Berri's Couch
192 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 16 hours ago -Two best friends who happen to be an Autistic and an English major sit down and discuss media, film and whatever they need to to justify a degree. So come along and waste some time with us or at the very least an hour a week.
Updates weekly unless life impedes us. All episodes can be found at https://www.patreon.com/berricouch
New episodes should be up once a week unless life proceeds to stop us.
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Episodes
Ep 042 - World Classics and Their Impact
August 29, 2021 07:15 - 1 hour - 63.8 MBEver seen Death play games, C3-PO, or Handelabras? The inspirations for these ideas may surprise you! Join us as we explore three classic films from across Europe and their impact on modern media, both homogecolonised and across the world. Oh, and Death playing a sick flute solo.
Ep 041 - Foreign Horror and why Vampire Board Games Suck
August 23, 2021 11:24 - 1 hour - 56 MBThis week we explore what scares us and how that changes from culture to culture as we delve into horror films from around the world. Strap in and join us as we learn about castrati vampires, giant zombie balls, and why "Ludo no friend".
Ep 40 - The Wonderful World of Anime
August 15, 2021 17:20 - 1 hour - 60 MBAnime is a unique medium that has become a global phenomenon in recent years, so in the spirit of our world media month we knew there was no better place to start than with this incredible form of animation. Join us as we explore the ins and outs of anime; from magical girls to high school sweethearts to dancing ducks and everything in between!
Ep 039 - Foreign Media; Check Your Culture at the Door
August 09, 2021 10:08 - 48 minutes - 44.6 MBAs we prepare to discuss various films from on the world stage we need to reminder ourselves and everyone of what should be the number one tenant when watching a film made outside of your own culture; Your culture and issues are not inherently theirs to cater to. Made up words and brief breakdowns of cultural differences abound.
Ep 038 - Count Trope-ula; Dracula's character in Castlevania
August 01, 2021 08:33 - 56 minutes - 52.2 MBDracula has become more than a story and is now a character in his own right to be dumped into any narrative without much contention. So in honour of the end of the month we discuss one of the most recent stories to use Dracula as a character without even touching any narrative beats from the story, Castlevania. What stayed true to the stories namesake and what is different?
Ep 037 - Dracula Comparison; Through the Medium of Dance
July 25, 2021 22:33 - 48 minutes - 44.2 MBThey're men in tights, tight, tights. The medium of dance brings us this adaptation of the classic story, it has everything. Goth vogueing, a thirsty Van Helsing, slow mo running and actual homo-eroticism. How does a ballet hold up when compared to movies, can something that is by it's nature without dialogue tell as compelling a story as dialogue driven drama? Trailer for the ballet - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOiHDRDTkJ8&ab_channel=WestAustralianBallet
Ep 036 - Dracula Comparison; Coppola vs. BBC
July 18, 2021 15:50 - 56 minutes - 51.6 MBContinue down the rabbit hole of Dracula adaptations that come with raspberry Fanta filled crosses, re-incarnation, cults, changes and missing budgets. We are comparing 2 adaptations to the book in this episode sparing you an hour of complaining/praising each version. Dom Noble, Lost in Adaptation; Dracula - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URp_kduirgI&ab_channel=DominicNoble
Ep 035 - Dracula Comparison; 1931 Film
July 11, 2021 15:38 - 39 minutes - 36.2 MBSwans, bees and the beginning alterations of the narrative. All can be expected in the breakdown of the first filmed rendition of the classic novel. Are the changes acceptable or are they in retrospect the beginning of terrible decisions that plagued further film adaptations.
Ep 034 - Dracula the Novel, a Brief Analysis
July 07, 2021 05:33 - 52 minutes - 48 MBClassic gothic horror novel about vampires and the fear they inspire or a wordy breakdown of the repressed feelings of a Victorian era man who's friend had just been arrested for sodomy. Surprise it's both and we take a bite out of the themes from Dracula. Beware some Lord Byron bashing ahead. Link for OSP's breakdown of the book should you not wish to read it yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fT0efeSIx4&ab_channel=OverlySarcasticProductions
Ep 033 - Collating Queer Classics and How Listicles Suck
June 27, 2021 14:08 - 1 hour - 56.3 MBDo you know all the Queer Classics? Number 7 might surprise you because they are definitely wrong. Listicles correlating "Queer Classics" are often horribly inaccurate and made by people outside the queer community removing media that helped shape the communities identity in favour of tragedies and fetishizing traumatic events that killed off an entire generation of gays. The promised link to vide0 n4sty's channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOF61NyUz49yCzuabbsKmaQ
Ep 032 - The Adoption of Media by the Alphabet Mafia
June 20, 2021 14:20 - 1 hour - 59.3 MBSurprise we can take media from the straights and appropriate it as our own. Who knew? We go through the reasons why some media gets taken in by the queer community and this trend that has been perpetrated for many years in cinema due to restrictions and very hungry queers looking for representation anywhere.
Ep 031 - QueerTM Vs. Happens To Be Queer
June 14, 2021 10:17 - 47 minutes - 43.1 MB*Warning there are some bad words but you kinda know that going in* The classic argument when it comes to queer representation and how we feel about each form of representation. Wish we could say that there is a winner here but rather there are good and bad examples of both and why the worst examples are painful and should be dragged for their pathetic attempts at "diversity".
Ep 030 - Queer Narratives
June 07, 2021 02:28 - 41 minutes - 37.5 MBHollywood and media capitalising on a narrative you don't understand or have experience with? More likely than you think. Or just as likely and just as incorrect. We discuss the issues with non-queers trying to write queer narratives why they don't hit correct with the actual intended audiences.
Ep 029 - Code, Bait & Catch - Queer Media History 101
May 30, 2021 14:36 - 45 minutes - 42.1 MBA rambled look at queer representation in media and how we went from okay to coded, then baited and now we are being catched (no this isn't misspelled or grammatically incorrect for the use of this word). It would be nice if media took the fisherman thing and if the representation was too small they'd kiss the representation and send it back into the media waters. No I don't know where that metaphor was going.
Ep 028 - Repurposing History to suit your own Agenda - A Phillipa Gregory Callout
May 23, 2021 14:49 - 39 minutes - 36.2 MBWe try to keep to the topic at hand of the problems with changing history to suit your narrative and it being actively harmful. TRY, is the operative word considering Bee oft gets on a tangent about how Phillipa Gregory media just doesn't even try to keep to keep to historical facts. Also the pain these shows caused made Bee misspeak on what Elizabeth of York's mother's name, it was Elizabeth Woodville.
Ep 027 - Historical Comedies Can Be Done
May 16, 2021 15:02 - 44 minutes - 40.7 MBHistory is funny and yet all we get is dramas. They can be done right and enjoyable for all (most) audiences but yet they are few and far between. Comedy is hard so is writing this blurb, to summarise we are discussing the difficulty of writing and performing historical/period/costume comedies and where to put anachronisms. We do discuss plays and theatre performances as examples of correct uses of the tools that make things funny.
Ep 026 - Glorification of the Upper Class in Historical Fiction
May 09, 2021 12:45 - 59 minutes - 54.5 MBPropaganda in it's simplest form, historical fiction. Historical fiction by it's very nature glorifies the upper class and makes them appear sympathetic even if objectively speaking they shouldn't be. This is the talking point of this episode using examples from costume drama Downtown Abbey to Tudor historical dumpster fire The Tudors.
Ep 025 - Historical Fictionary (25th Episode!!)
May 02, 2021 15:03 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBDefinitions, words, we are being brief in this set up for the rest of the month that we are discussing historical fiction. Words, terms and personal taste levels are the brief of this episode, also musicals cuz of course we'd somehow wrangle musicals into this.
Ep 024 - Swan Princess
April 25, 2021 17:32 - 59 minutes - 54.6 MBSorry Bee's parents but we are talking about a movie that Bee once broke a VHS of. The 1994 animated not classic Swan Princess gets a look at and a discussion of the animation, pro-consent messages and the fact that the movie did a reasonable attempt at adapting the ballet.
Ep 023 - Accessibility of Art
April 18, 2021 15:12 - 1 hour - 88.9 MBIn a revisit from a topic you haven't actually heard us talk about but we have, we break down how art has become somewhat inaccessible to many and even from those of whom it was originally created for. Potatoes, lobster, Shakespeare and many other things shall be verbally removed from the grubby hands of those that elevated them beyond the access of those that were the original demographic.
Ep 022 - The Good, the Bad, and the AI
April 11, 2021 14:29 - 1 hour - 89 MBNow that we've broken down what media gets wrong we can get down to some of the exact representation that is either good, bad or an AI. Much shouting at Sia and her vanity project ahead so be wary of that, discussions of foie gras and the joys of cat poetry written by non-humans.
Ep 021 - Autism in Media
April 04, 2021 16:53 - 37 minutes - 53 MBIt's the beginning of Autism Awareness month so here's the first breakdown episode talking about what in general media gets wrong. Topics range from invisible disabilities, the danger of certain media choices being continued, and a bit of helpful advice for creatives going forward. #Notaboutuswithoutus
Ep 20 - Heathers, the Nega-Breakfast Club
March 28, 2021 14:42 - 36 minutes - 52.5 MB*TW talks of suicide and sexual assault* Time for second breakfast, but this one is darker and has more murder plotlines. Heathers the dark comedy classic gets a look at as we discuss the dangers of cliquelical thinking and the self centred-ness that comes with being a teen.
Ep 019 - Basket cases and Brunch (The Breakfast Club)
March 21, 2021 14:08 - 46 minutes - 66.2 MBIconic quotes, scenes and characters. There is no reason to write out a semi-referential bio to the Tower of Babel of teen movies. But come be held hostage in detention with us as we discuss this classic that still gets referenced even in modern media despite the target audience not having seen the movie in question.
Ep 018 - Animation in the Eighties
March 14, 2021 14:14 - 47 minutes - 66.9 MBIn the ring today we have a match between 2 powerhouses of animation that rose/returned to prominence in the 80's. In one corner we have Studio Ghibli with Kiki's Delivery Service and My Neighbour Totoro. In the other we have Disney and their subsidiary Touchstone with Who Framed Roger Rabbit and The Little Mermaid. These two titans shaped their respective fields of animation with these 80's hits so let's discuss the differences between them and their individual strengths.
Ep 017 - Action Movies in the Eighties
March 07, 2021 15:33 - 44 minutes - 59.9 MBThe 80's action movies that truly set up the pop culture landscape we live in now are the topic of discussion in this week's episode, we have Indiana Jones, Terminator and Predator have been chosen as the tributes for our dissections.
Ep 016 - Six Degrees of Eighties Movies
February 28, 2021 16:10 - 41 minutes - 58.6 MBSo did the 80's accidentally make every movie too well and that's why we're living in this current timeline of reboots, remakes and re-imaginings of 80's classics? Maybe. For under an hour we discuss this current trend and possible causes along with the necessity of remembering context when you watch movies that aren't made in with the same social awareness as the current year. *Note. We know that Terminator was 84 we just watched a bunch of 80's movies back to back so dates got screwy*
Ep 015 - Romantic Myths
February 21, 2021 14:21 - 49 minutes - 64.9 MBFor many eons myths have captured romance in various forms and we have 3 available for you to listen to us gush about. There's horses, magic, bags of holding, fruit, mis-translations and the ever increasing annoyance from Bee that Christians were a plague and made it nigh impossible to find some these in their most original forms.
Ep 014 - Favourite Romance Media
February 14, 2021 17:15 - 1 hour - 93.9 MBDespite the many, many, MANY, romance centred media and our own issues with them we have hunted and provided at least 3 romances that we feel are actually enjoyable. Trust, that finding enjoyable and at least semi-healthy relationships were difficult.
Ep 013 - Romantic Subplots and Triangles
February 07, 2021 15:13 - 56 minutes - 77.1 MBA universal experience or Capitol marketing ploy (this is funny trust us)? Romantic sub-plots/triangles are getting the side-eye discussion and we discuss the saturated and often unnecessary market of sub-plots and triangles of the romantic kind.
Ep 012 - Venom the Rom-Com
January 31, 2021 16:23 - 55 minutes - 76.8 MBWe all know the classic tale told a thousand times by now, boy meets symbiote, they must learn to get along - or at least not kill each other - defeat the villain and save the world. What do you mean that isn't the story? Just listen to this and I think you may find that this anti-hero movie is a rom-com or at the very least hits enough of the scenes to count in the court of public opinion.
Ep 011 - Rabbit Proof Fence
January 24, 2021 16:02 - 46 minutes - 65.2 MBThis episode will discuss what are heavy topics involving the taking of children and how that was deemed the best course of action by those in charge. In a switch to a serious topic we discuss the movie The Rabbit Proof Fence and it's visualization of one of the most horrific events that still effects our first nation/Aboriginal people.
Ep 010 - Australian Accents in Media
January 17, 2021 18:46 - 56 minutes - 79.9 MBSo Australia don't exist in modern media as the actors from the sunburnt country are not allowed to use their accents. Come waste time as we discuss the weird phenomenon of needlessly removing an actor/actresses natural accent despite it not being intrinsic trait to the character that they are not Australian. *Edit* Turns out Rita Repulsa is played by Elizabeth Banks, our bad. But in defence she looks a bit like Charlize Theron
Ep 009 - The Castle
January 10, 2021 15:47 - 41 minutes - 59 MBNow that future Australia has been witnessed (listened to) we look at modern Australia, or at least modern in the 90's, in the iconic classic The Castle. We try to break down how exactly this small movie that was filmed in under a month captures a realistic look of the blue collar Australian, and get you to put this up on the mantle of your poolroom.
Ep 008 - Mad Max Retrospective
January 03, 2021 15:38 - 1 hour - 113 MBTW: Brief mentions of sexual assault. In honour of the new year we take a look back on an iconic Australian film franchise that is meant to begin in this year. So put on your leather chaps, strap your blood bag to the hood of your car and ride with us on the highways to Valhalla shiny and chrome. By our deeds we honour them V8!
Ep 007 - Australia in December
December 27, 2020 15:34 - 59 minutes - 83.8 MBIn a change of pace we sit down and discuss the odd disconnect between Australia as a self-identified non-denominational nation, and it's weird acceptance and elevation of capitalistic Christian holidays and how at the end of the day we want more media depicting holidays that aren't Christmas. Oh and the weird feeling of #fuckyule that this month brings.
Ep 006 - The Muppet Christmas Carol
December 20, 2020 15:41 - 1 hour - 86.7 MBMuppets + Michael Caine + Dickens = The best adaptation of A Christmas Carol. This simple equation for season feelings is the topic of discussion in this episode as we break down why of all things felt and musical numbers is, in our humble opinion, the best adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic story.
Ep 005 - Christmas Movie Checklist
December 13, 2020 16:08 - 52 minutes - 74.1 MBArbitrary checklist. Check. Pointless debating. Check. Waste time with us as we break down what counts as a Christmas movie, versus a movie at Christmas and then make a case for a single movie each. Jerri wishes for warnings to be given for possible heavy breathing as it is the end of school time so as teachers aren't allowed to be sick during school time and children are gross so mild congestion ahoy.
Ep 004 - Labyrinth
December 06, 2020 16:28 - 51 minutes - 71.9 MB*Insert David Bowie dick joke here* In this episode we (mostly Bee) pop off about soft magic systems and their decline of popularity in regards to the 1986 family film Labyrinth. Other topics brought up include music, old fae stories, 80's music numbers, dream logic, and David Bowie's questionable hair and fashion choices.
Ep 003 - Dark Crystal
November 29, 2020 16:11 - 44 minutes - 60.6 MBIn a completely fabricated land of creepy puppets and dudes in suits we embark on a serious discussion of the difficulties of extending your medium beyond the comfort zone and world building that went into this classic film from 1982. Womble turtles and vulture lords with Star Wars main characters are the topic of discussion along with why you can watch this movie in parts.
Ep 002 - Secret of NIMH
November 22, 2020 15:52 - 58 minutes - 81.1 MBToday we shrink down to the size of field mice and discuss the lead character from the underrated animated classic Secret of NIHM. Comparisons to Molly Weasley and miso soup are incoming as we discuss an oft missed talking point of this classic animated movie.
Ep 001 - The Princess Bride
November 17, 2020 01:05 - 55 minutes - 75.5 MBA conversation about why The Princess Bride is perfect and why it should be left alone. So listen and have fun storming the castle with us