Shows
Il Prof di StoriaLa Prima guerra mondiale: la battaglia di Caporetto - la rottaDeve essere stato uno spettacolo impressionante, quella fiumana di soldati che muti, senza fucile, girano le spalle alla guerra e si mettono in marcia per sfuggire agli austrotedeschi. Lo sfondamento di Caporetto mette in crisi l'intero esercito italiano, con il rischio concreto che molte armate restino circondate. Sotto una pioggia torrenziale, marciano decine di migliaia di soldati, frammisti ai profughi del Friuli che viene abbandonato nelle mani degli austrotedeschi. La rotta è drammatica, ma, saltati tutti i vincoli gerarchici e disciplinari, è anche un gigantesco paese di cuccagna, con i soldati che saccheggiano i depositi militari destinati a essere incendiati. Ascolteremo molte vo...2025-04-0734 min
Second Breakfast with Cam & MaggieINTERVIEW: The Recording of Lemon Tarts in Space!A behind-the-scenes exploration of Cam's latest audio drama / novel, Lemon Tarts in Space! In this interview, Maggie interviews Cam and Tristan about audio dramas, voice acting, foley work, and the act of directing. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com 00:00 Introduction: Voice Actors 01:23 Casting Captain Arugula 04:42 Finding Duncan’s Voice 08:35 Finding Frank’s Voice 12:12 The Recording Process 20:24 Creative Evolution 25:14 Directing the Action 26:29 The Story Comes to Life 28:18 Doubling Decisions 30:14 Narrators as Characters 32:5...2024-12-1141 min
Second Breakfast with Cam & MaggieA Game of Thrones, Vol. 24 [Daenerys III]Get bonus episodes on Patreon! This third 'Targaryen Checkpoint' delivers a whole new level of prophetic, high-concept imagery for us to discuss. Maggie focuses in on Dany and Viserys as avatars of the House of the Dragon's simultaneous rise and fall, before diving deeper into Viserys' ghostly, almost undead turn in these pages. Cam finds a corollary for all the White Walker breadcrumbs we've been chasing in Dany's fiery dragon dream, which he analyzes through the lens of his beloved 'Doctor Faustus'. We close with an unexpected, possible Dune crossover as GRRM seems to tip his hat to Frank H...2024-05-1046 min
Second Breakfast with Cam & MaggieGod Emperor of Dune Get bonus episodes on Patreon! 600 pages of expertly dramatized philosophy and theology, starring a giant worm with a human face – this book was written for Cam. Our discussion starts with the compounding, echoing relationship between all of the Dune books, before settling on the unexpected Nietzschean flair of Frank Herbert’s God Emperor. Alongside the ghola, he’s one of the central walking thought experiments that plays out the intellectual curiosities of this world and their underlying and emotional agonies. This series remains a thought provoking and devastating character study. Herbert has managed to pull a fourth rabbit out of the same...2024-05-0748 min
Second Breakfast with Cam & MaggieDune Messiah Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Another Dune book discussion means another joyful Shakespeare recalibration. This time, Cam is delighted to find Frank Herbert swerving into Julius Caesar mode, with a renewed focus on history that extends beyond Shakespeare into the modern era. We consider the scope of these points of reference and their effect on Herbert’s larger critique within the series. Without spoiling anything, Cam considers the idea of the ghola as an escalation of our long-standing echoes and ghosts theories into a walking and talking thought experiment. We close with a deep dive into prophecy, free will, religious just...2024-03-2649 min
Second Breakfast with Cam & MaggieDune [Book Three] Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Cam read Book 3 of Dune in one sitting. This episode is a passionate, spoiler-free whirlwind of reactions, theories, and questions. Our Shakespeare conversation has evolved drastically, moving past Henry IV to welcome back our friends Macbeth, Hamlet, and Richard III. Because of all these pesky prophecies and religious rhetoric, Cam also gets to shoehorn some Problem of Evil into the discussion. But we’re also asking questions with the benefit of hindsight: about Frank Herbert’s dialogue focus at the expense of traditional set pieces, and about Dune’s paradoxical status as both a complete trilogy...2024-03-1241 min
Second Breakfast with Cam & MaggieDune [Book Two] Get bonus episodes on Patreon! When we tell you that the first book was about sand worms and this book was about water, and that this one was somehow more interesting - you gotta believe us. This episode continues our crash course through Frank Herbert’s Dune. We discuss the evolution of dialogue-first genre fiction into a wold of fractal observations and stolen glances, the dreadful shadow that’s falling over Paul, and the effect of Herbert’s compounding Shakespearean feints. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com2024-02-2741 min
Second Breakfast with Cam & MaggieDune [Book One] Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Remember when we were trying to decide if we were going to read Game of Thrones or Dune? Welcome to our healthy compromise! This discussion covers the first third of Frank Herbert’s Dune, which is, paradoxically, also called Dune. We’ve got lots to discuss as we settle into our new home of Arrakis, including: the Lovecraftian grandeur of the sandworms, the dialogue-first approach to epic storytelling, the irresistible framework of Shakespeare’s Henry IV, and the strange, scandalized feeling of discovering 1965’s Dune long after 1977’s “revolutionary” Star Wars. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, ...2024-02-2033 min
Second Breakfast with Cam & MaggieBatman: Year OneHoly source material for The Batman, Batman! Today we're looking at Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli's four-issue masterpiece. Batman: Year One exploits all of the advantages of the comic book medium to tell a tense, efficient, ambiguous, and unfailingly human story about the origins of Batman and Jim Gordon - without using any of the classic villains. Instead, the action is propelled by institutional corruption and a thousand gorgeous echoes across storylines. Topics include: structural proficiency and the visual passage of time, Miller's talent for inner monologues and their similarities to Shakespearean verse, characterization through both action and reluctance, and...2022-03-1552 min
The Pointless CenturyMayakovsky (pt. 3/3)Episode Notes
S4E3: Mayakovsky (pt. 3/3): The Epics TW
TW: Suicide /
Alexander Billet joins us to discuss the Soviet Futurist-Communist poet Vladimir Mayakovsky (1893 Baghdati – 1930 Moscow). Finally we get to the good stuff. Two speculative war epics, two wild elegies, messages to the future, and assorted screams into the void. The zoomers are all meetinged out. Alex dreams of a world without borders. Frank talks about the Constructicons and tears like a wolf at bureaucracy.
This episode focuses on:
150,000,000 /
THE FLYING PROLETARIAN /
ALL MEETINGED OUT /
VLADIMIR ILYICH LENIN /
TO SERGEI YESSENIN /
CONVERSATION WITH A TAXMAN ABOUT POETRY /
MY SOVIET PA...2022-03-131h 45
Second Breakfast with Cam & MaggieThe BatmanHoly shit, Batman! This movie is thunderingly cool and grimy as hell. Strap in, because we’re spoiling all of it during this discussion. Topics include: Robert Pattison’s evolution of the character, the unique challenge of detective stories, the legacies of Christopher Nolan, David Fincher, and Frank Miller, the balancing of humor and reality when dealing with costumed heroes, and the profound, dynamic effect of music in this film. Instagram & TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com2022-03-0850 min
The Pointless CenturyMayakovsky (pt. 2/3)Episode Notes
S4E2: Mayakovsky (pt. 2/3): The Shitposts
Alexander Billet joins us to discuss the Soviet Futurist-Communist poet Vladimir Mayakovsky (1893 Baghdati – 1930 Moscow). We consider a couple of his pre-revolutionary futurist poems, and some of his key works from the revolutionary period of February 1917 to February 1923. Anna and Rachel talk shit on his love life and puzzle over his imagery. Frank makes some bad jokes and talks about photos you can see if you follow on Insta and Twitter. We barely scratch the surface of Pro Eto (“About That” AKA “About This” AKA “That’s What” AKA “It”), a diz...2022-01-221h 33
The Pointless CenturyVladimir Mayakovsky (pt. 1/3)Episode Notes
S4 E1: Mayakovsky (pt. 1/3): The Overshares
Alexander Billet joins us to discuss the Soviet Futurist-Communist poet Vladimir Mayakovsky (1893 Baghdati – 1930 Moscow). We consider Mayakovsky’s unique status among both modernists and poets; we begin to sketch the cultural milieu of the Russian Empire, Provisional Republic, and Soviet Union in the first three decades of the twentieth century; comparisons to other modernists, futurists, and the present day highlight the political, personal, and aesthetic elements of Mayakovsky’s work. This episode mainly deals with the poet’s pre-revolutionary life and work. Anna and Rachel talk shit on his l...2022-01-041h 21
The Pointless CenturyMagickal Realist HorrorEpisode Notes
Bonus Episode: Magickal Realist Horror
Happy Halloween! Anna and Madalyn gush about Ari Aster; Will talks about Brecht; Frank explains some creepy things he read on the internet; we all love these movies, but there’s reason to be disturbed by the culture that produced them. That’s horror.
Hereditary. Dir./Writ. Ari Aster. Perf. Toni Collette, Alex Wolff, Milly Shapiro. A24, 2018.
Midsommar. Dir./Writ. Ari Aster. Perf. Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, William Jackson Harper. A24, 2019.
Rosemary’s Baby. Dir./Writ. Roman Polanski. Perf. Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon, Sidney Blackmer. Paramount, 1968.
The VVitch: A New Engla...2021-10-311h 17
The Pointless CenturyDoctor Zhivago (1965)Episode Notes
S3 E6: Doctor Zhivago
Anna attempts to remember a book she read last summer; Rachel laments film adaptations again; Frank offers some ideas for propaganda; we all agree that this 1965 anti-Soviet film is a disappointment, but we still find things we can learn from it.
Doctor Zhivago. Dir. David Lean. Writ. Robert Bolt. Perf. Omar Sharif, Julie Christie, Alec Guinness, Rod Steiger, Tom Cortenay, Geraldine Chaplin, Rita Tushingham, Klaus Kinski. MGM, 1965.
Pasternak, Boris. Doctor Zhivago. Pantheon, 1958.
The Pointless Crew:
Anna Wendorff (she/her/hers) – Communications, Rhetorics of Sc...2021-10-0300 min
The Pointless CenturyBattleship Potemkin / Man with Movie CameraEpisode Notes
S3 E5: Battleship Potemkin / Man with Movie Camera
Rachel gets angry about the dramatization of an event from 116 years ago; Anna thinks really hard about shot selection and sequence; Frank swears he isn’t a tankie then recklessly glosses over the birth pangs of the most 20th-century of nations; we all agree that these films are great feats of cinema, but we have somewhat different attitudes toward the meaning and value of propaganda. For more detailed explanations of historical context than Frank gives here, please consult the podcasts in the notes below.
...2021-08-281h 18
The Pointless CenturyJohnny Got His Gun / Pale Horse, Pale RiderEpisode Notes
S3 E4: Johnny Got His Gun / Pale Horse, Pale Rider
*TW: Discussion of severe war wounds and suicide
Anna shares her expertise in heavy metal; Rachel describes a book as “peace-y”; Frank complains about Dalton Trumbo’s unwillingness to insert actual communist propaganda into his most explicitly political movie; we all think the 1939 novel version of Johnny Got His Gun is a landmark work, but splitting hairs on the value of other examples of the disjunctive post/modernist form is more difficult.
Watch Frank’s video giving an eco-materialist approach...2021-08-141h 31
The Pointless CenturyOp-Ed 4: The Pointless YearIn this brief update, we reflect on returning to school yet again in a pandemic.
We are almost speechless, but Frank still delivers a lecture and reads a poem.
The Pointless Crew:
Frank Fucile (he/him/his) – Lit & Theory, Film & Media, Genre, Enviro & Tech Studies //
Rachel Hamele (she/her/hers) – History, Humanities, Queer Studies, Fandoms //
Anna Wendorff (she/her/hers) – Communications, Rhetorics of Sci & Tech, Feminism //
// Troll us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PointlessCent
// T-shirts are now available: http://www.teepublic.com/users/the-pointless-century
// Watch us on Instagram: @thePointlessCentury
// Support us on Patreon: https...2021-08-1219 min
The Pointless CenturyBlade / Black PantherEpisode Notes
S3 E3: Blade / Black Panther
Rachel claps while talking about representation; Anna suffers through two more superhero movies; Frank says “critique” far too many times; Leah tolerates us once again; we all appreciate aspects of these films, but Anna and Frank are sure to spend some time raining on parades.
Blade. Dir. Stephen Norrington. Writ. David S. Goyer. Perf. Wesley Snipes, Stephen Dorff, Kris Kristofferson, N’Bushe Wright. Amen Ra / Marvel / New Line, 1998.
Black Panther. Dir. Ryan Coogler. Writ. Ryan Coogler, Joe Robert Cole, Stan Lee. Perf. Chadwick Boseman, Michae...2021-07-3058 min
The Pointless CenturyDelany's NovaEpisode Notes
S3 E2: Nova (1968) by Samuel R. “Chip” Delany
Frank forces everyone to read a favorite SF novel of his. Leah joins for her first guest appearance.
Correction/clarification:
Delany is meticulous about in noting when his novels were written at the end of each manuscript, but Frank is not quite as careful in his discussion of them. Nova was written between 1966-67; Hogg was written between 1969-73, overlapping with Dhalgren; Trouble on Triton was written between 1973-74.
Works Cited:
Delany, Samuel R. Nova. Random House, 1968.
Dela...2021-07-161h 40
The Pointless CenturyJuneteenth MoviesEpisode Notes
S3 E1: Juneteenth Movies
Rachel reminds us to include conversations about both Juneteenth and the Tulsa Massacre; Madalyn tells us about her pilgrimage through the South; Anna derides a long, open-mouthed nap; Frank harps on the limitations of individualism; we all agree that these films add something to Americans’ understanding of history, but each of them has their limitations. Jasper the tailless cat contributes some meowing and collar noises.
Amistad. Dir. Stephen Spielberg. Writ. David Franzoni. Perf. Djimon Honsou, Matthew McConaughey, Anthony Hopkins, Morgan Freeman, Pete Postlethwaite. Dreamworks / HBO / Amblin, 1997.
...2021-06-1900 min
The Pointless CenturyUnder Fire (1916) / J’Accuse! (1919)Episode NotesS2 E8: Under Fire (1916) / J’Accuse! (1919)Rachel considers lib idpol a century ago and an ocean away; Anna continues to prefer novels over movies; Madalyn waxes nostalgic on Franco-Prussian beef; Frank delivers a sermon on water; we all are awed by these works of art but continue to wonder what might be missing.Barbusse, Henri. Under Fire: The Story of a Squad. 1916. Translated by W. Fitzwater Wray. Project Gutenberg, 2003. www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4380J’Accuse! Dir. Abel Gance. Writ. Abel Gance. Perf. Romuald Joubé, Maxime Desjardins, Séverin-Mars, Maryse Dauvra...2021-05-261h 23
The Pointless CenturyWilfred Owen vs. Siegfried SassoonEpisode NotesS2 E7: Wilfred Owen vs. Siegfried Sassoon*TW: graphic descriptions of war incl. homicide, suicide, corpses, etc.Wilfred Owen – “Dulce et Decorum Est”https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46560/dulce-et-decorum-estSiegfried Sassoon – “ ‘Blighters’ ”https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/57215/blightersWilfred Owen – “The Sentry”https://poets.org/poem/sentrySiegfried Sassoon – “Attack”https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/57323/attack-56d23aba391f5Siegfried Sassoon – “Counter-Attack”https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/57220/counter-attackWilfred Owen – “S.I.W.”https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/57346/s-i-wSiegfried Sassoon – “On Passing the New...2021-04-162h 17
The Pointless CenturyM (1931) / Psycho (1960)Episode NotesM, film still feat. Gustaf Gründgens (Nero-Film, 1931)S2 E6: M (1931) / Psycho (1960)*TW: murder, implied sexual assaultM. Dir. Fritz Lang. Writ. Fritz Lang, Thea von Harbou. Perf. Peter Lorre, Otto Wernicke, Gustaf Gründgens. Nero-Film, 1931.Ménilmontant. Dir. Dimitri Kirsanoff. Perf. Nadia Sibirskaïa, Yolande Beaulieu, Guy Belmont. 1926.Hereditary. Dir. Ari Aster. Perf. Toni Collette, Milly Shapiro, Gabriel Byrne. A24, 2018.Psycho. Dir. Alfred Hitchcock. Perf. Janet Leigh, Pat Hitchcock, Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin Balsam, Anthony Perkins. Paramount, 1960.Matthew S. Wise talks abou...2021-03-0800 min
The Pointless CenturySylvia Plath vs. Allen GinsbergEpisode NotesS2 E5: Sylvia Plath vs. Allen Ginsberg*TW: suicide, self-harm, mental illnessRachel wrestles with long lines; Anna disses silly rhymes; Frank reflects on old times and somehow compares the 90s to the 50s; we all appreciate these lyric efforts to rise above the conformity of the era but find ourselves critiquing both form and philosophy.Sylvia Plath - “The Colossus” (1957) from The Colossus and Other Poems (Heinemann, 1960)https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/89119/the-colossusSylvia Plath - “Lady Lazarus” (1960) from Ariel (Faber & Faber, 1965)https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/49...2021-02-162h 03
The Pointless CenturyWes AndersonEpisode NotesS2 Extra Episode (Anna’s Choice): Wes AndersonIn a slightly less depressing episode than usual, Anna tells us about a children’s movie she loves; Madalyn meditates on Steve Zissou; Frank explains how culture makes money sexy; we all agree Wes Anderson’s films are enjoyable, but we admit there aren’t many actual LOLs. Rachel was studying for an exam and will join us next time.// Buy t-shirts: http://www.teepublic.com/user/the-pointless-century// Watch us on Instagram: @thePointlessCentury// Troll us on Twitter: @PointlessCentThe Pointless Crew:Anna Wen...2021-01-301h 01
The Pointless CenturyThe Monstrous 20s (pt. 2)Episode NotesS2 E4: The Monstrous 20s (pt. 2)The Phantom of the Opera. Dir. Rupert Julian. Writ. Gaston Leroux. Prod. Carl Laemmle. Perf. Lon Chaney, Mary Philbin. Universal, 1925.Metropolis. Dir. Fritz Lang. Writ. Thea von Harbou. Perf. Brigitte Helm, Alfred Abel, Gustav Fröhlich. UFA, 1927.The Man Who Laughs. Dir. Paul Leni. Writ. Victor Hugo, J. Grubb Alexander. Perf. Conrad Veidt, Mary Philbin. Universal, 1928.This late follow-up to our last episode of 2020, starts with some reflections on the Jan. 6 coup attempt; Frank then lectures on the Culture Industry; Rachel p...2021-01-181h 49
The Pointless CenturyThe Monstrous 20s (pt. 1)Episode NotesS2 E3: The Monstrous 20s (pt. 1)The Penalty. Dir. Wallace Worsley. Writ. Gouverneur Morris. Perf. Lon Chaney. Goldwyn, 1920.Nosferatu. Dir. F.W. Murnau. Perf. Max Schreck, Gustave von Wagenheim, Greta Schröder. JABJ, 1922.Waxworks. Dir. Paul Leni & Leo Birinsky. Writ. Henrik Galeen. Perf. Emil Jannings, Conrad Veidt, Werner Krauss, William Dieterle. Neptune, 1924.In the first installment of a two-part series, Rachel complains about pacing; Anna rants about the wrong movie; Frank compares Rambo to Charlie Kelly; and Madalyn does an excellent job of editing together a long a...2020-12-111h 35
The Pointless CenturyPaths of Glory / A Very Long EngagementEpisode NotesS2 E2: Paths of Glory / A Very Long EngagementIn our second look at great films of the Great War, Anna enjoys vengeance; Rachel denounces injustice; Frank lectures even more than usual; we continue to ponder the concept of realism in genre film; and we all stare exhausted down the barrel of the gun that is the state.// Watch us on Instagram: @thePointlessCentury// Troll us on Twitter: @PointlessCentKEY FILMS REFERENCED:Fear and Desire. Dir. Stanley Kubrick. Perf. Frank Silvera, Kenneth Harp. Kubrick Family, 1953.Un long dimanche de fiança...2020-11-201h 12
The Pointless CenturyOp-Ed 3: Fascism WoundedEpisode Notes
Op-Ed 3: Fascism Wounded
In an obligatory editorial ramble, Rachel desperately phone banks and heroically protects her community; Anna ages years in a single election; Frank proposes an absurd number of states and threatens to run for Sherriff; we also meet Madalyn, who isn’t quite so used to yelling over other people as the rest of us; we all agree that the Democratic party is too old and spineless to rise to this challenge, but we try to maintain a shred of hope for the future – except Anna, who is committed to her pess...2020-11-1248 min
The Pointless CenturyThe Big Parade / 1917Episode NotesS2 E1: The Big Parade / 1917Rachel dreams of reality; Anna wonders whether anti-war movies are really possible; Frank gives an extended description of 1920s special effects; we all agree that the common vernacular of film has changed immensely in 95 years but still manage to find common threads in the genres and narratives that have evolved over that time.// T-shirts are now available: http://tee.pub/lic/1yd0lBadbP4// Watch us on Instagram: @thePointlessCentury// Troll us on Twitter: @PointlessCent1917 . Dir. Sam Mendes, Perf. Dean-Charles Chapman, George MacKay, Colin Firth, Benedict...2020-11-0556 min
The Pointless CenturyGustave Moreau vs. Cy TwomblyEpisode NotesEpisode 8: Gustave Moreau vs. Cy TwomblyIn our season finale, Anna describes 19th century brushstrokes; Rachel gets angry at ten paintings; and Frank tells a story that takes 140 years; we all puzzle over these things people use to decorate museum walls and welcome Madalyn, our new editor and occasional pronunciation coach. Future episodes should be released on a more consistent, bi-weekly basis. BTW our Patreon still exists!// T-shirts are now available: http://tee.pub/lic/1yd0lBadbP4The Pointless Crew:Anna Wendorff (she/her/hers) – Communications, Rhetorics of Sci & Te...2020-10-231h 35
The Pointless CenturyNovecento (1900) Pt 3 *TWEpisode NotesEpisode 7: Novecento (1900) Pt 3Novecento [1900]. Dir. Bernardo Bertolucci. Perf. Robert De Niro, Gérard Depardieu, Dominique Sanda, Sterling Hayden, Stefania Sandrelli, Donald Sutherland, Burt Lancaster. 20th Century Fox, 1976.*TW: sexual coercion, suicide, excrementIn the final installment of a 3-part series, Anna complains about a whole block of cheese; Rachel laments an exploiter’s impoliteness; and Frank tells a long-winded story about a communist physics teacher smoking in his parents’ driveway; we all grumble about our nation’s own slide into fascism and try to learn something in the meantime. Future...2020-10-1138 min
The Pointless CenturyMafarka / Novecento Pt 2/3 *TWEpisode NotesEpisode 6: Mafarka / Novecento (1900) Pt 2Filippo Tommaso Marinetti – Mafarka the Futurist: An African Novel (Italian novel, France 1909 / Italy 1910)Novecento AKA 1900 (dubbed film, Italy 1976) dir. Bernardo Bertolucci*TW: rape, murder, war, torture, sexual coercion, child sexuality, adult sex, excrementIn Part 2 of a 3-part series, Rachel describes herself as a bubble baby; Anna explains how curiosity killed the cat; and Frank recklessly traipses through 100 years of Italian history; we dig into the dis/content of both Mafarka and Novecento and all fall in love with a badass socialist schoolteacher na...2020-09-071h 01
The Pointless CenturyIntro to Mafarka / NovecentoEpisode NotesEpisode 5: Mafarka / Novecento (1900)Filippo Tommaso Marinetti – Mafarka the Futurist: An African Novel (Italian novel, France 1909 / Italy 1910)Novecento AKA 1900 (dubbed film, Italy 1976) dir. Bernardo Bertolucci*TW: rape, murder, war, torture, child sexuality, adult sex, coercion, excrementIn a mere introduction to the topic, Frank tells a long story about staring at an old television; Anna considers the hidden meanings of an angry nonsense; Rachel laughs at boners; we all agree that Mafarka is an absurd novel but somehow manage to avoid engaging with its horrific content. Future episodes wi...2020-08-1953 min
The Pointless CenturyOp-Ed 2: Over the Top & Back to SchoolEpisode Notes
Op-Ed 2: Over the Top & Back to School
In our second editorial ramble, Rachel gets excited about school in spite of herself; Anna grumbles cynically and disses Wisconsin; Frank secures the perimeter for a family of six; we all agree that it’s a bad idea to go back to in-person instruction but expect as much from authority and reflect on how the value of life has been steadily cheapened. Digressions include lurid stories from grade school, comments on major requirements, and complaints about dormitory showers.
The Pointless Crew:
Rachel Hamele (sh...2020-07-2900 min
The Pointless CenturyAmiri Baraka vs. T.S. Eliot (Ep. 4, Pt. 2)Episode NotesEpisode 4: Amiri Baraka vs. T.S. EliotT.S. Eliot – “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” (poem, 1910/1915)https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/44212/the-love-song-of-j-alfred-prufrockAmiri Baraka – “An Agony. As Now.” (poem, 1964)https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/52777/an-agony-as-nowAmiri Baraka – “Dope” (poem/performance, 1978?)https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/58015/dopeAmiri Baraka – “Somebody Blew Up America” (poem, 2002)https://www.counterpunch.org/2002/10/03/somebody-blew-up-america/In our first examination of poetry, Anna is stunned by Baraka and annoyed by Prufrock; Rachel promotes intersectional feminism; Frank praises spite, meaninglessness, and stupidity; we all agree...2020-07-2041 min
The Pointless CenturyAmiri Baraka vs. T.S. Eliot (Pt. 1)Episode NotesEpisode 4: Amiri Baraka vs. T.S. EliotT.S. Eliot – “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” (poem, 1910/1915)https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/44212/the-love-song-of-j-alfred-prufrockAmiri Baraka – “An Agony. As Now.” (poem, 1964)https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/52777/an-agony-as-nowAmiri Baraka – “Dope” (poem/performance, 1978?)https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/58015/dopeAmiri Baraka – “Somebody Blew Up America” (poem, 2002)https://www.counterpunch.org/2002/10/03/somebody-blew-up-america/In our first examination of poetry, Anna is stunned by Baraka and annoyed by Prufrock; Rachel promotes intersectional feminism; Frank praises spite, meaninglessness, and stupidity; we all agree...2020-07-201h 05
The Pointless CenturyOp-Ed 1: Police, Power, & Political SlogansEpisode Notes
Op-Ed 1: Police, Power, & Political Slogans
In our first purely editorial ramble, Rachel struggles with the way that the meanings of political slogans change over time; Anna raises concerns about critiques of systems vs. individuals; Frank swears he isn’t trying to indoctrinate anybody; we all agree that the nuances of political discourse are significant to any movement but note the profusion of bad-faith interpretation that undercuts this. This episode is edited only very lightly to get it out fast.
Correction:
Frank mentions a debunking of the popular understanding of the St...2020-07-1400 min
The Pointless CenturyACABx3 Pt2 *TWEpisode NotesEpisode 3: ACABx3 Part 2 *TWDo the Right Thing (film, 1989)Thelma & Louise (film, 1991)Queen & Slim (film, 2019)Due to software constraints, this episode was divided into two parts.*TW: murder, rape, sexual coercionIn this very special episode, Rachel stresses over what she can and can’t claim to understand; Anna is further disgusted by the film industry patriarchy; Frank haphazardly outlines a century of Black culture and yells more than he probably should; we all agree that cops are bastards but note that plenty of ordinary men are too. Morbid ch...2020-07-0354 min
The Pointless CenturyACABx3 Pt1Episode NotesDo the Right Thing (film, 1989)Thelma & Louise (film, 1991)Queen & Slim (film, 2019)In this very special episode, Rachel stresses over what she can and can’t claim to understand; Anna is further disgusted by the film industry patriarchy; Frank haphazardly outlines a century of Black culture and yells more than he probably should; we all agree that cops are bastards but note that plenty of ordinary men are too. Morbid chuckles fill the void. The sound mix is better except for Frank’s yelling.Due to software constraints, this episode was divided into two part...2020-07-0358 min
The Pointless CenturyThree JokersEpisode NotesEpisode 2: Three JokersBatman (film, 1989)The Dark Knight (film, 2008)Joker (film, 2019)In Part II of our consideration of DC/Warner Bros movies, Anna complains about Christopher Nolan and stares into the void; Rachel mocks pointless rebellion and mindlessly performative fandom; Frank obsesses over various definitions of terrorism; we all agree Tim Burton’s Batman was the best effort of the franchise but appreciate all three versions of the Joker. Frank does a slightly better job editing and mixing.The Pointless Crew:Anna Wendorff (she/her/hers) – Communications, Rhetorics of Sci...2020-06-181h 24
The Pointless CenturyWonder Woman / Birds of PreyEpisode NotesEpisode 1: Wonder Woman / Birds of PreyWonder Woman (film, 2017)Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (film, 2020)In Part I of our consideration of DC/Warner Bros movies, Rachel rants against the culture industry; Anna ponders the aesthetics of destruction; Frank shoehorns in some history of military technology; we all agree Harley Quinn and Wonder Woman are badass but wonder if it’s even possible for Hollywood to make a feminist movie. Audio difficulties abound.The Pointless Crew:Rachel Hamele (she/her/hers) – History, Humanities, Quee...2020-06-181h 26
The Kenyon Review Podcast14. Sharona Muir, A Conversation Plus the Winners of the 2014 Short Fiction ContestA conversation with author Sharona Muir plus winner of the 2014 Short Fiction Contest Amy Victoria Blakemore and runners up Michael Capel and Frank Fucile2015-01-1248 min