Mark, Erica, and Brian are rejoined by our audio editor Tyler to discuss a form of entertainment close to his heart: Priming the rhymes to deliver the crimes: an attack on the character, caring not what-you-wear, anywhere, hug-a-bear... man, battle rap is difficult! So what are the rules? How does modern battle rap compare to free-styling and the beefs aired on rap albums … [Read more...] about PMP#71: Rap Battles w/ Sacrifice (Tyler Hislop)
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PMP#158: “Oppenheimer” and Other Christopher Nolan Films
Christopher Nolan has directed ten films starting with 1998's The Following and his first major film, 2000's Memento. We consider his work up to the present through Insomnia (the only one of these he didn't write), The Prestige, Inception, Interstellar, Tenet, and Dunkirk (and yes, the Batman films, but we've already talked about Batman). We talk about his typical heroes, … [Read more...] about PMP#158: “Oppenheimer” and Other Christopher Nolan Films
PMP#157: The Function of a Pop Culture Podcast
What is media criticism, and is that what we're doing? For our Season 3 finale (i.e. the end of PMP's 4th year of operation), your now officially official hosts Mark Linsenmayer, Lawrence Ware, Sarahlyn Bruck, and Al Baker turn their gazes fully toward their collective navel to think about what purposes are served by discussions about pop culture and how we can do it … [Read more...] about PMP#157: The Function of a Pop Culture Podcast
PMP#156: Black Mirror’s Tech Horrors
Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al talk about Charlie Brooker’s British anthology TV series that began in 2011 and recently released its 6th season. How has this show evolved from satirical science fiction to something more often just horror studies that study human nature? We talk about our favorite episodes and what does and doesn't work. Does the show have to be so dark to … [Read more...] about PMP#156: Black Mirror’s Tech Horrors
PMP#155: Existentialist Barbie
Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al talk about the most discussable movie of the summer made by the unlikely pairing of feminist indie director Greta Gerwig and Barbie's corporate overlords at Mattel. Does the film convey at least a legitimate teen version of feminist existentialism, whereby oppressed women question their identities? On this account (says Mark), even the Ken plot … [Read more...] about PMP#155: Existentialist Barbie
PMP#154: Indiana Jones and the Various MacGuffins
Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al talk about the blockbuster archaeological adventure films created in 1981 by George Lucas and Stephen Spielberg that we grew up with and which have now been revived and apparently concluded twice, currently via James Mangold's Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. What's the formula for these films, and which deviations to we appreciate? … [Read more...] about PMP#154: Indiana Jones and the Various MacGuffins
PMP#153: Kids’ Films, Adult Messages
Mark, Lawrence, and returning parents/panelists Michelle Parrinello-Cason and Chris Sunami take on the mass of largely animated films by Disney, Pixar, Dreamworks, Illumination, etc. We've all watched them with our kids, and many adults devour them even in preference to other types of films. So what's the underlying ideology of this kind of media? What messages are they … [Read more...] about PMP#153: Kids’ Films, Adult Messages
PMP#152: BELIEVE in Ted Lasso
Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al disagree about the Jason Sudeikis-headed Apple TV+ pandemic hit that's just wrapped up with its third season. Was it actually as good as everyone thought when its first season hit, or was its vibe just something we needed at the time? Should it have stayed slim and comic instead of becoming the stretched out, soapy dramedy that it ended up … [Read more...] about PMP#152: BELIEVE in Ted Lasso
PMP#151: Everybody’s Talkin’ ‘Bout “Succession”
The regular gang (Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al) address Jesse Armstrong's prestige HBO dramedy that premiered in 2018 and has just wrapped up. Why all the fuss over this show? Is it really worthy of comparison to Shakespeare? Follow us @law_writes, @sarahlynbruck, @ixisnox, @MarkLinsenmayer. Get bonus talking for this and nearly every episode at … [Read more...] about PMP#151: Everybody’s Talkin’ ‘Bout “Succession”
PMP#148: Resource Management Video Games
Mark, Al, our editor Tyler Hislop, and Dr. Jamie Madigan of the Psychology of Video Games podcast talk about a wide range crafting and building games from Minecraft to Starcraft to Sim City to Civilization to Rimworld to Subnautica. Given what a time commitment these typically require, what makes some of them worthwhile? Is it better to mix the building and crafting with … [Read more...] about PMP#148: Resource Management Video Games
PMP#140: First Nations Culture w/ John Beaubien
Western pop culture has increasingly explored stories of Indigenous Americans (and Canadians), through a spate of TV shows and films like Reservation Dogs, Rutherford Falls, Yellowstone, Prey, and others. As a further installment in a series that began with Mark's Partially Examined Life episode on American Indian philosophy and the previous Pretty Much Pop episode interviewing … [Read more...] about PMP#140: First Nations Culture w/ John Beaubien
PMP#121: Protesting Protest Songs
Are protest songs effective, either as protest or songs? Four songwriters including your host Mark Linsenmayer, Lilli Lewis, Rod Picott, and PMP's audio engineer Tyler Hislop discuss how protest works in various musical genres, who it's aimed at, and when it goes wrong. Has the day of the protest song passed, or is it alive and well? Rod mentions how Bruce Springsteen … [Read more...] about PMP#121: Protesting Protest Songs
PMP#117: Roguelikes Like Hades
Supergiant's Hades is now the first video game ever to have won a Hugo award (i.e. sci-fi/fantasy fiction) and has set a new standard in the Roguelike genre, which features relatively short "runs" through a randomly-generated dungeon (or some equivalent) with perma-death, i.e. you die, you go back to the beginning. Generally, these games are very hard. Your host Mark is … [Read more...] about PMP#117: Roguelikes Like Hades
PMP#103: Queering Video Games w/ Naomi Clark
While LGBTQ+ representation in video games has been improving (as with other media), Naomi Clark (who designed games for LEGO, Gamelab, Fresh Planet, Rebel Monkey, et al) has something more disruptive in mind when arguing for game "queerification." The prototypical video game includes a more-or-less linear progression through a pre-defined story to a defined win condition, and … [Read more...] about PMP#103: Queering Video Games w/ Naomi Clark
Mark Lint’s PEL Network Holiday Party 2020: Merry Chatting and Songs
Join the office Christmas party at the PEL network. The hired band is Mark Lint’s Dry Folk, playing their entire album, and the guests are considerate enough to only talk between the songs. BYOB! Mark holds mini conversations on philosophy, art, and life with all the PEL and PMP co-hosts, plus special guests Ken Stringfellow (a guy who played with REM … [Read more...] about Mark Lint’s PEL Network Holiday Party 2020: Merry Chatting and Songs
PMP#39: TV and Other Plans in Subjunctive Stasis
You've planned and planned for your big event, and WHAM, the plague hits and you're frittering away your day worrying and watching TV. Our plans for this episode were postponed when virus-related matters caused our intended academic guest to be occupied by the frantic creation of online coursework and so cancel on us. So we did as we so often do, talking about possibilities … [Read more...] about PMP#39: TV and Other Plans in Subjunctive Stasis
PMP#21: Role-Playing Video Games
What constitutes a video RPG? Is there any actual role-playing involved? Our editor Tyler Hislop rejoins Mark, Erica, and Brian to discuss those video games that are supposed to make you feel like you're contributing to the story, that your choices matter, in which you can maybe, you know, choose to wear a funny hat or just craft potions all day instead of advancing … [Read more...] about PMP#21: Role-Playing Video Games
PMP#1: Pop Culture vs. High Culture
What is pop culture? Does it make sense to distinguish it from high culture, or can something be both? Meet Mark, Erica, and Brian in this first attempt at a conversation together, featuring a special appearance by our editor Tyler. We touch on opera, The Beatles, Fortnite, 50 Shades of Grey, reality TV, and more. Some of the articles we bring up in our discussion … [Read more...] about PMP#1: Pop Culture vs. High Culture