Anatomy of Touch

BBC Radio 4 LW

Original version

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

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Anatomy of Touch: Touch Culture

Touch Culture

BBC Radio 4 - Anatomy of Touch, Touch Culture

How much does the culture we grow up in effect who we touch and how we touch?

Does the culture we grow up in dictate how we feel about touch? Or are there more subtle influences at work? Claudia Hammond looks at the results of the Touch Test.

At the Pink Diamond Martial Arts Club Hasina teaches Luton women from all cultures to defend themselves physically. This form of touch helped Hasina overcome the bullying of her childhood. But how do early experiences and cultural influences  shape how you feel about touch? Stereotypes abound for different nationalities, for example, the reserved British person complete with a stiff upper lip or the ebullient Italian.  Michael Banissy from Goldsmiths University of London, writer of the Touchstone Tales, Sudha Bhuchar and Juulia Suvilehto from Linkoping University in Sweden look at the results of the Touch Test and ask if attitudes to touch are more nuanced than outdated stereotypes.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Documentaries

Factual: Health & Wellbeing

How important is touch to us? Claudia Hammond reveals the BBC Touch Test results.

What does touch mean to us and how has the need for touch changed because of Covid-19? Claudia Hammond reveals the BBC Touch Test results.

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Programme Index

Anatomy of Touch

Touch Culture

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