Nerdificent

Dust off those mint conditions and get ready for a history in comics. This week the gang is discussing the history of the old Captain Marvel ahead of the release of the movie, Shazam! Dani and Ify are joined by Amy Dallen of Geek and Sundry to discuss the many forms of Shazam from early comic appearances leading up to Zachary Levi’s portrayal on the screen. Fear not, there are NO SPOILERS ahead, just a good old fashioned discussion on this week’s Nerdificent!

FOOTNOTES:

DC Database: Captain Marvel

RottenTomatoes: DC’s Most Fun Movie Yet

Variety: Zachary Levi is Pure Pop Charisma - ‘Shazam!’ review

Digital Spy: Here's Why There's Two Captain Marvels on Screen This Year

Amy Dallen on Twitter

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Welcome to another educational edition of Nerdificent where we learn about the representation, or lack thereof, of women in film as determined by the Bechdel Test! This week, Dani and Ify are joined by Jamie Loftus and Caitlin Durante of HowStuffWorks and iHeart's own The Bechdel Cast. The group discuss the history of the test from its first appearance in the comic by Alison Bechdel to the many further tests it has inspired and the awareness they have brought to the many inequalities in Hollywood. Learn a thing or two about your favorite films on this week's episode of Nerdificent!

FOOTNOTES:

Bechdel Cast Twitter

What is the 'Bechdel Test?'

FiveThirtyEight: The Next 'Bechdel Test'

GOOD: The 'DuVernay Test'

The Atlantic: Beyond the 'Bechdel Test'

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Welcome to another incredible edition of Nerdificent! This week Dani and Ify are joined by Onyi and Obi Udeh of Kolanut Productions to discuss the history and progression of Black representation in comics, animation, and culture as a whole. The two brothers share the successes and failures of some of the most successful works featuring Black characters as a lens to guide their own work with Kolanut Productions. Links to their excellent work are right below in the footnotes but sit back and enjoy another episode of Nerdificent!

FOOTNOTES:

Kolanut Patreon

Kolanut Productions Youtube

Kolanut Productions Twitter

WebToons: 'Red Origins'

YouTube: Kisi the Electron Girl Origin Story

The Nerds of Color: Black Masculinity as Performed in Japanese Visual Media

LATimes: American, Japanese pop culture blend in 'Afro Samurai'

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Bonus Episode! Dani and Ify are joined by Sam Bashor and Joelle Monique to discuss the 'Captain Marvel' film! SPOILERS AHEAD! 

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Grab your pencils and get ready to take notes! This week Dani and Ify delve into their own histories and share some of the moments that got them to where they are today. From sleeping on floors to their first panel, Dani and Ify share the stories and crucial secrets that can help an aspiring talent get started. Learn a little about the voices you love on this episode of Nerdificent!

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Are you ready to save the Avengers? Answer your pager, it’s time to talk about Captain Marvel! This week Ify is out on Birthday duty and Dani is joined by the owner of the Perky Nerd Comic Book shop, Tiffany Melius, to talk about her favorite 90’s heroine. From Carol Danvers’ love of Star Wars to her many places in the multiverse of Marvel, consider this a primer to the soon to premier Captain Marvel film - all on this week’s Nerdificent!

FOOTNOTES:

Captain Marvel is Becoming The MCU’s Most Controversial Movie (But It Really Shouldn’t)

CBR: 20 Weird Facts About Captain Marvel

Digital Trends: Everything we know about Captain Marvel so far

NYT: Can 'Captain Marvel' fix Marvel's Woman Problem?

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Hello again, nerds, and welcome to another Horror filled episode of Nerdificent! This week Dani and Ify are joined by Writer and Director, Xavier Burgin, to talk about his film ‘Horror Noire’, a documentary about the representation of Black people in Horror films (the first of its kind). Starting way back with ‘Birth of a Nation’ up to where we are today with ‘Horror Noire’. Curl up and get ready for a history lesson on this weeks episode of Nerdificent!

FOOTNOTES:

For the Filmmakers Behind This Timely Documentary, Black History Is Black Horror

COLLIDER: 'Horror Noire' Review: A Captivating Deep Dive into the History of Black Cinema and the Horror Genre

NBC: 'Horror Noire' shines a much-needed light on the history of African-Americans in horror films

VERGE: The Enlightening Doc 'Horror Noire' lays out Black History through Black Horror Films

INDIEWIRE: Jordan Peele Lectures UCLA Film Class on 'Get Out': 'The Sunken Place is the Silencing' of Marginalized People-

VULTURE: 'Horror Noire' is a Lively, Essential History Lesson

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Put your Vibranium armor on and get ready to protect Wakanda, this week we’re talking about Black Panther! Dani and Ify are joined by Black Panther Showrunner, Geoffrey Thorne, to discuss all things T’Challa. From the original comic runs to the record-shattering film, every adventure of this Marvel hero is covered in great detail. Sharpen those claws and settle in for another episode of Nerdificent!

FOOTNOTES:

TIME: The Revolutionary Power of Black Panther

NYT: Why ‘Black Panther’ is a Defining Moment for Black America

VOX: Black Panther is a gorgeous, groundbreaking celebration of black culture

Rolling Stone: Black Superheroes Matter: Why a ‘Black Panther’ Movie Is Revolutionary

Marvel Wiki: Black Panther

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Hello friends and welcome to another episode of Nerdificent. This week the gang is joined by Sam Maggs of Insomniac Games and Janel SantaCruz of Hyper RPG to discuss Women in the world of Video Games. Dani and Ify with help from Sam and Janel talk about their struggles of wanting to work and participate in the world of video games and nerd culture as a whole with toxic masculinity and gatekeeping being the main factors of stifling that desire. This episode we share the many avenues women have entered, evolved, and conquered the world of Video Games as well as ways you too can find and support people with similar dreams and goals. No matter your gender everyone can learn something on today’s episode of Nerdificent!

FOOTNOTES:

LifeWire: The Most Important Women in the History of Video Games

HeadStuff: A Brief History of the Female Representation in Video Games

Polygon: "No Girls Allowed" - Unraveling the story behind the stereotype of video games being for boys

Twine: an Open-Source Tool for Telling Interactive, Nonlinear Stories

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Oh hey there, puddin'! Got somethin' special for ya! This week the gang gives you the details on Harley Quinn. Dani and Ify are joined by Tara Strong, voice of Harley Quinn and too many other characters to name, to talk about this comic book heroine. From her start in the Batman animated series to her many appearances in comics, video games, and movies the gang gives Harley her due diligence with a little insight into how Tara made Harley her own. All that and more on this week's episode of Nerdificent!

FOOTNOTES:

ComicBook: The Last Laugh: Mapping Harley Quinn's Rise as a Pop Culture Icon

COMPLEX: An Oral History of Harley Quinn

Vanity Fair: Is Suicide Squad's Harley Quinn the Most Divisive Character in Comics?

VULTURE: The Hidden Story of Harley Quinn and How She Became the Superhero World's Most Successful Woman

Official Batman Wiki: Harley Quinn

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