Tag Archives: Steven Spielberg

Episode 131. Clever Girl: Island of Lost Souls (1932) and Jurassic Park (1993)

Pack your bags and leave your conception of the social fabric that binds us behind because we’re going to two private islands in this episode! From the darkness of Dr. Moreau’s experiments to John Hammond’s capitalist enterprise, these journeys into the human desire for control rarely end well for anyone involved. 

 

REQUIRED READING

Island of Lost Souls. Dir. Erle C. Kenton, 1932.
Jurassic Park. Dir Steven Spielberg, 1993. 
 

EXTRA CREDIT

The Man Who Hated Moms: Looking Back on Philip Wylie’s “Generation of Vipers”Island of Lost Souls‘ co-writer has some serious mommy issues.
 
Dinosaurs as a Cultural Phenomenon – Why have dinosaurs gained such a hold on the public’s imagination?
 
Of Fossils and Androids: (Re)Producing Sexual Identity in “Jurassic Park” and “Blade Runner” – An essay on how sexual identity anxiety is explored in sci-fi. 
 
The Devil in Our DNA:  A Brief History of Eugenics  in Science Fiction Films. David A. Kirby’s deep dive into how one of the darkest chapters in modern science was utilized on the big screen. 
 
Kathleen Burke Wins Nationwide Contest! The Road to Panther Woman in Island of Lost Souls. An overview of promotional materials for the Panther Woman contest.
 
Marx for Cats. The history of cats big and small as viewed through a Marxist lens.
 
The story of amusement parks is the story of America. A look at how the history of amusement/theme parks reflects America. 
 
Dead Blondes and Bad Mothers. Jude Doyle’s excellent book about female power and monstrosity. 
 

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Episode 17. Blood in the Water: Jaws (1975) and Piranha (1978)

Jaws

Alex and Andrea take the biggest boat they can find and go into the deep as summer dawns once again. Their bait is the examination of nature as vengeance, the strong hold of Americana and the new masculine hero. Hopefully they’ll be home in time for dinner.

REQUIRED READING

Jaws. Dir. Steven Spielberg. 1975. [Blu-ray/DVD]
Piranha. Dir. Joe Dante. 1978. [DVD] [Blu-ray]

EXTRA CREDIT

Jaws – Between the Teeth by Peter Biskind. One of the first in depth analysis of Spielberg’s jaws, film writer Biskind tackles the cultural impact and its roots in literature

A guide to the fantastical work of Joe Dante by Keith Phipps, Scott Tobias & Noel Murray. An overview of the career of one of the most beloved directors in genre film.

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