Badlands Story Hour Ep 121: Alex Garland’s Civil War

In this powerful episode of Badlands Story Hour, hosts Chris Paul and Burning Bright dissect Alex Garland’s dystopian film Civil War, unpacking its scathing portrayal of journalism and propaganda in the modern era. Far from a simple Trump-coded allegory, the film is interpreted as a brutal takedown of war journalists who act as narrative engineers, observers who provoke conflict and wield stories as weapons. Chris and Burning explore themes of morality, reality creation, and the manipulative power of photojournalism, drawing parallels to modern psyops, narrative warfare, and color revolutions. The conversation veers into philosophical questions about government, kingship, and power, making a compelling case that truth is found not in facts, but in intent. A must-listen for anyone grappling with media trust, narrative manipulation, or the deeper meaning behind today’s cultural conflicts.