In our Halloween special, and 25th episode, Clare and Masha are discussing the 2000 film American Psycho and the 1991 novel by Brett Easton Ellis on which it was based. In our analysis, we approach American Psycho as a dystopia in which Patrick Bateman represents the everyman of 1980s Wall Street, and his construction of his identity is mimetic and post-modern, just like the complex genre of the film and novel. We discuss the allegations of that the film is misogynistic, on the one hand, and the claims for its feminism on another. We consider the place of constructed and empty concepts of masculinity, and the modern equivalent among followers of Trump, widely featured in the text, and Andrew Tate or his ilk. We consider the film's critique of consumerism with respect to aesthetics, music, restaurants, and political views. We also look at the nature of the text as satire and its use of parody. Among other secondary sources, the following were of particular influence on our ideas: Eldridge, David. “The Generic American Psycho.” Journal of American Studies 42, no. 1 (2008): 19–33. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40464237. Moore, Casey. “We’re Not Through Yet: The Patrick Bateman Debate.” The Comparatist 36 (2012): 226–47. http://www.jstor.org/stable/26237305. Rogers, Martin. “Video Nasties and the Monstrous Bodies of ‘American Psycho.’” Literature/Film Quarterly 39, no. 3 (2011): 231–44. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43798793. Schoene, Berthold. “SERIAL MASCULINITY: PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND OEDIPAL VIOLENCE IN BRET EASTON ELLIS’S ‘AMERICAN PSYCHO.’” Modern Fiction Studies 54, no. 2 (2008): 378–97. http://www.jstor.org/stable/26287627. If you enjoy this episode, do consider following us on Instagram or Substack.

In Episode 24 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare Coombe and Masha Yakovleva are discussing Society of the Snow [La Sociedad de la Nieve], the 2023 film dramatizing the events of the Uruguayan plane crash of 1972 and the subsequent survival of 18 victims in the Andes. We also make comparisons with the 1993 film Alive. Our themes include surviving in inhospitable landscapes, including reliance on anthropophagy, the consumption of the flesh of the dead. We discuss the responsibilities of rescue services and the survival strategies of the individuals. We talk about human resilience, teamwork, friendship between men, and mutual support in the face of extreme trauma. We also consider the role of faith and religion in the survival of the crash victims. We discuss the ethics of survival and wider attitudes to anthropophagy, colonialist impact on the taboo of cannibalism, and the rights of the dead, with particular focus on the place of consent in the case of the deceased. If you enjoy this episode, please do follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our fortnightly Substack newsletter.  

In Episode 23 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare Coombe and Masha Yakovleva are discussing the 2023 film, The End We Start From, starring Jodie Comer. Our discussion explores flooding and the climate crisis, and how prevalent these issues already are, especially in the global south, but also worsening in Europe and some parts of Britain. We talk crisis response, prevention, and the need for more beavers. We look at the depiction of motherhood, family, and women's friendships. We talk about societal responsibility, the role of the state, and abnegating responsibility.  Let us know your thoughts about the ethics of the choices Jodie Comer's character makes, Joel Fry's character and how he reacts to trauma, and the depiction of the commune. You can contact us on Instagram and might like to sign up to our fortnightly Substack!

In Episode 22, Clare and Masha are discussing the amazing 1997 film, Gattaca.  In our conversation we look at the science and ethics of gene editing, including the advocacy for an update in the law to eliminate hereditary disease. We explore the fascinating theories of genetics and the impact on us of our DNA, with particular reference to Robert Plomin's book, Blueprint, as well as passing reference to Robert Sapolsky's work on free-will. We link this with ideas of meritocracy and social mobility, and cite ideas and statistics from Michael Sandel's books, Justice and The Tyranny of Merit. If you have ideas to add to our discussion, please do contact us. You can find all our links in the link-tree on our Instagram.

In Episode 21 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare and Masha are discussing the miniseries Last Light.  We focus on responses to the climate crisis, the difference between eco-activism and eco-terrorism, the role of disruption and violence in social justice and driving change, and how we can bring about an end to fossil fuels. In this episode, Masha talks about Alain de Botton on the media. Clare quotes Mikaela Loach discussing the hero narrative in climate activism and Hannah Ritchie's positive vision of change in Not the End of the World. We also reference a number of articles on the efficacy of disruptive action, including Damien Gayle in the Guardian, Hanan Badr in the Diplomatic Courier, and Kevin A Young & Laura Thomas-Walters in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications. If you enjoy this episode, please do rate and review. We'd also love to hear from you, and you can message us via Instagram.

In our 20th episode, Masha and Clare are discussing the 2019 film Joker, looking at its presentation of societal impact on mental health, its depiction of the consequences of wealth disparity, and how it reflects ableism in our society. In this episode, we draw on some of the ideas in Daraiseh and Booker's 2020 article: 'Jokes from Underground: The Disintegration of the Bourgeois Subject and the Progress of Capitalist Modernization from Dostoevsky to Todd Phillips’s Joker'. We critique some of the arguments in Justin Edgar's 2019 article: 'Joker makes great disability art by letting its hero bite back'. We also use the definition of the neoliberal creed from Monbiot/Hutchison's The Invisible Doctrine, and statistics on wealth inequality from The Equality Trust. If you have enjoyed this episode of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, you may also like our fortnightly Substack.

Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs is back! Masha and Clare have returned from our summer break, and we have a new episode out for you on the tv drama Fallout (Amazon Prime).  In this episode, we discuss depiction of post-nuclear apocalypse, and the formation of societies within this. We talk about the Golden Rule vs immoral lawlessness, and whether trust and community can survive societal destruction. We are especially interested in the show's depiction of war-profiteering, late capitalism, privatization of government projects, and the power of corporations. Also dogs: dogs feature quite a lot. Among other references, in this episode we recommend the new book by George Monbiot and Peter Hutchison, The Invisible Doctrine: The Secret History of Neoliberalism (& How It Came to Control Your Life). If you enjoy this podcast, you may be interested in our project Being Society. You can donate to support our work, or you can support us by sharing our Substack or following us on Instagram. Thanks for listening!

In Episode 18 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare and Masha are discussing the iconic and much-beloved 1998 film, The Truman Show. In this episode we discuss the appeal of reality television and what it says about our society. We look at how The Truman Show posits Seahaven as a 'utopia' and the price that Truman is made to pay for his so-called safe and comfortable existence, with reference to the social contract. We also consider what is 'utopian' about the constructed reality of the show. We look at the character of Christof, in particular, as creator, protector, god-figure, and megalomaniac. We discuss the parallels with freedom within or beyond religion, the prisons we make or accept for ourselves, and the extent to which we are the produce of our social environments. We reference the following books and articles in our discussion: Simone Knox, Reading "The Truman Show" Inside Out Alex Fitch ‘Dark City and The Truman Show: Surveillance and the Destabilization of Identity’  FILM CRITICISM Peter Marks ‘6 Identities’ Imagining Surveillance: Eutopian and Dystopian Literature and Film  Tony E Jackson, Televisual Realism: "The Truman Show" Keeping a Sense of Wonder: Interview with Peter Weir Slavoj Žižek  ‘Welcome to the Desert of the Real!’ Cultures of Fear: A Critical Reader, 2009, pp. 70-78  Christopher Falzon ‘Peter Weir’s The Truman Show and Sartrean Freedom' in Existentialism and Contemporary Cinema: A Sartrean Perspective  If you enjoy the podcast, please do rate and review, follow us on Instagram, and subscribe to our Substack.

In this episode of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare and Masha are discussing the incredible yet harrowing 1984 film, Threads, a graphic depiction of the aftermath of nuclear attack, set in Sheffield (where Masha lives!). Content warning: violence and sexual violence; still-birth In this episode we discuss the impacts of nuclear attack on infrastructure and human bodies, along with the history of nuclear weapons. We look at the documentary style of the film, and its human-eye view, as well as the realism and horror that the film-makers managed to achieve. We look at the humanizing of the experience of disaster through the story of Jimmy and Ruth, and how they are representative of real people in the world today and their disenfranchisement from global affairs. At the same time, we consider the role of governments including the use of gaslighting, the failure of government and law and order in such a catastrophic situation, and the ultimate breakdown of society. We compare Threads with the extraordinary graphic novel When the Wind Blows by Raymond Briggs, the contemporary impact of the film, and its relevance today when the Doomsday Clock stands at 90 seconds to midnight. Within the few days between us recording this episode and posting it, we can also report that the Traffic Warden has been found, so our public service announcement is sadly redundant! We reference a number of articles, books, and interviews offering commentary on the film, and you can find these here: Discover the post-apocalyptic nightmare of this landmark social drama How we made the nuclear apocalypse TV drama Threads | Culture | The Guardian Threads served up a bleakly British depiction of our impending nuclear doom Threads – remembering an influential moment in that 1984 film Here come the bombs: the making of Threads, the nuclear war film that shocked a generation Toni A Perrine (1998) Film and the Nuclear Age: Representing Cultural Anxiety Dorian Lynskey (2024) Everything Must Go: The Stories We Tell About the End of the World  

In Episode 16 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare Coombe and Masha Yakovleva are discussing the mind-bending physics-filled Netflix Drama, 3 Body Problem. In this episode, we look at the depiction of Mao's China and the Cultural Revolution, and the Chinese novel on which the show is based. We mention articles from The Guardian, New York Times, and Radio Free Asia. We discuss the likelihood of extra-terrestrial life and communicating across the universe, including the Fermi Paradox and everything Clare knows about science from The Infinite Monkey Cage podcast. We've done our very best to tackle the science and explain the titular 3 body problem, relying a bit on this Netflix article. We touch on theoretical physics, applied physics, cryonics, nano-technology, and the potential of VR. Perhaps most importantly in our discussions, we consider the ethics and procedures behind planetary defence and interstellar communications, the nature of being human, the metaphors for the climate crisis, and the refugee vs colonizer narratives. If you enjoy this podcast, please do let us know by rating and reviewing, or by getting in touch to let us know your thoughts! You can email us or follow us on Instagram, and you may also like to sign up to our fortnightly Substack.

In Episode 15 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare and Masha are discussing Oscar-winning film Poor Things, which we absolutely loved. Content Warning: suicide, sexual content, FGM Themes in this episode include: brain transplants, animal and human testing, and medical ethics the legacy of Frankenstein, Gothic literature, and monstrosity identity, social mores, nature vs nurture, and growing up issues of sexuality, especially women's sexuality, and its depiction on screen childhood, curiosity, and consent women in STEM, intellectual development, naivety, and privilege the depiction of sex-work, misogyny, and the male gaze. In this episode we reference a couple of the many reviews of the film, which you can find here and here. If you enjoyed this episode, please do rate and review it. You can find out what's coming up on our Podbean website, subscribe to our fortnightly newsletter, donate via our sister project on Ko-Fi, and follow us on Instagram.

In Episode 14 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare and Masha are discussing The Way, a recent dystopian drama from the BBC, set in Port Talbot, Wales. Content Warning: this episode includes reference to suicide. In this episode, we talk about divided families and generational trauma, with particular relation to changing industrial landscapes in Britain. In particular, we discuss the theme of Welsh steel, and compare the real-life situation in Port Talbot right now. You can read more about this situation here, here, and here. Another area we focus on is privatization of policing, use of data, security camera culture, and deep fakes. On privatization we reference this paper by A White. In the recent developments of deep fakes, we allude to the news stories you can find here, here, here, and here. While discussing the narrative of a reversed refugee story, including a small boat crossing of the channel, we reference an interview with David Miliband on this episode of The News Agents, and also recommend our earlier episode on the show Years and Years. We also highly recommend this interview with the cast and creators of The Way by the BFI, which was very informative for our discussions. Do follow us on Instagram to find out more about what we do. You can sign up to our newsletter, which comes out alternate weeks from the podcast. You can also donate to support our work via the KoFi page for our sister project, Being Society.    

In Episode 13 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare and Masha are talking about the film Downsizing. Resting on the premise that people can choose to shrink to around 10cm tall as part of a project to reduce overpopulation, this odd comedy is full of themes of science fiction, environmentalism, innovation, social justice, and relationship. In this episode, we refer to this study in our discussion of global methane emissions, and these facts and figures for our understanding of overpopulation. In our exploration of the fictional physics of cellular shrinking, we talk about the history of the genre as recounted in this blog, as well as the many thoughts the people of Quora have given to this debate. The episode also looks at responses to irreversible climate tipping points, and we learned more about these here. Last but not least, Masha encouraged all listeners to take a look at the amazing and tiny art of Willard Wigan, and you can visit his website here. Please do rate and review us if you enjoy this podcast, and consider following us on Instagram for our latest news, or subscribing to our fortnightly newsletter.

In Episode 12 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare and Masha discuss the 2023 Netflix film, Leave the World Behind. As well as themes of cyber warfare, disinformation, privilege in the apocalypse, fear, and the place of trust, we also look at how to see off a f***load of deer, and whether people are really as dreadful as one of the characters proclaims. In this episode, we reference the interview with Robert Sapolsky on Leading, the excellent book Citizens by Jon Alexander, and Techno Feudalism: What Killed Capitalism by Yanis Varoufakis.

In our eleventh episode of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare and Masha are diving into A Clockwork Orange, both the Stanley Kubrick film of 1971 and the novella by Anthony Burgess from 1962. Content Warning: themes of sexual violence, physical violence, and suicide In this episode, we look at multiple layers of dystopian society: the violent world where Alex and his droogs commit their ultraviolence; the police and prison system; and the Ludovico technique which claims to cure Alex of his criminal ways with negative reinforcement in the face of sex and violence. We discuss the purpose of the penal system, whether punishment, revenge, the safety of society, or repentance and reform. Here we reference our latest newsletter and its reflections on the death penalty. We evaluate Burgess's views on good and evil, the nature of young people, and the origins of criminality. We also consider Kubrick's visual contributions to the story, such as the use of music, choreography, the futuristic aesthetic, and the use of sexual imagery. In this episode, we make reference to Anthony Burgess' own later reflections on A Clockwork Orange, and to the way the book responds to the work of B F Skinner. If you enjoy this episode, please rate and review us on your preferred podcast platform, follow us on Instagram, or donate to use via our sister project Being Society and its Ko-Fi page.  

In Episode 10 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare Coombe and Masha Yakovleva are discussing Netflix drama The Society.  CW: please be aware that this episode makes reference to suicide and domestic abuse. In its single season, this is a drama that covers all aspects of how best a society should be organized and led, without resorting to a state-of-nature post-apocalyptic scenario. Instead, The Society takes place in (possibly) a parallel-universe version of a small American town, where everyone other than the senior high-schoolers seem to have disappeared. Furthermore, there is no longer any contact with the outside world, and it is unclear whether there is anything beyond the newly forested border to the town itself. In this episode, we discuss how decisions are made for the new society, the role of a leader, dictatorship by consent, the introduction of elections, and both a leader's assassination and a military coup.  We talk about the sharing of resources, rationing, and the validity of personal property in times of constraint. We also consider the strengths and weaknesses of work rotas, a planned economy, and future-proofing in a society where there are no skilled workers or graduates. The presentation of justice is of particular interest in The Society, including the powers and responsibilities of the police, the challenges of incarceration, the possibility of fair investigation and trial by jury, and whether implementing the death penalty for murder is justifiable. We also discuss the impact of trauma on the characters, and how accommodations are made or not to avoid issues of physical and mental health and disability. Areas of interest include the benefits and challenges of community and shared living, and whether these help or hinder resilience. The Society is one of those shows that raises repeated questions of 'What would you do?' for the audience. We'd love to hear your thoughts as to the decisions made by the characters and whether you would have done the same. It's also the show that provided part of the inspiration behind the Being Society project, with which this podcast is linked. If you want to explore more of these questions, with accompanying resources, you can do so for free on the project website. If you've enjoyed this episode, please do consider making a small donation to support our work.  

In Episode 9 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare Coombe and Masha Yakovleva are welcoming 2024 with a deep dive into Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, on its 20th anniversary. In this episode, we discuss the importance of memory for individuals and communities, and how these are impacted by social media, fake news, and whether or not the echo-chamber effect is affecting our attitude to history. We talk medical ethics, whistle-blowing, informed consent, and unscrupulous medical practitioners. Focussing on Joel and Clementine's relationship, we consider the idealization of relationships in the social media era, and where happiness is found within empty lives. Don't forget to follow up on our music references, and especially Tom Waits' '9th and Hennepin' by checking out our Spotify playlist: Sounds of Dystopia. You can find the reference to the song in the original screenplay (page 12). You can follow up the references to online echo-chamber research, as Masha discusses in the episode, starting here, here, and here. We were a bit weak on Nietzsche, but David L Smith offers far more astute insights in his article, 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and the Question of Transcendence'. Clare discussed the rise in populism and the far right, as expounded on The News Agents, and you can listen to the episode here. Please do follow us on Instagram, or send us an email at [email protected] if you have suggestions or comments for future episodes. If you like what we do, please consider making a donation via our sister project, Being Society.  

In Episode 8 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare Coombe and Masha Yakovleva discuss The Children of Men, both the 1992 novel by PD James and the 2006 film starring Clive Owen.  In this episode, we explore the speculative concept of both book and film, in which the human race has long since ceased to be able to have children. Each version imagines differently the consequent development of the society of the UK, its morality, its attitude to outsiders, and how people might react to such a drawn out apocalypse. Please be aware that this episode includes reference to both infant death and assisted suicide.

In Episode 7 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare Coombe and Masha Yakovleva explore the world of the Hunger Games, through the lens of the prequel novel and latest film, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Along with their discussion of the character of Coriolanus Snow and his relationships, they assess the purpose of the Hunger Games, the analysis of human nature, the role of class, post-apocalyptic authoritarianism, and why you should always carry a snake. Clare and Masha apologize for the unavoidable lateness of this episode owing to illness. Regular listeners should note the new schedule, with episodes henceforth to be released fortnightly on Sundays. We thank you for your patience!

In Episode 6 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare and Masha enter the world of the Matrix, considering the themes of AI, authenticity, authoritarianism, and aesthetic. Join in and decide whether you would dare to take the red pill.

In episode 5 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, on the film Don't Look Up, Masha and Clare discuss political agendas, the state of the media, the climate crisis, and brontorocs.  

In episode 4 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare Coombe and Masha Yakovleva discuss the depictions of society in the Barbie film, why Barbieland is a dystopia, the lens on our own society, the patriarchy, and using comedy for social commentary. Oh, and to sum up the film in Masha's words: 'feminism, innit'.

In Episode 3 on Years and Years, Clare Coombe and Masha Yakovleva explore the frighteningly prescient view of British society offered by this amazing 2019 BBC drama.