DISCUSSIONS FROM THE OTHERHOOD

How many times have you heard that a new book or movie is a “twisty mind-bending” read with such cultural awareness it would make you weep; or a film that is so WOKE it would keep you up for a week... then you track it down and when you finish it you ask yourself, “What were they talking about?” Join us as we discuss, “Is it us or them?” when disappointed by cultural awareness in popular media.

The Bible has not been just a source of inspirations and guidance but also popular entertainment, from novels, musicals, “sword-and-sandals” epics in the ‘50s to “sword-and-sandals” epics in the New Millennium. Join us as we discuss the treatment (and mistreatment) of religion in popular entertainment media.

The 2017 Justice League film was not one of DC's Finest. In fact Rotten Tomatoes rates it as a 40% in comparison with Zach Snyder's 2021 cut which weighs in at 73%. Better effects and expanded/modified sequences are certainly responsible for some of the ratings shift, but an apparent erasure of scenes and sequences prominently featuring Blacks may have added to the disjointed storytelling that earned the deplorable 40% rating. Let's compare the two iterations of Justice League and discuss why the removal of the referenced scenes were fatal to the 2017 film.

For International Women's month we take a look at how genre media portrays women and who were the (most) positive and negative portrayals in fantasy, sci-fi and horror. How have women been treated historically in genre works? What is the current climate and what are our expectations for the future?

In 1988 a prince from an affluent African nation travels to America to find his bride. In 2018 an abandoned and disenfranchised child of a prince who found his bride in America claws his way back to his African homeland to claim a throne that was denied him. In 2021 the abandoned son of an African prince with an American mother is reclaimed and brought home. The interesting interconnectedness from 1988 to 2018 to 2021 with Coming to America and Black Panther. Come join us to discuss the comedy and/or the tragedy.

In the wake of Sorry to Bother You in 2018, Tessa Thompson noted that Black people were generally excluded from Hollywood's areas of Magical Realism and in our search we can't say that she's wrong. Amazingly there aren't many examples of works of Magical Realism from a Black focus. Take a look at the ones we discovered and let's discuss why it is that more Black-centered films aren't occupying these spaces.

(These films may also be found on You Tube).

Daughters of the Dust (1991) https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/amzn1.dv.gti.6eb7ff4a-ce65-ed69-e035-b888f92606b2?ref_=imdbref_tt_wo_pvt_aiv_2&tag=imdbtag_tt_wo_pvt_aiv-20

To Sleep With Anger (1990) https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/amzn1.dv.gti.bea9f708-14ae-96af-b0cb-3fd86921773e?ref_=imdbref_tt_wo_pvt_aiv_2&tag=imdbtag_tt_wo_pvt_aiv-20

Watermelon Man (1970) https://www.amazon.com/Watermelon-Man-Estelle-Parsons/dp/B001NKUG8C

Hell Bound Train (1930) (preview) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnqHGtnfuMI

We all loved Get Out and Black Panther, Watchmen and Octavia Butler’s works, but what other “overlooked” or “undiscovered” works should be put on our “Must” list? Let's discuss what you've read or seen and want to share!

In their history in the New World, people of the African Diaspora have been given many names, few of them qualifying as "self-identifiers." The latest name, originating in social media, is "BIPOC," Black and Indigenous People of Color. It was intended as a means of inclusivity, to show that the struggles of marginalizes and under-served people and communities are "connected." But are they? And is BIOC as "inclusive" as it is intended? Join us as we discuss these and other issues of identity and inclusion. ALSO - What if some of our favorite films and TV shows were casted differently? Would your dreamcast be a nightmare? What if?

It's our Valentine's Day show and what better way to celebrate than by exploring Black Love (or the dearth of it) in sci-fi, fantasy and horror? Join us with your favorite (or least favorite) scenes!

Yep. That's us standing on the corner, arms crossed, toe tapping... waiting. Gleaned from Samuel Delaney's original essay (https://www.nyrsf.com/racism-and-science-fiction-.html) and restated among others in NK Jemison's 2013 story collection (https://nkjemisin.com/2013/09/how-long-til-black-future-month/) we can't help but wonder while we observe the portrayals of people of color in genre media … or the lack of them. Why are the portrayals always the same? (We can be the President, but never the one who saves the day.) What do you feel are the best (and worst) depictions of people of color in genre books, television, and movies depicting our place in the future? Do you see them changing and if not, what will bring about the change? Also join us to discuss Star Trek. With several different series under the Enterprise's belt, why haven't there been any spinoffs? Your guess is as good as mine. Join us with your theories!