How do we trust each other enough to take care of each other, especially these days? Does the idea of resilience help us or hurt us? And what the hell does Ayn Rand have to do with any of it? Sarah Clarke Miller (Penn State) and Jason Rivera (CUNY - John Jay) join Mitch and Jordan to talk about caregiving ethics of care in emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. What does how we respond to disaster say about our society? What does equity have to do with it? We crank up the epistemological drinking game to cover caregiving relationships, this thing called moral injury and the need for structural change in emergency management. Care is a civic virtue, and we need it - so how do we reimagine resilience in a way that prioritizes community support and mutual aid?

• Ayn Rand's ethics can provoke discussions on care.
• COVID-19 highlighted the crisis of caregiving.
• Societal responses to emergencies often lack equity.
• Social capital plays a crucial role in resilience.
• Moral injury affects caregivers in various professions.
• Anticipating future pandemics requires structural change.
• Resilience should not be the only virtue we value.
• Care can be a radical political act.
• The politics of care can reshape societal norms.
• Imagining a new future of care is essential.

When you picture a disaster, how do you know that's the way it will really go? The fact is, you don't - and neither do movie directors making badass semi-classics like San Andreas or The Day After Tomorrow. Where do these ideas about disasters come from, how true are they and are they helping us managing these crises that keep whacking us across the face like we're Bruce Willis in Die Hard? Lindsey Thomas (author of Training for Catastrophe) and John Carr (co-author, with Sam Montano of The Landscape of Disaster Film) join Jordan and Mitch to discuss those grab a gun moments, how movies crossover into disaster education, and how it all shapes what we see when we imagine a disaster.

----

AI Generated Show Notes

Chapters

00:00 Introduction of guests

04:16 Defining disaster movies and favorite picks

07:49 The construction and impact of disaster movies

11:54 The influence of disaster movies on real-world disasters

17:31 The standardization and normalization of disaster

30:50 Analyzing the accuracy of disaster movies

37:18 The role of literature in constructing disaster imaginaries

39:54 The limitations of preparedness training exercises

41:01 Inaccurate Disaster Scenarios and the Why

43:01 Religion and Politics in the Disaster Imaginary

46:51 Misinformation and the Blurring of Fact and Fiction

50:55 Improving the Way We Imagine Disasters

57:03 Limitations of Current Disaster Preparedness Efforts

01:01:56 The Power of Storytelling to Reshape the Disaster Imaginary

01:16:12 Dry Transition.mp4

01:16:40 The Influence of Disaster Movies

01:17:35 Nostalgia and Western Flavors

01:18:01 Shoot-Them-Up Action in Disaster Movies

01:18:18 Ending Tough Shift vHigh.mp4

Takeaways

Disaster movies shape societal perceptions of real disasters.

Preparedness strategies have historical roots dating back to WWII.

The impact of 9/11 has changed disaster narratives significantly.

Cultural artifacts influence how we understand and respond to disasters.

Training exercises often rely on fictional narratives to prepare for real events.

Diverse perspectives are crucial in disaster planning and response.

The normalization of disaster narratives can lead to misconceptions.

Realism in training exercises is essential for effective preparedness.

Disasters are often compounded and not singular events.

Public perception of disasters can be influenced by media and storytelling.

Summary

This conversation explores the complex relationship between disaster movies, societal perceptions of disasters, and the preparedness strategies employed by emergency management. The guests discuss how cultural artifacts shape our understanding of disasters, the historical context of preparedness, and the impact of events like 9/11 on disaster narratives. They emphasize the need for diverse perspectives in disaster planning and the importance of realism in training exercises, while also critiquing the limitations of current preparedness frameworks.

Keywords

disaster movies, preparedness, emergency management, societal response, cultural narratives, 9/11 impact, disaster training, fictional narratives, societal resilience, disaster perception

Carol Hay and Jeff Schlegelmilch join us on a journey through Covid, disaster policy and .... polyamory? How do we improve our responses these terrible events - and what does it have to do with how couples who practice BDSM keep each other safe? How do we change the incentive structures within in our society to improve disaster risk, and what does this have to do with the threesome with Immanuel Kant that Mitch and Jordan have been in for the last decade? All this plus the story of the 1927 flood, and our epistemological drinking game.

--

Quick reading list:

Think Like a Feminist (Carol): https://www.amazon.com/Think-Like-Feminist-Philosophy-Revolution-ebook/dp/B085RN1328?ref_=ast_author_mpb

Catastrophic Incentives (Jeff): https://cup.columbia.edu/book/catastrophic-incentives/9780231555432

---

Show Notes (Auto Generated)

summary

The conversation explores the handling of disasters and the problems it causes, as well as the reasons behind it. The guests discuss the impact of COVID-19 on disaster response and how it has challenged traditional conceptions of disasters. They also touch on the need for a shift in disaster recovery goals, moving away from simply restoring the pre-disaster state and towards addressing underlying inequalities. The conversation highlights the importance of perception shifts, collective creativity, and explicit goals in shaping disaster response. The conversation explores the influence of pop culture on society and the allocation of funds for disaster recovery. It highlights the disconnect between data and dominant cultural narratives, as well as the tension between individual rights and collective action. The discussion also delves into the role of government in addressing collective action problems and the need for a shift in crisis epistemology. The importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in emergency management is emphasized, along with the challenge of navigating different value systems. The conversation concludes with the recognition that redefining the role of government and changing crisis-focused mindsets are crucial for promoting disaster resilience and social change. Disasters can reveal the underlying structures of privilege and oppression, as well as challenge our notions of community response. In times of crisis, even those committed to social justice may feel threatened and resort to self-defense. The surge in new gun owners during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among women and people of color, highlights this response. Disasters provide an opportunity to bring feminist philosophical tools into the conversation and practice of disaster management. The tools from a feminist toolkit that could be useful include Rawls' difference principle and the concept of epistemic injustice.

keywords

disasters, handling, problems, COVID-19, impact, traditional conceptions, recovery goals, inequalities, perception shifts, collective creativity, explicit goals, disaster response, pop culture, society, disaster recovery, data, cultural narratives, individual rights, collective action, government, crisis epistemology, diversity, equity, inclusion, emergency management, value systems, social change, disasters, privilege, oppression, community response, social justice, self-defense, gun ownership, feminist philosophy, Rawls, difference principle, epistemic injustice

takeaways

• The handling of disasters often leads to problems and raises questions about the underlying reasons and approaches.
• COVID-19 has challenged traditional conceptions of disasters and highlighted the need for a shift in disaster response.
• Disaster recovery goals should move beyond restoring the pre-disaster state and address underlying inequalities.
• Perception shifts and collective creativity play a crucial role in shaping disaster response.
• Explicit goals and a focus on addressing inequalities are essential in...