Unpopped

Unpopped episodes:

• 08.06.2018

  Estelle, Jamelia and the Exile of UK R&B

  Many black, UK-based, female R&B; performers, especially those from the early 2000s, have found it hard to establish a career at home. Acts such as Estelle, Jamelia, Sade, Ms Dynamite, Cleopatra and Misteeq have either left the music industry completely,...

  
• 07.30.2018

  Stephen King and the Side Effects of Populism

  Stephen King is one of the most popular and successful authors on the planet. Known primarily as a horror writer, King has also written fantasy, science-fiction, thrillers, memoirs, essays, crime novels and a well-regarded book about the craft of the...

  
• 07.23.2018

  Final Fantasy VII and Redefinition

  The Role Playing Game Final Fantasy VII was released for the Sony Playstation in 1997 and was a massive commercial and critical success, eventually selling nearly 10 million copies worldwide and spawning various spin-offs, sequels, and a new reboot planned...

  
• 07.16.2018

  Watchmen and the Superhero Concept

  Released in 1986, first as a twelve-part comic book series and then collected together as a graphic novel, Watchmen came from the unique mind of writer Alan Moore alongside artist Dave Gibbons. It featured superheroes as they had never been...

  
• 07.09.2018

  Eurotrash and Revelation

  The Channel 4 television series Eurotrash launched in 1993, ran for 16 series and was considered the most popular entertainment offering on the channel at that time with its mix of snark, sex, outrageous behaviour and bizarre individuals. Originally hosted...

  
• 07.02.2018

  Now That's What I Call Music and Survival

  First released in 1983, the Now That's What I Call Music compilation album series was a joint venture between music giants Virgin and EMI, which collected together 30 of the biggest chart hits from that particular period. The success of...

  
• 06.25.2018

  Instagram and Artifice

  Founded in 2010, the photo sharing social media platform Instagram quickly exploded in popularity, registering one million users in its first two months, followed by 10 million in its first year. In 2012, Facebook bought the service for around $1...

  
• 06.18.2018

  Bridget Jones and the Status of Comedy

  Bridget Jones first appeared in diary form in the pages of The Independent during the mid-1990s, detailing her life of failed romances, over-indulgence and a determination to change. The columns were collected into a book - 1996’s Bridget Jones Diary...

  
• 06.11.2018

  One Direction and Conspiracy Theories

  In 2010, One Direction came only third in TV talent show The X Factor. And yet they went on to become one of the biggest bands in the world. The group went on to have enormous success around the world,...

  
• 06.04.2018

  Seinfeld and the Tyranny of Endings

  Created in 1989, the American television sitcom Seinfeld was almost cancelled after the first episode, but it slowly grew in reputation to become, after nine seasons and 180 episodes, one of the most influential and successful TV series ever. As...

  
• 05.08.2018

  Unpopped: Back Soon!

  Unpopped is taking a little break and will be back in a few weeks. But while you're waiting - here are just a few of the things that we might be looking at in the next series.

  
• 04.16.2018

  David Foster Wallace, Infinite Jest and Legacy

  Released in 1996, David Foster Wallace’s novel Infinite Jest was critically lauded on release and became a New York Times bestseller. But since the author’s suicide in 2008, the book and Wallace himself has undergone a change in reputation. While...

  
• 04.09.2018

  The Roots of Grime and Representation

  Emerging from the estates of East London in the early 2000s, Grime threw together elements of garage, jungle, Jamaican dancehall and hip-hop to produce a distinct, home-grown British music genre. Using unorthodox music distribution methods such as pirate radio, raves,...

  
• 04.02.2018

  YouTube and Ubiquity

  The video sharing and hosting site YouTube was launched in 2005 and quickly became one of the most visited and influential websites on the planet. Since its inception, it has arguably transformed the worlds of politics, music, health, advertising ,DIY,...

  
• 03.26.2018

  Come Dine With Me and the British Psyche

  Across 41 series and nearly 1700 episodes, Come Dine With Me has developed into a beloved TV staple, with one publication declaring it 'the greatest show on television'. Featuring four or five contestants each hosting a dinner party in their...

  
• 03.19.2018

  Chris Morris and the Darkness of Comedy

  Dubbed by one newspaper as ‘the most hated man in Britain’, comedian Chris Morris has always walked a fine line between biting satire and controversy. From his earliest days in local radio, allegedly engaging in stunts that led to his...

  
• 03.12.2018

  Tomb Raider and Indomitability

  In 1993, the video game Tomb Raider was released. The game was an instant success, selling 7 million copies worldwide and catapulting female protagonist Lara Croft to icon status. More games followed plus film adaptations of Lara’s adventures. It is...

  
• 03.05.2018

  Twin Peaks and Forensic Fandom

  In 1990, celebrated, maverick director David Lynch, fresh from the success of his film Blue Velvet, launched the television series Twin Peaks. A mixture of quirky characters, surrealistic imagery and a murky murder mystery, the show was a massive success...

  
• 02.26.2018

  The Spice Girls and Kathy Acker

  In 1997, legendary experimental writer Kathy Acker was sent by The Guardian to interview The Spice Girls. Acker, who emerged from the New York punk scene, was the author of Blood and Guts in High School, a work so extreme...

  
• 02.19.2018

  Paris Hilton and the Demise of the Party Girl

  Who was Paris Hilton, why were the media so fascinated by her, how did she grab our attention and did she provide the blueprint for the current celebrity obsessed culture? Presenter: Hayley Campbell Producer: Dale Shaw

  
• 02.12.2018

  RuPaul's Drag Race and Beyond

  “The shaaaaade of it all!" We look at the glorious global phenomenon that it is RuPaul’s Drag Race. Where did it come from, how has it evolved and how has it changed the world? Presenter: Hayley Campbell Producer: Dale Shaw

  
• 02.02.2018

  Welcome to Unpopped

  Producer Dale Shaw and host Hayley Campbell give you a taste of what’s to come.