Have you ever wondered how Buddhism and rock music relate? Do you think of an apocalypse when you gaze at a lush courtyard? Listen and learn to “think freer” about the Smithsonian’s museums of Asian art, our collections, and the big ideas they provoke.

How do we deal with a world that seems to be collapsing around us? Explore how different societies have used art to make sense of disaster and to protect themselves from perceived chaos.

Apocalypse in the Museum

It’s often said that cooking is an art. But what can art tell us about cooking? Hear about food etiquette in medieval Iran, tea-drinking in Japan, the development of wine in Eurasia, and artist James McNeill Whistler’s distinctive breakfast parties.