Associate Editor Brett Pardy recently defended his PhD about film and empathy. We discuss his research, what inspired him to get into the topic, and how Seventh Row ties in. This episode also features Editor-in-Chief Alex Heeney and Executive Editor Orla Smith. On this episode: Brett's Doctoral Dissertation (0:45) Related episodes (4:48) Brett's origin story for getting into this study (9:36) Cultural perceptions of films as just entertainment (18:24) What does empathy through film look like? (29:03) Having conversations about films (34:36) Expanding people's film horizons (43:31) How Seventh Row relates to this (48:36) Conclusion (1:02:18) Show notes: Read Brett's interview with Stupid Young Heart director Selma Vilhunen and writer Kirsikka Saari Read Alex's interview with Meditation Park director Mina Shum Read Roger Ebert's speech about empathy and film. See the They Shoot Pictures, Don't They Top 1000 film list Related episodes: Bonus 26: Benedict Cumberbatch’s best, worst, and poshest performances (Member's Only) Bonus 19: Who is the poshest actor in Britain? (Member's Only) Ep. 90: Jeanne Dielman and Les Rendez-vous d’Anna: A Chantal Akerman mother’s day (Member's Only) Ep. 86: Una & Slalom: Depictions of childhood sexual assault (Member's Only) Ep. 73: Promising Young Woman and The Assistant: Explorations of rape culture (Member's Only) Ep. 72: Steve McQueen’s Small Axe (Member's Only) Ep. 69: Paddington and Paddington 2 (Member's Only) Ep. 68: Hillbilly Elegy and Down to the Bone: Mothers struggling with addiction (Member's Only) Ep. 46: A conversation between Mina Shum and Philippe Falardeau (Member's Only) Ep. 39: Jeff Barnaby’s Rhymes for Young Ghouls and Blood Quantum (Member's Only)