‘Tis the season for kissing the devil and concocting a witches’ brew. On our special 1-Year Anniversary episode, we are joined by Dr. (Witch) Hazel to examine the history of witches with a focus on the American North-Eastern tradition as epitomized in the Salem Witch Trials and Arthur Miller’s fictionalization of the event, 'The Crucible.' We then touch upon 1987’s 'Witches of Eastwick,' 1999’s 'The Blair Witch Project,' and 2015’s 'The VVitch.' Much thirst and academia is had. Show notes can be found here: https://metamashina.com/2018/10/23/episode-026-living-deliciously/

Imagine a world where women are murdered so they can be replaced with subservient automatons—and by men who claim to love them. Long before the 1970s cult classic 'The Stepford Wives' became shorthand for hausfraus who only care about cleaning products, this film brought to light women’s fears of oppression, and how those fears follow us to the grave. Today we continue our ‘Women as Robots’ series with a sobering look at the trope and the original film, along with a lot of criticism for the bad 2000’s retelling. Show notes can be found here: https://metamashina.com/2018/10/09/episode-025-stepford-hellscape/

They’re beauty, they’re grace, they’ll hiss in your face. This week we’re talking about Tchaikovsky’s ballet 'Swan Lake' and its animated adaptations: 1981’s anime LSD nightmare 'Swan Lake' and 1994’s 'The Swan Princess.' Join us as we lament bowl cuts, ear hair, thigh high boots, and other thirst killers. Show notes here: https://metamashina.com/2018/09/25/episode-024-dont-shoot-the-swan/

The creeping horror of knowing something is moving towards you, inescapable and unrelenting in its pursuit is . . . student debt? This week we scared the living daylights out of ourselves by relating 'It Follows' to late-stage capitalism, vaporwave, and classic literature. We also unpack the deeply feminine fear of being taken advantage of by a trusted partner, and why the prototypical nice guy *should* finish last. Content warning: this episode contains in-depth discussions of sexual assault. Show notes here: https://metamashina.com/2018/09/11/episode-023-it-follows-unfortunately/

Self-indulgence means taking a moment to cover a highly recced movie (both by us and our followers): the Russian 2015 film ‘On Drakon.’ This film smashes all the Metamashina buttons: monster husbands, inescapable female gaze, overcoming generational trauma, and medieval Russian wastelands. We reiterate our favorite points of these tropes as well as exploring the Bad Dragon website for a newfound monster kink . . . And a bonus rant about US healthcare. Show notes here: https://metamashina.com/2018/08/28/episode-022-oh-dragon/

In the year 2k18 it’s high time that the monster gets the girl. This week we’re joined by Lunaplath to discuss one of the most niche of monster kinks, along with the most endearing: 1954’s 'The Creature from the Black Lagoon' and del Toro’s love letter to it, 'The Shape of Water'. Everyone grab your favourite floatation device and let’s go swimming. Apologies in advance for some audio artefacts — got a bit rough in spots! Show notes are here: https://metamashina.com/2018/08/14/episode-021-lover-from-the-black-lagoon/

Who needs true love’s first kiss when you can have a goth fairy godmother? Today - for our 20th episode! - we're joined by Shannon of Network 1901 and Dale of the Disney Culture Club to discuss the original 1950’s Disney 'Sleeping Beauty' and its cultural context, as well as 2014’s retelling 'Maleficent'! (Yes, we’re all pining for a shape-changing crow companion.) Show notes are here: https://metamashina.com/2018/07/31/episode-020-babes-be-sleepin/

*Content Warning: EXTREMELY saucy elf fantasies ahead*

And thus the girls of Metamashina, thirsty beyond measure, descended to Arda to take their leisure of the Noldor and the Sindar, only to be seduced by the wickedly sensual Sauron. In our deconstruction of 'The Silmarillion,' Tolkien’s most academic work collects dust while we try to determine which of Feanor’s sons is the most f**kable. Looking for a canonical deconstruction full of footnotes? This is not the place. We Harpies aim to break all the rules. Show notes here: https://metamashina.com/2018/07/17/episode-019-the-bible-but-with-elves/

In the second half of our Cyberpunk meltdown, guest Cait (commandercait) and the crew go hardcore on the Matrix sequels 'Reloaded' and 'Revolutions,' and how the story ended up drowning in dated tropes and lowered stakes. Cait talks about conquering 'The Matrix Online,' we have our trench coat trash genre recs, and everyone discusses how the Twins are acceptable sandwich material. Show notes are here: https://metamashina.com/2018/07/03/episode-018-trench-coat-trash-part-ii/

In this robot edgelord dystopia, those with the most cool-looking indoor sunglasses wins. For Part I on our exploration into 'The Matrix' franchise, we’re joined by Cait (commandercait) as we explore the original film written and directed by Lilly and Lana Wachowski. Also featured: commentary on the supplemental series 'The Animatrix,' wank on late 90’s/early 00’s cybergoth fashion, themes of identity both on and offline, and an extended bit on falconry. Show notes are here: https://metamashina.com/2018/06/19/episode-017-trench-coat-trash-part-i/