Category Archives: Uncategorized

Episode 120. Unseen Forces: The Invisible Man (1933 & 2020)

From economic disruptors to controlling techbro exes, the unseeable has been used as a metaphor in a variety of ways. In this episode, Andrea and Alex look back at H.G. Wells’ original text, James Whale’s Universal classic and how #MeToo created a new kind of monster. 
 
 

REQUIRED READING

The Invisible Man. Dir. James Whale, 1933.
The Invisible Man. Dir. Leigh Whannell, 2020. 
 

EXTRA CREDIT

The Invisible Man. H.G. Wells’ Victorian classic. 
 
Simulacra and Simulation. Baudrillard continues to be worried about copies. 
 
Evolution of Horror: Sleeping with the Enemy and Fear. Alex joins friend of the pod Mike Muncer to talk about home invasion and visibility. 
 
The Dark Universe Cast Photo. Universal Studios’ lost cinematic universe (and the article that photoshopped out one of the key players). 
 
“The Invisible Man” and the Invisible Hand: H. G. Wells’s Critique of Capitalism. Paul A. Cantor dissects the anti-capitalist sentiment of Wells’ story.
 
WomenWriteAboutComics.com – Kate Tanski dissects the male gaze in Sue Storm’s long overdue solo debut.
 

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Episode 119. Metamorphosis: The Fly (1958) and The Fly (1986)

Dust off the telepods and put your swatters away – it’s time for our thoughts about a short story, an iconic original film, and an even better remake to mingle molecules in an all-new episode.
 
 

REQUIRED READING

The Fly. Dir. Kurt Neumann, 1958. 
The Fly. Dir. David Cronenberg, 1986. 
 

EXTRA CREDIT

“The Fly” By George Langelann. The original short story that appeared in Playboy in 1957.

From Pathos to Tragedy: Two Versions of The Fly. Mary Ferguson Pharr’s essay about the different interpretations of the two films.

The Beetle and the Fly. David Cronenberg’s essay about aging, Kafka and his version of The Fly.
 
On translating Kafka’s “The Matamorphosis.” Susan Bernofsky’s afterword to her 2014 translation of Kafka’s story.
 

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Episode 118. Friends till the End. Child’s Play (1988)

In this episode we look at the origins of the original “Good Guy.” From his place in the history of toys to his ties to masculinity to the anxiety around 1980s family structures, we go deep with Chucky to find out what makes him kill. 
 
 

REQUIRED READING

Child’s Play. Dir. Tom Holland, 1988. 
 

EXTRA CREDIT

The History of Creepy Dolls. An examination of how dolls became part of our nightmares.
 
Technology’s Covert Socialization of Children: High-Tech Toys. How “high-tech” toys create a false sense of safety. 
 
Hasbro’s My Buddy Doll. A history of the doll that inspired Chucky.
 
“Midnight Scenes and Orgies”: Public Narratives of Voodoo in New Orleans and Nineteenth-Century Discourses of White Supremacy. 
 
The Child and Adult Trauma in American Horror of the 1980s. Freud’s uncanny child in the era of consumerism.
 
The Place of Play: Toys and Digital Cultures. A look at toys as “generation-shapers.” 
 
Hasbro Brazil’s ad for Baby Alive, encouraging parents to examine their gender biases.
 

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Episode 117. Fear of Folk: The Blood on Satan’s Claw (1971)

We’re back on our old stomping grounds of Salem Horror Fest to plow the fertile fields of themes and metaphors to unearth why the British folk horror classic, The Blood on Satan’s Claw, left us feeling so icky. From teens and occultism to PSAs and power, we dig deep. 
 
 
 

REQUIRED READING

The Blood on Satan’s Claw. Dir Piers Haggard, 1971. 
 

EXTRA CREDIT

Folk Horror Hours Dreadful And Things Strange. Paul Scovell’s essential text for British folk horror. 
 
Satanic Tourism: Adolescent Dabblers and Identity Work. Pseudo-Satanism as harmless teen fun!
 
 

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