Shows

Philosophy & Narrative: Cyberpunk, Posthumanism, and Slavoj Žižek

We cover an article by man of the peoples’ philosopher Slavoj Ĺ˝iĹľek, exploring emerging ideas and the landscape of what posthumanism might evolve into via current pop culture touchstones.

Literature: The (Not So) Midas Touch | 2N5E by Yuki Iwama

We discuss this intriguingly opaque short story, and ponder what it means to consume a god.
[Average score: 5.6]

Film & TV: Strawberry y Chocolate

We head down to Cuba circa the late 70s to check out this touted foreign flick covering a range of socio-political topics. [Average 8.3]

Games & Gaming Culture: Recontextualization/Defamiliarization

On the frontier as always, we define and discuss the practice of recontextualizing and/or defamiliarizing narratives in games (and some other media) framed around likely the most famous example of such found within the Nier series.

Games & Gaming Culture: Mortal Kombat Khicanery

Two kombatants enter the ring to briefly review the series’ 2021 film incarnation before turning their attention to the franchise overall.

Games & Gaming Culture Guest Special: Grand Theft Auto with American Slacker Podcast

Grab a bat and haul ass in your Banshee, as TLS is joined by the hooligans of ASP for a whirlwind tour of the GTA series.

Guest Month- Film & Television: 1996 In Cinema

In this guest ep, TLS is joined by new friends and old to reflect back 25 years later on the best/most seminal films of 1996. Featuring series regular Joe Soria and first time guest Dan Kirschenbaum.

Results of our best movies of ’96 Snake Draft

Film & TV: Guest Month AAPI appreciation episode with Morgan Goldin

An invigorating discussion of Asian American/Pacific Islander helmed films with great friend of the show, Morgan Goldin.

See below for the films and where to find them streaming.

Better Luck Tomorrow – Amazon Prime
The Namesake – HBO Max
Children of Invention – IMDB Streaming
Columbus – Kanopy
Minding the Gap – Hulu

BONUS The Debut – for rent on Amazon Prime

Literature: The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin

Utopia isn’t all it’s cracked up to be in this classic story from one of the greats that is more of a thought/discussion piece. [Aggregate score: 6.75* Score reflects limits of MOTS system in this case, as expanded upon in episode]

Film & TV: Showgirls

In grand post-Academy tradition, it’s…time! for TLS to hit up Vegas in a review of this year’s choice of infamously panned/ostracized film. [Aggregate score: 3.66]