long while – this is what’s missing from television. In such a gathering of public intellectuals, academics and activists, you’ll inevitably suffer many silly and eccentric speakers, and if that is enough to scare you away I recommend you go watch this freaking hilarious dramatic chipmunk on YouTube. For the rest of you, here are some recommendations to start with:
- I already linked to Nassim Nicholas Taleb, who is a bad speaker, but has important things to say, (a common combination).
- A panel on propaganda. Skip the first speaker, and my favourite part (about the Solidarity movement in Poland) begins at chapter 15.
- This second part from the same conference talks about the science of manipulation. My favourite part is with Frank Luntz from chapter 9.
- Walt Mossberg talks about cellphones and internet technology.
- Sudhir Venkatesh talks about his book Gang Leader For a Day, about what he learned from his friendship with a Chicago gang leader.