Superhero Ethics
301 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 157 ratingsExploring ethical questions from Superhero movies and TV shows, sci-fi, and everything else geeks love
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Ep 94 - No Racism in Ba Sing Se
June 11, 2020 12:55 - 1 hour - 83.5 MBEp 94 - There is no Racism in Ba Sing Se The beloved Avatar:The Last Airbender is back on Netflix, and we’re talking about it, focusing on a story arc with incredible resonance with our own world; Ba Sing Se. What is it about denial, and closing your eyes to the problems of the world, that people find so appealing? How do you break through to someone who believes anything that contradicts what they’ve been taught, is a liar and a traitor? And how does this story line parallel the issues w...
Ep 93 - Stan Lee's Soapbox
June 04, 2020 14:38 - 2 hours - 113 MBStan Lee was a great story teller, but he never hid his strong convictions, or his desire to use the stories he told to give people a new way to think about the issues of his time. Nor did the writers of Black Panther, Avatar the Last Airbender, Star Wars, or so many of the shows we love. Matt and Jeff are back, and we had a great episode on the ethics of Star Wars planned- but with all that has been happening in our world in the last week in terms of the killing of George Floyd, and all tha...
Ep 92 - Was Uncle Ben Wrong? Great Power & Great Responsibility, with Matthew Carroll and Jeff Randle
May 28, 2020 12:55 - 1 hour - 90.4 MBEp 92 - Was Uncle Ben Wrong? Great Power & Great Responsibility, with Matthew Carroll and Jeff Randle What did Ben Parker mean when he tells Peter the famous words about power and responsibility, and do we agree with him? Who decides who a hero is responsible to, and what for? Can believing in the responsibility that your power gives you lead you to become a villain? Matt and Jeff of the Marvel Cinematic Podcast join us to discuss these questions and more! In partnership with the MCU C...
Ep 91, (BETTER SOUND) Catra, She-Ra, and the Ethics of Redemption
May 25, 2020 06:51 - 2 hours - 122 MBNOTE: I realized that there were sound problems with the originally uploaded version. This version is improved- please listen to this version instead. Jess Plummer and Becky Allen join us to discuss She-Ra! What makes Catra such a compelling character? How does this show blur the lines between hero and villain, friend and dating, and different shares of morality? What makes this show such a powerful example of representation, on so many levels? And just how hard to you have to work in this...
Ep 91, Catra, She-Ra, and the Ethics of Redemption
May 22, 2020 13:29 - 2 hours - 122 MBJess Plummer and Becky Allen join us to discuss She-Ra! What makes Catra such a compelling character? How does this show blur the lines between hero and villain, friend and dating, and different shares of morality? What makes this show such a powerful example of representation, on so many levels? And just how hard to you have to work in this world to NOT get a redemption arc? Jessica Plummer lives in New York and loves Superman very very much. You can listen to just how much on her Superman...
Ep 90 - Ethical Villains
May 14, 2020 12:50 - 1 hour - 84.1 MBHeroes can be boring- let’s talk villains! Rik Hayashi joins us to talk about the villains who have a point, the ones we can sympathize with, or even sometimes agree with. What makes someone a villain? What are the lines between a villain and a hero who is willing to do anything for the cause? We talk Sinestro, Killmonger, and what happens when Ben Sisko goes for a walk in the Pale Moon Light. Riki Hayakshi is also a co-host on the Star Wars Universe Podcast, during our Clone Wars episode...
Ep 89 - Parenting and Media with Jared Sylva
May 07, 2020 18:25 - 1 hour - 105 MBThis week, parent, geek, and holder of strong opinions, Jared Sylva, joins us to talk about watching geek media with kids. How do you decide what media to watch with kids, and how do you talk to them about it? What geek media offers entertainment and lessons for kids and parents alike? And how can parents deal with the so-called ‘Princess Problem?” Whether you have kids of your own or not, this conversation goes deep on the messages media sends us, and how we consume it and talk about it w...
Ep 88- Picardian Ethics
April 30, 2020 13:38 - 1 hour - 91.2 MBWho has agency in Picard? Is Seven finally getting to define her own life, on her terms? Did the Romulans have a point, and why did Picard give up on the rescue and on the Federation? This week, Matthew is joined by two of his podcasting inspirations, Matthew Carroll and David C Roberson to discuss season 1 of Star Trek Picard. David C. Roberson is a life-long tv/film/book geek who likes to podcast and pursue various artistic endeavors. He's the co-host of DC on SCREEN, dconscreen.com, St...
Ep 87 - The Ethics of AI
April 23, 2020 12:05 - 2 hours - 129 MBThis week, we’re joined by returning guest Rob McKenzie, and first time guest Dan McCreary to talk about the ethics of Artificial Intelligence. What is AI, and what do we mean by concepts like sentience? Why does so much sci-fi assume AI will be our enemy? And what is the moral value of robotic life? Rob McKenzie is a science fiction and fantasy reader and Magic the Gathering judge from Minnesota. He is passionate about interesting books, running great gaming events, and helping other peop...
Special- Violence Episode Repeat
April 16, 2020 11:55 - 1 hour - 78.7 MBMatthew is moving this week and hasn't had a chance to finish editing the next episode. We have great content coming for you soon, but in the meantime, enjoy one of our older episodes about the ethics of violence itself Does a Superhero movie need a good fight scene? Jacob and Matthew look at the role of physical violence in the stories we love, asking questions of both the characters and the writers. Can you tell a hero story without violence? Do our heroes too often resort to their fists?...
Ep 86 - The Ethics of Q
April 09, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 68.2 MBDoes Q fit the mold of a Trickster God? Steve Peterman is back to discuss Q, from Star Trek. Does Q fit the mold of a Trickster God? Do the Q have, or need a prime directive? And what happens when immortal, all powerful, beings, get bored? You can find a full list of Star Trek episodes with Q in them here- https://www.imdb.com/list/ls047709394/ You can download the episode with a right click and clicking “save link as” or subscribe by searching for Superhero Ethics on Itunes or on Stitche...
EP 85 - Birds of Prey with Jess Plummer
April 02, 2020 13:45 - 1 hour - 95.7 MBJessica Plummer is back to talk Birds of Prey! What happens when Margot Robbie gets to make a Harley movie HER way? Can you be a villain who only punches up? And Is this the cinematic equivalent of a compliment in the bathroom from a drunk girl? Jessica Plummer lives in New York and loves Superman very very much. You can listen to just how much on her Superman podcast, Flights and Tights (http://flightsandtights.libsyn.com/). She also writes about comics and books in general at BookRiot.co...
Special Content- Altered Carbon on Bingers Assemble
March 26, 2020 12:45 - 46 minutes - 42.6 MBAs promised, I've been working overtime to bring you content to help get though social isolation, or to keep you company while you're one of the essential jobs we're all so grateful for. We've got episodes coming soon on Birds of Prey, The Ethics of Q, from Star Trek, and many more. Over on the Bingers Assemble podcast, Matt Carroll and I have started a special quarantine project on the TV show Altered Carbon. I wanted to share that with you all, as we go deep on a lot of ethical issues, so...
Ep 84- Jacob's Last Waltz & Persona 5
March 19, 2020 15:30 - 1 hour - 91.4 MBToday’s episode is bittersweet as it marks Jacob’s last as co-host. To give him a proper send off, we’re diving into a topic he’s been eager to talk about- using mind control to make people stop doing bad things, in particular in the video game, Persona 5. Is altering, or even completely changing, someone’s brain, a morally appropriate way to stop people from hurting others? If so, what acts justify it, and who decides? What does mind reprogramming look like as punishment in Babylon 5 and fo...
Ep 83- Who Watches the Watchers who Watch the Watchmen
March 05, 2020 14:07 - 1 hour - 89.7 MBEpisode 83 - Who Watches the Watchers who Watch the Watchmen? Who are heroes accountable to, is a question we frequently explore on this show. In this episode, we dive into the movie and comic book* versions of The Watchmen and its interesting take on the question of accountability. What happens when so called heroes shrug and watch as their friends do terrible things? Would the threat of alien invasion bring peace to our planet? And is anyone in this story remotely heroic? *Jacob had not se...
Ep 82 - The Fault in our Ethics
February 16, 2020 14:54 - 1 hour - 90.7 MBWe cheer when our heroes give an evil bad guy their much deserved fate. But what happens when our hero has to fight someone who isn’t evil, they are just in our hero’s way? Should more heroes be like Jessica Jones? Should it matter to our hero if the person they are fighting is being mind controlled, or lied to or it is otherwise not their fault? Should it matter to the audience? You can download the episode with a right click and clicking “save link as” or subscribe by searching for Superh...
Ep 81 - 2019 Year in Review
February 06, 2020 15:17 - 1 hour - 79.1 MBWe’re on the road again, and we’re looking back at 2019! As we did last year, we’re looking back at 2019- what were the best ethical questions raised, what are our hopes for genre media in 2020, and what are we concerned about? Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you! You can post questions, or respond to our episode threads in our Superhero Ethics Facebook Group, or talk to us on the pod...
EP 80 - Questioning Picard
January 20, 2020 16:26 - 1 hour - 77.2 MBPicard, the new Star Trek show is about to launch and we’ve got questions! Matt Carroll, of the MCU and Star Trek Universe Podcasts joins Matthew to discuss the ethical questions we think Picard will explore. Has Data’s fear of a race of slave androids come to pass? Are the Borg still the enemy? What questions will the Borg and the Androids raise about who is a person? What has decades of war and the threat of war done to the Federation, and will this show feel more like the Star Trek than m...
Ep 79- The Rise of Skywalker
January 09, 2020 17:15 - 1 hour - 103 MBNow that we’ve all seen Rise of Skywalker, we’ve brought Becky back to talk about it! On our last episode, the three of us talked about the ethical questions, hopes, and concerns we had going into this movie- this episode we revisit them, and ask, how did this movie address them? What happened with the Jedi? Did Rey get the character arc she deserved? And does Hanukkah Harry use the same merit based system of gift to child allocation that Santa Claus does? We’re pleased to have Becky Allen...
Ep 78 - Which Skywalker Rises?
December 18, 2019 14:39 - 2 hours - 112 MBWith just two days left before the release of Star Wars Episode IX, we’ve got theories! Can force users find a third path, neither Jedi or Sith? What does the future hold for Rey, Leia, Finn, and the rest of them? And how much respect will JJ Abrams have for the choices Rian Johnson made in The Last Jedi? We’re pleased to have Becky Allen join us for this discussion. Becky Allen is the author of Bound by Blood and Sand and the sequel, Freed by Flame and Storm. She grew up outside Ithaca, New ...
Ethics of Star Wars- Ranking the Movies
December 05, 2019 19:24 - 1 hour - 93.5 MBStar Wars Ethics - Ranking the Movies and TV Shows! This is a special cross over episode between Superhero Ethics and Matthew’s new Star Wars universe Podcast. Matthew and original superhero ethics podcast co-host Paul Hoppe, look back at all of the Star Wars movies and TV shows to date, ranking them and talking about what we loved or didn't love, and the questions they raise. We hope this a great way to get an overview of all that has come up till now, as well as get into some good debates...
Ep 76 - Harley, Harley, Harley
November 20, 2019 12:32 - 1 hour - 85.8 MB“By all means, keep selling Mad Love. But do you have to sell it as a coloring book?” Jessica Plummer, “A Close Look at the Paradox of Harley Quinn” in BookRiot. Harley Quinn has quickly become one of the most popular, and the most controversial, characters in comic book media. Returning guest and comic book nerd and critic extraordinaire joins us for an in depth look at this fascinating character, whose portrayals span the range from wacky kids show villain to abuse survivor to kinky se...
Ep 77 - Harley, Harley, Harley
November 20, 2019 12:32 - 1 hour - 82.6 MB“By all means, keep selling Mad Love. But do you have to sell it as a coloring book?” Jessica Plummer, “A Close Look at the Paradox of Harley Quinn” in BookRiot. Harley Quinn has quickly become one of the most popular, and the most controversial, characters in comic book media. Returning guest and comic book nerd and critic extraordinaire joins us for an in depth look at this fascinating character, whose portrayals span the range from wacky kids show villain to abuse survivor to kinky sex s...
Ep 76: Problematic Favorites
October 24, 2019 12:40 - 1 hour - 89.2 MBWhat should you do when your favorite author turns out to be a transphobe? When your childhood favorite movie has a cringe-worthy romance? When the star of the movie you where really excited for gets called out for being awful? How do we separate the art from the artist, and should we? How do we draw the lines of what we can or cannot accept, and how we will spend our money and our attention? In this episode, Jacob and Matthew dive into this complicated set of issues. Instead of offering answ...
Ep 75: Is Batman on Tinder?
October 10, 2019 14:35 - 1 hour - 104 MBThis week, we are joined by special guest Morgan Wentworth as we discuss the ins and outs of superhero dating! Should heroes only date other heroes? What are the problems with trying to ‘protect’ your love by making decisions for them? And why do so many superheroes gaslight their love interests in order to protect their secret identity? Morgan Wentworth is a long time gamer and a soon to be librarian. For more from her, check out morgantriesinsta on Instagram and Mtgvalkyrie on Twitter Want ...
Ep 74- Ethically Wrastlin'
September 20, 2019 16:15 - 1 hour - 86 MBThis episode, we’re talking about the ethics of professional wrestling- both the stories themselves, and the meta questions about wrestling as entertainment. How far can or should a heel go, before it becomes a problem? Can wrestling storylines be cathartic for the performers? What role do performers have in picking their story, and so many more! This episode, we are joined by two of the wrestling aficionados who got Jacob and Matthew interested, Tim Aubel and Addison Fox. Tim spends a lot o...
Ep 73 - Into the Ethicsverse
August 22, 2019 14:04 - 59 minutes - 54.7 MBHow many kings could a kingpin king, if a kingpin could king pins? Jacob and Matthew are talking Spiderverse! What are the ethical questions about multiple dimensions and the role of destiny, or fate? What makes this movie so important, and so damn good? How do these spiderfolk approach the question of a hero’s responsibility? You can download the episode with a right click and clicking “save link as” or subscribe by searching for Superhero Ethics on Itunes or on Stitcher Want to continue th...
Ep 72- Who Teaches Ethics at Hogwarts?
July 31, 2019 15:00 - 1 hour - 84.5 MBJacob and Matthew put on their house robes, pick up their quills and talk Potter! We’re talking Wizard-Muggle relations, the house system and whether Slytherins are all evil, and if Hermonie’s quest to save the House Elves is noble, colonialist, or a mix of both! To make this episode accessible to Potter fans of all ages, we made a point to keep our language PG this time. Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to add your own thoughts? W...
Ep 71: The Knights Radiant of the MCU
June 28, 2019 04:59 - 1 hour - 107 MBOne returning and one new guest join besieged host Jacob Milicic to discuss the Knights Radiant, from Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archives, and where different heroes and villains from the MCU and other media would best fit? How do the Knights Radiant work? What kind of heroes fall in the framework of the 10 orders? What order of knights is Nick Fury? Loki? Javert?!? Guest Starring: Rob McKenzie as a Bondsmith Steve Peterman as a Windrunner Here are the links mentioned in the episode: ...
Ep 70: The Ethics of Endgame
June 12, 2019 12:24 - 1 hour - 82.2 MBEp 70 - The Ethics of Endgames The game is at an end but the debates are just beginning! What did we love, and what left us scratching our heads? What happens when killing the bad guy doesn’t change anything? Did Tony get the plot arc he deserved? Did Thor, or Natasha? And who did time travel better- The Avengers, or Marty McFly? Spoiler Warning for Avengers: Endgame and the entire MCU! Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to add your o...
Ep 69 - Punisher, Season 2
May 16, 2019 14:30 - 1 hour - 75.2 MBEp 69: A Punishing Take on Heroism, & Moral Agency In Season 1, Punisher raised some hard questions about vengeance, justice, and why audiences enjoy revenge fantasy. How did season 2 measure up? Does Frank have any accountability for the people he puts in danger? And did the world need another Harleyesque plot where a therapist bangs her dangerous patient, and the writers try to make it sexy? Two important notes- we had some technical difficulties near the end, and by the time we got Jessica...
Ep 68: John Winchester, Howard Stark & Other Healthy Fathers
April 25, 2019 13:56 - 1 hour - 75.4 MBWhat does co-dependence look like in a superhero? Should heroes compromise their own ethics for the sake of the people they love? And can Matthew escape the wrath of the EZ Pass machine he offended? On our drive back from Cleveland, we once again took advantage of the drive to bring you a car talk episode, recorded on a phone in a car. Next episode we go back to the studio to talk Punisher Season 2, but for now, enjoy this wide ranging episode about the moral traps heroes can find themselves...
Ep 67: Car Talk, Balance of Powered
April 11, 2019 14:41 - 1 hour - 91.7 MBHow do you honor the rights of all in a society where some people have great powers, and others do not? What responsibility is it fair to put on those with great power, if any? And can Jacob and Matthew record a podcast, and a caraoke song, while zooming down a highway? We took advantage of another long car trip to bring you a car talk episode, recorded on a phone in a car. We’ll be back in the studio and with an actual outline, soon, but we got into some great questions this time we think yo...
Ep 66: Goodbye Netflix MCU :(
March 28, 2019 13:01 - 1 hour - 84.2 MBWhat made the Netflix MCU different from most other ways of telling superhero stories? What questions were raised by Daredevil S3 and Iron Fist S2? And what happens when Jacob and Matthew are actually supposed to talk Netflix MCU, instead of just constantly going there on tangents? Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you! You can post questions, or respond to our episode threads in our Su...
Ep 65- The Angry Hero
March 14, 2019 14:17 - 1 hour - 84.5 MBEp 65: The Angry Hero Is anger a righteous trait in a hero, or a dangerous one? Who gets to be angry, and who how does race and gender play into it? Where is the line between anger and hate, and what is the relationship between anger and power? Jacob and Matthew dive into these questions and more on this episode. Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you! You can post questions, or respond ...
Ep 64: The Jedi, the Sith, and good ol' Palps
March 04, 2019 13:58 - 1 hour - 75.2 MBAre the Sith the mustache twirling villains the initially appear to be, or is there a method to their madness? Where did the Jedi go wrong? Are emotions something to be held back, or fully embraced in a space wizard, and how did the Jedi and Sith codes inform each other? Jacob and Matthew jump into these questions, with the help of friend and fellow Star Wars Nerd Extraordinaire, Jonah Kellman. Jonah cares far too much about Star Wars, particularly the extended universe. When not ranting, he ...
Ep 63: The Orville's Prime Directive
February 15, 2019 15:02 - 1 hour - 74.1 MBIs Star Trek’s concept of the Prime Directive the only ethical way for one culture to act toward a less developed one? What are the rewards, and dangers, in intervening? And what do you do when someone builds an entire religion around you doing one nice thing? In this episode, Jacob and Matthew look at Mad Idolatry, the final episode of Season 1 of the Orville, and dig into the larger questions it examines. Whether you are a hard core Orvillian, or never seen the show, there is a lot here to ...
Ep 62: In the Shadow of a Vorlon
January 31, 2019 17:14 - 1 hour - 65.3 MBOrder or Chaos, or is that a false dichotomy? What are the dangers of one culture trying to guide and support the growth of another? Is Babylon 5 an allegory for the Cold War? In this episode, we take on these questions and more, as we look at the Vorlons and the Shadows from Babylon 5. There will be spoilers galore, but even if you have never seen the show, we will bring you up to speed so you can understand the questions the show raises that we are diving into. ALSO! This is the first new*...
Ep 61: 2018 Year
January 14, 2019 15:47 - 1 hour - 86.6 MBEp 61: 2018 Year in Review 2018 was one hell of a year, and Jacob and Matthew go deep on some of their favorite characters and questions from the year that was. We re-examine old questions, talk about what we learned this year, and what we are excited to see in 2019. You can download the episode with a right click and clicking "save link as" or subscribe by searching for Superhero Ethics on Itunes or on Stitcher. Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to add your own though...
Ep 61: 2018 Year
January 14, 2019 15:47 - 1 hour - 96.2 MBEp 61: 2018 Year in Review 2018 was one hell of a year, and Jacob and Matthew go deep on some of their favorite characters and questions from the year that was. We re-examine old questions, talk about what we learned this year, and what we are excited to see in 2019. You can download the episode with a right click and clicking "save link as" or subscribe by searching for Superhero Ethics on Itunes or on Stitcher. Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to add your own thoughts? ...
Ep 60: Batman AND Superman
December 12, 2018 14:38 - 1 hour - 83.4 MBThe Dark Knight and the Man of Steel. Why do we tell so many stories about the two of them together? How do their approaches to justice differ, and why does that matter? Do they work best as enemies, allies, or in their own worlds? Special guest Jessica Plummer joins Jacob and Matthew to discuss these questions and more! Jessica Plummer lives in New York and loves Superman very very much. You can listen to just how much on her Superman podcast, Flights and Tights (http://flightsandtights.libs...
Ep 59 - Thankful for Luke Cage
November 20, 2018 16:30 - 1 hour - 71.4 MBNeed something to listen to on the long car trip home? Want a distraction from talking to your racist uncle or having to hear about your cousin's new get rich quick scheme? We've got a podcast for you! Jacob and Matthew are pretty grateful for the newest season of Luke Cage, and on this episode we dive into why we liked the show and some of the questions it brought up. We talk about revenge, history, father-son and mother-daughter relationships, and whether Harlem needs a hero or a king. We ...
Ep 58: Red Son Zenith
November 08, 2018 16:06 - 2 hours - 111 MBIs Superman a product of nature or nurture? This episode looks at the Red Son story, which imagines an alternative future in which Kal-El landed in the USSR, and grew up to fight for Truth, Justice, and the Communist Way. We ask how Superman would be changed by being raised in a different culture, and what that tells us about his core ideals, and ours. This episode also features special guest, Jess Dunks. Jess is a former USAF Korean Linguist and a professional level judge for Magic: the Gat...
EP 57 - KHAAAAANNNNN
October 25, 2018 13:00 - 1 hour - 94.2 MBWhat can you learn from the no-win scenario? Is Star Fleet a military organization? And are those REALLY Ricardo Montalbán's pec muscles. Jacob & Matthew watched Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and then talked about the ethical questions it raised. Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to add your own thoughts? Let us know! We recently started a Superhero Ethics Facebook Group, which is the best way to join in the conversations. You can also find us on Twitter or email us at s...
Ep 56 - OMG, Daredevil Season 3
October 11, 2018 12:04 - 1 hour - 72.1 MBJacob and Matthew are just a little excited about the upcoming new season of Daredevil. They dive into some of the questions they hope to see explored in this new season, such as did time in prison change Wilson Fisk, why was Veronica such an important character, and will we see more of her, and why Matt’s faux death at the end of Defenders bothered us so much. Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to add your own thoughts? Let us know! We recently started a Superhero Ethics F...
Ep 55 - Violence
September 20, 2018 12:51 - 1 hour - 77.5 MBDoes a Superhero movie need a good fight scene? Jacob and Matthew look at the role of physical violence in the stories we love, asking questions of both the characters and the writers. Can you tell a hero story without violence? Do our heroes too often resort to their fists? And why do so many heroes see fighting as flirtation? You can download the episode with a right click and clicking "save link as" or subscribe by searching for Superhero Ethics on Itunes or on Stitcher. Agree or disagre...
Ep 54: Supernatural Road Trip
September 13, 2018 12:37 - 1 hour - 61.4 MBWhat better place to discuss the cross country antics of the Winchester Brothers than the open road? While driving cross country, Jacob and Matthew took some time to talk Supernatural, examining the moral value of different kinds of non-humans, the relationship between Sam and Dean, and their willingness to make any and all sacrifices to save each other. Our schedules haven’t allowed us the chance to record under our normal conditions, and while talking about Supernatural while driving down ...
Ep 53 - Jessica Jones S2
August 16, 2018 12:12 - 1 hour - 72.3 MBJacob and Matthew explore the second season of Jessica Jones on a number of levels, looking at the decisions of both the characters and the writers. How should the law treat someone like Alissa? What responsibility does Jessica hold for her mother’s actions? How do we view Trish’s actions, and the writers' decisions to put so much conflict between her and Jessica? You can download the episode with a right click and clicking "save link as" or subscribe by searching for Superhero Ethics on Itu...
Ep 52 - Ethics of Fandom
July 26, 2018 10:45 - 1 hour - 82 MBThis week, we take a step back from the things we are fans of, to talk about fandom itself. What rights or ownership do we as fans have over the properties we love? What is the interaction between media, and the fan-created things it inspires, such as fan fiction? And why do fan responses to media sometimes turn so horribly toxic? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to add your own thoughts? Let us know! You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, or email us at superheroethics@gma...
Ep 51: Kingpin is a Hand Puppet
July 10, 2018 12:52 - 1 hour - 66.3 MBThis week we dive into questions from our listeners and fans! inspired by our friends at the MCUCast, we start with a lengthy discussion about Kingpin and The Punisher, what separates them and what makes them similar. Why do we cheer for one, and root for the other to be taken down, or do we? From there we dive into listener questions about Civil War, Cap, the portrayal of mental illness in genre fiction and a number of other topics. Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to ad...