Studio 360 plays around with harmony. Kurt Andersen and the jazz pianist Fred Hersch explore what makes a cluster of notes satisfying, or disturbing. They look at how harmony extends to colors in a Van Gogh painting and to the vaulted interior of a church. Also, in Design for the Real World—how Santa Clause divides his time between mythic figure and marketing tool.
The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!