How does canonization work in popular music? Is Rolling Stone's 500 Best Albums of All Time list just a modest record of the favorite albums of people associated with Rolling Stone? Is it a statement of what "experts" in popular music enjoy? Does it reflect English-American popularity, and what responsibility to list-makers have to experience and include world music, indie … [Read more...] about PMP#115: So-Called Greatest Albums
PMP#114: The “West Side Story” Story
Did it make sense for Steven Spielberg to remake one of our nation's most beloved musicals (with music by Bernstein and Sondheim!), attempting to fix the parts that did not age well politically? Is the new version a modern classic or a doomed Frankenstein? Your host Mark Linsenmayer is joined by Broadway scholar, theater critic, and actor Ron Fassler; Remakes, Reboots, and … [Read more...] about PMP#114: The “West Side Story” Story
PMP#113: The Matrix Regurgitated
It's a Pretty Much Pop season one reunion, with Brian Hirt and Erica Spyres back with Mark Linsenmayer, plus very special guest Abe Linsenmayer, Mark's adult son. In light of the release of The Matrix Resurrections, we talk through the franchise as a whole. What made the first one remarkable, and does that a bar that any sequel can reach? We talk through the choices that fed … [Read more...] about PMP#113: The Matrix Regurgitated
PMP#112: Class Critiques in Squid Game, Succession, etc.
Popular shows have commented on wealth inequality by showing how dire the situation is for the poor and/or how disconnected and clueless the rich are. How effective is this type of social commentary? Mark is joined by philosopher and NY Times writer Lawrence Ware, novelist and writing professor Sarahlyn Bruck, and educator with a rhetoric doctorate Michelle Parrinello-Cason … [Read more...] about PMP#112: Class Critiques in Squid Game, Succession, etc.
PMP#111: Our Beatles Love-Fest
Mark is joined by musician David Brookings, Gig Gab host Dave Hamilton, and OpenCulture writer Colin Marshall to discuss Peter Jackson's documentary Get Back and the enduring popularity of The Beatles. This was recorded on 12/8, the anniversary of John Lennon's death. We consider the arc of their career, the various post-mortem releases that keep our interest, why Beatles … [Read more...] about PMP#111: Our Beatles Love-Fest
PMP#110: The Dune Franchise Tries Again
Yes, we have another Dune film, and this time Warner Bros. is serious about a franchise, with at least one sequel planned and a prequel TV series in the works. With thousands of years worth of world building, the books by Frank Herbert and the world now being fleshed out by his son Brian Herbert with Kevin J. Anderson offer more source material than Star Wars for potential … [Read more...] about PMP#110: The Dune Franchise Tries Again
PMP#109: Dueling in Film
In light of the release of The Last Duel (which you needn't have watched), we talk about the trope of the honor-resolving duel in movies and TV. Mark and guest co-host Dylan Casey of The Partially Examined Life are joined by Clif Mark, host of the Good in Theory podcast who wrote his political thesis and a 2018 Aeon article on the history and logic of … [Read more...] about PMP#109: Dueling in Film
PMP#108: Board Game Ideology
As board games are becoming increasingly popular with adults, we ask: What's the relationship between a board game's mechanics and its narrative? Does the "message" of a board game matter? Mark is joined by game designer Tommy Maranges, educator Michelle Parrinello-Cason, and ex-philosopher Al Baker to talk about re-skinning games, designing player experiences, play styles, … [Read more...] about PMP#108: Board Game Ideology
PMP#107: Cult Bands and Cultish Fans
What makes for a "cult band"? Not just a small audience, because Grateful Dead fans are an archetypical cult. Not just a devoted, emotionally invested audience; no volume of Swifties make Taylor Swift qualify as a cult act. Does the music have to be somehow inaccessible, or the fans snobby? Your host Mark Linsenmayer and three other musicians try to figure it … [Read more...] about PMP#107: Cult Bands and Cultish Fans
PMP#106: Stand-Up Comedy in the Internet Age
Mark discusses how Internet culture has changed stand-up with three comedians: past guests Rodney Ramsey (who co-owns the Unknown Comedy Club) and Daniel Lobell (host of Modern Day Philosophers and author of the Fair Enough comic), plus Dena Jackson (also a speaker on yoga and mindfulness and host of The Ego Podcast). How does the existence of YouTube, social media, and … [Read more...] about PMP#106: Stand-Up Comedy in the Internet Age
PMP#105: The Death of Soap Operas (Is Greatly Exaggerated)
Writers Sarahlyn Bruck and Kayla Dreysse join Mark to discuss how this once very popular TV show type has simultaneously become niche yet has had a tremendous influence on current prestige TV as well as reality shows. We talk about soaps' story and structure conventions, the demands on soap actors and writers, and how changing market forces and technology have affected the … [Read more...] about PMP#105: The Death of Soap Operas (Is Greatly Exaggerated)
PMP#104: King Arthur Reigns O’er Pop Culture
With the recent theatrical release of The Green Knight, Mark and Brian along with Den of Geek's David Crow and the very British Al Baker consider the range of cinematic Arthuriana, including Excalibur (1981), Camelot (1967), King Arthur (2004), King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017), First Knight (1995), Sword of the Valiant (1983), Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (1973), and … [Read more...] about PMP#104: King Arthur Reigns O’er Pop Culture
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
Introducing Philosophy vs. Improv
While we're in hiatus for a couple of weeks between seasons here, enjoy the trailer for Mark's new podcast Philosophy vs. Improv. This grew directly out of PMP episode 20 on improv comedy, with the last straw being our interview with Matt Young (who like Tim from #20 as well as Adal Rifai appears on Hello from the Magic Tavern). So if the attempts at silly voices, joking around … [Read more...] about Introducing Philosophy vs. Improv
PMP#102: What the Pop!? Season 1 Wrap-Up
It's a very special Pretty Much Pop, as after 101 episodes and a bit over two years, we reflect on what we've learned and set a course for the future with changes, changes, and more changes. So what have we learned about how and why we consume? Maybe not so much in a general sense, but certainly we've been shown the appeal of many forms that we might not have considered … [Read more...] about PMP#102: What the Pop!? Season 1 Wrap-Up
PMP#101: The “Conjuring” Retroverse
With the release of The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, Mark, Erica and Brian explore the larger "Conjuring universe" that started with the 2013 James Wan film depicting the fictionalized supernatural investigations of Ed and Lorraine Warren (played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga). Largely using the plot-generating device of the couple's storehouse of haunted objects, … [Read more...] about PMP#101: The “Conjuring” Retroverse
PMP#100: Directing Comedies w/ Heather Fink
What makes for a good comedy film or show? Funny people reading (or improvising) funny lines, right? WRONG? Mark, Erica, Brian, are joined by Heather Fink to discuss the role of the director in making a comedy (or anything else) actually good. Heather has directed for TV, film, and commercials and spent a lot of time doing sound (a boom operator or sound utility) for … [Read more...] about PMP#100: Directing Comedies w/ Heather Fink
PMP#99: The Music of Your Youth w/ Jon Lamoreaux (The Hustle podcast)
What long-term effects do songs that we're exposed to early have on our adult tastes? As children we (hopefully) learn to love music, but then our critical faculties and peer pressure kick in, and many early influences become unacknowledged or transformed into guilty pleasures. Is the generation gap in musical taste really just due to how styles change over time (and we old … [Read more...] about PMP#99: The Music of Your Youth w/ Jon Lamoreaux (The Hustle podcast)
PMP#98: The Spirit of Captain America w/ Anthony LeBlanc
What is it for a super-hero to represent America? Though the character created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby in 1941 may have been a way to capitalize on WWII patriotism, it has since been used to ask questions about what it really means to be patriotic and how America's ideals and its reality may conflict. We're of course talking about race, a theme explored by Sam Wilson, … [Read more...] about PMP#98: The Spirit of Captain America w/ Anthony LeBlanc
PMP#97: The Girl in the Wooder: Our Mare of Easttown Show!
Insofar as something is a TV hit at all these days, the small-town Pennsylvania murder mystery starring Kate Winslet seems to qualify, but what distinguishes it from the many many other crime dramas on TV? Mark, Erica, and Brian discuss the plot structure, casting, and other creative choices and try to figure out how the show relates to Broadchurch, The Undoing, etc. Should … [Read more...] about PMP#97: The Girl in the Wooder: Our Mare of Easttown Show!