More from Nathanael Johnson
The Planning Problem
(00:26:38)
From: Nathanael Johnson
The Big Dig, the Bay Bridge, the Chunnel... Why do transportation projects go so spectacularly over budget? There's a simple explanation - this documentary uses California's ...
Overtreatment: How health care makes us sick
(00:08:58)
From: Nathanael Johnson
The health-care debate is focused on quantity: how many people – and how much care they will get. But perhaps quality, rather than quantity of care, is more important.
Classical Revolution
(00:05:18)
From: Nathanael Johnson
Young classical mucisians jamming in bars are drawing young audiences
Messiaen at 100: Apparition of the Eternal Church
(00:06:07)
From: Nathanael Johnson
Messiaen did something to make just about everyone angry - so why are there people left who love him?
Speculations: Real Estate meets String Theory
(00:05:37)
From: Nathanael Johnson
The conceptual art of Jonathan Keats
Literature and Music: Circular inspiration
(00:05:30)
From: Nathanael Johnson
Books inspire musicians - music inspires authors.
Under the skin at the Museum of Verterbrate Zoology
(00:11:42)
From: Nathanael Johnson
An stroll through the gory depths of a UC Berkeley Museum preparation lab -- the place where animals are skinned and stuffed for posterity -- in this audio report. [Warning: ...
Recruiting Musician Soldiers
(00:04:49)
From: Nathanael Johnson
The Army is using craigslist to recruit musicians.
Redeveloping Oakland
(00:16:06)
From: Nathanael Johnson
A history of redevelopment in Oakland, California.
Web animation: a new genre of family entertainment
(00:06:06)
From: Nathanael Johnson
Web animators whose art lands in the intersection of cute and ironic are drawing unbelievable numbers of fans.
Piece Description
Lede: What is a polar bear? Okay, sure, it?s a big white member of the Ursus genus, but it?s also a symbol. These days lots of people are thinking of polar bears in terms of what they signify, more than what they actually are. When Time Magazine published a special report on global warming, editors put a polar bear on the cover. Reporter Nathanael Johnson went to find out what it is about polar bears that makes them such ideal poster-animals of global warming. I talk to some real live polar bears and a cute-ologist, then chat up a Sierra Club rep about branding strategy.
Broadcast History
Podcast through the UC Berkeley's California Magazine
Transcript
Polar Bear Story
By Nathanael Johnson nathanael47@gmail.com
TRT ~7:00
What is a polar bear? Okay, sure, it?s a big white member of the Ursus genus that lives in the north ? but it?s also a symbol. These days lots of people are thinking of polar bears in terms of what they signify ? more than what they actually are. When Time Magazine published a special report on global warming, editors put a polar bear on the cover. Reporter Nathanael Johnson went to find out what it is about polar bears that makes them such ideal poster-animals of global warming.
(Roar)
NJ: That ? is a polar bear. It?s about 4 feet away, and from this range there?s nothing abstract about it. There?s just claws and fur and teeth. I?ll come back to this very real bear in a moment, but first, I?d like to take a step back and ? (roar) okay, maybe a few steps back, maybe I?ll just close this gate.
(Gate amb)...
Read the full transcript
Timing and Cues
Polar Bear Story
By Nathanael Johnson nathanael47@gmail.com
TRT ~7:00
What is a polar bear? Okay, sure, it?s a big white member of the Ursus genus that lives in the north ? but it?s also a symbol. These days lots of people are thinking of polar bears in terms of what they signify ? more than what they actually are. When Time Magazine published a special report on global warming, editors put a polar bear on the cover. Reporter Nathanael Johnson went to find out what it is about polar bears that makes them such ideal poster-animals of global warming.





Jennifer Dagri
Posted on December 11, 2006 at 09:43 AM | Permalink
Review of Polar Bears: Branding Global Warming
I was very interested in this article, as it raises question to important global warming issues and the ways in which propagandists can effectively reach the public eye on this increasing threat. Not only are newsreporters begining to call attention to this, but artists are starting to adopt a cohabitual career of art and our fragile ecosystem. Eco-artists have adopted initiatives to help avert a global ecological emergency. This report on polarbears reminds me of these artists attempts to gain attention and public awareness. An animal is an internationally recognized icon- when we see an animal in severe pain- it causes us to want to do something about it. For more information about this article see Timeout.com/london/art.