- Publisher |
- That's Not Canon Productions
- Media Type |
- audio
- Categories Via RSS |
- TV & Film
We're Erin and Rhonda, and we are big old nerds. We love dissecting our favorite movies, TV shows, and more, and we're really into how literature, history, and culture have impacted the works we consume. We explore connections across mediums, from the classic novels we see reflected in our favorite horror movies, to the politics in superhero franchises, to the influence of Shakespeare in, like, literally everything. There are also bad jokes. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
- People |
- Country Of Origin |
- USA
- Produced In |
- Tacoma, WA
- Premiere Date |
- 2018-10-25
- Frequency |
- Weekly
- Explicit |
- No
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Submit ReviewWe wrap up our series on A League of Their Own this week by discussing romance!
Erin gives us a rundown on the documentary A Secret Love, which chronicles the real-life love story of Rockford Peach Terry Donahue and her lifelong partner Patricia Henschel. Then Rhonda deep-dives into the reference made to Pride and Prejudice in the first episode of the show, and how this reference foreshadows or contextualizes the romance storylines.
Further Reading:
We also found this article on parallels with another literary reference, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Follow on Insta and join us next week for Rhonda's Birthday Bonus!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/message
We're continuing our discussion of A League of Their Own with a look inside the real All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) and a few of the real women who played in the league over its 12 seasons. We also analyze how accurately the movie and TV series portrayed the realities of the league.
Check out our recommended reading list below for our sources and further background on the history.
Recommended Reading:
This 2018 perspec-flash-women-baseball-wrigley-0624-20180612-story.html">Chicago Tribune article offers lots of valuable background
The Hidden Queer History Behind A League of Their Own
Official League profile of the Rockford Peaches
Rockford Peaches official website
LA Times profile of Maybelle Blair
Follow us on Instagram for our current read-and-watch recommendations.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageIt's officially baseball season and we're celebrating with a deep dive into the 2022 Amazon original series A League of Their Own, and the 1992 movie that inspired it! We open it up with a look at our first experiences with both the film and the series, and then do an overview of what we plan to explore in more depth this month.
Topics include the true history of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League and the real Rockford Peaches, as well as the real-life queer love stories that may have inspired the TV show's romance, plus how references to literary classics like Pride and Prejudice and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn offer parallels to the story, and more.
We also take the quiz to find out which character we are, which you can take here.
Follow along this month and join us on Instagram for some sporadic bonus content.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageThis week we're very excited to welcome our guest Natania Barron, author of the Arthurian-based Queens of Fate trilogy, to talk about the film The Green Knight, the character of Gawain and his many iterations, nerdy medievalist Easter eggs, the enduring and transcending relevance of Arthuriana, and so much more!
Find Natania and her books on her website and follow her on Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram. Her book Queen of None is still available from some sources, but it will be re-released along with its sequel, Queen of Fury, early next year.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageThis week in our discussion of The Green Knight, we look into readership and audience reception of the source text, the film, and other recent fantasy fiction. Medieval readers (or listeners) of Sir Gawain's story would have understood references and symbols in the text that many modern readers and viewers miss--what are some of these references?
We also talk about the persistent myth that everyone in Medieval Europe was white, and how this racist myth has affected modern audiences' perceptions of the film's casting choices. This leads into current broader popular culture discussions around the casting of actors of color in other fantasy media, such as House of the Dragon and The Rings of Power.
Further Reading:
Crash course on the source text
L.A. Times reviews of the film
How Gawain's race affects the film
An interview with "Medieval POC"
Race and Worldbuilding in Fantasy
And follow us on Instagram.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageWe're very excited to be diving in to the 2021 film The Green Knight this month, as well as the 14th century English epic poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight on which the film is based. As an introduction to this series, we discuss our overview thoughts on the movie, plus our experiences with the source text, as well as Arthurian legends in general.
We also do our usual "table of contents," giving you a taste of the topics we plan to talk about this month. Things like:
- the positioning of the text among its medieval contemporaries vs. how we view the text and film as a modern audience
- attitudes toward sex and sexuality in both medieval and modern contexts
- current pop culture works of fantasy fiction in which we see echoes of the same medievalist themes, like Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, and, yes, Star Wars
- how beautiful Dev Patel is
Plus, we are going to have a guest this month, and it's a good one! You'll definitely want to tune in for that. Or maybe not, I don't know, I don't know your life.
Go follow us on Instagram if you want very sporadic updates and random thoughts.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageWrapping up our series on To All The Boys, we look at how psychology and long distances affect the relationships in the films as well as in real life. Erin of course dips into her psychology expertise to talk about the vulnerability cycle in relationships, and how we see this play out especially in Lara Jean and Peter's story. And Rhonda breaks down some of the locations used in the films, from the Pacific Northwest, to Seoul, to NYC, looking at how setting informs the characters and story.
Further Reading:
Cycle.pdf%20">The Vulnerability Cycle in human relationships
Filming locations in the movies
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageThis week in our To All the Boys discussion, we look at how ideas and themes in the films are reflected in the real world. We research some other works and the life of Jenny Han, author of the books the films are based on, as well as how the idea of "soulmates" is expressed in literature and pop culture, especially teen romcoms. How have Han's experiences shaped her stories, and her role in the adaptations of her stories, and how has the idea of one perfect soul mate for everyone impacted how we view romance and romantic stories?
Further reading:
Interview with Jenny Han about her role as showrunner on The Summer I Turned Pretty
A Brief History of Soul Mates in literature and culture
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageLove letters and romance novels are two of the most prominent genres of writing that inform our cultural ideas about love and romance, and both feature prominently in To All the Boys. Lara Jean is an avid romance reader, and even has fantasies inspired by common romance novel tropes, and of course the entire premise of the first book and movie revolves around Lara Jean's love letters.
This week we dive into both of these forms of writing, the history behind them, how society has viewed them (and those who read and write these genres), and how we see these attitudes reflected and subverted in To All the Boys. It's a perfect discussion for Valentine's (or Galentine's) Day!
Further reading:
Why we love the fake dating trope
Follow us on Instagram for some very well-planned and relevant content.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageAll February long we're talking about our favorite Netflix teen romcom movie series, To All the Boys I've Loved Before (sorry, Kissing Booth)! In part one we talk about our initial experiences with the movies, the source of comfort they were during quarantine, and get into the topics we plan to discuss in more depth throughout the month. Themes include:
- the history of love letters
- romance novels and romance readers
- self-efficacy in teen romance
- and more!
We also decided to take our customary quiz early, and this one tells us which To All the Boys boy is our soulmate. You can take it along with us here.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageWe wrap up our Stranger Things discussion with a look at some of the literary inspirations for the show, such as the work of Stephen King and the Choose Your Own Adventure children's book series, as well as the interweaving of Dungeons and Dragons-style narrative storytelling with the ability for players to choose their own path.
We also take the quiz to find out which characters we are, and you can take it here.
Links:
Fandom Wiki page on all the influences and references in Stranger Things
Article on the literary sensibility of the show
Exploring the agency of women in Dungeons and Dragons
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messagePart 2 of our Stranger Things discussion dives into the DND lore, especially the monsters (because that's Erin's brand), from which the show draws inspiration (or even straight-up copies, it's a little murky). We also look at Stranger Things as a piece of nostalgia media, and discuss why viewing the past through such a rosy lens can be dangerous, especially when considering how the political and social messaging reads to a modern audience.
For further reading:
Every Dungeons and Dragons Monster Referenced
More about the Demogorgon
The Parks and Rec clip we referenced
More about Retromarketing and Pseudo-Nostalgia
“Stranger Things and the Danger of Nostalgia” video essay by James Somerton
Follow us on Instagram!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageWe are launching a three-part series dissecting your favorite 1980s-nostalgia-bait Netflix series (that Erin loves and Rhonda... doesn't love), Stranger Things!
In this first part, we look at the unique placement of Stranger Things and its fandom within main stream pop culture. From the show's homages to DND and sci-fi/horror fans, to the recent evolution in the online fandom through social media platforms like TikTok. Yes, we're talking about the "Chrissy, Wake Up" TikTok remix song.
We also give a very brief snapshot of other topics we want to explore in this series, like culture and politics of the 1980s, the dangers of nostalgia, and the fantasy creatures and magical powers depicted in the show.
Follow us on Instagram, I guess.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageHappy New Year! In this bonus episode we discuss trends we noticed in the media of 2022, as well as themes and through lines that emerged in our favorite works. From the more abstract like exploring characters' vulnerability as a strength, to themes that are almost genres in themselves, like Rich People Nonsense™. We also look ahead to things we're excited to watch in 2023, and give a quick peek at what's on the itinerary for Pop DNA this year!
Erin's Best of 2022:
- A League of their Own
- The Woman in the House…
- Couples Therapy
- Along for the Ride
- Reboot
- Paper Girls
- NOPE
- The Lost City
- Marry Me
- Bob's Burgers
- Better Call Saul
Rhonda's Best of 2022:
- Everything Everywhere All At Once
- The Invitation
- The Batman
- Catherine, Called Birdy
- Glass Onion
- Fire Island
- The Menu
- Andor
- House of the Dragon
- Severance
- Abbott Elementary
Books:
- Pride and Protest by Nikki Payne
- Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
- B*tch: On the Female of the Species by Lucy Cooke
- The Fires of Lust: Sex in the Middle Ages by Katherine Harvey
Anticipated 2023 movies according to Rotten Tomatoes, and TV according to Entertainment Weekly
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageAs we wrap up our final Narnia episode we're asking the big questions: Was C. S. Lewis sexist? Or can we draw any feminist or female-empowerment messages from his work? What does feminism even look like in the context of a fantasy world where children go into battle with talking animals?
We also look specifically at The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe as a World War 2 story, exploring the story an as allegory for what was happening in the "real" world at the time it takes place.
And of course we took a quiz to find out which Pevensie kids we are, and you can take it here.
Check out feminine-theology-in-c-s-lewiss-narnia.html">The Feminine Ethos in C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia by Monika Hilder.
Follow us on Instagram, and join us in early January for our Best of 2022 Bonus!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageThis week on our Narnia journey we are diving in to all things magic. We discuss the differences between hard and soft magic systems, how magic is expressed in the world of Narnia, and how it compares to the magic in other fictional worlds. We also look at Narnia as a touchstone of fantasy fiction, its relationship with Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, and its influence on modern fantasy works like Star Wars and Lev Grossman's book series The Magicians.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageThis month we are talking about the best children's fantasy book series, The Chronicles of Narnia (and you can fight us on that). For our first glimpse into the wardrobe we share our first experiences with the series, favorite fan theories, and thoughts on various adaptations. We also definitively decide which order the books should be read, and preview the topics we plan to explore in the next two weeks of the series. Get your hot cocoa and your Turkish Delight, kick back, and get ready to go to Narnia with us!
Recommended Reading:
Clarification on Lewis' "official" reading order
on-netflix.com/news/the-chronicles-of-narnia-on-netflix-what-we-know-so-far-11-2022/%20">Everything we know about the upcoming Netflix adaptations
Captain Hook fan theory
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageOne of our favorite things about The Woman in the House Across the Street From the Girl in the Window is that its long, ridiculous title is a perfect encapsulation of the genre it parodies, right down to the use of the words "girl" and "woman." The genre of course is the domestic noir thriller made popular in the past decade which we discussed last episode.
But why is this genre so gender-coded? Why all the girls? What relationship does the genre have with other female-dominated literary movements, such as the mid-century gothic romance? And how do male-authored entries in the thriller genre, such as the works of Alfred Hitchcock and Stephen King, differ from this newest iteration?
Recommended reading:
Works Parodied by The Woman in the House...
explains-books-girl-title.html">Why do so many bestsellers have "girl" in the title?
The Domestic Noir and the Gothic Romance
Take the (non-BuzzFeed) quiz
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageThis week we get into the history of parody, satire, and pastiche and how The Woman in the House... uses all three to comedic effect. We also look at the early thriller films that may share some DNA with the works The Woman in the House... parodies, and that have perhaps become parodies themselves.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageWe found the Netflix limited series The Woman in the House Across the Street From the Girl in the Window (which we will hereafter abbreviate as The Woman in the House...) to be utterly delightful. So we are diving in to this series with an overview of some fun topics we plan to discuss, like the nature of parody as commentary, the evolution of the thriller and suspense genres, and of course Rhonda is going to bring in Jane Austen somehow...
It's going to be a fun time!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageFor our Podiversary/Spooky Season bonus episode, and as a coda on our discussion of Lovecraft Country as a work of Black horror, we decided to watch Jordan Peele's 2017 masterpiece Get Out and talk through it! Please enjoy this brilliant film with our (less) brilliant commentary. And Happy Halloween!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageWe wrap up our discussion of Lovecraft Country with a deep dive into the Lovecraftian monsters portrayed in the series and the journey the show creators took in portraying them. We also discuss the literary criticism theory of "death of the author," and how it applies--and doesn't--to readers' enjoyment and transformation of the works of Lovecraft and other problematic artists.
We also take a quiz to find out which Cthulhu Mythos deities we are.
I suppose if one wanted one could follow us on Instagram?
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageIn part 3 of our Lovecraft Country series we look at the real-world realities at play within this narrative, from the historical setting of the 1950s to very recent discoveries in the psychology of fear and terror.
Read this interview with Atticus actor Jonathan Majors about his thoughts on the series premiering in the midst of the 2020 Black Lives Matter Protests.
Read this article on very new developments in how we understand how our brains process fear and memory.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageTW this week for discussions of racism and racialized trauma
Lovecraft Country sets out to give us a transformed or reclaimed vision of the horrors invented by the racist author H. P. Lovecraft, centering the very people that Lovecraft himself would have marginalized. How successful is the series at achieving this goal?
We explore different perspectives on how horror as a genre has been used to comment on societal issues like class, economics, and especially race, and how Lovecraft Country and other works of Black horror fit into this discussion.
Follow us on Instagram, it will be like we're not even there!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageHappy October and welcome to our Spooky Season discussion of the HBO series Lovecraft Country, based on the novel of the same name. In part 1, as usual, we give you an overview of the topics we plan to explore in-depth in the coming weeks. A few of those topics are:
- The psychology of fear and why we like horror
- The horror genre as a medium to comment on race and racism
- "Death of the Author," and how we can reconcile and transform the artistic works of terrible people
We also want to bring a little levity so Erin will definitely be geeking out over the creature effects as Rhonda fangirls over the historical costuming. We hope this will be a great time!
Follow us on Instagram for some sporadic supplementary content.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageWe wrap up our Gilmore Girls Revisited series this week with look at the pop culture sensibility of the show, from ASP's reference-laced writing style and her approach to character and story, to the show's impact on subsequent pop culture and references in other media.
Like, remember when Mindy watched Gilmore Girls with Danny's mom on The Mindy Project and described seemingly alt-universe storylines? Just one of the many ways the show has worked its way into the cultural zeitgeist.
We also reveal the results of our "Which Character Are You" quiz; Erin is a Paris sun, Lorelai moon, Kirk rising and Rhonda is a Rory sun, Sookie moon, Lane rising. We don't actually know how astrology works, but that sounds right.
Follow us on Instagram I guess.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageThis week we dig in to Gilmore Girls' relationship with politics, identity, privilege, and morality. We explore the parallels in the American political climate between the original run of the show and the premiere of A Year in the Life, look at some of our favorite moments when the characters discuss politics, and wonder how Rory feels about Hilary Clinton now...
We also take a deeper look at the choices both Rory and Lorelai make that may cause viewers to stop rooting for them, as well as the show's shortcomings in failing to acknowledge their place of privilege, and the complexity in the idea of the "unlikable female character." (Also, Rhonda admits her most toxic trait is liking Rory throughout the whole series, even when she's horrible.)
Watch the YouTube video Why everybody hates Rory Gilmore by Kierra Loves TV.
Follow us on Instagram and we'll never bother you!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageJane Austen once referred to small towns as "a neighborhood of voluntary spies," and she easily could have been talking about Stars Hollow, Connecticut.
This week we're diving in to the similarities between the writing of Jane Austen and Amy Sherman Palladino, from their explorations of class conflict, to their portrayals of the interior lives of women, to, of course, their small town settings and how these microcosms of society inform their characters' stories.
We also look at the element of both Austen and ASP's work that seems to get the most attention: the romantic relationships. How does Gilmore Girls use the romances to develop its characters? And is there really a healthy romantic relationship on the show? (Spoiler: not really)
Follow us on Instagram if you dare!!!!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageWe're kicking off Season 5 with a return to the town of Stars Hollow!
Long time listeners may already know that our second episode EVER was about Gilmore Girls (though we don't recommend listening to it, it sounds pretty terrible). So we thought it was long past time to return and talk about everything we missed!
In part 1, we talk about some general thoughts about the original run of the series and A Year in the Life, how our relationship with the show has changed over the years, and some favorite episodes and moments.
We also give an overview of the other topics we plan to delve into in this series, from pop culture connections and creator Amy Sherman Palladino's other works, to a psychological look at how the show portrays various romantic relationships, to its positioning as a literary successor to the works of Jane Austen, plus more! It's gonna be a great month!
Follow us on Instagram. We're trying, we really are!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageIt's Erin's birthday! For her Birthday Bonus she has brought us a selection of women's stories in media that all take place in New York City in the first few decades of the 20th century, from Funny Girl, to Brooklyn, to The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
What throughlines do we find in these women's journeys? How does the setting of New York City become an integral part of these stories? What can these media works tell us about the era in which they portray, and what can they tell us about our current time?
Follow us on Instagram, where we try, we really, really try!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageToday's international film pick is both the first film ever shot in Saudi Arabia and the first ever film made by a Saudi woman, director Haifaa al-Mansour's Wadjda. We talk about the film's symbolism and imagery, its genius use of American pop culture, and the big feelings we felt watching this story of a young girl fighting to express herself in a place that wants her to stay quiet.
Read the Hollywood Reporter article we referenced, and this great review from Bitch Media.
Join us all summer for the international films we've been meaning to see! And follow on Instagram for more content and our Summer Book Club picks!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageWe're back with another international film pick, this time with the Japanese classic My Neighbor Totoro! We discuss our previous experience with Miyazaki films, how we feel this movie compares and contrasts with American children's cinema, and how to claim Catbus plushies as a tax write-off.
Join us all summer for the international films we've been meaning to see! And follow on Instagram for more content and our Summer Book Club picks!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageWe're kicking off our Summer International Film Festival with a visit to a whimsical, fantasy version of Paris with our friend Amélie. We discuss our cultural awareness of the 2001 film prior to us watching it just this past week, our thoughts on the aesthetics, themes, and storytelling of the movie, and even get in a few jabs at Emily in Paris, as one does.
Join us all summer for the international films we've been meaning to see! And follow on Instagram for more content and our Summer Book Club picks!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageWe saw the Bob's Burgers movie! And we're gonna tawk abowt it!
We dive into our initial thoughts on the movie, favorite moments, and the nods and in-jokes of the series we noticed. Then we get into some interesting (and some not so interesting) fan theories about the show. To top it off, we reveal the characters BuzzFeed says we are, but BuzzFeed is incorrect.
Follow us on Instagram and stay tuned for our Summer International Film Series!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageButts, Butts, Butts!
This week we're talking about how Bob's Burgers explores the experiences of puberty through Tina's stories, and how we as adult viewers decompress about our own adolescent experiences through this show and other media, like Pen15, Mean Girls, and My Big Fat Greek Wedding (no, it's not puberty, but it is coming-of-age!).
We also look a little bit into the ways Bob's Burgers explores and expresses gender and sexuality through a few characters, and talk about how the show can do better at portraying people of marginalized genders.
Mashable article about the show's portrayal of its only Black trans character, Marshmallow.
Follow us on Instagram for news about our summer programming!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageThis week we look at how Bob's Burgers explores the classic coming of age story through each of the Belcher kids. We also get literary with a dive into the episode "The Gayle Tales," discussing the show's and the characters' relationships with literature.
of-age-4-stages.html%20">Blog post on the four stages of coming of age. Article on the literary-ness of Bob's Burgers.
Follow us on Instagram for bonus content and news about our upcoming summer series!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageIn anticipation of the new movie coming out at the end of this month, we're discussing our favorite animated family, the Belchers of Bob's Burgers! This week we give a rundown of all the different topics we want to dive into. From the show's literary sensibilities, to its explorations of adolescence and coming-of-age stories, to the interesting meta-commentary on fandoms and fan theories.
We also talk about our favorite guest stars on the show, and which Belchers we personally identify with most. Grab a stool at the counter and join us for Bob's Burgers!
Check out this list of notable guest stars.
Follow us on Instagram, I guess.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageIt's Rhonda's Birthday Bonus, and we are talking Superheroes, Sorceresses, Space Wizards, and other powerful women in fantasy media!
We explore the relationship between power (like literal superpower/magic/the Force/etc.) and femininity in the narratives of some of our favorite fantasy and sci-fi heroines, from Alina in Shadow and Bone, to Katniss in The Hunger Games, to Diana in the Wonder Woman films, to Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, and more.
How does media portray these powerful women and their relationship with femininity? And what does this portrayal say about how our society views powerful women?
Works cited:
The Violence Binary [Video Essay] by Wit and Folly
The Violent Woman: Femininity, Narrative, and Violence in Contemporary American Cinema by Hilary Neroni
Works discussed:
Black Widow, Avengers Age of Ultron, and Avengers Endgame
Game of Thrones
The Hunger Games
Jupiter Ascending
Shadow and Bone trilogy
Star Wars Episodes VII, VIII, and IX
The Twilight Saga
WandaVision
The Wheel of Time
The Winternight Trilogy
The Witcher
Wonder Woman and WW84
Follow us on Instagram and come back next week for our May topic, which we totally know what it's going to be and have definitely planned...
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageOur New Girl series wraps up with a look at the show's predecessors and contemporaries in women-centered sitcoms. We look at favorites from I Love Lucy, to Murphy Brown, to The Mindy Project, to Insecure, and how each of these shares common threads with New Girl.
We also discuss the "quirky" persona of Zooey Deschanel that prevailed in the late 2000s/early 2010s. We talk about how this public perception informed our reading of the Jess Day character, and how it may have (read: definitely did) lead to unfair public judgement of Deschanel and her work.
Follow us on Instagram! And come back next week for Rhonda's Birthday Bonus!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageTheory: New Girl is actually a show about breakups.
This week we dive in to all the relationships, breakups, and make-ups that the storylines of New Girl were often built around. We mostly focus on Jess + Nick and Cece + Schmidt, plus the other relationships of all four characters, and Erin pulls out her marriage and family therapist education to look at these relationships from a psychological standpoint.
We also wonder if Jess and Nick were intended to be end game from the beginning, and if Liz Meriwether would ever want to be a guest on our show.
Follow us on Instagram if you dare!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageThis week we're talking teachers and tech startups. We look at the other work of New Girl series creator Elizabeth Meriwether, including the the romcom No Strings Attached and the critically-acclaimed Hulu series The Dropout. We also discuss the character archetype of the teacher as seen in media, from Ms. Frizzle to Jess Day to our new favorite, Ms. Teagues on Abbott Elementary. What common threads and through lines do we find in both of these explorations?
This New Republic profile of Liz Meriwether draws out interesting parallels between her work and that of Lena Dunham. This Mental Floss list of memorable TV teachers includes Jessica Day.
Follow us on Instagram for random, sporadic content!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageThe month of April we are talking all things New Girl! This week we start out mixing things up a little by taking the "Which Character Are You?" quiz first (one of us got a surprising result, the other not so much), and then give an overview of the topics we're planning to dive into this month.
New Girl gives us plenty of material to explore in terms of DNA, from women as sitcom protagonists throughout TV history, the portrayal of teachers in media, the psychology of breakups, and commentary on geek and pop culture spaces and media. Those are a few of the avenues we plan to go down in our discussion, so we hope you'll join us!
If you want to find out which New Girl character you are, take this quiz.
Follow us on Instagram if you want to occasionally find something mildly amusing!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageYou didn't think we'd end our Matrix discussion without talking about a little movie called Jupiter Ascending, did you?
We wrap up this month with a look at the Matrix films in interaction with the science fiction genre, from classics like Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and the 1927 film Metropolis, to sci-fi blockbusters like Blade Runner, The Terminator, and Star Wars.
We also look at some newer works that have drawn inspiration from the Matrix films, and how the Wachowski sisters' work has explored gender and society in ways that only science fiction can.
And, yes, we talk about Jupiter Ascending.
Here are a couple of articles about the science fiction films that influenced The Matrix; the interview where Lilly Wachowski confirmed the trans metaphor in the original film, and a blog post about Jupiter Ascending as gender-bent re-reading of the Matrix.
Follow us on Instagram for occasional memes and book recs.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageThis week our discussion of The Matrix veers into those topics you're not supposed to discuss at a dinner party: politics, as explored through the films' connections with Erin's current anime obsessions; and religion, specifically Rhonda's experiences watching The Matrix at her church youth group in 2004.
Read more about The Animatrix here, and about the 1980s anime that influenced The Matrix here. The Matrix Fandom Wiki has just tiny bit of content on the religious symbolism, but this BBC News article goes a lot more in-depth. Anyone want to read The Gospel Reloaded and report back?
As always, follow us on Instagram for sporadic memes and book recs.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageOur in-depth explorations of The Matrix begin with Ancient Greece, in particular with Plato and his Allegory of the Cave, and the Greco-Roman god of dreams, Morpheus.
We also spontaneously draw parallels between The Matrix and Shakespeare's Macbeth, dip just a little bit into political readings of the films, and as is our tendency, reference The Office far more than necessary.
Read a free copy of the Allegory of the Cave; check out Geraldo Nascimento's The Matrix Illuminated. Background on the Greek god Morpheus.
Follow us on Instagram for memes and book recs!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageWe are taking the Red Pill and entering the Matrix... or wait... was it the other way around?
This week we give you a birds' eye view of the topics and themes we plan to explore this month as we dive into this iconoclastic science fiction film series. (Our friend Anna helped us write this description, and you might be able to hear her voice on part of the episode!)
We'll cover Plato's Allegory of the Cave, the Mythos of Morpheus, and the religious imagery and symbolism we see in the films, plus more!
Follow us on Instagram for occasional memes and book recs.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageWe wrap up our Bridgerton series with a look at how the show has impacted pop culture, tourism, fashion, and social media! From the filming locations turning into tourist attractions, to #RegencyCore trending on TikTok, to Regency Romance-inspired dating shows like The Courtship, Bridgerton has inspired a cultural moment, and we are loving it!
This article highlights several of Bridgerton's filming locations, and this one details the rise in tourism due to the "Bridgerton Effect." This Vogue article breaks down the RegencyCore trend and fashion aesthetic, and this TODAY article tells you everything you need to know about the new dating reality series The Courtship.
Follow us on Instagram for more about the topics we discussed, and for occasional memes and book recommendations!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageThis week we’re joined by Sanjana (@baskinsuns on TikTok) to discuss the Bridgerton books and TV series in the context of historical and Regency Romance!
We look at how the genre was influenced by the works of Jane Austen, and how the Bridgerton show explores the conventions of historical romance and issues like gender, race, and social class.
We also got Sanjana to take the “Which Bridgerton Are You?” quiz with us, and our results will surprise everyone. Or possibly no one.
Follow Sanjana on TikTok at @baskinsuns and subscribe to her newsletter here. Take the quiz to find out which Bridgerton you are.
Find us on Instagram for memes and book recs!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageThis week we are joined by longtime friend of the show Nicole to discuss her favorite moments on the Bridgerton show, insights into the books, and give her best Regency Romance recs!
We also dip into the real-life gossip and scandal of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, find out who may have been the historical inspiration for Lady Whistledown, and even work in references to the TV show Friends, the movie Moulin Rouge, and of course Pride and Prejudice.
What Bridgerton gets right about gossip in Regency London. Who was the "real" Lady Whisteldown? Scandal and the English opera.
Follow us on Instagram for book recs and memes!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageTo kick off our Bridgerton series for the month of February, we dive into the Shondaland oeuvre, from her first big TV hit Grey’s Anatomy to now, and discuss the throughlines we see in all of her work.
We also talk about our favorite moments and characters from Bridgerton season 1, some thoughts on the Bridgerton books by Julia Quinn, and historical romance in general (which we will get into more thoroughly later this month), and pitch an entirely new podcast.
Follow us on Instagram for more Bridgerton thoughts!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageWe wrap up our discussion of The Devil Wears Prada this week with a deep dive into the real-life inspiration for Miranda Priestly, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, and her influence on the fashion industry. We also talk about the real villain of the story--or perhaps just another nuanced character?--Andy's boyfriend Nate.
We also decide to fan cast three new adaptations of the novel (only one of which is a musical), and of course reveal our results of the "which character are you?" quiz. You can take the quiz here.
Follow us on Instagram, where you'll find a full cast list for one of our hypothetical adaptations, but only if you want to, and join us next month as we discuss Bridgerton!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageThis week we're looking at how The Devil Wears Prada fits within the context of fiction that takes place in New York City and the branding of NYC. We also look at the novel's place in the late 1990s/early 2000s literary phenomenon known as "Chick Lit."
Check out this Observer article about the "I heart New York" t-shirts and the branding of the city.
Read this Library Journal article on Chick Lit, and this Salon retrospective on the rise and fall of the genre.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter for sporadic, sometimes-funny posts!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageWe finally decided to tackle this iconic sleepover staple from our teen years!
We kick off the series with an only slightly rambly overview of our initial experiences (with the novel and the film), some connections to other fashion-focused media (like Emily in Paris and The Bold Type), and our rapid-fire thoughts on The Devil Wears Prada's impact in the cultural zeitgeist.
Obviously, we also talk for far too long about the cold open on The Office where Michael thinks he's Miranda Priestly.
Check out Entertainment Weekly's article on the cast reunion over Zoom last summer.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter and maybe you'll see something interesting... occasionally.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageIn this our third and final episode on A Wrinkle in Time, we ask the question, Who is this for? Because many people apparently need a reminder!
We look at how children's literature can explore scary topics in a way that's approachable and healthy for kids, and we also talk about those negative reviews of the 2018 film that seemed to miss the point entirely.
We also, of course, share our results of the quiz to find out which A Wrinkle in Time characters we are...
Article on why children should read scary stories. New York Times review of the 2018 film. Brie Larson's speech at the Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards.
Take the quiz to find out which A Wrinkle in Time character you are.
We are on Twitter and Instagram, where we post book recommendations and memes, but never with consistency.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageThis week we ask a very important question: what genre is A Wrinkle in Time? Science fiction, fantasy, or something else?
Erin lays out some evidence with an exploration of the different alien creatures we meet and planets we visit, and the concept of a tesseract as seen in real-life theoretical physics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Then Rhonda dives into what exactly defines these genres anyway.
We also look at Wrinkle through the lens of the work of other speculative fiction authors Ursula K. Le Guin and N. K. Jemisin, and how the ideas of utopia, dystopia, autonomy, and privilege are explored in this work for children.
Our favorite scholarly source, the in-time.fandom.com/wi...%20">A Wrinkle in Time Fandom wiki. An exploration of the planets seen in the 2018 film adaptation. The Tesseract as used in Wrinkle.
What genre is A Wrinkle in Time? Let's discuss. Free PDF of "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula Le Guin, and Google Books preview of "The Ones Who Stay and Fight" by N. K. Jemisin. Rhonda's essay on the two stories.
We are on Twitter and Instagram, where we post memes, book recommendations, and nonsense with little to no consistency.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageIn part 1 of our Wrinkle series, we lay a foundation for discussing this classic work and its 2018 film adaptation. Turns out the book had a HUGE impact on both of us in our childhoods!
We also look a bit into the culture and society of the late 1950s and early 1960s, and Madeleine L'Engle's unconventional Christian faith, both of which informed her writing in A Wrinkle in Time.
The mid-20th century was an interesting time. Washington Post article on the faith of Madeleine L'Engle. Every Mrs. Who quotation from the 2018 film adaptation.
We are on Twitter and Instagram, where we post supplementary content, memes, and book recommendations, with little to no consistency
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageWe're wrapping up our Knives Out series with some of our favorite rich and/or dysfunctional families in fiction that could give the Thrombeys a run for their (significant amount of) money, from the Bluths to the Roys to the Tenenbaums.
The mysterious Thrombey house that's described as "living in a CLUE board" also leads us to explore some of our real favorite creepy old homes, like the Winchester Mystery House.
Of course, we wrap things up by discussing our results of the "Which Character Are You?" quiz.
In case you want to take the quiz yourself. Comparing the Thrombey and Roy families. Mysterious houses.
We are on Twitter and Instagram, where we often post supplementary content, like book recommendations, memes, and dad jokes!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageIt's Part 3 so that means this one's a little heavy! We talk about the psychology of lying as relates to Marta's inability to fib without dropping the cookies, and the lie the Thrombeys are all living in, aka the American Dream.
Article on the science of lying, and Fast Company article about all the class commentary movies from 2019.
We are on Twitter and Instagram, where we often post supplementary content, fun facts, memes, and book recommendations!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messagePart 2 of our Knives Out discussion dives into the legacy of detective fiction and detective fact!
We look at the literary genre of the Whodunnit, as pioneered by the likes of Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie, and how this tradition inspired Rian Johnson when writing Knives Out. We also look at a few real-life detectives from the 19th and early 20th centuries whose footprints can be seen in our favorite fictional sleuths, from Sherlock Holmes to Nancy Drew to Benoit Blanc.
A great, succinct history of the whodunnit can be found here. Rian Johnson's interview with The Atlantic, and his op-ed in the LA Times. Mystery movies that inspired Knives Out.
Everything we know about Dr. Joseph Bell, the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes, a Washington Post article on Kate Warne, and a round-up of fascinating real-life detectives.
We are on Instagram and Twitter!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageNew month means new series! For all of November we're breaking down the Pop DNA of Knives Out.
This week we propose several possible titles for the sequel (that's hopefully coming next year!), plus talk about our hopes and predictions for said sequel, our favorite characters and performances in the first film, and how this movie played with the tropes and expectations of the mystery genre while giving us some great storytelling and social commentary.
This is our first official video episode, and it's available on our YouTube channel! Note: we are still learning the ropes with video. We'll keep improving, but let us know what you think or what you'd like to see!
Everything we know about the Knives Out sequel is from this article. And this article gives some great background on the making of Knives Out.
We are on Twitter (though we don't post much there, tbh) and on Instagram, where we post supplementary content and recommend books every Saturday!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageHappy Spooky Season, friends! This special Halloween bonus episode is all about fairies, scaries, and the frightening mythical figures found in folklore all over the world--from Baba Yaga, to the Luz Mala of Argentina, to the Turkish vampires known as the Mhachkay.
We also pretend to be Aaron Mehnke for a bit, dig into the dark history of the lore surrounding fairies, and explore the common themes in many of these stories that often center on women’s power and agency as something to be feared.
Follow us on social media and have a Happy Halloween!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageTo wrap up our discussion we brought in the YA experts, Amanda and Claire of Fictional Hangover Podcast, to talk all about the Shadow and Bone book series!
We cover the good, the bad, and the ugly, and come to a consensus that Alina definitely should have just joined the Darkling in book one.
We also, as is our tradition, discuss our results of the “Which Character Are You?” quiz, and we roped our guests into taking it, too!
Find Fictional Hangover anywhere you get your podcasts (like, wherever you’re reading this right now!), on social media, and on their website.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and watch a video of this episode on our YouTube channel!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageThis week we look at the Ravkan religion, or Worship of the Saints, in Shadow and Bone, and how this belief system and Leigh Bardugo’s own Jewish background inform the world of the Grishaverse.
We also draw comparisons from Alina’s relationships with both Mal and the Darkling to similar character pairings in other media works--and Rhonda finally states once and for all where she stands on Reylo.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter and visit ThePopDNA.blog for links to everything we talk about!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageWhat do you call a fantasy country that is inspired by 19th century Russia, but is NOT 19th century Russia?
In part 2 of our Shadow and Bone discussion we look at how Leigh Bardugo drew from Russian culture and history to create the world of Ravka, the folklore and fairytales we see woven throughout the Grishaverse, and how these influences helped shape the TV series.
We also explore Alina and Mal’s experiences as children of war through parallels with works with similar character archetypes and themes, such as Attack on Titan, The Hunger Games, and the novel She Who Became the Sun.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter and visit ThePopDNA.blog for links to everything we talk about!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageJoin us as we enter the Shadow Fold and dive into the Netflix series, and book series it’s based on, Shadow and Bone!
Part one of our discussion looks at the world Leigh Bardugo has created with the Grishaverse, from her approach to world building (and how it compares to other fantasy authors’ approaches), to her inspirations, to the fascinating magic system of The Small Science.
Rhonda misquotes Arthur C. Clarke and Erin admirably restrains herself from getting nerdy about the Grishaverse monsters known as the Volcra, so we’re very on-brand here.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter and visit ThePopDNA.blog for links to everything we talk about!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageWe’re wrapping up our Downton Abbey series with a look at how the show has influenced and interacted with other popular media and pop culture!
Our discussion meanders around Downton’s contribution to the surge in popularity of historical drama TV shows, to its place in the lexicon of class commentary media such as films like Parasite and Us, to the many references, spoofs, and comedy sketches the show has inspired. Listen closely and you might hear a familiar voice in one of those sketches…
We also, as is our tradition, took a “Which Character Are You?” quiz to put a cap on this series, and you’ll never guess who we got!
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter and visit ThePopDNA.blog for links to everything we talk about!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageThis week in our Downton Abbey series we are getting on our gender and class soap boxes, so buckle up!
We see Mary, Anna, Sybil, Daisy, and the other women of Downton navigating the changing roles of women in English society, but what would these roles have looked like for real women of the time?
We also look at one the largest media influences on Downton Abbey--the 1970s ITV series Upstairs, Downstairs--and how these two shows’ handling of social class reflects the respective times in which they were made.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter and visit ThePopDNA.blog for links to everything we talk about!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageDownton Abbey takes place in the 1910s and 1920s, a time of great societal and cultural changes that had been in the making for decades.
This week we are having some real fun and talking about the decline of the British Empire! From the Industrial Revolution, to changes in class structure, to political upheaval such as the Irish Independence movement, and eventually the loss of colonial power during and as a direct effect of the First World War, these were some super cool times for everyone!
We look at how the Irish Rebellion directly impacts the story and characters on Downton Abbey, and how the show has a tendency to gloss over economic and class issues that would have had a direct impact on the Crawleys and their servants. It is possibly the most historical we’ve ever gotten on the podcast.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram and visit ThePopDNA.blog for links to everything we talk about!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageWe’re kicking off Season 4 with a dissection of everyone’s mom’s favorite TV show, and Donna Meagle’s favorite book, Downton Abbey.
The series gave us fictionalized accounts of two vastly influential cultural phenomena: the “Bright Young Things” of the 1920s, as embodied by Rose; and the late-19th century “Buccaneers” of the titular Edith Wharton novel, exemplified in Cora.
Our exploration of these two groups meanders into discussions of how Rory Gilmore would have felt right at home at the parties and dances of the 1920s social elite, to how the lagging profitability of English agriculture led directly to the birth of Winston Churchill.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter for more and visit ThePopDNA.blog for links to everything we discuss!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageIt’s our Summer Theatre Grand Finale, AND the last episode of Season 3! What better way to end it than with the summer theatre favorite, Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream?
From sources for the play, to its film adaptations and broader influence in media and literature (yes, including Twilight), Midsummer has had a big impact on pop culture. We also discuss our dream cast for a (hypothetical) new film adaptation (visit our Instagram for the full cast list), and, as is our tradition, reveal our results of the “which character are you” quiz!
(The first part of this episode is a discussion looking back on our summer episodes and season 3; if you’d like to get right into Midsummer, skip ahead about 12 minutes!)
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram and visit ThePopDNA.blog for links to everything we talk about!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageWe just got back from Ren Faire and we're ready to talk about our favorite musical based on Arthurian legends! (Well, tied for favorite with Spamalot...)
We're talking about Camelot, the Lerner and Loewe 1960 musical, its 1967 film adaptation, and the novel it was adapted from, T. H. White's The Once and Future King.
How did the culture and politics of the 1960s interact with this musical?
How did earlier versions of the stories of King Arthur, Queen Guinevere, and the Knights of the Round Table influence the show, apart from White's novel?
And did Walt Disney really invent prequels?
This was also a great opportunity to talk about how much we loved The Green Knight, and other adaptations, retellings, and echoes of Arthurian legends in current pop culture.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter and visit ThePopDNA.blog for links to everything we discuss!
#camelot #kingarthur #theonceandfutureking #thegreenknight #cursednetflix
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageToss a looney to your comedian! It's time for a deep dive into obscure Canadian comedy!
It's Erin’s birthday, and we thought what better way to celebrate than a Birthday Bonus Episode about obscure Canadian comedy! From Canadian sketch comedy, to the films of Christopher Guest, to the great Canadian TV comedies Slings & Arrows and Schitt's Creek, plus our favorite actors and comedians who hail from the North, we've got a lot to talk about, eh.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and find links to everything we discuss at ThePopDNA.blog!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageWhy do Hollywood movies love giving female characters makeovers as a substitute for character development? Well, it may just have something to do with Pygmalion...
This week for Summer Theatre Program we discuss the George Bernard Shaw play Pygmalion and its musical adaptation, Lerner and Loewe's My Fair Lady, as well as the Greek myth that inspired both. From the story’s deeply misogynistic roots, we wonder, is there a possibility for a positive, transformative retelling?
We also look at some of our favorite pieces of media that were strongly influenced or inspired by the play, like She’s All That, Love Don’t Cost A Thing, the musical Dogfight, and the tragically short-lived sitcom Selfie. (Don’t @ us, the title is terrible, but the show was so good!)
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram and visit ThePopDNA.blog for links to everything we discuss!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageWe made a deal with a devil this week to talk about Christopher Marlowe's 1592 play The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus. The core premise of this play is so pervasive in current media and storytelling that there's even a name for it: a "Faustian Bargain."
Our discussion touches on the life of Marlowe himself and early theater productions of the play, its source material in Goethe and others' Faust tales, as well as the echoes and references to this monomythic story throughout literature and media. These echoes range from Oscar Wilde's Dorian Gray, to DC and Marvel comics, to children's media like Disney's The Little Mermaid and the Animaniacs, to current popular fiction like V. E. Schwab's The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, to, of course, Star Wars.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter and visit ThePopDNA.blog for links to everything we discuss!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageNext up for Summer Theatre Program is Oscar Wilde's comedy of manners The Importance of Being Earnest!
We discuss the few productions of the play we've seen, and also why we think there aren't very many adaptations and retellings of this particular play, despite its relative popularity.
Recent years have seen new interpretations of the play through the lenses of race, sexuality, and class, and we touch on the queer coding in the title and throughout the text, as well as how setting the story in different eras changes its meanings.
We also look at the gems Wilde gave to the world through this work, like the dad joke the entire play is built around, and the best friend to all who wish to avoid social engagements: Bunbury.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter and visit ThePopDNA.blog for links to everything we discuss!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageGood Morrow and welcome to the Summer Theatre Program! We’re coming in hot with a discussion of the world’s favorite romantic tragedy, William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
We break down some popular adaptations and retellings of the play, from the modern take with Leo and Claire Danes, to West Side Story, to Gnomeo and Juliet, to the YA fantasy novel These Violent Delights.
Then we look at some of our favorite references to R&J in pop culture, like the episode of Gilmore Girls where Rory played Juliet, and the greatest song ever written, Taylor Swift’s “Love Story.”
We also muse about which social media apps a modern Romeo and Juliet would use (Juliet = Tumblr; Romeo = Reddit).
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram and visit ThePopDNA.blog for reading lists and links to things we discuss!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageOnce again we are sad to say goodbye to a discussion topic, and this time it feels especially poignant.
This week we look at how The Good Place explores our final state of existence in the context of religious, especially Catholic and Protestant Christian, ideas of the After Life. We also talk about one of our favorite books, A Wrinkle in Time, and the parallels we see between the book and the fantastical journey taken by the characters on The Good Place.
Join us next week for the premiere of The Summer Theatre Program! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram and visit ThePopDNA.blog for links to everything we discuss!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageWhy are AI assistants like Siri, Alexa, Cortana, and Janet ("Not a girl, not a robot") from The Good Place, almost always coded as female? And what affect does this have on real gender biases?
How does The Good Place further explore and comment on the toxic aspects of American society and culture?
We attempt to answer these questions and more in part 3 of our discussion of The Good Place.
Follow us on social media and visit ThePopDNA.blog for links to everything we talk about!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageThe Good Place was incredibly deft at taking complex ethical and philosophical questions and making them accessible for a general audience, and it often did this through evoking that tried-and-true TV metaphor for when the characters are learning a life lesson: the college campus.
This week we look at several other TV shows that used the college 101 course trope to explore deeper questions, like Community, Greek, and Boy Meets World. We also dig in to that mainstay of ethics discussions in pop culture: The Trolley Problem!
Follow us on social media and visit ThePopDNA.blog for links to everything we discuss!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageWe love Schur shows here at Pop DNA, and The Good Place is possibly the Schur-iest of all.
For part 1 of this discussion, we look at how The Good Place fits in with Michael Schur's other work, namely The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Brooklyn 99, focusing on how these shows explore the elements of found family, learning to care (or caring too much), and unique character dynamics.
We attempt to match Parks and Rec characters with their The Good Place counterparts (Tahani is someone from Eagleton, obviously), speculate whether Ron Swanson is in The Good Place, and explore the idea of Leslie Knope and Eleanor Shellstrop as narrative foils (even though they're not in the same narrative).
Find us on social media and visit ThePopDNA.blog for links to everything we discuss!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageIt's Rhonda's Birthday Bonus so we're talking about one of her favorite media franchises, the BMCU! In the British Monarchy Cinematic Universe Tony Blair looks exactly like Michael Sheen.
We're geeking out over movies and TV shows about British royals, from The Favourite, to The Crown, to the Lifetime original Harry and Meghan: A Royal Romance. We also discuss the current state of the British Monarchy from our expert opinions (Oprah should be the Queen), and the various lights in which the BMCU has portrayed generations of the royal family. And because BuzzFeed has a quiz for everything, we also reveal which British monarchs we are.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram and check out ThePopDNA.blog for links to everything we talk about!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageWe're wrapping up this topic and a little sad about it! This week we take a look at three different lenses through which we can view the story, characters, and messages in WandaVision: the unreliable narrator; the psychology of grief; and the Male vs. Female Gazes
Join us next week for Rhonda's Birthday Bonus! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram and visit ThePopDNA.blog for links to everything we discuss!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageCheck out this trailer to hear what we're all about!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageWe wanted to really dive in to two of our favorite characters in WandaVision, Monica and Agatha, so here is our down-the-rabbit-hole discussion!
From Monica's origins as a bearer of the Captain Marvel moniker, to Agatha's history with the Salem Witch Trials, we looked into how these two characters' comics stories tie in to their arcs in the WandaVIsion series.
We also discussed how we still see traces of the ancient Western storytelling archetype of the witch in many powerful female characters in our favorite modern media, even when their powers don't come from witchcraft.
Follow us on social media and check out ThePopDNA.blog for links to everything we discuss!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageThis week we're taking a deep dive into WandaVision's relationship with television of the past and present.
From references to classic sitcoms of the '50s and '60s, to newer favorites like Malcolm in the Middle and Modern Family, to the DNA it shares with The Twilight Zone, WandaVision is the very model of a TV fan's TV show.
We also look at how the homages, references, and tropes used go beyond surface level or Easter eggs; they are actually integral to the storytelling.
Find us on Instagram and Twitter, and visit ThePopDNA.blog for links to everything we discuss!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageHere is the recording of our March 20 livestream chat with our friends Emrys and Luthien of Girls With Sabers!
We took a deep dive into the Heroine's Journey as we see it expressed in WandaVision, as well as how mythos and psychology intertwine throughout Wanda's story.
We also looked at connections to other heroines in literature, myth, and pop culture, and discussed what might be in store for Wanda, Monica, Vision, and our other favorite characters in the future.
Find Girls With Sabers on YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram!
Follow us on social media and visit ThePopDNA.blog for links to everything we discuss!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageThis week we are discussing one of Rhonda's favorite things to talk about: corsets!
Why is Hollywood so obsessed with the idea of corsets as symbols of patriarchal oppression?
Why does Keira Knightley wear so many corsets in her movies?
Is Elizabeth Swann a feminist icon?
Also, remember like two months ago when people on TikTok were really into sea chanties?
Follow us on social media and visit ThePopDNA.blog for links to everything we discuss!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pop-dna-podcast/messageThis podcast could use a review! Have anything to say about it? Share your thoughts using the button below.
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