In this more than usually complex and surprising dystopian narrative, we consider the depiction of vulnerable young white male characters both as victims and villains, and the role played by conspiracy theory and internet rabbit-holes. In particular, we challenge our views of the academy and mainstream research when faced with a story in which the conspiracy theorist is proved right.

We look at corporate responsibility and the power of pharmaceutical companies, including medical testing, opioid addiction, and the role of consent in trials and treatments. We compare the ethics of actions by the rich and powerful with those of the disenfranchised individual, and ask who is the real villain of this story.

Clare gives a short speech on bees, and we discuss bugonia and CCD as allegories for humanity and/or the planet. We also look at the bar set for humanity's redemption and whether the species' annihilation can be justified, along with whether a higher intelligence and/or colonial power has the right to decide Earth's future.

We make a number of specific references to other material in this episode, as follows.

• Louis Theroux's Inside the Manosphere documentary
• Drama series Adolescence
• Barbara Kingsolver's novel Demon Copperhead*
• Donna Zuckerberg's book Not All Dead White Men*

*affiliate link

If you enjoy this episode, please do remember to rate or review us. You can contact us with your thoughts via our website, where you can also find links to all our social media.

As well as examining the success of using dark comedy and satire to present themes of authoritarianism and revolution, particularly through the caricaturing of both the right and the left, we contextualize the politics of the film within the current rise of fascism in the United States.

We consider the presentation of failed violent revolution and the suffering of the individual in the face of perpetuating institutions. We look at the way in which rebellion can be undermined both by the weaknesses of individuals and the indistinctness of messaging or abundant bureaucracy. We are particularly interested in the burden of a fight placed on the shoulders of the next generation.

We critique the way in which the film was depicted either as a call to violence, by the right, or a celebration of left-wing protest, by the left. Rather, we conclude that, despite the film's sympathy for those who confront authoritarianism and champion liberty, it does so in the spirit of challenge, adopting the extreme representation of each end of the political spectrum by the other as a means both to provide comedy and provoke serious political thought. 

In this episode we specifically quote from the following interviews and articles:

https://www.theringer.com/2025/09/29/movies/one-battle-after-another-movie-themes-explained-analysis 

https://ew.com/teyana-taylor-defends-one-battle-after-another-perfidia-scene-that-hit-hard-11905646

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/teyana-taylor-golden-globes-breakout-year

If you enjoy this episode, please check out our Instagram, Bluesky, or Substack. You can also donate or buy merch on our website.

As well as exploring how the central ecological message of the film has fared in light of 2026 consumerism, we talk about the roles of advertising, corporate power, and human apathy have contributed to the state of the world in the era of late-stage capitalism.

We also discuss how an 18-year-old film foresaw the rise in screen-addiction, increased automation, the loss of expertise, and the reliance on vs the potential threat of AI.

In the episode, we refer to ways to better inform ourselves with respect to waste production. Among other sources, we suggest checking out: https://www.earthday.org/how-our-trash-impacts-the-environment/. 

If you enjoyed this episode, please do rate and review us. You can get in touch via Instagram, Bluesky, or Substack.

In this episode, Clare and Masha consider attitudes to nuclear arms in the post-Cold War era. We engage with the literature on the film's relationship to real life protocols in the face of a nuclear attack on the US. We consider in particular the personalities depicted in the film, and how each strategic leader and individual involved in the response to a missile heading for Chicago reacts and advocates for a different next step, while also dealing with their own particular concerns for family and friends. In particular, we compare these characters to those in power in real life in 2026, especially in light of recent international actions from the US under Donald Trump.

We drew widely on recent literature from experts in atomic weaponry and US politics, and cite the following in particular:

Kathryn Bigelow's House of Dynamite Is Wake-Up Call on Nuclear Weapons

A House of Dynamite: The Netflix movie is terrifying. Is it realistic?

A house of mistakes: what Kathryn Bigelow’s 'A House of Dynamite' gets radically right—and dangerously wrong—about nuclear war

What we should be talking about after watching Bigelow's 'A House of Dynamite' nuclear thriller - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

The “House of Dynamite” sequel you didn’t know you needed - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Cover Story: Kathryn Bigelow And Her Cast On Why ‘A House Of Dynamite’ Should Disarm The World

Trump executive orders 2025: Why creating a U.S. version of Iron Dome makes no damn sense.

Here's what experts say 'A House of Dynamite' gets wrong (and right) about nuclear war

If you have your own thoughts about A House of Dynamite or nuclear disarmament, we'd love to hear from you. You can find us on Instagram, Bluesky, or Substack, or via our website, where you can also find links to our KoFi account or support us by buying our merch.

We consider the way in which collaboration and community benefit everyone. We situate the mythical circumstances of the film within a real-life crisis of rising sea-levels and extreme weather phenomena, from both our usual anthropocentric standpoint and the impact on flora and fauna.

We follow the Cat's arc, as they become more resourceful and courageous, and learn the benefit of having others in their lives. We look at the Capybara as a symbol of generosity and the Lemur as representative of consumerism. We explore the Dog's journey away from the group-think of the Dog Pack, considering the true nature of friendship. And we pick at the strands of spiritual and religious narrative that seem to underpin the depiction of the Secretary Bird. 

Flow is far from being allegorical and even defies some metaphorical interpretation. If you have your own ideas as to how we might learn from this film, please let us know your thoughts via our website and social media, and don't forget to rate and review if you enjoy this episode!

Our discussion looks at the flaws with the score-based system of citizenship in the show, and how it reflects ideas around meritocracy, with reference to Michael Sandel's The Tyranny of Merit. We also look at the way in which subconscious bias plays into opportunity, and talk about some of the ideas in Boys Don't Try by Matt Pinkett and Mark Roberts.

We consider what happens when a society ties worth into a cost-benefit analysis for the state, with particular reference to the treatment of the disabled and those who rely on the safety net of a benefits system. We also discuss how societal systems and constraints may not always apply to those with privilege.

We compare the current treatment of immigrants and asylum-seekers in the UK with the systems of exile in place in Arcadia. We also look at the depiction of neurodiversity and disability in the show, in comparison with the treatment of vulnerable people in British society.  

If you enjoy this episode, please don't forget to rate and review. You can find us on social media @dystopianfictioncurrentaffairs, including signing up to our newsletter on Substack.

Please be aware that our book references may include affiliate links.

CW: this episode includes discussion of death-in-pregnancy and suicide.

Inspired by the discussion surrounding the ultimately-fake news reports that a Chinese company had developed a robot with a uterus, we look at the pros and cons of such a technology, the benefits that it might bring women and people with uteruses, as well as those who cannot conceive naturally, and the challenges that make the womb-pod science fiction for the time being.

We also consider the societal impact of a two-tier maternity system and the dangers of handing power over pregnancies to corporations. We look at how the film suggests gestation in a pod might effect the involvement of both parents, particularly fathers, in the process of pregnancy, and how this might change attitudes to the provision of childcare.

We explore some of the other elements of the world of The Pod Generation, not least the commodification of the natural world. We look at the benefits and dangers posed by replacing human therapists with AI, reflecting on recent issues in the news. And we discuss a future without state-regulated education.

If you enjoy this episode, please do rate and review it. You can contact us with your own thoughts via our social media or on our website.

We start looking at censorship and book-banning, including the worrying spread of pressure-groups from the US to the UK. We consider Bradbury's presentation of books as symbols for free-thinking and intellectual rigour, and its link with the theme of happiness at the cost of liberty in 20th C dystopian novels, in particular Huxley's Brave New World. 

We explore the value of challenging media, and the nature of media consumption. Masha gives an overview of the latest research into the impact of screen-time and social media, and how it contributes to diminishing concentration, anxiety, and limitation to broad-mindedness.

In particular, we look at the importance of third-spaces and human relationship, especially communities for free-thinking and debate, and the way in which conversation like those we have on the podcasts can create better thinking and work against apathy.

If you enjoy this episode, please do rate and review. You can join in the conversation via Instagram, Bluesky, Substack, or through our website.

*These notes contain affiliate links. Buying books using these links supports us and your local bookshop.

Our themes centre on the depiction of colonial power and imperialism, with particular reference to messiah figures, the 'white saviour', and religious messaging for political gain.

We also look at Dune as early cli-fi, the environmental messaging of co-existing with the natural world, and the impact of capitalism on the environment.

We reference a number of pieces of literary criticism in this episode, and we recommend reading the following to complement our thoughts:

Durrani, Harris. Dune’s Not a White Savior Narrative. But It’s Complicated. | by Haris Durrani

List, Julia. "Call Me a Protestant": Liberal Christianity, Individualism, and the Messiah in "Stranger in a Strange Land", "Dune", and "Lord of Light" on JSTOR

Parkerson, Ronny. SEMANTICS, GENERAL SEMANTICS, AND ECOLOGY IN FRANK HERBERT'S DUNE on JSTOR

Ramos, Dino-Ray. Let's Talk About 'Dune' And The Representation Of People Of Color In Sci-Fi And Genre Films - DIASPORA

Senior, William A. “Frank Herbert’s Prescience: ‘Dune’ and the Modern World.” Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts 17, no. 4 (68) (2007): 317–20. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44809216.

We discuss the context of hubristic attempts to maintain global capitalism while preventing global heating, and compare the life-raft train with other post-apocalyptic sanctuaries. 

We look at the depiction of class and social mobility depicted in the film, with particular reference to Minister Mason's (Tilda Swinton) shoe-and-hat speech. We consider the metaphor of economic inequality in the film in the face of global inequality and resource apartheid, with reference to Mikaela Loach's It's Not That Radical. We allude to the data presented by The Equality Trust and in Michael Sandel's Justice.

We probe the argument that the train is a closed ecosystem, and compare it to the world as ecosystem, and how resource abuse sits alongside global inequity. In particular, we look at Wilford's argument that he is simulating natural selection to control the train's population, with reference to historical attempts at population planning policy.

We pay particular attention to the way in which revolution is depicted in the film, including the idea of revolution as beneficial to the authoritarian leader when that leader is able to manipulate the attempt.

Masha shares the theory that links Snowpiercer to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and we provide our interpretations of the film's ending: hopeful for humanity, hopeful for the earth, or just hopeful for the polar bear!

If you enjoy this episode, don't forget to rate and review. You can find out more about what we do on Substack, Bluesky, Instagram, and our website.

Building on our conversation about Pantheon in episode 33, we discuss the science and ethics of cloning, and the nature of personhood and consciousness.

We look at the film's depiction of colonialism, late-stage capitalism, and mission-leader Marshall as a composite of populist leaders, evangelical preachers, and tech bros. 

We consider the nature of intelligence in the form of the so-called Creepers, anthropocentrism, and principles of first contact in science fiction.

If you enjoy this episode, please do rate and review it wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow us on Instagram and Bluesky, or check out our website. We reference a couple of our recent Substack posts in this episode, too, and you can find them here and sign up to receive our fortnightly newsletter.

In our analysis, we consider the nature of personhood and corporeality, and whether the brain is sufficient to recreate the individual. We consider the ideas around corporate ownership of digital entities created from human beings, and the nature of existence in a digital world that is yet ultimately restricted by physical servers. We also question the premise that separating human beings from the physical world would reduce our impact on the planet.

We look into the ethics of cloning, the clone as individual apart from their source DNA, and whether trauma is necessary for achieving human potential. In our discussion of the role of epigenetics we reference the work of Robert Plomin and the case for genetic determinism.

We discuss one of the central questions posed in the show: are Uploaded Intelligences alive, and, if so, what is the ethics of destroying them with a virus? As well as the biological definition of being alive, we consider the emphasis placed on communication and self-presentation in our concepts of personhood. Clare makes reference to the novel The Quiet by Barnaby Martin and its ideas around the nature of communication between humans.

We also critique possible elements of Western suprematism and ableism in the show, as well as the potential for an idea such as UI to create a two tier hierarchy between humans and their uploaded siblings, or an increased likelihood in a novel form of enslavement of UIs by the corporations that host them. We ask whether the positive view of UI creating a world in which UBI has been made possible by the work-potential of UIs is plausible.

If you enjoy this podcast, please rate and review. You can follow us on Substack, Instagram, and Bluesky, and find out more by visiting our website.

We chose to return to this particular film in response to the recent news of the UK's (since renamed) 'Homicide Prediction Programme' and one of our key themes is crime prevention. 

We talk extensively about the ethics of crime prediction, particularly as presented in the film. We also discuss free will, returning to Robert Sapolsky's work as a reference point. We wrestle with the paradox of punishing people for a crime they are prevented from committing, with some discussion of 'conspiracy to...' crimes in the UK.

Among our discussions, we look at the film's depiction of 2054, and how far it is playing out in 2025. Particular areas of concern include the dominance of advertising and surveillance, including the irony of product placement in the film itself!

If you enjoy this episode, please rate and review us wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe to future episodes. We also have a Substack, and you can find us on Instagram and Bluesky. If you'd like to get in touch, you can find all the contact details on our website.

We explore the film's depiction of the rise of Fascism in the form of Sutler's Norsefire party, elected and granted authoritarian powers in response to fabricated fears and manufactured bio-terrorism. We discuss the role of democracy in permitting dictatorship to take hold, and the way that citizens are culpable in allowing injustices to continue unchecked at the hands of their governments.

We consider the ethic's of V's vigilantism, his obsession with vengeance and parallels with the Count of Monte Cristo, and whether his actions are effective and justifiable, especially Evey's incarceration.

Our particular focus is the power of symbol and story for the effectiveness of V's call to arms, and how we might learn from the messages around change and protest that the film offers.

If you enjoy this episode, please do rate and review us. You can get in touch with your ideas about V for Vendetta and with suggestions for future episodes via our website, Instagram, or Bluesky. You can also sign up for our newsletter on Substack.

While not providing any answers to the many questions posed by the show's complex narrative, we do our best to unpick the ethical implications of the premise: what if a brain-chip could offer the ultimate work-life balance? 

As well as discussing ideas around memory and self, we look at the way Severance parodies and amplifies the worst of workplace existence and corporate power. 

If you have your own theories about the mysteries in Severance, message us on Instagram or via our website. We'd love to hear from you!

We look at the metaphor of 'time is money' as made literal in the film. We look at the nature of wealth disparity and how wealth redistribution functions as a step within systemic change. We discuss the ethics of Will and Sylvia's 'Robin Hood' tactics and the theme of billionaires' wealth as 'stolen' money/time. We talk about immortality and eternal youth, within a in which most must die so that some may live. And we critique the premise that constantly running is the better way to live.

If you enjoy what we do, consider checking out our website or following us on Instagram.

In this episode, we discuss the eradication of the Animals as a metaphor for marginalized peoples. We explore the othering and eventual persecution of Elphaba. We look at the presentation of disability in the character of Nessarose, and metaphorically in that of Elphaba. We talk about the power of educational systems for indoctrination. And we consider how to be an Elphaba, not a Glinda, in the fight against injustice.

In this episode, Clare references this fascinating article by Diver, Pulverenti, and Roberts (2023) in the Liverpool Law Review. She also recommends the novel The Lost Cause by Cory Doctorow.

Do let us know your thoughts, and consider rating and reviewing if you enjoy this podcast! You can also follow us on Instagram or Substack.

This film imagines a future in which intelligence has been bred out of the human race, with chaotic social and political consequences. In our discussion, we critique the use of stereotypes and depiction of lower social-economic classes in terms of stupidity and hedonism, and how this might impact our discourse on Trump's election victory.

We look at the satire on a society in which anti-intellectualism and inane television and film are thriving. We consider the depiction of consumerism and the power of corporate monopolies. We parallel the use of manipulation and misinformation with the situation in US politics. We also look at the film's depiction of homophobia and misogyny, and how these speak to a negative attitude to education.

In this episode we referred to the following resources:

Men and white people vote differently based on education

Poorer voters flocked to Trump — and other data points from the election

https://jacknicastro.substack.com/p/thoughts-on-idiocracy-2006 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u8_fp1TtJE 

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow us on Instagram or Substack.

In our analysis, we approach American Psycho as a dystopia in which Patrick Bateman represents the everyman of 1980s Wall Street, and his construction of his identity is mimetic and post-modern, just like the complex genre of the film and novel.

We discuss the allegations of that the film is misogynistic, on the one hand, and the claims for its feminism on another. We consider the place of constructed and empty concepts of masculinity, and the modern equivalent among followers of Trump, widely featured in the text, and Andrew Tate or his ilk.

We consider the film's critique of consumerism with respect to aesthetics, music, restaurants, and political views. We also look at the nature of the text as satire and its use of parody.

Among other secondary sources, the following were of particular influence on our ideas:

• Eldridge, David. “The Generic American Psycho.” Journal of American Studies 42, no. 1 (2008): 19–33. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40464237.
• Moore, Casey. “We’re Not Through Yet: The Patrick Bateman Debate.” The Comparatist 36 (2012): 226–47. http://www.jstor.org/stable/26237305.
• Rogers, Martin. “Video Nasties and the Monstrous Bodies of ‘American Psycho.’” Literature/Film Quarterly 39, no. 3 (2011): 231–44. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43798793.
• Schoene, Berthold. “SERIAL MASCULINITY: PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND OEDIPAL VIOLENCE IN BRET EASTON ELLIS’S ‘AMERICAN PSYCHO.’” Modern Fiction Studies 54, no. 2 (2008): 378–97. http://www.jstor.org/stable/26287627.

If you enjoy this episode, do consider following us on Instagram or Substack.

Our themes include surviving in inhospitable landscapes, including reliance on anthropophagy, the consumption of the flesh of the dead. We discuss the responsibilities of rescue services and the survival strategies of the individuals.

We talk about human resilience, teamwork, friendship between men, and mutual support in the face of extreme trauma. We also consider the role of faith and religion in the survival of the crash victims.

We discuss the ethics of survival and wider attitudes to anthropophagy, colonialist impact on the taboo of cannibalism, and the rights of the dead, with particular focus on the place of consent in the case of the deceased.

If you enjoy this episode, please do follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our fortnightly Substack newsletter.

Our discussion explores flooding and the climate crisis, and how prevalent these issues already are, especially in the global south, but also worsening in Europe and some parts of Britain. We talk crisis response, prevention, and the need for more beavers.

We look at the depiction of motherhood, family, and women's friendships. We talk about societal responsibility, the role of the state, and abnegating responsibility. 

Let us know your thoughts about the ethics of the choices Jodie Comer's character makes, Joel Fry's character and how he reacts to trauma, and the depiction of the commune.

You can contact us on Instagram and might like to sign up to our fortnightly Substack!

In our conversation we look at the science and ethics of gene editing, including the advocacy for an update in the law to eliminate hereditary disease.

We explore the fascinating theories of genetics and the impact on us of our DNA, with particular reference to Robert Plomin's book, Blueprint, as well as passing reference to Robert Sapolsky's work on free-will.

We link this with ideas of meritocracy and social mobility, and cite ideas and statistics from Michael Sandel's books, Justice and The Tyranny of Merit.

If you have ideas to add to our discussion, please do contact us. You can find all our links in the link-tree on our Instagram.

We focus on responses to the climate crisis, the difference between eco-activism and eco-terrorism, the role of disruption and violence in social justice and driving change, and how we can bring about an end to fossil fuels.

In this episode, Masha talks about Alain de Botton on the media. Clare quotes Mikaela Loach discussing the hero narrative in climate activism and Hannah Ritchie's positive vision of change in Not the End of the World.

We also reference a number of articles on the efficacy of disruptive action, including Damien Gayle in the Guardian, Hanan Badr in the Diplomatic Courier, and Kevin A Young & Laura Thomas-Walters in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications.

If you enjoy this episode, please do rate and review. We'd also love to hear from you, and you can message us via Instagram.

In this episode, we draw on some of the ideas in Daraiseh and Booker's 2020 article: 'Jokes from Underground: The Disintegration of the Bourgeois Subject and the Progress of Capitalist Modernization from Dostoevsky to Todd Phillips’s Joker'.

We critique some of the arguments in Justin Edgar's 2019 article: 'Joker makes great disability art by letting its hero bite back'.

We also use the definition of the neoliberal creed from Monbiot/Hutchison's The Invisible Doctrine, and statistics on wealth inequality from The Equality Trust.

If you have enjoyed this episode of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, you may also like our fortnightly Substack.

In this episode, we discuss depiction of post-nuclear apocalypse, and the formation of societies within this.

We talk about the Golden Rule vs immoral lawlessness, and whether trust and community can survive societal destruction.

We are especially interested in the show's depiction of war-profiteering, late capitalism, privatization of government projects, and the power of corporations.

Also dogs: dogs feature quite a lot.

Among other references, in this episode we recommend the new book by George Monbiot and Peter Hutchison, The Invisible Doctrine: The Secret History of Neoliberalism (& How It Came to Control Your Life).

If you enjoy this podcast, you may be interested in our project Being Society. You can donate to support our work, or you can support us by sharing our Substack or following us on Instagram.

Thanks for listening!

In this episode we discuss the appeal of reality television and what it says about our society.

We look at how The Truman Show posits Seahaven as a 'utopia' and the price that Truman is made to pay for his so-called safe and comfortable existence, with reference to the social contract. We also consider what is 'utopian' about the constructed reality of the show.

We look at the character of Christof, in particular, as creator, protector, god-figure, and megalomaniac. We discuss the parallels with freedom within or beyond religion, the prisons we make or accept for ourselves, and the extent to which we are the produce of our social environments.

We reference the following books and articles in our discussion:

Simone Knox, Reading "The Truman Show" Inside Out

Alex Fitch ‘Dark City and The Truman Show: Surveillance and the Destabilization of Identity’  FILM CRITICISM

Peter Marks ‘6 Identities’ Imagining Surveillance: Eutopian and Dystopian Literature and Film 

Tony E Jackson, Televisual Realism: "The Truman Show"

Keeping a Sense of Wonder: Interview with Peter Weir

Slavoj Žižek  ‘Welcome to the Desert of the Real!’ Cultures of Fear: A Critical Reader, 2009, pp. 70-78 

Christopher Falzon ‘Peter Weir’s The Truman Show and Sartrean Freedom' in Existentialism and Contemporary Cinema: A Sartrean Perspective 

If you enjoy the podcast, please do rate and review, follow us on Instagram, and subscribe to our Substack.

Content warning: violence and sexual violence; still-birth

In this episode we discuss the impacts of nuclear attack on infrastructure and human bodies, along with the history of nuclear weapons. We look at the documentary style of the film, and its human-eye view, as well as the realism and horror that the film-makers managed to achieve.

We look at the humanizing of the experience of disaster through the story of Jimmy and Ruth, and how they are representative of real people in the world today and their disenfranchisement from global affairs. At the same time, we consider the role of governments including the use of gaslighting, the failure of government and law and order in such a catastrophic situation, and the ultimate breakdown of society.

We compare Threads with the extraordinary graphic novel When the Wind Blows by Raymond Briggs, the contemporary impact of the film, and its relevance today when the Doomsday Clock stands at 90 seconds to midnight.

Within the few days between us recording this episode and posting it, we can also report that the Traffic Warden has been found, so our public service announcement is sadly redundant!

We reference a number of articles, books, and interviews offering commentary on the film, and you can find these here:

Discover the post-apocalyptic nightmare of this landmark social drama

How we made the nuclear apocalypse TV drama Threads | Culture | The Guardian

Threads served up a bleakly British depiction of our impending nuclear doom

Threads – remembering an influential moment in that 1984 film

Here come the bombs: the making of Threads, the nuclear war film that shocked a generation

Toni A Perrine (1998) Film and the Nuclear Age: Representing Cultural Anxiety

Dorian Lynskey (2024) Everything Must Go: The Stories We Tell About the End of the World

In this episode, we look at the depiction of Mao's China and the Cultural Revolution, and the Chinese novel on which the show is based. We mention articles from The Guardian, New York Times, and Radio Free Asia.

We discuss the likelihood of extra-terrestrial life and communicating across the universe, including the Fermi Paradox and everything Clare knows about science from The Infinite Monkey Cage podcast.

We've done our very best to tackle the science and explain the titular 3 body problem, relying a bit on this Netflix article. We touch on theoretical physics, applied physics, cryonics, nano-technology, and the potential of VR.

Perhaps most importantly in our discussions, we consider the ethics and procedures behind planetary defence and interstellar communications, the nature of being human, the metaphors for the climate crisis, and the refugee vs colonizer narratives.

If you enjoy this podcast, please do let us know by rating and reviewing, or by getting in touch to let us know your thoughts! You can email us or follow us on Instagram, and you may also like to sign up to our fortnightly Substack.

Content Warning: suicide, sexual content, FGM

Themes in this episode include:

• brain transplants, animal and human testing, and medical ethics
• the legacy of Frankenstein, Gothic literature, and monstrosity
• identity, social mores, nature vs nurture, and growing up
• issues of sexuality, especially women's sexuality, and its depiction on screen
• childhood, curiosity, and consent
• women in STEM, intellectual development, naivety, and privilege
• the depiction of sex-work, misogyny, and the male gaze.

In this episode we reference a couple of the many reviews of the film, which you can find here and here.

If you enjoyed this episode, please do rate and review it. You can find out what's coming up on our Podbean website, subscribe to our fortnightly newsletter, donate via our sister project on Ko-Fi, and follow us on Instagram.

Content Warning: this episode includes reference to suicide.

In this episode, we talk about divided families and generational trauma, with particular relation to changing industrial landscapes in Britain. In particular, we discuss the theme of Welsh steel, and compare the real-life situation in Port Talbot right now. You can read more about this situation here, here, and here.

Another area we focus on is privatization of policing, use of data, security camera culture, and deep fakes. On privatization we reference this paper by A White. In the recent developments of deep fakes, we allude to the news stories you can find here, here, here, and here.

While discussing the narrative of a reversed refugee story, including a small boat crossing of the channel, we reference an interview with David Miliband on this episode of The News Agents, and also recommend our earlier episode on the show Years and Years.

We also highly recommend this interview with the cast and creators of The Way by the BFI, which was very informative for our discussions.

Do follow us on Instagram to find out more about what we do. You can sign up to our newsletter, which comes out alternate weeks from the podcast. You can also donate to support our work via the KoFi page for our sister project, Being Society.

In this episode, we refer to this study in our discussion of global methane emissions, and these facts and figures for our understanding of overpopulation.

In our exploration of the fictional physics of cellular shrinking, we talk about the history of the genre as recounted in this blog, as well as the many thoughts the people of Quora have given to this debate.

The episode also looks at responses to irreversible climate tipping points, and we learned more about these here.

Last but not least, Masha encouraged all listeners to take a look at the amazing and tiny art of Willard Wigan, and you can visit his website here.

Please do rate and review us if you enjoy this podcast, and consider following us on Instagram for our latest news, or subscribing to our fortnightly newsletter.

As well as themes of cyber warfare, disinformation, privilege in the apocalypse, fear, and the place of trust, we also look at how to see off a f***load of deer, and whether people are really as dreadful as one of the characters proclaims.

In this episode, we reference the interview with Robert Sapolsky on Leading, the excellent book Citizens by Jon Alexander, and Techno Feudalism: What Killed Capitalism by Yanis Varoufakis.

Content Warning: themes of sexual violence, physical violence, and suicide

In this episode, we look at multiple layers of dystopian society: the violent world where Alex and his droogs commit their ultraviolence; the police and prison system; and the Ludovico technique which claims to cure Alex of his criminal ways with negative reinforcement in the face of sex and violence.

We discuss the purpose of the penal system, whether punishment, revenge, the safety of society, or repentance and reform. Here we reference our latest newsletter and its reflections on the death penalty.

We evaluate Burgess's views on good and evil, the nature of young people, and the origins of criminality. We also consider Kubrick's visual contributions to the story, such as the use of music, choreography, the futuristic aesthetic, and the use of sexual imagery.

In this episode, we make reference to Anthony Burgess' own later reflections on A Clockwork Orange, and to the way the book responds to the work of B F Skinner.

If you enjoy this episode, please rate and review us on your preferred podcast platform, follow us on Instagram, or donate to use via our sister project Being Society and its Ko-Fi page.

CW: please be aware that this episode makes reference to suicide and domestic abuse.

In its single season, this is a drama that covers all aspects of how best a society should be organized and led, without resorting to a state-of-nature post-apocalyptic scenario. Instead, The Society takes place in (possibly) a parallel-universe version of a small American town, where everyone other than the senior high-schoolers seem to have disappeared. Furthermore, there is no longer any contact with the outside world, and it is unclear whether there is anything beyond the newly forested border to the town itself.

In this episode, we discuss how decisions are made for the new society, the role of a leader, dictatorship by consent, the introduction of elections, and both a leader's assassination and a military coup. 

We talk about the sharing of resources, rationing, and the validity of personal property in times of constraint. We also consider the strengths and weaknesses of work rotas, a planned economy, and future-proofing in a society where there are no skilled workers or graduates.

The presentation of justice is of particular interest in The Society, including the powers and responsibilities of the police, the challenges of incarceration, the possibility of fair investigation and trial by jury, and whether implementing the death penalty for murder is justifiable.

We also discuss the impact of trauma on the characters, and how accommodations are made or not to avoid issues of physical and mental health and disability. Areas of interest include the benefits and challenges of community and shared living, and whether these help or hinder resilience.

The Society is one of those shows that raises repeated questions of 'What would you do?' for the audience. We'd love to hear your thoughts as to the decisions made by the characters and whether you would have done the same.

It's also the show that provided part of the inspiration behind the Being Society project, with which this podcast is linked. If you want to explore more of these questions, with accompanying resources, you can do so for free on the project website.

If you've enjoyed this episode, please do consider making a small donation to support our work.

In this episode, we discuss the importance of memory for individuals and communities, and how these are impacted by social media, fake news, and whether or not the echo-chamber effect is affecting our attitude to history.

We talk medical ethics, whistle-blowing, informed consent, and unscrupulous medical practitioners.

Focussing on Joel and Clementine's relationship, we consider the idealization of relationships in the social media era, and where happiness is found within empty lives.

Don't forget to follow up on our music references, and especially Tom Waits' '9th and Hennepin' by checking out our Spotify playlist: Sounds of Dystopia. You can find the reference to the song in the original screenplay (page 12).

You can follow up the references to online echo-chamber research, as Masha discusses in the episode, starting here, here, and here.

We were a bit weak on Nietzsche, but David L Smith offers far more astute insights in his article, 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and the Question of Transcendence'.

Clare discussed the rise in populism and the far right, as expounded on The News Agents, and you can listen to the episode here.

Please do follow us on Instagram, or send us an email at dystopianfictioncurrentaffairs@gmail.com if you have suggestions or comments for future episodes. If you like what we do, please consider making a donation via our sister project, Being Society.

In this episode, we explore the speculative concept of both book and film, in which the human race has long since ceased to be able to have children. Each version imagines differently the consequent development of the society of the UK, its morality, its attitude to outsiders, and how people might react to such a drawn out apocalypse.

Please be aware that this episode includes reference to both infant death and assisted suicide.

Along with their discussion of the character of Coriolanus Snow and his relationships, they assess the purpose of the Hunger Games, the analysis of human nature, the role of class, post-apocalyptic authoritarianism, and why you should always carry a snake.

Clare and Masha apologize for the unavoidable lateness of this episode owing to illness. Regular listeners should note the new schedule, with episodes henceforth to be released fortnightly on Sundays. We thank you for your patience!