The Natural: Redford, Baseball, & Mythology

Episode 363: The Natural - Robert Redford, Baseball Mythology, and Art as ActivismRobert Redford's death prompts a deep dive into his career, from founding the Sundance Film Institute to playing a Hydra villain in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Matthew and Paul Hoppe explore how The Natural serves as American mythology, examining what baseball reveals about heroism, economics, and the nature of sports fandom.In This Episode:

• How did Robert Redford shape independent filmmaking through Sundance?
• What makes The Natural function as American mythology rather than just a sports movie?
• Why was Redford's casting in Marvel's Winter Soldier symbolically important for superhero cinema?
• Can athletes be both mercenaries and heroes?
• What does baseball fandom reveal about parasocial relationships and entitlement?
• How do economic realities shape player loyalty and fan expectations?
• What's the difference between loving the game and treating it as a job?

**************************************************************************
This episode is a production of Superhero Ethics, a The Ethical Panda Podcast and part of the TruStory FM Entertainment Podcast Network. Check our our website to find out more about this and our sister podcast Star Wars Generations.We want to hear from you! You can keep up with our latest news, and send us feedback, questions, or comments via social media or email.

• Email: Matthew@TheEthicalPanda.com
• Facebook: TheEthicalPanda
• Instagram: TheEthicalPandaPodcasts
• Twitter: EthicalPanda77
• Or you can join jump into the Star Wars Generations and Superhero Ethics channels on the TruStory FM Discord.

Want to get access to even more content while supporting the podcast? Become a member! For $5 a month, or $55 a year you get access to bonus episodes and bonus content at the end of most episodes. Sign up on the podcast’s main page. You can even give membership as a gift!
You can also support our podcasts through our sponsors:

• Purchase a lightsaber from Level Up Sabers run by friend of the podcast Neighborhood Master Alan
• Use Audible for audiobooks. Sign up for a one year membership or gift one through this link.
• Purchase any media discussed this week through our sponsored links.