Trope Watchers - Scholarly Pop Culture Criticism

302 Interventionism and Burnham's Three Mummies in Star Trek: Discovery Season 2 (with Dr Tim Steains)

October 16, 2019 21:51 - 1 hour - 77 MB

Today we welcome back Dr Tim Steains to chat about Season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery. We consider Starfleet's sketchy record with interventionism, Section 31 as a problematic foil for Starfleet, and Burnham's trans-racial parentage You can find more of Tim's work on academia.edu! You can support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/tropewatchers. If you enjoy Game of Thrones or A Song of Ice and Fire, check out our sister podcast, A Clash of Critics, for deep critical analysis of every...

301 Zombies, Pop Culture, and Pedagogy (with Dr Arnold T Blumberg)

September 02, 2019 03:05 - 1 hour - 73.2 MB

To kick off season 3 we are joined by zombie expert Dr Arnold T. Blumberg to chat zombies and their value as a pedagogical tool. We discuss Arnold's book, JOURNEY OF THE LIVING DEAD: A Tribute to Fifty Years of Flesh Eaters, as well as the value of media literacy in education and culture. You can find Arnold on Twitter. Check out ATB Publishing for a range of publications exploring pop culture, including JOURNEY OF THE LIVING DEAD. You can support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.c...

208 Teen Sexuality and Fan Attachments Towards Twilight and Harry Styles (with Grace Sharkey)

August 07, 2018 14:00 - 47 minutes - 54.5 MB

For our season 2 finale we are joined by Grace Sharkey, a PhD candidate with the Department of Gender and Cultural Studies at the University of Sydney. In today’s episode we will be talking about young girls and their attachments to Stephenie Meyer's Twilight and pop icon Harry Styles, with a particular focus on representations of sex and sexuality. You can find Grace on Twitter. You can support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/tropewatchers. If you enjoy Game of Thrones or A S...

207 Zombies! (with Peter Wright)

July 24, 2018 14:00 - 47 minutes - 53.9 MB

Today we are joined by Peter Wright, a PhD candidate with the Department of Art History and Film Studies at the University of Sydney. In this episode we look at the history of the zombie and explore some of the ways the zombie has been integrated into academia. You can support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/tropewatchers. If you enjoy Game of Thrones or A Song of Ice and Fire, check out our sister podcast, A Clash of Critics, for deep critical analysis of every episode and every ...

206 Looking for Femmes in The L Word, How to Get Away with Murder, and Carol (with Katherine Giunta)

July 10, 2018 14:00 - 1 hour - 71.2 MB

Today we are joined by Katherine Giunta, a PhD candidate with the Department of Anthropology at the University of Sydney. In this episode we look at representations of femmes, femininity, and queerness in The L Word, How to Get Away With Murder, and Carol. Autostraddle article: 30 Days of Carol: Day 6 – Carol Looks Ranked by the Degree to Which They Mark Therese as a Snack You can support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/tropewatchers. If you enjoy Game of Thrones or A Song of ...

205 Attachments in Sporting Communities (with Nick Fogarty)

June 26, 2018 14:00 - 1 hour - 69.5 MB

We are joined by Nick Fogarty to hear about his research into cycling in Sydney, and to discuss sporting communities and the various attachments felt by its members – both participating athletes and otherwise. You can find Nick on Twitter. You can support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/tropewatchers. If you enjoy Game of Thrones or A Song of Ice and Fire, check out our sister podcast, A Clash of Critics, for deep critical analysis of every episode and every book of George R. ...

204 Indie Music Scenes in Sydney and Bangladesh (with Shams Bin Quader)

May 29, 2018 14:00 - 37 minutes - 42.5 MB

We are joined by Shams Bin Quader to hear about his research into the politics of “independence” experienced by local independent musicians of inner-city and inner-west Sydney, and the Dhaka underground scene in Bangladesh. You can find more of Shams's work on ResearchGate and Academia.edu, and can follow him on Twitter. You can also watch Bohemian's music video for "Meghla Din" here. You can support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/tropewatchers. If you enjoy Game of Thrones ...

203 Star Trek: Discovery (with Dr Tim Steains)

May 15, 2018 14:00 - 1 hour - 77.9 MB

Today we welcome back Dr Tim Steains to chat about Season 1 of Star Trek: Discovery. We consider world building, racial politics, and the potential of speculative fiction. You can find more of Tim's work on academia.edu! You can support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/tropewatchers. If you enjoy Game of Thrones or A Song of Ice and Fire, check out our sister podcast, A Clash of Critics, for deep critical analysis of every episode and every book of George R. R. Martin's epic serie...

202 Military Leadership Tropes in Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Battlestar Galactica (with Sertan Saral)

May 02, 2018 01:07 - 1 hour - 75.1 MB

Today we are joined by Sertan Saral, a PhD candidate with the Department of Gender and Cultural Studies at the University of Sydney. In this episode we look at the tropes of the 'Ace Pilot,' 'Military Leader,' and 'Ideological Leader' in Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Battlestar Galactica, and in particular how these tropes intersect with gender. You can find Sertan on Twitter. You can support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/tropewatchers. If you enjoy Game of Thrones or A Song of ...

201 The CSI Effect (with Hayley Cullen)

April 17, 2018 22:47 - 1 hour - 72.3 MB

Welcome to Season 2! Today we are joined by Hayley Cullen, a PhD candidate and research assistant in the forensic psychology lab at the University of Sydney. In this episode we look at the "CSI effect," and how popular understandings of forensic science evidence have the potential to influence juror decision making. You can find Hayley on Twitter and ResearchGate, or you can email her at [email protected]. You can find The Sydney Exoneration Project here. CW: Rape, suicide, murder...

110 Celebrity Roundup 2017 (with Kate Lonie)

December 31, 2017 13:00 - 1 hour - 74.3 MB

As we enter 2018, it's time to look back on the past year. We are joined by a special guest – PhD candidate, researcher, and lecturer Kate Lonie – to look at 5 key celebrity themes of 2017. What is the cultural (and academic) value in following the Kardashians, the Royals, and Taylor Swift? Join us to find out! You can find Kate on LinkedIn. Her celebrity consumption recommendations are Too Fat, Too Slutty, Too Loud and Celebrity Gossip, Academic Style. You can support us on Patreon ...

109 From Firewatch to Dark Souls – Challenging Notions of Accessibility in Gaming (with Nyssa Harkness)

December 10, 2017 10:44 - 1 hour - 87.7 MB

In this episode, Mia and Scott are joined by special guest Nyssa Harkness to chat about accessiblity in video games. Are "accessible" games necessarily "easy" games? Who is accessiblity for? Who is the "human" in "human-centred design"? Join us to find out! You can find Nyssa on academia.edu and Twitter. You can support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/tropewatchers. If you enjoy Game of Thrones or A Song of Ice and Fire, check out our podcast "A Clash of Critics" for dee...

107 Blind "Supercrips"in Rogue One, Angel, and Daredevil

November 12, 2017 10:06 - 1 hour - 70.3 MB

In this episode, Mia and Scott look at the trope of the "Supercrip" – a character with incredible, supernatural abilities because or in spite of their disability – in Star Wars Rogue One, Joss Whedon's Angel, and Marvel's Daredevil. In particular, we look at how blindness is used both thematically and literally in media, and whether this kind of portrayal can be counted as inclusive disability representation. You can support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/tropewatchers. If...

106 Points of Exit in Game of Thrones

October 29, 2017 10:20 - 1 hour - 119 MB

In this special episode of Trope Watchers, we celebrate Scott finally finishing season 7 of Game of Thrones by dedicating our entire episode to the worlds of Westeros and Essos. Join Scott and Mia as we explore power relationships in Game of Thrones and see if the show offers genuine points of exit from the current status quo. You can support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/tropewatchers. If you enjoy Game of Thrones or A Song of Ice and Fire, check out our podcast "A Clash ...

105 Sexual Fluidity in Torchwood and Game of Thrones

October 15, 2017 09:02 - 1 hour - 97.3 MB

In this episode, Mia and Scott explore bisexuality and sexual fluidity in the Doctor Who spinoff series, Torchwood, and HBO's Game of Thrones. CW: Rape. You can support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/tropewatchers. If you enjoy Game of Thrones or A Song of Ice and Fire, check out our podcast "A Clash of Critics" for deep critical analysis of every episode and every book of George R. R. Martin's epic series: aclashofcritics.com.

104 Why is Gaston a villain, but Ross and Ted "Nice Guys"?

October 01, 2017 21:20 - 1 hour - 99.7 MB

In this episode, Scott and Mia look at the traits that make Gaston in Beauty and the Beast (1991 and 2017) such a pertinent example of toxic masculinity, and compare them to Ted Mosby from How I Met Your Mother and Ross Geller from Friends. Are these three men really so different? You can support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/tropewatchers. If you enjoy Game of Thrones or A Song of Ice and Fire, check out our podcast "A Clash of Critics" for deep critical analysis of every...

103 Discipline and Punishment in Harry Potter and Game of Thrones

September 17, 2017 10:45 - 1 hour - 128 MB

In this episode, Scott and Mia channel their love of Foucault's Discipline and Punish to explore the worlds of Harry Potter and Game of Thrones. Join us for discussion on how surveillance, torture, and shame... shame... shame create obedient subjects! CW: Abuse, rape, torture. You can support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/tropewatchers. If you enjoy Game of Thrones or A Song of Ice and Fire, check out our podcast "A Clash of Critics" for deep critical analysis of every...

102 Orientalism and Biracial Identity in Lord of the Rings and Star Trek (with Dr Tim Steains)

September 03, 2017 11:02 - 1 hour - 118 MB

In this episode, Mia and Scott are joined by special guest Dr Tim Steains! We look at how Orientalism and Techno-Orientalism can be read in Lord of the Rings and Star trek, and examine the complexities of mixed-race characters in sci fi and fantasy. You can find more of Tim's work on academia.edu! You can support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/tropewatchers. If you enjoy Game of Thrones or A Song of Ice and Fire, check out our podcast "A Clash of Critics" for deep critical...

101 Fridging in Star Wars, The Amazing Spider-Man, and Batman: The Killing Joke

August 20, 2017 11:20 - 1 hour - 98.4 MB

In this episode, Mia and Scott look at how the deaths of women in Star Wars, The Amazing Spider-Man, and Batman: The Killing Joke play into broader trends of female characters dying for male character progression. When are these deaths powerful and justified, and when are they harmful and unnecessary? And do male characters get the same treatment? CW: Rape and sexual abuse. You can support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/tropewatchers. If you enjoy Game of Thrones or A Song...

(Pilot) Consent and Love Spells in Harry Potter and Buffy the Vampire Slayer

August 06, 2017 02:18 - 1 hour - 89.2 MB

In this pilot episode, Mia and Scott turn to Harry Potter and Buffy the Vampire Slayer to understand consent in science fiction and fantasy universes. How do love spells, potions, and other mystical compulsions impact sexual consent? CW: Rape and sexual abuse. You can support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/tropewatchers. If you enjoy Game of Thrones or A Song of Ice and Fire, check out our podcast "A Clash of Critics" for deep critical analysis of every episode and every book...