The CaPC 25 for 2018

CaPC Managing Editor Erin Staza returns this week, along with Kevin McLenithan, K. B. Hoyle, Tyler Burns, Kathryn Freeman, and Tyler Glodjo to solidify The 25 for 2019.

In the final episode of our annual The 25 series, the group goes back and forth to determine the rankings of the 25 items on the list submitted by CaPC staff writers and editors.

Managing Editor Erin Staza is back, along with a consortium to sit down for a lively discussion to form the final 25 entries for our annual year-end list. The pop culture events, people, movies, TV shows, albums, and more that defined 2019 in ways that reflected the good, the true, and the beautiful are molded into near-final form in this two-part extravaganza!

This year Kevin McLenithan joins us, along with returning guests K. B. Hoyle, Tyler Burns, Kathryn Freeman, and Tyler Glodjo. Trying a new format this year, the group adds and subtracts from the list with their own nominations while not being able to bump anything from the top 5 survey responses.

Then in Part 2, which will air later this week, the same crew will go to the mat to rank the 25 entries and crown the most influential artifacts in 2018, from 25 to 1.

Jonathan and crew are back to finish ranking the list of the Top 25 pop culture artifacts from 2018. Joining him are K. B. Hoyle, Kathryn Freeman, Tyler Burns, Luke T. Harrington, and Tyler Glodjo to mold the list of random entries from 1 to 25.

There are passionate pleas to keep Mr. Rodgers down, the Royal wedding on top, and Luke’s desire to cancel the list and join Thoreau in the wilderness. Listen as we threaten, cajole, and plead for our personal picks and shape the list for Christ and Pop Culture’s Top 25 of 2018.

Jonathan is back, along with special guests to sit down for a marathon recording session to finalize the CaPC 25 for 2018. The pop culture events, people, movies, TV shows, albums, and more that defined 2018 in ways that reflected the good, the true, and the beautiful are molded into near final form in this two-part extravaganza!

This year Kathryn Freeman joins us for her first year on the show, along with returning staff members K. B. Hoyle, Tyler Burns, Luke T. Harrington, and Tyler Glodjo. In this episode, the panel works through the nominations from our staff writers to decide which entries will form the final list. Wild cards are brought in, nominations that didn’t receive enough backing to make it on the list are considered, and Jonathan again tries to do the unthinkable by fighting for the removal of The Avengers from the list!

Then in Part 2, which will air later this week, the same crew will go to the mat to rank the 25 entries and crown the most influential artifacts in 2018, from 25 to 1.

The Christ and Pop Culture Top 25 for 2017 list and ranking debate comes to an end with the second part of the show. Jonathan and crew return to rank the completed list in order from 25 to 1 in order of what they believe to be the best reflections of the good, the true, and the beautiful in pop culture.

Jonathan is back, along with special guests Erin Straza, Luke T. Harrington, Tyler Burns, and newcomer Kaitlyn Schuss sit down for a marathon recording session to finalize the CaPC 25 for 2017. The pop culture events, people, movies, TV shows, albums, and more that defined 2017 in ways that reflected the good, the true, and the beautiful are molded into near final form in this two part extravaganza!

In Part 1, the panel has napped, been caffeinated, and then takes the list of nominations from our writer’s group and decides amongst themselves which of the nominations are indeed deserving of inclusion. Wild cards will be brought in, nominations that didn’t receive enough backing to make it onto the list are considered, and a the unthinkable happens when Jonathan attempts to remove Kendrick Lamar from the list!

Then in Part 2, which will air later this week, you will hear the same crew go to the mat over the rankings as we list what we believe to be the most important pop culture artifacts from 2017, from 25 to 1.

Listen to The CaPC 25 for 2017 Finale Part 1:

Superheroes, rap, and cultural seclusion go head to head in this episode of the CaPC 25 for 2017. Jonathan is back with special guests Erin Straza, Brad Vermurlen, and Andrew Whitworth to nominate WonderWoman, Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN., and The Benedict Option by Rod Dreher.

Returning to the CaPC 25 from 2016 is Andrew Whitworth bringing the latest effort from rap artist Kendrick Lamar, DAMN., whose album To Pimp A Butterfly made it to #1 on The CaPC 25 from 2016. While lacking some of the redemptive themes from that album, the effort is strong in both production, lyrical content, and personal meaning that characterizes Lamar’s work.

Wonder Woman, nominated by Erin Straza, brings the first super hero movie nomination to the list for 2017. Directed by Patty Jenkins (Monster), the movie showcases a woman in the lead as both a human being, a woman, and a force to be reckoned with who can lead simply because she can.

Rounding out the list is Rod Dreher’s controversial book, The Benedict Option brought by Brad Vermurlen. The book harkens back to the ancient monk Benedict who taught seclusion from the world and its vices in the name of purity. Is this the option that the protestant church now must now discuss in the light of the pluralism now found in the land of the free?

One of these nominations will make it on the list by the end of the show, but which one? Listen and find out!

Listen to The CaPC 25 for 2017 Episode 12:

After a brief hiatus, Jonathan is back with a some familiar guests and familiar nominations. Tyler Burns, Luke T. Harrington, and Adam Bryant Marshall are on deck this week to bring 2 old nominees back with 1 fresh addition to the list going up against the underdogs.

Listen to The CaPC 25 for 2017 Episode 11:

The Nintendo Switch is back with a vengeance this week, once again championed by Luke with the key difference now being that Luke has one in his possession.

Adam brings back the album A Crow Looked at Me from Mount Eerie hoping to succeed in putting this introspective album on the list.

Tyler Burns shakes things up with a new nomination from author Colson Whitehead. The sixth album from the writer is entitled Underground Railroad but rather than tell a story about slaves escaping from the deep south through hidden basements, this novel is a work of fiction where there is an actual hidden railroad with box cars and tracks.

One of these three nominees will make it onto The CaPC 25 for 2017. Which one will it be?

The CaPC 25 for 2017 is back for our 10th episode with returning guests Jason Morehead, E.Stephen Burnett, and Nate Claiborne. The nominations this week include a second chance for the anime movie, Your Name from director Makoto Shinkai after failing to crack the list last week. Going up against the returning nominee is the eighth studio album from Mount Eerie, the solo project of American musician Phil Elverum that explores the loss of his wife going so far as to record the majority of the album in the room she passed away in. Finally, we have the book Chuck Klosterman X in which the writer collects his favorite writings for Grantland, GQ, Billboard, etc with brand mew introductions and footnotes to help highlight a decade of writing.

Listen to The CaPC 25 Episode 10:

A video game, an anime, and a podcast make an appearance on this episode of The 25 for 2017. Rookie Amy Peterson joins returning guest Tyler Glodjo and host Jonathan Clauson as they battle it out to see which of their nominations will make it onto the list this week.

Jonathan plays double duty as host and nominator, bringing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to the table in a second bid to have the open world game make it onto the list. The game brings joy and a sense of wonder, along with meeting the criteria of the “Homo Ludens” philosophy of play.

Amy Peterson, making her debut on The 25, brings a new show called Truth’s Table to the floor. The podcast is hosted by Michelle Higgins, Christina Edmondson, and Ekemini Uwan, three Black Christian women who talk about their life experiences, including hair issues and race issues. The show gives the perspective of Black women over everyday experiences, giving a glimpse into their world without the heavy and depressing rhetoric that can bog down similar discussions.

Tyler brings the anime that is smashing box office records and has every anime fan talking, Your Name. Part coming-of-age, part comedic body swapping (think Freaky Friday) the movie was a surprise for Tyler and his wife who went to go see it and came away surprised by the way the film touched them.

Three nominations, but only one can be on the list—so join us as Amy, Jonathan, and Tyler have a battle of wits and snark as they try to get their nominations into The CaPC 25 for 2017.

Listen to The CaPC 25 for 2017 Episode 9:

Links from the Show:

The Legend of Zelda – Breath of the Wild Official Site

The Truth’s Table Podcast

Your Name Official Site

The CaPC 25 for 2017 List so far (in no particular order):

Alone – TV