Brainwave

A community outreach program initiated by Tim McHenry, Director of Public Programs and Performance at New York City's Rubin Museum of Art, Brainwave is an online-aired series of conversations between scientists and celebrities about the workings of the human mind. This set collects 10 conversations filmed before live audiences between 2008 and 2013, which are accompanied by rudimentary materials, mostly slides. The topics cover a wide range, including discussions of bliss with writer Eric Weiner, anger with dyspeptic comedian Louis Black, meditation with Loch Kelly, fear with children's horror author R.L. Stine, and disgust with chef Mario Batali (using taste as a touchstone). The physical nature of the universe is taken up by performance artist Laurie Anderson and astrophysicist Janna Levin, while choreographer Mark Morris considers how movement affects the brain with neuroscientist Bevil Conway. Three of the presentations feature musician Henry Rollins, actress Debra Winger, and novelist Amy Tan, who discuss the nature of dreams—whether they come true, and their impact on the creative process. McHenry appears briefly to introduce each segment. DVD extras include an illustrated viewer's guide. A bit of a mishmash, content-wise, Brainwave should nevertheless attract a diverse audience given the big name participants, making this a strong optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)