On this month's episode of The Sociologist's Dojo Podcast ,in honor of Spooky Season, return guest Dr. Courtenay Stallings of Pepperdine University and I talk about the 2015 Hitchcockian Horror/Thriller The Invitation, directed by Karyn Kusama. Join us as we talk about Religion, Cults and their relationship to politics, Grief, Trauma, and a lot of Erving Goffman. This Podcast episode will have you pondering when DO you decide to break the social contract, and will that just save your life? Happy Halloween from The Sociologist's Dojo!

Basics

Dr. Stallings Previous Episodes

• Episode 8: Mulholland Drive
• Episode 15: The Exorcist
• Episode 20: The Nic Cage Episode

Update on Dr. Stallings Academic Work

Basics of The Film: The Invitation (2015)

• Plot
• Trivia

Historical Context

• Micro Level: Experiences with Kusama's work
• Kusama, and a gendered director jail
• The importance of 2015, Prophetic for the tension of 2016 Family Dinners (Cults and Politics)
• The Feel and look of the film, seems timeless

Social Analysis

• Religion and Cults
• Erving Gofmman's Presentation of Self and The Social Contract of Parties
• Terror in the mundane
• Subverting who "typically" survives a Horror Film.

Outtro

• Follow Dr.Stallings @CourtenayCal
• Follow the blog and Podcast @TheSociologists
• The Invitation Essay on the blog

On this month's episode of The Sociologist's Dojo Podcast, Author Jenn Storey and I talk about literary and other forms of Pop Culture Adaptation. First, we dive into a spoiler free discussion of their debut novel Tilting Gravity before an indepth analysis of the relationship between media adaptation, technology and capitalism; which leads to a more pointed discussion about fandoms, nostalgia and audience agency. Enjoy!

Production Notes (Intro- 0:00-2:10)

Basics of Jen (2:20-33:36)

• IT to MFA
• Discovering Emotional Truths
• Exploring Society through Art
• Tilting Gravity Discussion
• Jenn's Relationnship with Pop Culture

Historical Context (33:51-65:26)

• Definining Adaptation (Kamila Elliot)
• Technology and Media Adaptation
• Capitalism and Media Preservation
• Conncetions vs. Futurism
• Dissonance of Humor
• Revisionist History through a Post-Modern Lens

Social Analysis (65:41-99:08)

• Social Ramifications of Adapotation
• Importance of the Medium
• Audience Agency
• Purism in Pop Culture ?
• Nostalgia Pop Culture and Adaptation
• Tribalism Violence and Discrimination/Public Ownwership
• The Preciousness of Adaptations

Outtro (99:09-101:08)

• Plugs

Stick around For

• Dr. Faber shout out
• A Haiku vs Novel Discussion
• Brian stating, yet again, how much he hates Zack Snyder's filmography

All Music cues and clips were used under Faire Use

Links

• Jenn Storey Website and Twitter
• Follow The Sociologist's dojo on Twitter, and the blog
• The Social Breakdown Podcast- We Watch the Watchmen

On this month's episode of The Sociologist's Dojo Podcast, Dr. Jaime Hartless returns to talk about The Ring Franchise. 'Dr. Horror' takes us through the long and convoluted journey of this multi-media property through its books, original films and the cavalcade of remakes. Then, we talk about what makes a classic film, our own "funeral films", the gender swapping and gender violence in the films, along with the Intersexed nature of Japanese ghosts. Enjoy!

Production Notes:

Intro: 0:00-8:11

• Update on Dr. Hartless's research
• Queer Ghost Hunters

Basics of The Ring Franchise (8:12-38:28)

• Started as Books (1991)
• Japanese original films
• Korean Remakes
• American Remakes
• Books vs Movies
• Trivia and Tangents

Historical Context: (39:09-95:24)

• Dr. Hartless's 'Ring' Journey (Content Analysis)
• Origin and Folklore
• Technological Changes
• Film's Cultural and Historical Context
• Criteria for a Classic
• Funeral Films and the loss of physical media

Social Analysis 96:20-135:13

• Gender Swaping of Characters and Violence
• Projections of Masculinity and Femininity
• "Have it all Sexism"
• Intersexed Definition and The Ring
• Rings and Academic mistrepresentation in film

Outtro: 135:14-136:41

• Plugs
• Dr. Hartless on Twitter
• The Sociologist's Dojo Blog

All Clips were used under Fair use

On this month's episiode of The Sociologist's Dojo Podcast, Dr. Rebecca Gibson and I are dining at Hawthorne as we discuss the 2022 Horror/Satire The Menu. Dinner conversation includes: The intricacies of class struggles, the media food culture and a lot about masculinity and the gendering of food and eating. This Podcast will be plated in Five! "Yes, Chef!"

Production Notes:

Intro: 0:00-3:20

• Disclaimer
• Preview
• The Satler and Waldorf of Academic Film Snobs

Basics of the Film 3:23-18:46

• The Plot
• Food Porn
• Trivia
• Margot and Tyler
• The Tech Bros.

Historical Context: 19:00-65:28

• The Rise of the Media Food Culture
• Weberian Bureaucratic consumption of food
• Commercial Kitchens and Media Violence
• Disreguarding Servers
• Holding up a Mirror to Ourselves
• "What did Chef say to Tyler?"
• "What School did you go to?"
• A Culture of COVID films?
• A Color Interleude

Social Analysis: 65:42-113:15

• Veblen's Conspricious Consumption
• The Film's Broad take on Class
• Servers as the Elite
• Socially Conditioned not to Fight
• The Importance of 'the Burger"
• The Masculinity of The Menu

Outtro: 113:17-115:00

• Plugs
• Dr. Gibson's Books, twitter: @Rgibsongirl
• The Blog
• The Podcast
• Follow the blog and podcast on Twitter: @TheSociologistS

All Clips were used under faire use

Stick around for:

• Brian constantly screwing up Chef's name
• Praise of Elsa's Snark
• Alenia Chicago

On this month's episode of The Sociologist's Dojo Podcast we are talking about Henry VIII, and his many wives with the 2007 show The Tutors. Guest Bre Crosby takes us through the depictions and various anacronisms of the Showtime series. We also talk about misogyny, historical fiction, a lack of sex communication and the importance and allure of consent. This is a meal of an episode, fit for a King

Intro 0:00-2:15

• Preview

Basics about Bre 2:26-14:47

• Educational Background
• YA Lit
• Studied Religion
• Feminism
• STEM
• A Grad School Aside

Relationship with Pop Culture 14:48-26:05

• Pop Culture and Community
• Pop Culture is a current through History
• Parody and Pop Culture
• Professors, Update your References

Basics of The Tudors 26:22-32:11

• Poetic Plot Recap
• Show as Historical Fiction
• A Pop Soapy Sexy Show
• Trivia

Historical Context 32:45-111:15

• How Pop Culture shapes our understanding of History
• Show Clouds History
• "The Heir and the Spare"
• Favorite Anacronism
• Women in Historical Context
• History of the Wives of Henry the VIII (53:47-106:54)
• 2007 TV (Great Recession)

Social Analysis 111:41-142:40

• Misogynistioc Premise (Mary Boleyn)
• To be TypeCast (Natalie Dormer)
• No More Sex Scenes?
• Consent is Sexy
• Pop Cultutre as a Sex Educator
• Entertainment: Female Power only Comes after Abuse
• No Recognition of Trauma
• Fantasy as Deflection

Outtro 142:42-148:23

• Adaptation Hopes
• Plugs

Links

Episode 9: TV Reboot Fever with Alisha Kirchoff

@TheSociologists

The Sociologist's Dojo Blog

This month on The Sociologist's Dojo Podcast, we are traveling to Westeros. The host is joined by Sociologist Dr. Simone Kolysh author of Everyday Violence: The Public Harassment of Women and LGBTQ People to talk the Game of Thrones prequel Series: "House of the Dragon". After an engrossing conversation about Dr. Kolysh's book, we dive into the series discussing everything from: Fantasy shows as shields for misogyny and canvas for contemporary criticism, to the power of media to create change, and the cyclical nature of social justice battles...plus dragons :)

Intro: 0:00-2:08

Basics of Dr. Kolysh: 2:09-6:40

• Background in Medicine and Public Health
• How they found Sociology

Discussion of 'Everyday Violence' 6:45-38:17

• Research Basics
• Intersectionality and Street Harrassment
• Being Oppressor and Victim at the same time
• Compounding and Cumulative Trauma
• "Weathering"- The Body Keeps Score
• Validation and Dysphoria through Harrassment
• Free Speech as a shield protecting Hate and Violence

Basics of 'House of the Dragon' 38:18-41:00

• Dr. Kolysh's experience with the show and GOT

Historical Context: 41:47-57:46

• Fantasy shows a a shield for misogyny
• Through a 2023 lens
• Using Characters as discriptors for Current Political Figures
• The Powerful's use of Pop Culture

Social Analysis: 58:00-85:54

• Classism: Ruling Class Civil War
• "Men would rather Torch the Relm..."
• The Cyclical Nature of Social Justice Battles
• The power of the media to make change
• House Velaryon
• The value in gratuitous birthing scenes

Outtro: 85:57-90:15

• Plugs
• Stage of Research for Dr. Kolysh's new book.

Links

• SimoneKolysh.com
• Follow them on Twitter @SimoneKolysh
• Follow the Sociologist's Dojo on Twitter: @TheSociologistS
• Read the Blog at The Sociologist's Dojo

On this Month's Episode, Dr. Rebecca Gibson returns to talk about Margaret Atwood's speculatively "fictional" dystopia: "The Handmaid Tale" Franchise. We talk how the adaptation(s) is a reflection of historical events, cogent to current events, and a possible oracle for the future. Get ready for a discussion of Commodification, Rape Culture, and the interlocking systems of oppression. "Blessed Be."

Intro: 0:00-2:00

Update on Dr. Gibson's work: 2:11-8:20

• Upcoming books
• Preview of Dr. Gibson's next episode

Basics of The Handmaid's Tale Franchise 8:21-50:10

• The Franchise's Components and Structure
• The Anthropological Bookends
• Product of it's time?
• The Adaptation
• Timeline of the Franchise
• Trivia

Historical Context 50:24-85:40

• Personal Discovery of the original Text
• Historical Influences on Atwood's work
• No Shame in Current Politics
• Atwood's ending too Hopeful?
• Marketplace Activism
• "The Gibson Standard"
• Historical Impact of the Books and the Series
• The importance of Choice

Social Analysis 85:55-137:30

• A Social Justice Nighmare
• "Better, doesn't mean better for everyone."
• Men harmed by the Patriarchy
• Commodification of Atwood's work
• Can you Fully Deconstruct a System?
• Canceling Academics in our Fields
• The Partiarchical Bargain in Gilead
• Masculinization, Militarization and Knowledge Suppression
• Systemization of Emotion
• 'The System's' defense mechanisms

Outtro: 137:31-142:22

• Predictions about the Upcoming Testaments Adaptation
• Plugs: RGibsongirl on Twitter and Dr. Gibson's Amazon Author's Page
• Coming up on The Blog

Links

All Clips Provided under Faire Use

Michael Kimmel Alegations

Comeroff Saga

On this month's guestless episode of the podcast, the host gives a "State of Cinema" address covering the 2023 Oscar Nominations , the ongoing tension between popular and Independent cinema and the purpose of the theatrical experience.

Prepare for what could be the most pretentious episode yet!

Production Notes

Intro 0:00-2:08

Historical Context 2:09-10:52

• #Oscarssowhite...Again
• Getting around Diversity Quotas...give it to a White Lady
• Victim Narratives - Never forget Trauma
• Hollywood's Love Affair with itself.

The 2023 Nominations 10:53-31:25

• Best Male Actor
• Best Suppporting Male Actor
• Best Female Actor
• Best Supporting Female Actor
• Screenplays
• Directing/ The History of Female Directing Nominations
• Lesser Known Categories

Best Picture and the State of Cinema 31:39-53:25

• The Nominations
• My Deficiencies
• My Pick(s)
• Popularizing the Oscars
  • Films Vs. Movies
  • Pop Culture is Soft Power
  • Bureaucracy and Power
• The Popular Oscar Category
  • Diminished Ratings
  • A People's Voice ?
  • The COVID-19 Effect
  • Theaters = Spectacle
  • Arthouse = Streaming
• What Do We Want?
  • Room For all.

Plugs 53:33-55:57

Links

Comics Cultural Collateral Damage

*All Clips were used under Fair Use*

On this month's episode of The Sociologist's Dojo, return guest Dr. Ea Madrigal and I compare Nightmare Alley(s). We talk the historical and social differences between the 1947 Classic directed by Edmund Goulding, and the 2021 Remake by Guillermo del Toro. The Conversation includes discussions of "What makes a Geek", self medication, and the historical importance of stories regarding the Supernatural. Spoilers abound for both films

Production Notes:

Intro: 0:00-110

For the Love of Old Movies (2:00-16:00)

• New Films vs. Old
• The Monoculture of Superheroes (and its fatigue)
• Prestige TV and Awards Category Fraud
• Remakes

The Basics of Nightmare Alley(s) (16:01-32:05)

• Plot
• Trivia

Historical Context (32:19-72:03)

• Tone Matching the Context
• Films failed to find footing
• Tyrone Power +Characters
• Post-War Hollywood, Mentalism and the Supernatural
• Media Reflects Culture
• Escapism
• Not For Current Audiences?
• A Cautionary Tale?
• Use of Alcohol as Self-Medication
• Historic Lack of Social Services
• The Psychoanalysis Aversion
• The Outsider and Acceptance of "The Other"
• Context Matters

Social Analysis (77:18-107:26)

• Female Characters of Noir
• Lack of Racial Diversity
• Genre over dispelling stereotypes
• Collectivism vs. Individualism
• Compassion is Power
• Rankings

Outtro (107:27-109:57)

• Plugs
• All Clips used under Fair Use

Stick around for:

• Debate over if films need a Happy ending
• The Pitch for Nightmare Alley 2: The Accountant

Links

• Dr. Madrigal's Webpage
• Episode 3: All About Eve
• The Sociologist's Dojo Blog

This month on The Sociologist's Dojo Podcast, we are celebrating the season with our first annual Holiday Episode. To that end, every year we will be talking Winter Holiday content. This year, Dr. Liz Faber, Assistant Professor of English and Communication at Dean College and Recipiant of the Emily Toth Award for best Best Single Work in Women's Studies for their first book: The Computer's Voice From Star Trek to Siri, graciously comes back on the pod to kick off this anaugral yultide swaray with an analysis of the 1984 Christmas/Horror Classic: Gremlins. Get ready for a onversation that spans a variety of subjects: alegorical childhood, cauthionary tales, What makes a Christmas Movie?, Dark 80's Children's stories, and of course: bright lights, water, and midnight snacks. Enjoy!

Production Notes:

Intro: 0:00-2:59

• Value of a Vest

Dr. Faber's Research Update: (3:00-22:30)

• Dr. Faber's Upcoming Second book: Robot Suicide (2023)
• Dr. Faber's Upcoming Third book: Under the Misiletoe: Holiday Romance and Pop Culture (2024)
• Holiday Movie Plot similarities
• Dr. Faber's Chapter on Christmas Horror Tropes
• Criteria for Christmas Films vs. Films Set at Christmas
• Dr. Fber's Holiday Film Rankings

Basics of Gremlins: (1984) (22:31-42:39)

• Plot Summary
• Trivia from IMDB
• General Themes
• Bagging on Gremlins 2

Historical Context: (42:40-65:08)

• Biographical History with the Film
• "Dark" 80's Children's Films
• Gremlins as a manifestation of 1950's Xenophobic Anxieties
• Racist orientalism and Assimilation Narratives
• The Film's mixed messages on Capitalism
• The "Spielbergization" of Nostalgia

Social Analysis: (65:09-98:43)

• Gremlins as an allegory for Childhood Part 1
• The Gender Politics of Gremlins
• Gremlins as an allegory for Childhood Part II
• Learning From Pop Culture
• Predictions for Gremlins 3
• Attacks on Representation
• Racist Orientalism Part II
• "We are all Gremlins,"

Outtro (98:44-103:39)

• Plugs
• Socials

Stick Around For:

• The Continued Bagging on Indiana Jones ( See Blackbeard/Cutthroat Island Episode)
• Another NFT Rant ( See The Matrix Francise Episode)
• Brian and Dr. Faber Canceling Themselves, and trying to cover it up ;) LOL

Links:

• Dr. Faber's Twitter @LizWFab
• Buy their Award Winning Book: The Computer's Voice: From Star Trek to Siri
• Dr. Faber's Website
• Dr. Faber's First Apperance: Episode 6: Star Trek: First Contact ( Where we talk about The Computer's Voice)
• Dr. Faber's Second Apperance: Episode 16: The Terminator Franchise ( Where we talk about Robot Suicide)
• Dr. Faber's Third Apperance: Episode 22: Dr. Liz and Dr. Leigh's Star Trek Academy Featuring Dr. Leigh McKagen
• Follow the Blog and Podcast @thesociologistS
• The Sociologist's Dojo Blog

All Audio Clips were used under Faire Use for Comment and Criticism

• Simpsons "See My Vest"
• Anna and the Apocalypse " Turning my Life Around"
• Muppet Christmas Carol " It Feels like Christmas"
• The Gremlins suite
• Gremlins film clips: Billy's mom v. Gremlins, Gerald in the bank, Mrs. Deale Death, The Bar Scene
• Everything Everywhere All At Once Clip " The Parking Lot Scene"
• Ferrell and Reily as Bowie and Crosby singing " Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy"