Covenant Minute

In which James and I discuss divine providence, executive dysfunction, and Waiting for Space-Godot. 

Find James here: https://twitter.com/NewsiesMinute

And: https://twitter.com/UnabashedJames/   

In which I am joined by James of the Newsies Minute and we get existential about how truly big space is, and how scary it would be to get lost in it. 

Find James here: https://twitter.com/NewsiesMinute

In which I am joined for the last time (for now) by Rob of the Great Escape Minute, and we discuss big fancy words, robot grudge matches, and  I try to record while some asshole is mowing the lawns. 

Find Rob at https://thegreatescapeminute.com/ 

In which I am joined again by Rob of the Great Escape Minute, and we discuss interstellar communication, alien languages, and our old favourite subject, robotics.

Citations

Nobahkt, A. (2016, June 4). All planet sounds from space (In our solar system). YouTube. https://youtu.be/IQL53eQ0cNA

In which I am joined by Rob of the Great Escape Minute, and we discuss how futuristic technology in science fiction isn’t so futuristic anymore, spooky hidden details, and do Engineers see in sound?

Find Rob at the Great Escape Minute, he’s doing good work over there. I love this movie and he’s finding all sorts of details I never noticed:

https://thegreatescapeminute.com/

In which I get biblical, and interrogate a few cultural biases in culture and fashion.

Citations

Bible gateway passage: 1 Corinthians 11-14 – New international version. (n.d.). Bible Gateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2011-14&version=NIV

Britt, R. (2016, June 15). Why is the sci-fi in movies so much dumber and less political than in books? Inverse. https://www.inverse.com/article/16935-why-is-the-sci-fi-in-movies-so-much-dumber-and-less-political-than-in-books

Pixie cut hairstyle origins | History of | Racked [Video]. (2018, January 27). YouTube. https://youtu.be/WPjOU73BZOY

In which I discuss religion, logical fallacies, and the ever changing cultural tastes in music.

Citations

Dunham, Duwayne (2002). “Northwest Passage” audio commentary (DVD). Universal Home Entertainment.

Relevant excerpt: The impetus for the series Twin Peaks was the mystery of who killed Laura Palmer. During the filming of a scene in the pilot, “Northwest Passage”, taking place in Laura’s room, Frank Silva, a set dresser, accidentally trapped himself in the room by inadvertently moving a dresser in front of the door. When told of the incident, Lynch had an image of Silva stuck in the room and thought it could fit into the series. After filming him crouched at the foot of Laura’s bed, looking through the bars of the footboard, as if he were “trapped” behind them, Lynch filmed the scene a second time, without Silva. After reviewing the footage, Lynch liked Silva’s presence so much that he decided to make him part of the series.

Later that day, a scene was being filmed in which Laura’s mother experiences a terrifying vision; at the time, the script did not indicate what Mrs Palmer had seen. Lynch was pleased with how the scene turned out, but a crew member informed him that it would have to be re-shot, because a mirror in the scene had inadvertently picked up Silva’s reflection. Lynch considered this a “happy accident”, and decided that Silva’s unnamed character would be revealed as Laura’s true killer.

World’s oldest song, Hurrian Hymn: https://youtu.be/tAc2KDNHEw4

In which I discuss meteoric cadavers, ponder the place for religion in the future, and learn the term “cybernetic can” from Alan Dean Foster. 

Citations

If an astronaut died in space, would he decompose? (no bacteria but what about radiation?). (2007, December 11). UCSB Science Line. https://scienceline.ucsb.edu/getkey.php?key=1692

Phobos – An alien: Covenant story | official trailer (2017) [Video]. (2017, July 20). YouTube. https://youtu.be/Q-4UMvX8Kno

Raised by wolves. (2021, January 1). STUDIO YUTANI. https://yutani.studio/raised-by-wolves/

In which I discuss Jed Kurzel, the capabilities of AI in the role of emotional support, and the dangers of having a caregiver that is too agreeable. 

Citations

Barkan, J. (2017, May 5). Exclusive: Jed Kurzel on the music of Alien: Covenant. Dread Central. https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/226920/exclusive-jed-kurzel-music-alien-covenant/

Delia Derbyshire – Pot AU feu (1968) [Video]. (2012, September 1). YouTube. https://youtu.be/jpdiMcEeTJA

The enduring magic of the radiophonic workshop | Resident advisor [Video]. (2018, May 17). YouTube. https://youtu.be/u9dAL2MVGLg

Study explores inner life of AI with robot that ‘thinks’ out loud. (2021, April 21). the Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/apr/21/study-inner-life-ai-robot-thinks-out-loud

Why robots need to be able to say ‘No’. (2016, July 31). Futurism. https://futurism.com/why-robots-need-to-be-able-to-say-no

In which I am joined for the last time, for now, by Duncan Shields and we discuss Ridley Scott’s ego, future relationships with AI, and the importance of format and structure for effective storytelling, maybe the Alien prequels should have been a TV series?