Pretty Much Pop: A Culture Podcast

A philosopher, an actor, and a sci-fi writer talk about media and how we consume it.

pop culture podcast

PMP#188: Vampire Appreciation

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In light of Robert Eggers' film Nosferatu and the end of What We Do in Shadows, Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al discuss the many vampire shows and films all the way back to Bram Stoker's 1897 novel (and of course the folklore goes back much further). The journey from the Dracula novel to the 1922 rip-off Nosferatu through a 1979 Werner Herzog version to the current one … [Read more...] about PMP#188: Vampire Appreciation

PMP#187: Taking Down Santa Claus

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For our annual holiday episode, Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn and Al talk about Santa qua mythical and cultural figure, getting into the history of the character, his film appearances, and how the emphasis on kids' belief compares to religious belief. Plus, grading Xmas movies on a curve and Black Santa! Follow us @law_writes, @sarahlynbruck, @ixisnox, @MarkLinsenmayer. Get an … [Read more...] about PMP#187: Taking Down Santa Claus

PMP#186: From Oz Books to Wicked Film

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We're coming up on the quasquicentennial anniversary of L. Frank Baum's children's book, The Wizard of Oz (that's 125 years!), and the film version of (the first half of) the musical Wicked has been released. Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn and Al talk about the landmark 1939 film musical, the 1978 film The Wiz, Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel Wicked, the stage musical, the … [Read more...] about PMP#186: From Oz Books to Wicked Film

PMP#185: Steve Martin: X-Tuple Threat

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Steve Martin was the biggest comic celebrity in the late '70s, became a huge movie star, and now delivers gentle comedy and fast banjo licks according to his desired rich guy schedule. In light of the popularity of Only Murders in the Building (which just finished season 4), last March's Apple TV documentary STEVE! (martin), and his current blockbuster tour, we consider … [Read more...] about PMP#185: Steve Martin: X-Tuple Threat

PMP#184: !BREAKING! Comedy News

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Many people use shows like Last Week Tonight or The Daily Show to not just satirize the news but to provide us with our news. Late night shows, SNL, and many other shows get in on this, and conservative media is catching up via Gutfield. How does the comedy news format relate to panel shows, podcasts, and other light-hearted political talk? Some of the historical shows we … [Read more...] about PMP#184: !BREAKING! Comedy News

PMP#183: Classic Universal Monster Movies

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It's our Halloween episode! Brucker Nourse from the Autopsy of a Horror Movie podcast joins Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn and Al to talk about the first wave of Universal Studios monster movies in the 1930s: Dracula, Frankenstein (and Bride of...), The Invisible Man, and The Mummy. Are these actually enjoyable to modern audiences, or is their value primarily in seeing how … [Read more...] about PMP#183: Classic Universal Monster Movies

PMP#182: Tim Burton: Shtick Macabre

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In light of the new Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, we discuss the films of director (and occasional writer) Tim Burton since his career was firmly established via short 1984 film Frankenweenie, 1985's Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, and the original 1988 Beetlejuice. More recently, he's been on tap with Disney and has his hands in so much IP that we've already covered him … [Read more...] about PMP#182: Tim Burton: Shtick Macabre

PMP#181: M. Night Shyamalan’s Films Are a Trap

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In light of the new film Trap, we look at this writer/director's oeuvre. Was he a bright light (The Sixth Sense) that at one point went out (certainly by The Happening), and has that light gone back on as he's regained full control in his most recent films (Knock at the Cabin, The Visit, et al.)? Is he a genius, overrated, or somehow both? And what hath he wrought via his … [Read more...] about PMP#181: M. Night Shyamalan’s Films Are a Trap

PMP#180: Season Four Wrap Party: Nostalgia

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As Pretty Much Pop ends its 5th year of podcasting, the regular-for-quite-a-while-now crew of Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn and Al break from our usual watch-and-report format to talk in a more free-form way about the thin line between the "new" media we talk about on the show and the classics of yesteryear. The line is so damned thin because apparently every classic gets turned … [Read more...] about PMP#180: Season Four Wrap Party: Nostalgia

PMP#179: Deadpool Gets Meta

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We discuss the Deadpool films in light of the new Deadpool & Wolverine, which leaves the fourth wall thoroughly smashed. Is the new film just a meta-text about the existence of other Marvel films? Is this just a particularly irreverent phase in superhero films (contra Christopher Nolan Batman seriousness)? Featuring the usual crew of Mark, Sarah, Al, Lawrence, and Al. … [Read more...] about PMP#179: Deadpool Gets Meta

PMP#177: Inside Out – Animated Psyche

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We discuss the 2015 and 2024 Pixar films by writer/director Pete Docter , featuring the usual crew of Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al. These films show kids that it's OK to be sad and how to cope with anxiety. Is the films' emotional impact objectionably manipulative? Does the "mental landscape" depicted helpfully represent the various elements we juggle, or is it just a … [Read more...] about PMP#177: Inside Out – Animated Psyche

PMP#176: Furiosa: Are We Mad Maxed Out?

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Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al discuss the five films in George Miller's Mad Max/Road Warrior franchise. What was the original appeal of the series, and has this changed? Are we still afraid of an "Apunkalypse," or is this just an aesthetic to be ripped off by Fallout and other properties? How can films 80% occupied by car chases be actually good? Is Mad Max an icon a la … [Read more...] about PMP#176: Furiosa: Are We Mad Maxed Out?

PMP#175: Podcast of the Planet of the Apes

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We discuss the ten films that all started with the 1968 Charlton Heston vehicle (based on Pierre Boulle's 1963 novel) through the latest offering, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. What psychologically are these films about, and has their mission statement changed over time, for instance from fear of displacement by savages in the original to just fun fantasy adventures with … [Read more...] about PMP#175: Podcast of the Planet of the Apes

PMP#173: Cowboy Beyoncé? (Cross-Genre Music)

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Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al look at pop music and the idea of genre. Beyoncé is beloved enough that she can do whatever she wants to musically, but the response to her Cowboy Carter album among country music listeners has been pretty critical. Is it real country, and what is it to even ask that question? How relevant are the actual musical gestures to being in a … [Read more...] about PMP#173: Cowboy Beyoncé? (Cross-Genre Music)

PMP#172: Curb Larry David’s Shtick

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The incredible post-Seinfeld improvised sit-com Curb Your Enthusiasm has had its finale, and so Mark, Lawrence, Sarah and Al reflect on its format, its characters, its way of exploring puzzles of modern manners, its treatment of race and gender, and more. Was it too repetitive? Did it get too contrived? A couple of the articles we looked at for this episode include "Larry … [Read more...] about PMP#172: Curb Larry David’s Shtick

PMP-NEM Crossover: Head vs. Gut Songwriting w/ Roger Joseph Manning Jr., David Christian, Rachel Taylor Brown

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You can watch this discussion as unedited video. It's a new, discussion-only format, just for this episode (and perhaps some rare ones in the future)! When we write, how much is planned vs. improvised? How much is inspirational vs. double-or-triple checked? How does this factor weigh into how much music we release, how eclectic our sound is, and how well we improvise with … [Read more...] about PMP-NEM Crossover: Head vs. Gut Songwriting w/ Roger Joseph Manning Jr., David Christian, Rachel Taylor Brown

PMP#171: The Traitors – A Multi-National Reality Game Show Phenom

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Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al discuss the American version, and to a lesser extent the British and Australian versions, of this reality game show that originated in 2021 in the Netherlands, based on the party game Mafia (aka Werewolf), plus Survivor-like challenges and a gothic tone. How does such a simple (stupid?) concept end up creating compelling TV? Are we cruel for … [Read more...] about PMP#171: The Traitors – A Multi-National Reality Game Show Phenom

PMP#170: Poor Things and Other Yorgos

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Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al discuss the 4-Oscar-winning film Poor Things as well as the other creations of writer/director Yorgos Lanthimos, including most notably The Lobster, Dogtooth, and The Killing of a Sacred Deer. These films mix high concepts, purposively stilted line-readings, and increasingly rich cinematography with horror and gross sex. Watch the dance scene … [Read more...] about PMP#170: Poor Things and Other Yorgos