UConn PopCast

UConn PopCast

episodes

Analysis of popular culture and how it shapes society, with an emphasis on film and television. Features in-depth discussion, interviews with prominent scholars, and recordings of live shows. Hosted by Stephen Dyson, the associate director of the University of Connecticut Humanities Institute, and a professor of political science, and Jeffrey R. Dudas, professor of political science and affiliate faculty of American Studies at the University of Connecticut.

P. Djèlí Clark on Why He Writes

October 14, 2024

P. Djèlí Clark on Why He Writes

P. Djèlí Clark
Hosted by UConn PopCast

P. Djèlí Clark is the author of acclaimed and award-winning speculative fiction, including the much-loved Dead Djinn universe books, Ring Shout, and h…

Slavery and Film, Creativity and Academia, and Is Slavery a Good Metaphor for AI?

October 12, 2024

Slavery and Film, Creativity and Academia, and Is Slavery a Good Metaphor for AI?

Dexter Gabriel
Hosted by UConn PopCast

Dr. Dexter Gabriel is an associate professor of history at the University of Connecticut. He’s published and taught widely on the histories of slavery…

: The Political Evolution of Taylor Swift

September 12, 2024

The Political Evolution of Taylor Swift

Hosted by UConn PopCast

It’s the UConn Popcast, and today we offer a political science / popular culture studies view of Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris in the 20…

Can "Alien: Romulus" Revive the Alien Franchise?

August 19, 2024

Can "Alien: Romulus" Revive the Alien Franchise?

Hosted by UConn PopCast

Fede Alvarez’s "Alien: Romulus" hit cinemas on August 16th. It’s set between the events of Alien and Aliens, two science fiction classics. We review t…

40 Years of Purple Rain: What to Make of the Movie/Album in 2024

July 25, 2024

40 Years of Purple Rain

Hosted by UConn PopCast

It’s the UConn Popcast, and Purple Rain, Prince’s semi-autobiographical, semi-concert film, hit cinemas 40 years ago this week. The movie followed the…

AI and Music: The Future is Here (featuring "There I Ruined It")

July 13, 2024

AI and Music

Mitchell Green, Aaron Dial, and Dustin Ballard
Hosted by UConn PopCast

It’s the UConn Popcast, and recently UConn’s Center for the Study of Popular Music hosted a panel discussion on Artificial Intelligence and the Future…

On Richard Linklater and “Hit Man”

June 14, 2024

On Richard Linklater and “Hit Man”

Hosted by UConn PopCast

It’s the UConn Popcast, and “Hit Man” is writer and director Richard Linklater’s latest film, available on Netflix after a brief theatrical run. We an…

Robert Farley on how "Andor" recreates "The Battle of Algiers" (and it works)

May 3, 2024

Robert Farley on how "Andor" recreates "The Battle of Algiers" (and it works)

Robert Farley
Hosted by UConn PopCast

It’s the UConn Popcast, and today we are joined by Professor Robert Farley, author of “Andor: Star Wars Recreates the Battle of Algiers (And it Works)…

Adapting Liu Cixin’s "Three-Body Problem" for Television

April 2, 2024

Adapting Liu Cixin’s "Three-Body Problem" for Television

Hosted by UConn PopCast

It’s the UConn Popcast, and today we discuss Netflix’s new screen adaptation of Chinese science fiction author Liu Cixin’s Three Body trilogy. We disc…

Reading Taylor Swift as a Cultural and Political Text

March 11, 2024

Reading Taylor Swift as a Cultural and Political Text

Hosted by UConn PopCast

It’s the UConn Popcast, and Taylor Swift is by some measures the most popular person on the planet. Her periodic reinventions set the mass cultural te…

Prophet Song: A Novel about a Totalitarian Takeover in Ireland

January 23, 2024

Prophet Song

Paul Lynch
Hosted by UConn PopCast

It’s the UConn Popcast, and today we discuss Prophet Song (Atlantic Monthly Press, 2023), Paul Lynch’s Booker Prize winning novel about a totalitarian…

This is the Best Statement of the Simulation Hypothesis We've Seen

December 8, 2023

This is the Best Statement of the Simulation Hypothesis We've Seen

Hosted by UConn PopCast

It’s the UConn PopCast, and in this episode we discuss Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s 1973 movie World on a Wire, shown on West German television over two…

'For All Mankind,’ An Alternate History About the Possibility of Utopia

November 15, 2023

'For All Mankind'

Hosted by UConn PopCast

It’s the UConn PopCast, and in this episode we tackle ‘For All Mankind,’ Apple TV’s alternate history about a space race that never ended. We first re…

Can You Fall in Love with ChatGPT?

November 10, 2023

Can You Fall in Love with ChatGPT?

Hosted by UConn PopCast

The University of Connecticut Humanities Institute recently sponsored a panel discussion on the topic, “Can you fall in love with ChatGPT?” and we rec…

A Deep Dive into Olivia Rodrigo's "Guts"

November 9, 2023

A Deep Dive into Olivia Rodrigo's "Guts"

Olivia Rodrigo
Hosted by UConn PopCast
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Olivia Rodrigo's new album "Guts" offers a compelling perspective on early adult uncertainty, societal expectations of young women, and the craft of s…

What Reality TV Says About Us

November 8, 2023

What Reality TV Says About Us

Danielle J. Lindemann
Hosted by UConn PopCast

Reality TV shapes and reflects how we see ourselves, and what we regard as normal. Professor Danielle J. Lindemann watched thousands of hours of reali…

This Will Change Your Perspective on James Bond

November 7, 2023

This Will Change Your Perspective on James Bond

A Discussion with Susan Burgess
Hosted by UConn PopCast
Listen:

The Bond movies have influenced portrayals of masculinity and femininity for decades, but the Daniel Craig-era saw a revolution in depictions of sex, …