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Now displaying: 2016


Hosted by Charlie Bennett and Christian Sager.

Dec 2, 2016

Regarded as one of the best graphic novels of our time, David Mazzucchelli’s Asterios Polyp is a story we all know in a way we’ve never seen before. We discuss Mazzucchelli’s decision to stop doing “assembly line comics” and take control of his works’ symbolism, formalism and experimentation. 

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Nov 4, 2016

With the release of stand up comedian Kyle Kinane’s new album “Loose in Chicago,” we try to understand his process of mixing “scumbag stories” with contrarian confessions. And after a recent comedy show gone sour, we wonder what kind of etiquette to expect from live audiences.

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Oct 28, 2016

Filmmaker John Carpenter describes The Thing, Prince of Darkness, and In the Mouth of Madness as his "Apocalypse Trilogy." With the expertise of special guest Jack Bennett, we aim to find out why. It may have something to do with cosmic horror, nihilism, misanthropy and the futility of human existence.

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Oct 14, 2016

PJ Harvey’s latest album is her interpretation of the ironies of war. So why are Washington D.C. politicians criticizing it? And how did its production in a public setting contribute to Harvey’s overall artistic project?

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Oct 7, 2016

Why didn't the dark Marvel superhero Netflix series "Jessica Jones" live up to our expectations? We look at the intersection of corporate entertainment, feminism and creativity to find out. Along the way we uncover the creepy secret of how your binge watching is being tracked by telephone surveillance.

Sep 30, 2016

Every year science fiction writer and futurist Bruce Sterling gives a “state of the world” presentation at SXSW Interactive. We consider his remarks from this year and what they mean for politics, social media and surveillance.

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Sep 23, 2016

We go to the vault in this episode, pulling out our take on True Detective’s second season. Is “it all” Nic Pizzolatto? And if so, do both the blame and accolades lay at his feet?

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Sep 16, 2016

While talking about the dark fantasy comic “Locke and Key,” we get drawn into the complicated media world surrounding adaptations and monetization. Are comics the best engine for creative, collaborative storytelling? We look at Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez’s partnership to find out.

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Sep 2, 2016

In anticipation of the Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds album “Skeleton Tree” and its accompanying documentary “One More Time With Feeling,” we discuss the tragedy of losing a child and its effect on art, performance and persona. 

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Aug 26, 2016

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. 

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Aug 19, 2016

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.

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Aug 12, 2016

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.  

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Aug 5, 2016

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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The Gunslinging Wit of Raylan Givens

The Justified Cast on Raylan Givens, Son of a Bitch

Jul 29, 2016

In an unusually giddy, slaphappy episode, Charlie & Christian try to understand how Game of Thrones' sixth season was made. When does an adaptation stop being an adaptation? What happens when it passes -- and surpasses -- its source material?

n an unusually giddy, slaphappy episode, Charlie & Christian try to understand how Game of Thrones’ sixth season was made. When does an adaptation stop being an adaptation? What happens when it passes – and surpasses – its source material?

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Jul 22, 2016

Is media better when its creators have total control? We look at the first volume of SAGA and explore issues of ownership, censorship and salesmanship with this near perfect comic book.

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Jul 15, 2016
 
Quentin Tarantino's either an idiot savant or a savvy businessman with his latest film The Hateful Eight. So we cover script leaks, film stock, Black Lives Matter protests, police boycotts and much more about the making of this film to figure out why it's so damn compelling.
 

Quentin Tarantino’s either an idiot savant or a savvy businessman with his latest film The Hateful Eight. So we cover script leaks, film stock, Black Lives Matter protests, police boycotts and much more about the making of this film to figure out why it’s so damn compelling.    

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