Supercontext: an autopsy of media

Every year science fiction writer and futurist Bruce Sterling gives a "state of the world" presentation at SXSW Interactive. We consider his remarks from this year and what they mean for politics, social media and surveillance. iTunes direct link Google Play direct link Additional Resources: WATCH Bruce Sterling's SXSW 2016 Closing Remarks LISTEN to Bruce Sterling's SXSW 2016 Closing Remarks Master or Slave?: The Fight for the Soul of Our Information Civilization by Shoshanna Zuboff

We go to the vault in this episode, pulling out our take on True Detective's second season. Is "it all" Nic Pizzolatto? And if so, do both the blame and accolades lay at his feet? iTunes direct link Google Play direct link

While talking about the dark fantasy comic "Locke and Key," we get drawn into the complicated media world surrounding adaptations and monetization. Are comics the best engine for creative, collaborative storytelling? We look at Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez's partnership to find out. iTunes direct link Google Play direct link Additional Resources Gabriel Rodriguez reflects on "Locke and Key" About IDW Media Holdings "Locke and Key" Returns With One-Shot "Small World"

Looking back on the television series HANNIBAL, we're enamored with its attention to detail. But how did this gruesome slash fiction make its way to network television? Charlie thinks it's because this is a "wet" show. Christian thinks it's Bryan Fuller performing a miracle. iTunes direct link Google Play direct link Additional Resources Gaumont International TV CEO Katie O'Connell Marsh on Fate of 'Hannibal,' 'Cynical' Content Bubble Hype Hannibal's powerful visuals make it one of the best shows of 2013 'Hannibal' cinematographer James Hawkinson on the show's disturbing, dark beauty Hannibal: The TV Show That Went Too Far Hannibal showrunner: 'We are not making television. We are making a pretentious art film from the 80s' 'Hannibal': Meet the Chef Who Makes "Cannibal Cuisine" Look So Delicious Feeding Hannibal – Janice Poon's Blog How to Cook a Human with Hannibal's Bryan Fuller and Chef Jose Andres Killer Food: Dissecting Jose Andres' Culinary Visions For NC Series "Hannibal" Hannibal: How TV's most gorgeous, pretentious drama has managed to survive Did pirates kill 'Hannibal'? There Is A Simple Reason No One Is Watching NBC's Excellent 'Hannibal' Why 'Hannibal' Was Shut Out By The Emmys Acceptable level of TV violence is ever shifting for viewers, execs STUDY: Violence Increasing in TV Dramas — Especially on NBC

In anticipation of the Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds album "Skeleton Tree" and its accompanying documentary "One More Time With Feeling," we discuss the tragedy of losing a child and its effect on art, performance and persona. iTunes direct link Google Play direct link Additional Resources The Unbearable Lightness of Being Nick Cave I Am the Real Nick Cave

The 2015 Hugo Awards showed us what happens when science fiction/fantasy fandom turns on itself. A year later we look back at the arguments and manipulations of all the parties involved: Sad Puppies, Rabid Puppies and everyone else. Given how similar this controversy's rhetoric is to the 2016 presidential election, should we look at cultural moments like this as predictors of larger issues in society? If you're interested in how the Hugos went this year, here's Verge's summary of the event. iTunes direct link Google Play direct link Additional Resources: Who Won Science Fiction's Hugo Awards, and Why It Matters Oh No, the Puppies Are Back for the 2016 Hugo Awards—and As Angry As Ever Hugo awards shortlist dominated by rightwing campaign The Puppy Wars Resume by George R.R. Martin Hugo Award nominations spark criticism over diversity in sci-fi Hugo Award Withdrawls Are the Hugo nominees really the best sci-fi books of the year? This year's Hugo Award nominees are a messy political controversy The Final Lessons From This Year's Hugo Awards Clusterfrak

Charlie and Christian examine DC Comics' latest attempt to reinvent their publishing line. Is it really about defeating despair with hope, as writer/executive Geoff Johns has said? And is this friendly to new readers? We also look at the ethical implications of using characters from "Watchmen" in an attempt to create a shared universe with an emotionally compelling narrative. iTunes direct link Google Play direct link Additional Resources: "A Layman's Guide To Why People Are Flipping Out Over DC Comics Rebirth #1″ by Susanna Polo 'Rebirth': Geoff Johns Talks About Bringing Hope Back to the DC Universe by Graeme McMillan The Wait, What? Roundtable! Speedy Edition: DC Universe: Rebirth io9 Round Table: What We Loved and Hated About DC Comics: Rebirth

Looking back on the Batman film "The Dark Knight," does it stand for anything? Or does it simply soak up whatever morals we bring to it? Christopher Nolan's intentions remain mysterious, but we do our best to figure them out. iTunes direct link Google Play direct link Additional Resources JOHNSON, V. (2014). 'It's What You Do that Defines You:' Christopher Nolan's Batman as Moral Philosopher. Journal Of Popular Culture, 47(5), 952. doi:10.1111/jpcu.12181 The Dark Knight of the American Empire Hunting The Dark Knight : Twenty-First Century Batman. London: I.B.Tauris Dive Deep Into the Making of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy With This Documentary

The Elmore Leonard character "Raylan Givens" from JUSTIFIED speaks to Charlie and Christian. For some reason he makes us feel safe and in control. Is he a barometer for the current state of America? iTunes direct link Google Play direct link Additional Resources: The Gunslinging Wit of Raylan Givens The Justified Cast on Raylan Givens, Son of a Bitch

In an unusually giddy, slaphappy episode, Charlie & Christian try to understand how Game of Thrones' sixth season was made. When does an adaptation stop being an adaptation? What happens when it passes -- and surpasses -- its source material? n an unusually giddy, slaphappy episode, Charlie & Christian try to understand how Game of Thrones' sixth season was made. When does an adaptation stop being an adaptation? What happens when it passes – and surpasses – its source material? iTunes direct link Google Play direct link Additional Resources: Last Year (Winds of Winter) post by George R.R. Martin

Is media better when its creators have total control? We look at the first volume of SAGA and explore issues of ownership, censorship and salesmanship with this near perfect comic book. iTunes direct link Google Play direct link Additional Resources 'Saga': Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples Bring a Stellar Sci-Fi Comic Into the World [Interview] INTERVIEW: Brian K. Vaughan on the first SAGA collection Comics Writer Brian K. Vaughan Talks Saga, Diversity, and Fixing Injustice in the Industry

Quentin Tarantino's either an idiot savant or a savvy businessman with his latest film The Hateful Eight. So we cover script leaks, film stock, Black Lives Matter protests, police boycotts and much more about the making of this film to figure out why it's so damn compelling. Quentin Tarantino's either an idiot savant or a savvy businessman with his latest film The Hateful Eight. So we cover script leaks, film stock, Black Lives Matter protests, police boycotts and much more about the making of this film to figure out why it's so damn compelling. iTunes direct link Google Play direct link Additional resources: How Quentin Tarantino Resurrected Ultra Panavision 70 for 'The Hateful Eight' Who leaked the Hateful Eight script and almost killed Quentin Tarantino's movie? 'The Hateful Eight' Ending Comparison: How Does the Movie Differ from the Original Script? Ennio Morricone Goes Inside 'Hateful Eight' Soundtrack Ennio Morricone Tells the Secrets of His Hateful Eight Soundtrack Quentin Tarantino set to shoot "Hateful Eight" in Colorado Why Quentin Tarantino Is Shooting Hateful Eight In Colorado And What He'll Spend His Budget On Quentin Tarantino responds to police boycott calls: The complete conversation No, Police Boycotts Against Quentin Tarantino Didn't Cause 'The Hateful Eight' To Flop

Are Radiohead the most accomplished "art rock" band of the early twenty-first century, as the Encyclopedia Britannica claims? Or are they savvy businessmen who've brilliantly marketed themselves for 20 years? Can they be both? In the title fight for Charlie's musical identity, Thom Yorke comes out swinging with every ounce of nihilistic ennui at his command. iTunes direct link Google Play direct link Additional Resources "The Searchers: Radiohead's Unquiet Revolution" "Radiohead Says Pay What You Want" "Everything In Its Right Place"

"G.G. Allin could have been a Flannery O'Connor character." Charlie & Chris discuss the murderous short story "A Good Man Is Hard To Find" and the difference between an author's intent and a reader's response. Why isn't this considered a horror story? And is it punk rock? iTunes Direct Link Google Play Direct Link Additional Resources: Flannery O'Connor Reads "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" (1959) Flannery O'Connor's "A Good Man is Hard to Find": Who's the Real Misfit? Flannery O'Connor: Journey through the South, Old and New

What happens when you bring together Maria Bamford, the creator of Arrested Development, and a writer for South Park? You get a brilliant new comedy celebrating mental illness and pugs on Netflix. iTunes Direct Link Google Play Direct Link Additional Resources: Why Maria Bamford's 'Lady Dynamite' is 2016's Must-See TV Show Maria Bamford's Netflix Series Doesn't Measure Up to Maria Bamford The Weird, Scary and Ingenious Brain of Maria Bamford

Does entertainment have a responsibility to historical accuracy? Christian & Charlie tackle a film about a book written by David Lipsky about an article that was never published about writer David Foster Wallace. We struggle with how to consume media when you object to the portrayal of a real-life subject you may have identified with. Additional Resources: David Foster Wallace's family object to biopic The End of the Tour Why The End of the Tour isn't really about my friend David Foster Wallace The Dead Cannot Consent The Rewriting of David Foster Wallace

Alan Moore and Jacen Burrows' horror graphic novel NEONOMICON is explicit, graphically violent, and filled with rape scenes. But is there something more to this award-winning HP Lovecraft homage/critique? And should it be banned from libraries? iTunes direct link Google Play direct link Additional Material: CBLDF Case Study: Neonomicon The Horror of Rape: Alan Moore, Lovecraft, and Neonomicon The Great Alan Moore Reread: Neonomicon Alan Moore's Neonomicon censored by US library Alan Moore Gets Psychogeographical With Unearthing

"It's important to have a spirit animal who's an actual person," is this episode's pull quote. We discuss the making of Iggy Pop's album "The Idiot," David Bowie's role in its production, and how narratives can change music listening experiences. Google Play direct link iTunes direct link

Why do we watch trashy television? And why was FOX's The Following something we watched as much as we did even though we thought it was terrible? Additional Material: "The Fright Stuff: In the wake of 'The Walking Dead' juggernaut and the 'Sleepy Hollow' surprise, much more horror is in store" Actors May Appear Smaller Than They Are. (2012). Back Stage (19305966), 53(42), 16. "Serial Thriller" Direct iTunes Link

Chris and Charlie struggle with their history with, and love for, Steve Albini, and their desire to be decent people. Can music with lyrics hostile toward women be feminist? Additional Material: Steve Albini talks to LISTEN: "I try to be an ally in feminism" Her, She Can Go Quietly: On Steve Albini's Ally Status Shellac "You Came In Me"

SPECTRE! What can we explain about the 24th James Bond movie? We discuss how it was produced, how it was written, where the money came from, and the nonsensical story. Additional Material: Draft script for James Bond film Spectre leaked in Sony hack The Secrets Of SPECTRE's Jaguar C-X75s Latest Bond adventure Spectre sets record for Largest film stunt explosion ever - watch incredible clip 'Spectre': James Bond Film Reportedly Receiving $20M for Portraying Mexico Positively Direct iTunes Link

In the first episode of Supercontext, Charlie and Christian perform an autopsy on the medium of podcasting. How has it changed over the years and where is it heading? And what's up with the attention it's suddenly receiving from corporations?