Hosted by Charlie Bennett and Christian Sager.
The 2015 Hugo Awards showed us what happens when science fiction/fantasy fandom turns on itself. A year later we look back at the arguments and manipulations of all the parties involved: Sad Puppies, Rabid Puppies and everyone else. Given how similar this controversy’s rhetoric is to the 2016 presidential election, should we look at cultural moments like this as predictors of larger issues in society?
If you’re interested in how the Hugos went this year, here’s Verge’s summary of the event.
Additional Resources:
- Who Won Science Fiction’s Hugo Awards, and Why It Matters
- Oh No, the Puppies Are Back for the 2016 Hugo Awards—and As Angry As Ever
- Hugo awards shortlist dominated by rightwing campaign
- The Puppy Wars Resume by George R.R. Martin
- Hugo Award nominations spark criticism over diversity in sci-fi
- Hugo Award Withdrawls
- Are the Hugo nominees really the best sci-fi books of the year?
- This year’s Hugo Award nominees are a messy political controversy
- The Final Lessons From This Year’s Hugo Awards Clusterfrak
Charlie and Christian examine DC Comics’ latest attempt to reinvent their publishing line. Is it really about defeating despair with hope, as writer/executive Geoff Johns has said? And is this friendly to new readers? We also look at the ethical implications of using characters from “Watchmen” in an attempt to create a shared universe with an emotionally compelling narrative.
Additional Resources:
- “A Layman’s Guide To Why People Are Flipping Out Over DC Comics Rebirth #1″ by Susanna Polo
- ‘Rebirth’: Geoff Johns Talks About Bringing Hope Back to the DC Universe by Graeme McMillan
- The Wait, What? Roundtable! Speedy Edition: DC Universe: Rebirth
- io9 Round Table: What We Loved and Hated About DC Comics: Rebirth
Looking back on the Batman film “The Dark Knight,” does it stand for anything? Or does it simply soak up whatever morals we bring to it? Christopher Nolan’s intentions remain mysterious, but we do our best to figure them out.
Additional Resources
- JOHNSON, V. (2014). ‘It’s What You Do that Defines You:’ Christopher Nolan’s Batman as Moral Philosopher. Journal Of Popular Culture, 47(5), 952. doi:10.1111/jpcu.12181
- The Dark Knight of the American Empire
- Hunting The Dark Knight : Twenty-First Century Batman. London: I.B.Tauris
- Dive Deep Into the Making of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy With This Documentary
The Elmore Leonard character “Raylan Givens” from JUSTIFIED speaks to Charlie and Christian. For some reason he makes us feel safe and in control. Is he a barometer for the current state of America?
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