Do dystopian societies require a bad good guy? Why do we love superheroes who morals are all shades of grey? Comic fans, this one is for you. Host Chris Robichaud dives into the world of superhero dystopias, focusing on Batman and Watchmen, bringing culture and politics together to help us understand what the bad good guys we love can teach us.

In this episode:

The Brattle Theatre and Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation present a dystopian film series in celebration of the launch of This Week in Dystopia. For this film series This Week in Dystopia host Chris Robichaud and other guests will leave the recording studio to join us for select screenings as we dive into the dreadful, dastardly, and disturbing futures presented in sci-fi films — from the robot-controlled caste system of Metropolis to the prescient satire of Idiocracy to the stirring teenage rebellion of The Hunger Games… and beyond!

For more information and tickets, please visit the Brattle website: http://www.brattlefilm.org/category/calendar-2/repertory-series/this-week-in-dystopia/

Pow! Bang! Kaboom! Power and Responsibility: Doing Philosophy with Superheroes, a SmithsonianX and Harvard Division of Continuing Education course, blends superheroes narratives with the core areas of philosophy.

Check out the course: https://www.edx.org/course/power-responsibility-doing-philosophy-smithsonianx-phil1-1x#.Wl4_ObBRbZ4.facebook

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This podcast is brought to you by the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School.