Fascism in Cinema

Top Gun and the Hero's Journey of a Militant Age

In this episode we are joined again by Dr. James Dennis LoRusso to discuss Tom Cruise's latest blockbuster TOP GUN (2022), the way it appropriates the trope of the 'Hero's Journey' to advertise for the military-industrial complex, and hear a special review from a man named Brett at Letterboxd.com.About our guest: James Dennis LoRusso is the author of Spirituality, Corporate Culture, and American Business: The Neoliberal Ethic and the Spirit of Global Capital (2017) and has published on a wide range of subjects, including spirituality in the workplace, corporate chaplaincy, and the state of academic labor.Support the Show.

Werckmeister Harmonies, Béla Tarr, and the Cosmic Dance of Existence

In this episode of Fascism in Cinema we  are joined again by Devon Supeene from the National Film Board of Canada! We discuss the Hungarian director Béla Tarr, his classic WERKMEISTER HARMONIES (2000), and the cosmic struggle of despair and hope the film explores.About our Guest: Devon Supeene studied Film at the University of Alberta and works for the National Film Board of Canada. Her IMDB page can be viewed here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8792895/Support the Show.

Snowden, Spyware, and Surveillance Capitalism

In this hodgepodge episode Nathan and Tenzan discuss (1) Ronan Farrow's latest article in The New Yorker, "How Democracies Spy on Their Citizens," and the invasive 'Pegasus' spyware that is now used by governments around the world; (2) the cinematic renditions of George Orwell's 1984; and (3) Oliver Stone's SNOWDEN (2016). Bringing all this together in a general discussion about the dangers of modern spyware and surveillance Capitalism, we consider how modern governments lean in a fascist direction when they impose a state of exception upon individual liberty.  Support the Show.

Midsommer and the Appeal of Ritual and Myth to the Far Right

Our special guest in this week's episode is Devon Supeene, from the National Film Board of Canada! Together we discuss Ari Aster's latest film MIDSOMMER (2019) and the appeal of ritual and myth to the Far Right. At the end of the episode, Nathan issues a threat of ritualistic murder upon all who don't like, comment, and subscribe to our pod. 😆*Side note: This is our first episode that doesn't sound like it was recorded in a soup can. We are slowly improving our sound quality for our ever growing community of listeners. Much love.About our Guest: Devon Supeene studied Film at the University of Alberta and works for the National Film Board of Canada. Her IMDB page can be viewed here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8792895/Support the Show.

Nomadland and the Desolation of Capitalism

In this episode we are joined by Dr. James Dennis LoRusso to discuss  NOMADLAND (2021) and its depiction of the desolation of American capitalism. We start off discussing the formation of the Amazon Labour Union (ALU) in Staten Island last month and then connect this massive labour victory with Frances McDormand's journey across the American landscape in Nomadland. Along the way, Dennis lets us know about his secret history with Starbucks and I call Michael J. Fox a fascist (jk).About our guest: James Dennis LoRusso is the author of Spirituality, Corporate Culture, and American Business: The Neoliberal Ethic and the Spirit of Global Capital (2017) and has published on a wide range of subjects, including spirituality in the workplace, corporate chaplaincy, and the state of academic labor.Support the Show.