This Week in Dystopia
42 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 4 years ago - ★★★★★ - 14 ratingsThis Week in Dystopia is a podcast hosted by Christopher Robichaud, Harvard Kennedy School Senior Lecturer. A podcast of politics, theory, and pop culture, This Week in Dystopia, brings commentary from the halls of Harvard to everyone's headphones.
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Episodes
Who Watches the Watchmen? Race and Policing Through the Lens of Popular Entertainment
June 29, 2020 13:04 - 1 hour - 71.2 MBWhen HBO series Watchmen premiered in October 2019, the show—a dramatically different take on Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’s original comic book/graphic novel—was noted for its direct confrontation of racism in America. Systemic racism, police brutality, collective trauma, and vigilante justice are all central themes to the TV remix. In light of ongoing deaths of Black Americans at the hands of police, nationwide protests, and calls for reforms, the show is now getting a second look with many...
Watchmen
February 25, 2020 11:00 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBChris Lebron, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University, returns to talk about the HBO TV series based on the 1980s comic. Want more This Week in Dystopia? Don't forget to subscribe, follow This Week in Dystopia on Twitter, and like the show on Facebook.
The Joker
February 11, 2020 10:30 - 26 minutes - 24.3 MBWe kick off season three of This Week in Dystopia with a discussion of The Joker. From the DC Comics’ character to Heath Ledger and then Joaquin Phoenix portrayal of the super villain, host Chris Robichaud and guest Lauren Spohn discuss the charter we love to hate. Is the Joker the product of society? An inevitable part of Gotham? Can you have Batman without the Joker? Tune in for this and more. Want more This Week in Dystopia? Don't forget to subscribe, follow This Week in Dystopia on Twi...
Beyoncé's 'Lemonade'
May 21, 2019 09:30 - 22 minutes - 21.1 MBWhen Beyoncé gives you Lemonade, make a reader (and a podcast episode). We close out season 2 of This Week in Dystopia with a discussion of Beyonce's audio-visual experience and album. Host Chris Robichaud is joined by The Lemonade Reader co-authors Kinitra Brooks, Audrey and John Leslie Endowed Chair in Literary Studies in the Department of English at Michigan State University, and Kameelah Martin, Professor of African American Studies and English at the College of Charleston in South Caro...
Game Theory
May 14, 2019 09:30 - 22 minutes - 21.1 MBDespite the persistent threat of video game domination, board games are still here and gaining popularity. And people aren't just dusting off their boxes of Monopoly and Life. New games are pushing the boundaries of how fun, engagement, and empathy intersect. Host Chris Robichaud talks to Co-Founders of Magpie Games Mark Truman and Marissa Kelly about how the game industry is changing and what we can expect out of the next-generation of tabletop games. Questions around how social justice an...
Hail Satan?
April 25, 2019 09:30 - 25 minutes - 24 MBThe devil may be in the details, but Satan also has a home in Salem Massachusetts, the headquarters of the Satanic Temple. The Temple, both self-described and now labeled by the IRS as a religious organization, is growing in popularity. The recent premiere of Hail Satan? at the Sundance Film Festival propelled the religious organization even more into the spotlight. Host Chris Robichaud sits down with Lucien Greaves, Cofounder of The Satanic Temple, to talk about the Temple's mission and why...
Game of Thrones
April 17, 2019 09:30 - 22 minutes - 21.4 MBWinter is here. Sunday, April 14th, 17.4 million viewers tuned in to watch the battle for the Iron Throne continue when the final season of Game of Thrones premiered. Ilya Somin, Professor of Law at George Mason University, joins host Chris Robichaud to talk about how the power struggle at the heart of this extremely popular show relates to governance. 🚨 This episode does NOT contain any season 8, episode 1 spoilers. However, we do briefly discuss some important scenes from earlier seasons....
America's Pastime
April 11, 2019 09:35 - 16 minutes - 15.9 MBBaseball has long been called America's pastime, but some feel the pastime is just that, past. Do conversations happening in and around the NFL and NBA better reflect America today? Or is the game of baseball just too long for the 21st-century sports fan? This week, we sit down with Liz Bloom, current Harvard MBA/MPP and former Pittsburgh Pirates beat reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, to talk about how baseball has historically been a petri dish for society's issues and where the leag...
Us
April 02, 2019 09:15 - 33 minutes - 31 MB🚨 SPOILER ALERT: If you haven't already seen Us, listen at the peril of your movie-going experience. Better yet, go see the film and come right back to this episode! Jordan Peele may fear his doppelgänger, but he isn't afraid of melding horror with social commentary. This week, Kinitra Brooks, Hutchins Fellow at Harvard University and co-editor of the forthcoming volume, The Lemonade Reader (yes, that Lemonade!), joins host Chris Robichaud to discuss the Peele's newest thriller Us. Want mo...
Social Justice, Stage Right
March 26, 2019 10:30 - 21 minutes - 20.5 MBThe theatre has influenced political thought since at least the days of the Athenian Democracy. Today, the tradition of theatre as a medium to spark political debate is alive and well. Now, contemporary artists are more than ever contemplating how the theatre can not only convey their thoughts but truly reflect and engage the lived experiences of their communities. This week, host Chris Robichaud sat down with two artists who actively straddle the worlds of theatre and social justice. Ilan...
Fit Nation
March 19, 2019 09:30 - 28 minutes - 27 MBFrom the moment your alarm goes off until your head hits the pillow at night, fitness is in your face. During the day, most of us will either go to the gym, think about working out, get a reminder from our fitness tracker, walk by a fitness studio, or feel bad for not getting any exercise at all. Fitness is not only a large part of our day, but it's a part of our cultural identity and pop culture. This week Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, Associate Professor of History at The New School, joins T...
Captain Marvel
March 13, 2019 09:30 - 30 minutes - 28 MB🚨 SPOILER ALERT: Host Chris Robichaud has already seen this movie (twice!) and the episode contains spoilers. If you haven't already seen Captain Marvel, listen at the peril of your movie-going experience. Julian Chambliss, English Professor at Michigan State University and comic book aficionado, joins host Chris Robichaud to discuss Captain Marvel. They discuss both what Carol Danvers portends for the Avengers storyline as well as what her cultural significance is as the leading female sup...
Politics & the Playbook
March 05, 2019 10:06 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MBIn episode 20, we asked, can you keep politics out of football? The answer was a resounding no. Not only are politics a part of contemporary sports culture, but politics is woven throughout sports and entertainment history. Host Chris Robichaud sits down with Justin Tinsley, a writer at ESPN's Undefeated, to talk about social activism in sports and pop culture. The conversation touches on everything from Jackie Robinson to Sammy Davis Jr., Travis Scott, and sneaker culture. Want more This W...
Horror Noire
February 26, 2019 10:30 - 31 minutes - 28.8 MBThis week, host Chris Robichaud sits down with author, scholar, and executive producer Tananarive Due to talk about the complicated relationship Black filmmakers and Black audiences have with horror. Mentioned in the show Horror Noire Get Out The Sunken Place My Soul to Keep (African Immortals series) This episode was FULL on mentions, find them all on our Medium page. Want more This Week in Dystopia? Don't forget to subscribe, follow This Week in Dystopia on Twitter: https://twitter....
This is America
February 19, 2019 10:30 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBThe Grammys have been criticized for lacking diversity and not giving hip-hop artists their due. This year, Donald Glover, also known as Childish Gambino, took home both song and record of the year awards. This is America, Glover's chart-topping song best known for its music video, has something to say about the state of the U.S. from gun violence to race. We sat down with Chris Lebron, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Johns Hopkins, to talk about the significance of Glover's Grammy win ...
Pop Culture and Politics? No Apologies
February 12, 2019 10:30 - 14 minutes - 14.1 MBAre comic books just for kids? Is there more to pop culture then pure entertainment? I think you know our answer. Tune in to hear host Chris Robichaud discuss why This Week in Dystopia is focusing on pop culture and politics this season and how we'll prove that comic books aren't just for kids. Mentioned in the show Bill Maher's comments on comic books: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgInmHHO0m4 Maher's blog on the topic: http://www.real-time-with-bill-maher-blog.com/index/2018/...
Pop Culture and Politics? No Apologies
February 12, 2019 10:30 - 14 minutes - 14.1 MBAre comic books just for kids? Is there more to pop culture then pure entertainment? I think you know our answer. Tune in to hear host Chris Robichaud discuss why This Week in Dystopia is focusing on pop culture and politics this season and how we'll prove that comic books aren't just for kids. Mentioned in the show Bill Maher's comments on comic books: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgInmHHO0m4 Maher's blog on the topic: http://www.real-time-with-bill-maher-blog.com/index/2018/11/16/adu...
The NFL, Politics, and Patriots
February 01, 2019 10:30 - 1 hour - 60 MBIn advance of Super Bowl LIII, tune in to hear host Christopher Robichaud in conversation with Mark Leibovich, Chief National correspondent for The New York Times Magazine, author of Big Game: The NFL in Dangerous Times, and Leah Wright Rigueur, Assistant Professor of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. Want more This Week in Dystopia? Don't forget to subscribe, follow This Week in Dystopia on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeekinDystopia and like the show on Facebook: https://w...
The NFL, Politics, and Patriots
February 01, 2019 10:30 - 1 hour - 60 MBIn advance of Super Bowl LIII, tune in to hear host Christopher Robichaud in conversation with Mark Leibovich, Chief National correspondent for The New York Times Magazine, author of Big Game: The NFL in Dangerous Times, and Leah Wright Rigueur, Assistant Professor of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. Want more This Week in Dystopia? Don't forget to subscribe, follow This Week in Dystopia on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeekinDystopia and like the show on Facebook: https://www.facebo...
The Students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
March 27, 2018 09:30 - 1 hour - 64.7 MBOn Tuesday, March 20th, the Institute of Politics hosted a conversation with students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School titled, “#NEVERAGAIN: How Parkland Students are Changing the Conversation on Guns.” This week, we listen in to the discussion to reflect on both the power of young advocates in our democracy and the deep impact of gun violence, particularly in schools. Want more This Week in Dystopia? Don't forget to subscribe, follow This Week in Dystopia on Twitter: https://twitt...
Gun Rights & Democracy?
March 13, 2018 09:30 - 32 minutes - 30.7 MBGun rights have dominated headlines the past two weeks. This isn’t the first time that debate around gun control has erupted following a mass shooting, but momentum and teenage advocacy have some people believing that this time the conversation won’t fade. With strong advocates arguing both sides of the issue, it can be difficult to deeply reflect on the role of guns and self-defense in a modern democracy. This week, host Chris Robichaud is joined by Caroline Light, Harvard Senior Lecturer ...
The Conversation No One Wants to Have About Inequality
March 06, 2018 10:30 - 48 minutes - 45 MBNew ways of governing, policy, protests, and more have been introduced across the globe for centuries to try and curb inequality. So, what actually worked? According to Walter Scheidel, author of "The Great Leveler: Violence and the History of Inequality from the Stone Age to the Twenty-First Century," history reports that violence and catastrophe are the only proven effective interventions. On February 26th, Walter Scheidel, Dickason Professor in the Humanities, Professor of Classics and Hi...
Black Panther
February 28, 2018 10:30 - 41 minutes - 38.3 MBDo we need to say more than Black Panther? Okay, maybe. Black Panther, the latest film in the Marvel universe, has been met with such excitement it’s hard to imagine a world (or at least social media) without Wakanda. Released on February 16th, the film has since shattered records. Black Panther is the second-fastest movie to reach $400 million, it had the second-best sophomore weekend ever, and it’s on track to top a billion dollars in box office sales. Though the comic books have existe...
Idiocracy LIVE feat. Co-Screenwriter Etan Cohen
February 13, 2018 10:30 - 22 minutes - 21.1 MBIdiocracy, an over a decade-old movie, is set in a world where corporations have taken over, the population’s IQ has declined dramatically, and the president is a reality TV star. Now a cult-classic, people on both side of the aisle are starting to wonder did this 2006 comedy predict the future? Before you go any further, we recommend you watch the film. It’ll make this podcast way more interesting. Thursday, February 8th, the film’s co-screenwriter Etan Cohen joined Christopher Robichau...
Defending Democracy, 2018 & Beyond feat. Robby Mook
February 07, 2018 10:30 - 35 minutes - 32.8 MBPolitical parties and campaigns are a critical part of American democracy. Our parties are complicated, multi-faceted, and at times, downright confounding. To better understand some of the promise and perils of political parties and campaigns, This Week in Dystopia is joined by someone who knows the Democratic party and process of campaigning intimately. Host Chris Robichaud invites former Clinton Campaign Manager Robby Mook, now a fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center and CNN pol...
Defending Democracy, 2018 & Beyond feat. Robby Mook
February 07, 2018 10:30 - 35 minutes - 32.8 MBPolitical parties and campaigns are a critical part of American democracy. Our parties are complicated, multi-faceted, and at times, downright confounding. To better understand some of the promise and perils of political parties and campaigns, This Week in Dystopia is joined by someone who knows the Democratic party and process of campaigning intimately. Host Chris Robichaud invites former Clinton Campaign Manager Robby Mook, now a fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center an...
Understanding Immigration & Refugee Rights
January 31, 2018 10:35 - 23 minutes - 22.1 MBWhat rights do immigrants have? Did President Obama open the door for President Trump’s travel ban by instituting Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)? Immigration is a contentious issue, hotly debated on both sides of the aisle. Amidst arguments, in a post-truth era, it’s hard to know what to believe about policy, laws, and immigrants' rights. Sabrineh Ardalan, Assistant Clinical Professor of Law and Assistant Director of the Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinic, joins host Chri...
Superhero Dystopias
January 23, 2018 10:30 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBDo dystopian societies require a bad good guy? Why do we love superheroes who morals are all shades of grey? Comic fans, this one is for you. Host Chris Robichaud dives into the world of superhero dystopias, focusing on Batman and Watchmen, bringing culture and politics together to help us understand what the bad good guys we love can teach us. In this episode: The Brattle Theatre and Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation present a dystopian film series in celebration of the ...
Clinton and the Logic of Misogyny
January 16, 2018 10:30 - 29 minutes - 27.9 MBMisogyny is hard to spell but much easier to find in modern politics and society. How do you define misogyny? What’s the difference between misogyny and sexism? What role does misogyny play in modern politics? These are the questions that Kate Manne, assistant professor of philosophy at Cornell, addresses in conversation with host Chris Robichaud. Manne, the author of the recently published book, Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny, helps explain how despite waning gender roles, misogyny is st...
Sick with Worry
January 09, 2018 10:30 - 29 minutes - 27 MBHeralded by cries of “repeal and replace” from a party with a legislative majority, it was clear that going into 2017 the Affordable Care Act’s days were numbered. In the final month of the year, Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and with it repealed the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate. In 2018, what’s going to happen to insurance markets in the U.S. without the individual mandate? Will we enter a “death-spiral”? Would a single-payer system actually work? Host Chris Robichau...
The War on Christmas
December 19, 2017 10:30 - 34 minutes - 32.1 MBHappy Holidays from This Week in Dystopia! ’Tis the season for gifts, holiday cheer, and divisive arguments about the role of religion in America. Host Chris Robichaud invites Lauren Kerby, Ph.D., to join him for a discussion about religious conservatives, Christmas, and coffee cups. Want more This Week in Dystopia? Don't forget to subscribe, follow This Week in Dystopia on Twitter @WeekinDystopia, and like the show on Facebook. This podcast is brought to you by the Ash Center for Democrat...
Can Our Democracy Be Bot?
December 12, 2017 10:00 - 31 minutes - 29.2 MBIt’s been over a year since the 2016 election. Campaigning has concluded, ballots have been cast, and the results are in. Despite this finality, the year’s events and subsequent questions still linger in the minds of many. One of these people is Donna Brazile, Harvard Shorenstein fellow & former Democratic National Committee (DNC) interim chair. In episode nine of This Week in Dystopia, Brazile sits down with host Christopher Robichaud to discuss her experience during the 2016 presidential e...
The Story of a Former White Nationalist
November 21, 2017 10:30 - 26 minutes - 24.3 MBRecent events have engendered a multitude of questions about the white nationalist movement. What draws people to the movement? Have social networks provided an opportunity to increase membership? Can we change people’s minds with civil discourse? Is civil discourse possible? Host Chris Robichaud welcomes R. Derek Black, a former white nationalist activist, to share his unique story and perspective. Watch Black speak at Harvard Kennedy School in the JFK Jr. Forum via the Harvard Institute o...
F**e N***s
November 13, 2017 10:30 - 39 minutes - 36.8 MBJoin host Christopher Robichaud in his office as he sits down with Claire Wardle and Hossein Derakhshan to discuss 2017’s Word of the Year, fake news; why that term should be banned from our vocabulary, and what we should use in it’s stead. Claire Wardle and Hossein Derakhshan's new report, "Information Disorder: Toward an interdisciplinary framework for research and policymaking" can be read in full on the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy website. More information ...
The Balancing Act of a Pro-Life Obamacare Supporter feat. Bart Stupak
November 07, 2017 10:30 - 32 minutes - 30.4 MBFormer Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI) sat down with host Christopher Robichaud to discuss the choices and constraints he faced during the passage of the Affordable Care Act. Stupak, a lifelong pro-life advocate, discusses how he had to reconcile his advocacy for comprehensive healthcare reform with his opposition to abortion. Stupak’s story is one of both strategy and ethics, an interesting case study on the role of compromise and party politics in our democracy. More information about this...
Zombie Democracy
October 31, 2017 09:00 - 23 minutes - 21.6 MBHappy Halloween from This Week in Dystopia. In a spooky episode host Christopher Robichaud illustrates what zombie apocalypse stories have to teach us about democracy. How are zombies useful in understanding democracies and how we handle crises? What does Night of the Living Dead have to do with race relations? Tune in to find out. This episode features mentions of Night of the Living Dead (1968), Dawn of the Dead, The Walking Dead, World War Z, The Dead Mater and more. More information ab...
White Nationalism, Media, and Lessons from Charlottesville
October 24, 2017 09:00 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MBNicole Hemmer, Assistant Professor in Presidential Studies at the University of Virginia's Miller Center, joins host Christopher Robichaud for a discussion about the recent events in Charlottesville, White Nationalism, and alt-right media. You can learn more from Hemmer on her podcast, "Past Present," or in her recent book, "Messengers of the Right Conservative Media and the Transformation of American Politics." More information about this episode can be found on Medium at https:...
White Nationalism, Media, and Lessons from Charlottesville
October 24, 2017 09:00 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MBNicole Hemmer, Assistant Professor in Presidential Studies at the University of Virginia's Miller Center, joins host Christopher Robichaud for a discussion about the recent events in Charlottesville, White Nationalism, and alt-right media. You can learn more from Hemmer on her podcast, "Past Present," or in her recent book, "Messengers of the Right Conservative Media and the Transformation of American Politics." More information about this episode can be found on Medium at https://www.med...
Can We Agree to Disagree?
October 16, 2017 23:27 - 32 minutes - 30.6 MBHost Christopher Robichaud sits down with Julia Minson, Assistant Professor of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School, to discuss her research into listening, cognitive dissonance, and disagreement. Together, they answer the questions: Is productive disagreement possible? How can we encourage civil disagreement? More information about this episode can be found on Medium at medium.com/@WeekinDystopia. Want more This Week in Dystopia? Don't forget to subscribe, follow This Week in ...
Can We Agree to Disagree?
October 16, 2017 23:27 - 32 minutes - 30.6 MBHost Christopher Robichaud sits down with Julia Minson, Assistant Professor of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School, to discuss her research into listening, cognitive dissonance, and disagreement. Together, they answer the questions: Is productive disagreement possible? How can we encourage civil disagreement? More information about this episode can be found on Medium at medium.com/@WeekinDystopia. Want more This Week in Dystopia? Don't forget to subscribe, follow This Week in Dystopia ...
Democracy in Peril
October 16, 2017 23:11 - 47 minutes - 43.6 MBIn the second episode of This Week in Democracy host Chris Robichaud tunes into a conversation about whether or not democracies around the world, including our own, are in peril. Harvard Kennedy School experts Marshall Ganz, Khalil Gibran Muhammad, Meghan O’Sullivan, and Dani Rodrik are featured. The full JFK Jr. Forum conversation featured in this episode can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsS1r_pG3_o More information about this episode can be found on Medium at https://www.m...
Are We Living in a Dystopia?
October 12, 2017 17:34 - 14 minutes - 13.4 MBIn the first episode of This Week in Dystopia host Christopher Robichaud introduces the series and answers the question, why is this series called This Week in Dystopia? Sources for this segment include NPR's On Point with Tom Ashbrook and Network (film). For more show notes, future episodes and information, visit This Week in Dystopia on Medium. More information about this episode can be found on Medium at https://www.medium.com/@WeekinDystopia Want more This Week in Dystopia? Don't forg...