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In this episode, Professor Brian Hu from SDSU helps us tackle the world of Asian and Asian American cinema as they travel throughout various locales. Hu’s position as a film scholar and Artistic Director of the San Diego Asian Film Festival leads us through conversations about how people connect with and discover Asian culture. We touch on how regionality and heritage influence people’s interactions with Asian and Asian American media. We also discuss the shifting definitions of Asian American and how that plays out in AAPI/AANHPI film festival creation. Hu guides us through the process of film curation and circulation at AAPI/AANHPI film festivals. In the end, we ask Hu what to look forward to for the upcoming 2025 SDAFF on November 6-15.  Our discussion with Hu leaves us wondering what the future holds for Asian and Asian American media as global industries become more invested in Asian works like K-pop, anime, and Labubus.  

Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper:

Academic Readings:

• Worldly Desires: Cosmopolitanism and Cinema in Hong Kong and Taiwan
• Identities in Motion: Asian American Film and Video
• Making Asian American Film and Video History, Institutions, Movements
• Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.: Gen Z to AAPI Direct Marketing and Its Effects on Native Hawaiians (chapter) 
• Pop Cosmopolitanism: Mapping Cultural Flows in an Age of Media Convergence (chapter)

Names and Locations:

• Payal Kapadia
• Anna May Wong
• Nancy Kwan
• Lisa Lu
• James Shigeta
• Peter X Feng
• Jun Okada
• John Woo
• Dante Bosco
• Ingyu Oh
• Daniel Dae Kim
• Bruce Lee
• Jackie Chan
• Hayao Miyazaki
• Studio Ghibli
• Satoshi Kon
• Big Bang (group)
• Ang Lee
• Seafood City

Film Festivals:

• San Diego Asian Film Festival
• Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival
• Cinecon
• Festival de Cannes
• Busan Film Festival
• Golden Horse Film Festival
• San Francisco Silent Film Festival 
• Berlin Film Festival

Movies, Shows, and Media:

• A Night of Knowing Nothing
• Godzilla Minus One
• Ulan
• Hard Boiled
• Flower Drum Song
• All We Imagine As Light
• Ne Zha
• Ne Zha 2
• The Untamed (TV Series)
• Pulp Fiction 
• Chan is Missing
• Butterfly (TV Series)
• The Debut
• Ultraman series
• Gundam series
• The Fabulous Filipino Brothers
• Superstore (TV Series)
• Destroy All Monsters
• The Matrix
• Joy Luck Club
• TFC
• Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle
• Crunchyroll
• Crunchyroll partners with Delta Airlines
• Just According to Keikaku meme
• Naruto (anime, manga)
• Animal Crossing 
• Crazy Rich Asians
• Sinners
• X-Files
• Millenium Actress
• Perfect Blue
• Tokyo Godfathers
• Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie - Infinity Castle
• Demon Slayer Infinity Castle US Box Office 
• KPop Demon Hunters
• My Neighbor Totoro
• The Boy and the Heron
• Parasite
• Squid Games
• TikTok
• Criterion Channel 
  • Hong Kong Action Classics
• Criterion Channel Asian American 80’s
• Criterion Channel Asian American Filmmaking 2000-2009 (user list of films from collection)
• Terminator
• James Bond
• Drive My Car

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In this episode, we chat with Diana Leon-Boys— Assistant Professor of Media and Cultural Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Department of Communication Arts—about her lifelong work examining the navigation of girlhood through a Latinx lens. Her book Elena, Princesa of the Periphery: Disney’s Flexible Latina Girl extends conversations about minority representation and the complex relationship it has with child development. We host a dialogue between Diana’s research and Henry’s observations about boyhood in his book Where the Wild Things Were: Boyhood and Permissive Parenting in Postwar America. We discuss how both scholars pull from their own personal experiences growing up in America and how they interacted with their childhood media. 

We explore how the proliferation and production of children's and family media shape ideas of adolescence. Diana and Henry relate this back to their roles as parents within an ever-evolving media landscape where funding for educational children’s content is dwindling. They further discuss how representation within media has changed over time and minority groups’ relation to it. This is where Diana brings in her newer projects about depictions of Quinceañeras and Día de los Muertos in TV and films. We are left to ask what the politics of childhood are and what reforms can be done with current children’s media.

Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper:

Academic Texts

Diana Leon-Boys:

Elena, Princesa of the Periphery: Disney’s Flexible Latina Girl

Quinceañeras: Latinidades and Girlhood in Popular Culture

Henry Jenkins:

Where the Wild Things Were: Boyhood and Permissive Parenting in Postwar America

The Children’s Culture Reader

“Just a Spoonful of Sugar: Permissive Child-Rearing and Walt Disney’s Mary Poppins”

“‘You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught’: The Whiteness of Permissive Culture”

MIT Salute to Doctor Seuss

Interview about the book

Others:

Centuries of Childhood: A Social History of Family Life

Kids in the Middle: How Children of Immigrants Negotiate Community Interactions for Their Families

Latina Teenhood: Intersectionalizing subjectivities in the post-network era.

Crafting Public Opinion: The Effectiveness of China’s Media Control Policies under Xi Jinping

Made to Play House: Dolls and the Commercialization of American Girlhood, 1830-1930

Advice Books:

The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care

Dare to Discipline 

People, Places, Toys, and Holidays

Philippe Ariès

Dr. Vikki Katz

Día de los Muertos

Quinceañeras

Benjamin Spock

Margaret Mead

Dr. Seuss

Fred Rogers

Stephanie Pérez

Raquel Reyes [American Girl Doll]

Samantha Parkington [Doll]

Julie Andrews

Walt Disney

Disneyland and Disney World

Paper Dolls

FDR

Sigmund Freud

Shows, Films, and Other Media

Pee-wee’s PlayHouse

Dennis the Menace [59-63’ show, Comics]

Leave It To Beaver

The Cosby Show

One Piece [Anime, Manga, Live Action]

Disney+

Encanto

Coco

Snow White [Animated, Live Action]

Little Mermaid [Animated, Live Action]

Chinese State Media sounded like Fox Media

Rogue One

Sesame Street

Gordita Chronicles

Baker and the Beauty

Bluey

Descendants film franchise

On My Block

Wednesday

Mary Poppins

Saludos Amigos

Harry Potter film series

Dora The Explorer 

The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T.

Mad Magazine 

Classic Illustrated

Gabby’s Dollhouse

Quinceañeras episodes

• Super Sweet 16
• Wizards of Waverly Place
• Dora the Explorer 

News

Defunding of PBS 

Quinceañeras in Protest

One Piece Flags in Indonesia

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Neta Kligler-Vilenchik— Associate Professor of Communication and Journalism at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem— and Ioana Literat— Associate Professor of Communication, Media, and Learning Technologies Design at Columbia University— discuss their book, Not Your Parents' Politics: Understanding Young People's Political Expression on Social Media. They create a dialogue around the ways young people engage with politics using social media, noting the differences between platforms and regions. Kligler-Vilenchik and Literat tie this into the 2016 and 2024 election cycles, along with international bureaucratic frictions.

Both scholars tell us about their growing research on youth cultures’ interactions with politics and how those have shifted over time. They cover how younger people are often involved in politics, whether it be via fandom or other forms of civic imagination. They end by suggesting that these intersections between the younger generations and politics can be optimistically inspiring.  

Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper:

Academic Texts

Not Your Parents' Politics: Understanding Young People's Political Expression on Social Media 

[Oxford, Amazon]

By Any Media Necessary The New Youth Activism [NYU Press, Amazon] 

Fan activism and the Harry Potter Alliance [TWC]

The Image War Moves to TikTok Evidence from the May 2021 Round of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict [Taylor & Francis Online]

Dynamics of scale shift: Contentious places and hybrid activism on social media [Sage Journal]

People Mentioned

Joe Rogan

Kamala Harris

Donald Trump

Barrack Obama

Hillary Clinton

Xi Jinping

Nancy Pelosi

Alexandra Pelosi

David Hogg

Lillian (Lilly) Boxman-Shabtai

Taylor Swift

Keren Tenenboim- Weinblatt

TV, Films, and Other Media

Captain America [IMDB]

Harry Potter [IMDB]

Donald Trump Speech LipSync [YouTube link]

Extra Fun Tidbits + News

Civic Paths [Website Link]

Scratch Online Coding Community [MIT Site link]

Fandom Forward [Link]

Little Pinks [Article Link]

South Korea President Removed From Power [Article Link]

Romanian TikTok Election Scandal [BBC Link]

Teen Activism Against School Shooting After Parkland [PBS Link]

Slacktivisim [Article Link]

Henry Jenkins on Emma Gonzale’s Jacket and youth activism [Brown Journal of Public Affairs]

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In this episode, we welcome Abigail De Kosnik, an Associate Professor and Director of the Berkeley Center for New Media and the founder of Fan Link, and Jinyi Li, the technology chief of Fan Link, to discuss their groundbreaking platform connecting fandoms with education and activism. Abigail shares how Fan Link fosters media, racial, and gender literacy through creative fan-driven projects and real-world action, empowering fans to make a difference.

The conversation also examines the differing fandom strategies used by Democrats and Republicans in the recent election. Abigail and Jingyi explore how fan communities can influence political narratives and inspire collective action, offering a unique perspective on the intersection of fandom and politics.

Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper:

About our guest:

Abigail De Kosnik | Research UC Berkeley

Abigail De Kosnik Introduces Fanlink - News/Research - Berkeley Center for New Media

Fandom + Piracy: Fandom & Race Panel - Events - Berkeley Center for New Media

Interesting Facts and Fan Events mentioned:

Leslie Grace Says the 'Batgirl' Cancellation Felt 'Like Deflating a Balloon'

The 27 Club: A Brief History

The School for First Ladies Is Now in Session

The Herald on the 2017 Trump Inauguration TV listing as Twilight Zone episode

Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping film cast

Dragon Con

San Diego Comic-Con

Japan Expo

New York Comic Con

Osaka Comic Con Hannibal

People mentioned:

Braver Angels

Congressman Hakeem Jeffries – Proudly Representing the 8th District of New York

Bernie Sanders Official Website

Stormy Daniels Official Website

Academic Essays Mentioned:

New Audiences, New Textualities:  Anti-Fans and Non-Fans - Jonathan Gray, 2003

Hillary Clinton fans 

fandom and fan politics in the Philippines, 

Series, Films, and Podcasts mentioned:

When Harry Met Sally… IMDB, “I’ll have what she’s having” [YouTube clip]

Groundhog Day IMDB

Hannibal on Prime

RuPaul’s Drag Race on WOW Presents Plus and Paramount+

The West Wing on Max

The Apprentice on Prime

Listen to Call Her Daddy on Spotify

Watch Friends on IMDb

Watch Survivor on CBS, IMDb, and Netflix

Watch The Bridge on IMDb and Apple TV

Joe Rogan

Check out our previous Episode 94: Curious Conversations Across the Divide with Mónica Guzmán

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In this episode, Jon Taplin— director Emeritus of the Annenberg Innovation Lab at the University of Southern California—joins us to discuss his early years working with Bob Dylan, to his recent research on tech billionaires' growth in legislative influence. Taplin historicizes the changes in media’s ties to politics between the McCarthy era to the 2024 election cycle.   

The discussion delves into the power of music to spark political thought and changes in people’s connection to pop culture during difficult times. We ask whether the media landscape has become more nihilistic and if there is room for local community-driven efforts. Taplin leaves us questioning where the relationship between pop culture and politics will go in America, as the system seems to be limiting the powers of creativity and political disobedience. 

Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper:

Academic Texts

The End of Reality: How Four Billionaires are Selling a Fantasy Future of the Metaverse, Mars, and Crypto [Amazon]

Move Fast and Break Things: How Facebook, Google, and Amazon Cornered Culture and Undermined Democracy [Amazon]

The Magic Years: Scenes from a Rock-and-Roll Life [Amazon]

People Mentioned

Bob Dylan

Edward R Murrow

Rhiannon Giddens

John Perry Barlow

Elon Musk

Jeff Bezos

Peter Thiel

Charlie Parker

John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie

 Paul Butterfield Blues Band

 Mike Bloomfield

Alan Lomax

Shows, Films, and Other Media

A Complete Unknown IMDB 

Mean Streets IMDB 

The Last Waltz IMDB

Squid Game watch on Netflix

Beast Games watch on Prime

Ted Lasso watch on Apple TV+

Schitt’s Creek watch on 

Double Indemnity IMDB

Clipped watch on Hulu

Breaking Bad IMDB

Mad Men watch on AMC+

Succession watch on Max\The Wire IMDB

Homicide: Life on the Street IMDB

Hill Street Blues IMDB

Matlock (2024) watch on Paramount+

Knives Out IMDB

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery watch on Netflix

Columbo IMDB

Grand Theft Auto [YouTube Clips of Trailers for GTA 1-6]

The Sopranos IMDB

 Newport Folk Festival of 1965 Bob Dylan Performance [YouTube clip]

FanDuel [Website]

Potluck [Website]

Virginia Public Radio [Website]

Extra Fun Tidbits + News

What does “kayfabe” mean in wrestling?

Criterion Channel “Dangerous Work: Cy Endfield, Film Noir, and the Blacklist” series 

LA Fire Mutual Aid

LA Community Combats Fires 

Poker Face Is the New Columbo

What does culture eats strategy for breakfast mean?

Trump vs 60 Minutes Lawsuit and Paramount Merger with Skydance 

Public Media Defunded 

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In this episode, Elizabeth Losh, Professor of English and American Studies at William and Mary, joins us to explore the transformative role of digital technology in politics, from past presidents' strategies to the present-day campaigns shaping our future. We dive into Kamala Harris’s first presidential run, examining her use of Instagram Live and how her social media presence has evolved since then. We also discuss her approach to engaging with voters this election cycle in public spaces, creating a dynamic connection between candidate and community.

We dissect the phenomenon of the memification in the election cycle, revealing how viral moments can shape narratives and influence public perception. Plus, we look at Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s savvy social media tactics to galvanize voters.

Finally, we ask the question: if Kamala Harris secures the presidency, how can the momentum of youth engagement and enthusiasm cultivated through social media be sustained? Tune in for a thoughtful discussion on the future of political engagement in the digital age!

Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper:

Selfie Democracy: The New Digital Politics of Disruption and Insurrection by Elizabeth Losh

Obama administration’s We The People platform

Obama addressing the interest in legalizing marijuana at the first ever White House online town hall

“Kamala is Brat” / Coconut tree tiktok

Vance’s Epic Egg Fail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5BWPmIfFKo&t=70s

“Eating the dogs” remix from tiktok 

Tim Walz car repair video clip 

Jon Lovett on Survivor 

Kamala Harris is reclaiming what it means to be a "woman in the kitchen" (Salon.com)

Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Harris/Walz on Instagram

Trump Uses AI for Church Photo https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattnovak/2023/03/23/donald-trump-shares-fake-ai-created-image-of-himself-on-truth-social/

US Representative Mike Garcia https://mikegarcia.house.gov/

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In this episode, Professor and chair of the Communication Studies division at American University’s School of Communication, Aram Sinnreich, and Jesse Gilbert, an interdisciplinary artist working at the intersection of visual art, sound and software design, join us to explore the presence of data in our life and the future of data. The conversation starts with personal experiences at rallies and the challenges of digital activism. The guests reflect on their long-standing collaboration, which began in high school and led to their recent book, The Secret Life of Data.

Key themes include data privacy, the ethical implications of technology, and the influence of corporations on our digital lives.  We examine the limitations of AI, the psychological impact of surveillance, and the need for technology to reflect societal values. This episode offers concise insights on building a more equitable tech future.

A full transcript of this episode will be available soon!

Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper:

Aram Sinnreich

Jesse Gilbert

The Algorithmic Mirror: Reflecting data's role in modern life

“The Carrier Wave Principle” – International Journal of Communication

Health Care Reform Initiative · Clinton Digital Library

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Dexcom Continuous Glucose Monitoring

Foucauldian discourse analysis

John Henry (folklore)

What Did Cambridge Analytica Do During The 2016 Election?

Watch Black Mirror on Netflix; IMDb

Steve Mann

The Truman Show on IMDb

Donna Haraway Archives - EERA Blog

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In this episode, David Wolinsky, author of The Hivemind Swarmed: Conversations on Gamergate, the Aftermath, and the Quest for a Safer Internet, and Sam Close, Assistant Professor at DePaul University College of Communication, join us to unpack systemic challenges in the video game industry. From gender and racial discrimination to toxic workplace culture, they highlight the need for moral courage, ethical decision-making, and structural changes to foster a more inclusive and equitable environment.

The discussion revisits key moments like Gamergate, a flashpoint that exposed deep-seated harassment, and explores movements like the "girls game movement" that sought to empower women in gaming. Despite progress through women-led initiatives and increased awareness, the industry continues to grapple with significant barriers to inclusion and diversity.

Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper:

The Hivemind Swarmed: Conversations on Gamergate, the Aftermath, and the Quest for a Safer Internet

Gamergate - Wikipedia
Gamergate | Summary, Facts, & Zoe Quinn | Britannica
What Gamergate should have taught us about the 'alt-right'

Atari founder Nolan Bushnell on why life is 'a game'

Purple Moon

What makes a AAA game a AAA game?

Party Like It's 1995: The Rise and Fall of the Girl Game
The ‘Girl Games’ of the ’90s Were Fun and Feminist

The Three Theories of Criminal Justice

Conclave on IMDb, official trailer

Watch the uncensored moment Will Smith smacks Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars, drops F-bomb

Metacritic

Books Mentioned:

Broad Band: The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the Internet by Claire L. Evans

From Barbie to Mortal Kombat: Gender and Computer Games, edited by Justine Cassell and Henry Jenkins

Games Mentioned:

Hunt The Wumpus

Play the original Super Mario Bros Game Online

List of LucasArts games

Play Monkey Island Collection on Steam

The official home for The Legend of Zelda - Home

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge for Nintendo Switch - Nintendo Official Site

Sierra - King’s Quest,Sierra - King’s Quest

Pong Game

Home of the Cyberpunk 2077 universe — games, anime & more

baldursgate3.game

DOOM Eternal

Candy Crush

Play Tetris | Free Online Game

Maxis Studios – Official Electronic Arts Sites

Discover The Last of Us

Never Alone

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In this episode, professors Colin and Henry, along with T.L. Taylor, Director of the MIT Game Lab, explore the rise of game studies as an academic field. Taylor shares her journey from studying virtual worlds in the 90s to becoming an expert in live streaming and eSports, shedding light on gaming's cultural impact and academic challenges.

They delve into the interactive relationship between game designers and players, examining how games reflect socio-technical systems. The conversation also touches on eSports, its growth into a major profession, and the influence of game developers and venture capital.

The episode wraps up with a discussion on the broader concept of play, including theme parks and the desire for "re-enchantment" in everyday life, highlighting the intersection of games, play, and self-expression.

Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper:

Games Mentioned
Everquest
World of Warcraft 
I Love Bees
The Beast

Important Concepts in Games
Multi-User Dungeons (MUDs)
Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOs)
Minmaxer

T.L. Taylor publications
Watch Me Play: Twitch and the Rise of Game Live Streaming
Raising the Stakes: E-Sports and the Professionalization of Computer Gaming
Play Between Worlds: Exploring Online Game Culture
Games Matter (Knight Foundation)

Other Research Mentioned
Pew research on gaming, 2017
Nancy Baym and Jean Burgess, Twitter: A Biography (hashtags as a user-generated intervention)
Alice Marwick (networked harassment)
Eric von Hippel (innovation)
Jane McGonigal, Why I Love Bees: A Case Study in Collective Intelligence
Chris Weaver, ‘Elder Scrolls 6’: How the Series Became a Hit With Elderly Gamers
Jean Beaudrillard
Bruno Bettelheim

Other Mentions
Twitch
Twitch Top Streamers 2024

Gamergate

World Cyber Games

USC Esports
UC Irvine Esports

Sherry Turkle, also see Episode 89: Sherry Turkle on Empathy and the Narratives That Shape Our Lives, and her book Life on the Screen

Cory Doctorow Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom ; also check out our previous Episode 45: “Radicalized” with Cory Doctorow

Check out our previous Episode 92: Disney Theme Parks with Rebecca Williams and Lauren Sowa

This Is What U.S. Presidents Would Look Like With Mullets, According to AI (Newsweek) 

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In this episode, we chat with Charlie Jenkins, whose lifelong passion for wrestling sparked a remarkable journey into writing. He started writing fan fiction around the age of five, dictating stories for his father to type on the computer. In high school he became an active player and game master in e-wrestling, an online roleplaying game that allowed fans to write their own pro wrestling characters and storylines, and now Charlie has crafted a unique voice in wrestling literature. His novel American Wrestling 1989 fills a niche in wrestling-related fiction, weaving together the complex narratives of individuals in the industry and capturing the vibrant essence of 1980s wrestling beyond traditional sports stories.

We explore the emergence of wrestling fiction as a genre, influenced by the mainstream success of wrestling personalities and Charlie’s own experiences working with a small wrestling franchise. The conversation examines how American wrestling shapes cultural narratives and its global representation, alongside the transformative role of WWE and Vince McMahon in the industry's evolution. 

Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper:

Charlie Jenkins’ book: American Wrestling, 1989 buy on Amazon, Audible

Clips featured in the episode:

The Undertaker
Dusty Rhodes
Sasha Banks & Bianca Belair
Zeb Colter and Jack Swagger address Glenn Beck

Wrestlers Mentioned

• The Undertaker and his instagram
• Hulk Hogan
• Dwayne Johnson and his instagram
• John Cena
• Dave Bautista
• Rick Flair
• Dusty Rhodes
• Yokozuna
• Bret Hart
• Mick Foley
• Gorgeous George
• Anthony Bowens
• Sonya Deville 
• Shayna Baszler 
• Toni Storm
• Nyla Rose
• Sonny Kiss
• Becky Lynch
• Jake Hager

Creature From the Black Lagoon (movie)

Pee-wee Herman

WWF Superstars of Wrestling
Young Rock  (watch on NBC)
Heels (watch on Netflix)
GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling - watch on Netflix)
Masters of the Universe (watch on Netflix)

Cirque du Soleil

The WWE and AEW

Lucha VaVoom de La Liz

Wayne Cowan

Vince McMahon
McMahon Family
Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America, by Abraham Riesman

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