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With Hollywood actors and writers joining forces on the picket line for the first time in 63 years, “hot labor summer” is officially upon us — and on this week’s subscriber-only episode, Emilie and Andrea try to pinpoint the sweltering, revolutionary, distinctly Barbie-pink feeling in the air. We discuss how big labor upheavals in Hollywood are historically connected to big technological sea changes, how the shutdown is already impacting life on the ground in Los Angeles, and some of the unexpected folk heroes (like SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher and “there’s-a-lot-of-ways-to-lose-your-house” Ron Perlman), who are emerging as the faces of this turbulent time.

We also get into what all this heralds for a culture that is stuck in an endless IP loop, as encapsulated in a recent New Yorker piece revealing that in addition to Barbie, there are nearly 60 movies in the pipeline right now based on toys made by Mattel.

This is a free preview of a subscriber only episode. To listen to the full thing and support our independent journalism, sign up for a paid subscription at theculturejournalist.substack.com. Paid subscribers receive free bonus episodes every month, along with full essays and culture recommendations.

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