The Left Page
A podcast where a historian and a social scientist explore phenomena in media and art. They discuss various topics related to culture, history, and society. The show aims to provide insightful analysis and engaging conversations. More of their work can be found at their linktree.
Episodes
What's Next for Sci-Fi and it's Empires? w/ RevLeftRadio
We're back into Science Fiction, and with a great friend and comrade! As Breht from RevLeftRadio fame joins us to talk about the relationship of this genre and Empires. Talking the roots of imperial representation, how we can critique them, and how a lot goes back into colonialism, fascist projects and more. A wonderful dive into how this genre and this representation and structure connect, enjoy!
Lets Prattle # 3 - Help! I am Being Pathologized!
This time we go into how we think about Pathology in media and videogames, while still talking about gaming news and the Left Page Book Club, enjoy! itinerary: 00:00:00-01:03:21 - Intro + Summer Games Fest + Minute AI rambling 01:03:21-01:55:05: - The Broader Pathology of Media 01:55:05-END - The Left Page Book Club Our next set of chapters is from Catelyn VII to Catelyn VIII! (Another 16 chapters
Let's Prattle #2 - Fantasies of Power
We continue our travails this time with disecting the discourses around power fantasies and an interesting track through one of videogames largest franchises. Itinerary: 00:00:00 - 00:15:52 Intro (What are we up to) 00:15:52 - 01:03:28 Power Fantasies 01:03:28 - 01:40:00 AI in Music 01:40:00 - 02:16:50 AC 02:16:50 - END Book Club aGoT Jon II - Eddard V Essay mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/wa
"Concerning" Men: The Patriarchy & Weaponized Media Illiteracy
We're talking about men this time. Using different media like Star Wars, American Psycho, and Blade Runner 2049, we develop some theory on this idea of "media illiteracy", on masculinity and its toxicity. Fundamentally considering what we mean when we talk about Patriarchy, how it exists and is historically defined, and what does it mean to consider and confront it today. Enjoy! If you can and a
Let's Prattle #1 - AI in Video Games
A new kind of episode! Lighter and more current, as we talk about what we've been playing, some things we've been thinking about, and the new Left Page Book Club! Time stamps 00:00:00 - 00:40:40 Intro + What are we watching, reading, playing 00:40:40 - 01:27:45 AI In Video Games 01:27:45 - 02: 23:45 Left Page Book Club The article we talked about: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/new-research-shows-o
What Escapism Has Sown
We deploy Critical Harvest Theory in this episode, when we ask: What happens when we don't look critically at escapist fantasies? We then try to answer this question by looking at two video games: Stardew Valley (2015) and Citizen Sleeper (2022 & 2025) Going into the ways of how these games create their realities and end up surviving in or attempting to sideline capitalism, which will surely go we
Wolfenstein: How to Kill Fascism? W/ TheLitCritGuy
Wolfenstein is a fascinating series of games, so let's talk about the recent Machine Games' iterations. Asking the fundamental question of how to properly kill fascism and how this game is presenting it, or not. Enjoy! Check out Jon's stuff: Horror Vanguard & The Haunt Blog Morris Rosenfeld's poem In The Factory from 1914 Intro song: Machine, Machine. Nits. 2019, Werf & V2 Records Outro song: Na
The Left Page - Oddysscourse. The Tragedy of MAGA-memnom
Hello everyone!! Today we're starting off with our new kinds of episodes, as we discuss a more broad element... the discourse on the new Oddyssey film! We've often talked about historical representation, mythology, and what "historical accuracy" can mean, but not as directly as of yet. So this time we went full into some of the terrible ways those are all used, distanced from any interesting or us
The Left Page 7 Year Anniversary!
Good lord! It's sure been a while, huh? Celebrating 7 years of running this podcast, Frank and Leon go over some of the changes, some of the achievements, how they see the pod, how they think of it moving forwards, and a couple of interesting things to come! Thank you all so so much for being here, for listening, and especially supporting the show, for as little or as long as you have! It means
The Left Page - Episode 100 - Don Quixote: Jousting with Fiction
To celebrate the centennial Left Page we go to the start, the originator of the modern novel: Don Quixote de la Mancha! We go over the fantasies of Don Quixote, the way the two books deal with reality, fantasy, and primarily books and reading! All the while not forgetting the deep materiality involved in the depictions, and how there is still more than we think to it. Come celebrate our 100th ep
The Left Page - Episode 99 - The First Law Standalones Pt. 2: The Heroes Journey
Hello everyone!! We continue with the First Law Standalone novels, now going into Heroes and Red Country! We talk about how these characters continue to be engagin, how the materiality of war and conflict continues, and how change, propelled by capital, can be such a dangerous thing the world over, fantasy world it might be. Enjoy! If you can and are interested in early episodes and our bonus
The Left Page - Episode 99 - The First Law Standalones Pt. 1: Back With a Revengeance
Hello everyone!! We continue with Joe Abercrombie's First Law series, now talking about the 3 standalone novels: Best Served Cold, Heroes, and Red Country! Because these books are great and there is a lot to talk about, we split these episodes in 2 parts, both already available for Patrons! First we talk about Abercrombie and the setup to these books, then Best Served Cold and how to write a phe
Here Be Media - Episode 64 - Hades II: The Pitfalls of Chronic Therapy
Hello everyone!! We visit the sequel of our very first Here be Media episode, coming alongside a very special announcement in the first 10 minutes about the future of this podcast. We set out to explore the pitfalls of exclusively centreing psychology in your familial narrative, that is therefore ot able to grapple with the existential conflict it seeks to portray. Please enjoy! If you can and
Here Be Media - Episode 63 - Superman: Fortress of Imperialism w/ André
Hello everyone!! We're wrapping up the year in serious fashion, diving once back into Imperialism everywhere, with the 2025 Superman, and bringing our superhero liasion along, André! This was a film really well talked about for being positive, and progressive and... things which it isn't. It's still imperialist and still very much on the US' side when thinking about anything. So come along as w
The Left Page - Episode 98 - The Hobbit: Hobbitual Fantasy
Hello everyone!! We're finally tackling Tolkien! And so here we are, at the beggining... In a hole in the ground there lived a Hobbit. We go into Tolkien's role in fantasy, how The Hobbit still holds up as both a monument of fantasy and still an excellent book, and the resonance that this work has to fantasy still. Thus we close off 2025 on The Left Page, by beggining Tolkien, with more to come
The Left Page - Episode 97 - Golden Harvest: Abolish the Present State
Hello everyone!! We're back talking about Brazilian Literature, with a long overdue request! It's "Golden Harvest" or "São Jorge dos Ilhéus", by Jorge Amado! The horrors of capitalism are everywhere, and none less here, where the forces of empire and capital seek to make Brazilian cocoa production their own, with no regard for people and their lives. So come along in this historically inspired
Here Be Media - Episode 62 - Arrival (2016): Posadist Aliens Show Us the End of History
Hello everyone!! We're talking about a great Sci-fi film, going into language, history and time. As we discuss some of Ted Chiang's short story "Story of Your Life", but primarily, the Denis Villeneuve film "Arrival"! Why are aliens here? How can our understanding of reality changing help us confront the horrors of capitalism? How is time's linearity a simplistic way to confront capital's victor
Conversation #0004: Star Trek, The Original Series - Continuities of Empire
In our latest Conversation, Frank has something special for us! Following attempts at bringing together all their academic work, Frank goes into Star Trek proper for the first time in the podcast, surprisingly. In an attempt to articulate how the original 1966-1969 run articulated a certain version of the future that, while utopian, was still entrenched in Liberalism and certain elements of Empir
Here Be Media - Episode 61 - Titane: Liberté, égalité, Peugeot Coupe w/Jay
Happy closing of the spooky season Listeners Jay and I are talking about Titane, and subsequently Queer relations and cars. Enjoy! Find more of us at: https://www.patreon.com/leftpage Find Jay at: www.librarypunk.gay https://bsky.app/profile/wildeatheart.bsky.social Intro Music: I Would Never Have To Know - Samurai Drive. From the Album: Samurai Drive ℗ 2020 Daniel Riederauer Outro Music: Don
The Left Page - Episode 96 - Berserk (Golden Age): Revitalizing Your Resolve w/ Horror Vanguard
Hello everyone!! We're finally talking about one of the big ones for our special Halloween collab with Horror Vanguard, it's Berserk! Focusing on the Golden Age Arc, we talk about how this manga so effectively depicts despair and hope, how it can have ultraviolence and still have one emotional gutpunch after another. And, of course, about fighting fascism in all its forms. Enjoy! And check ou
Here Be Media - Episode 60 - El Paso: Elsewhere: Facing All That's Abyssal
Hello everyone!! We're back talking about vampires and abuse, but with a twist! It's far more elaborate and engaging this time, as we discuss the indie game El Paso: Elsewhere! How do we deal with the holes of violence? With the abyss of abuse that seems to swallow and destroy us whole? In this Max Payne-inspired game (1 and 2, not 3, not at all) we find several ways to not destroy ourselves in
Here Be Media - Episode 59 - Ghost in the Shell (1995): This whole thing smacks of gender
Hello everyone!! We're talking about another classic today, but for sci-fi, it's the 1995 anime film of Ghost in the Shell! Time to talk about one of the most iconic cyberpunk objects there are, and for good reason. Quite a lot to go over when thinking of bodily relations and representation, identity, the urban landscape and, of course, a whole heap of gender. And it's great! It's a phenomenal
The Left Page - Episode 95 - The Expanse 7-9: Ideals for the Dreamless
Hello everyone!! We finalize another series! James S. A. Corey's The Expanse! Returning for the last three novels, Persepolis Rising, Tiamat's Wrath, and Leviathan Falls. Discussing how these books represent fascism and cannot conceive of any other kind of enemy, we also reexamine the series as a whole. Pointing out its merits in materialism and political relationships... up to the point where i
Here Be Media - Episode 58 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: Ontological Crash Out w/ André
Hello everyone!! We're talking about one of 2025's biggest and best releases so far, and with our good friend André! It's Clair Obscur: Expedition 33! It's French, but we have to talk about it. Both how it creates a mechanically elaborate and successful game, and how it manages to incur in unfortunate psychological reductions and an... unfortunate bump into imperialism and colonialism. We have p
The Left Page - Episode 94 - Moby Dick: The White Whale is Everything w/ Jon
Hello everyone!! Joined by good friend Jon, of Horror Vanguard, as we talk about one of the books of all time, Moby Dick, or The Whale, by Herman Melville! Come along as we discover why this book is everything, how it fits into the larger body of American Literature, and how the threats and consequences of individualism are ever-present. Oh, and of course: how this is a phenomenally gay book ind
Here Be Media - Episode 57 - Sinners: Sinnin' till you Saint it
Hello everyone!! Time for us to talk about one of the bigger and better releases of the year, and a kind of horror movie, no less, it's Sinners! Come along as we go into how the film represents music and culture, how it frames the ideas of religion and "sinning", and, obviously, the institutional practices of racism, colonialism and oppression. There's a LOT to talk about, and we certainly do!
The Left Page - Episode 93 - Witcher Saga pt. 2: Pathologizing the Path
Hello everyone!! Time to wrap up the Witcher Saga proper!! As we go over this series in things we hadn't yet covered last time! We dive into the sense of History and Myth established, some other relationships and the fellowship functions themselves, and some of our general thoughts on the Witcher and the Saga! We mark it here for the books, we are (probably) finished! Enjoy!! If you can and a
Here Be Media - Episode 56 - Andor (S2): Building a Rebellion on (a New) Hope
Hello everyone!! We are back with some more Star Wars, and of the best kind, with the second season of Andor! There's been a lot of talk on Andor lately, and having done an episode for the first season, we were not going to let it pass us by. So join us, as we dive into what makes this such a compelling show (amidst flaws, as we talk about them too), critiquing a great deal of liberal hypocrisi
Conversation #0002 - You Forgot Yourselves
We found something else. Frank talks about the videogame SEASON: A Letter to the Future. It has problems when it talks about History. It's worth talking about. Thank you. For more, keep an eye out on: https://www.patreon.com/leftpage Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Left Page - Episode 92 - The Witcher Saga pt.1 : The Witchering Hour
Hello everyone!! The time has come!! Now that both of us have read the Witcher Saga books, it's time to finally return to this universe and talk about them! However, it being a rather involved story and universe, alongside comprising 5 books, we decided to make two episodes but discussing the whole Saga. In this first part we dive into some of the relationships of Ciri, Geralt and Yennefer, how
The Left Page - Episode 91 - The Historical Torment Nexus w/ Justin
Hello everyone. The time has come to face our enemy once more. Yuval Noah Harari wrote another book, so we dive into how it is, indeed, a torment of pain and horror. We try to fathom how Harari misunderstands History, historical practice, information, institutions, religion, power, science fiction, AI etc etc. There is very little accurate in this book, and yet, it seems to be rather successful
Here Be Media - Episode 55 - The Wire: The Arborescent Function of the Police w/ Oli Mould
Hello everyone!! We have a special episode with a great guest! In order to talk about the magnificent show The Wire (2002-2008) we bring along Oli Mould, professor of Human Geography at Royal Holloway, University of London! In this episode we dive into this destructive institution that is the police, alongside a few others. All while understanding how the show interweaves its characters, environ
The Left Page & Here Be Media Intro
Welcome one and all to the Left Page & Here Be Media Podcast! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Here Be Media - Episode 54 - Dragon Age The Veilguard: A Journey from Reign to Ruin w/ Holly
Hello everyone!! The time has come. We finish our first long-term game series! Dragon Age has come to an end as we understand it. Let's talk about The Veilguard, with good friend Holly! It is a sad time, as we go over some of the many failings of The Veilguard, its faults in production, writing, execution... And yet, all boiling down to a rather generic game (and failing even at that), that is q
The Left Page - Episode 90 - Meditations: How to Hide Inside Your Empire
Hello everyone!! For our late Left Page this month, we dive into an odd choice, but a fruitful one! Emperor Marcus Aurelius' Meditations, from 161 A.D.! In what we find to be one of the original inspirations for self-help books, we... certainly suffer through this one! Talking about how an Emperor can isolate himself from his society and keep himself above it, becoming "a perfect and invincible
Here Be Media - Episode 53 - Concept: RPGs Pt. 1
Hello everyone!! It's been a little while, but we're back with another Concept episode! This time trying to thing about what makes an RPG! In this new series we intend to understand a few of the several messy questions that surround this genre, including trying to define what is an RPG. In this first episode we tackle that initial question, with Leon putting forth a framework that might be the m
Conversation #0001 - History is Written by the Historians
We found something. Leon brings up crucial ways to talk about History, and doing so responsibly. Video Referenced: https://youtu.be/AnySV4SZdqg Thank you. For more, keep an eye out on: https://www.patreon.com/leftpage Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Here Be Media - Episode 52 - Don Giovanni: Ways Opera deals with Societal Strife w/ Jay
Hello everyone!! In another collab with our good friend Jay, we finally decided to talk about Opera, in particular, Don Giovani!! Come along with us as we dissect this odd portrayal of the "Don Juan" image, his terrible deeds and punishment, and continually this articulation of sound, story and music that opera can create. While never forgetting several matters of class within opera, the notions
Here Be Media - Episode 51 - Conclave: The Obscene Dynamics of Doubt
Hello everyone!! Kicking off March, we're talking about religion, and the Catholic Church! With the Oscar-winning Conclave! As we finally dive deeper into how we engage with spirituality, organised religion, and the dreadful dynamics of power of the Catholic Church, we find an interesting film! Even if it does get beholden by its own liberal politics. A more personal episode than usual, perhaps
The Left Page - Episode 89 - 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: The Animation of Science Fiction
Hello everyone!! As our episode celebration of 6 years of The Left Page we go back to the 19th century with our very first Jules Verne: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea! For this very fun episode we not only reminisce a bit about the show and we feel about it after all this time, but also think over these elements that were at the dawn of science fiction as we know it! Elaborate scientific explanati
Here Be Media - Episode 50 - Arcane: Alienation Through Political Complacency w/ André
Hello everyone! As we make our way through February we bring yet another collab with our friend André, and on another very liberal piece of media, the League of Legends based show: Arcane! There was potential (some) to this show, as we elaborate on it, and yet, a rushed production, a terrible political perspective, and more, turn this into yet another, although worse, liberal and alienating show
The Left Page - Episode 88 - The Quick and the Dead: A Traversal of Finding One's Place w/ Emma Hinds
Hello everyone!! We start February in style, with Emma's return as she's got a new book out! The excellent The Quick and the Dead! Alchemy, romance, power, religion, and more! As such we talk a bit about how these elements constitute historical representation, how to depict them and queerness in the Elizabethan era, and dive into matters of religion, State power, and belief! Check it out and re
The Left Page - Episode 87 - The First Law 1-3: Master Making Fantasy Worlds
Hello everyone!! Kicking off 2025 with the Left Page we bring a very special series of books, the First Law trilogy, by Joe Abercrombie! A series dear to Leon and, now to the pod itself. We dive into how these books actually achieve goals of engaging the psychological, the social and the political, while also making compelling literature, imagine that! As such, we explore the building of this w
Here Be Media - Episode 49 - Ace Combat 7: Mach 3 Speed Propaganda w/ Sid
Hello everyone!! For our first HBM of 2025 we offer something quite strange, at first glance something all about military propaganda and nothing quite our podcast range, Ace Combat 7! But, as we are joined by our friend Sid of, among other things, The Bad Game Hall of Fame, we dive deeper! And yeah... there's a lot of propaganda, but still, attempts at telling a story and even being anti-war, b
Here Be Media - Episode 48 - Dune (1984): Lynching Social Identity w/ Audrey
Hello everyone! We are rounding out 2024 and Dunecember with a very special episode on a... "special" film? David Lynch's Dune from 1984 is not good. But it is worth talking about, and with a friend! As Audrey joins us to brave these strange strange sands. Plenty on the erasure of community and the fremen themselves, the roles of social identity, and some of the not good choices and narrative pa
Here Be Media - Episode 47 - Dragon Age: Inquisition: Putting "U" in Institution!
Greetings and Salutations everyone, We decided to do a second HBM episode this month instead of a HBE, we know a part of our audience likes it when we talk about Bioware so we hope this is a fun holiday present for you guys! We are going to be honest, this is a very text based analysis, and might not be the easiest to follow along with for those who have not played the game. We do think there is
The Left Page - Episode 86 - Dune: The Spice is Right
Hello everyone!! Welcome to Dunecember!! Lots of Dune to cap off 2024! For starters, we tackle the one, the original, the 1965 book by Frank Herbert! It's been a long-time coming, and we hope it was worth the wait. So join us as we talk religious manipulation, "untapped human potential", warrior cultures, being a weird little guy, and lots more in the last Left Page episode of the year. Enjoy!
Here Be Media - Episode 46 - Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree: FromSoft's End of History
Hello everyone!! Here is us finally talking about the Elden Ring DLC (or just a standalone game according to the GOTY-awards, Geoff should be struck down for his hubris and so on) we hope you all enjoy it! Due to technical difficulties Ash's precis was added post-recording. Our sincere apologies if it sounds odd, it was the best we could do. Find the Crypt dwellers near a cemetery or at the fo
The Left Page - Episode 85 - Good Night, Sleep Tight: Short Friction w/ Nate
Hello everyone!! The end of the year and the holidays approach rapidly, but not yet! Rejecting that, we remain in the lands of horror, as we talk about Brian Evenson's Good Night, Sleep Tight, with our friend Nate! We dive into some of the themes in this collection of short stories, their representation of childhood and anxieties of parenthood, sleep and more. And while elaborating on elements w
Here Be Media - Episode 45 - Interview with the Vampire S02: Vamphere, Vampthere, Vampeverywhere! w/ Jay
Hello everyone!! For this month's spooky HBM we go back to Interview with a Vampire! Season 2! And in good company too, with Jay, of LibraryPunk and Tender Subject fame! It's vampire talk again, as we go back into interviewing immortal beings and finding out just how interesting their drama really is. Is it? We wonder that as we dive into this continued adaptation, its successes and limits, and
The Left Page - Episode 84 - The Scar: The Dangers of DIY Quantum Physics w/ Horror Vanguard
Hello everyone!! It's October and you know what that means! We drag the ghost, from their crypts (or ship) and have a good Halloween book chat! As Jon joined us for China Mieville's 2nd book of the Bas-Lag Trilogy: the Scar! It's a great time talking about the power and potential of class consciousness, the strange dynamics of cities, pirates, liberation, and the terrible risks of mishandling qu
Here Be Media - Episode 44 - Paradise Killer: Defective Detectives
Hello everyone!! For this chaotic month's HBM we're diving into one of Frank's favourite genres, right back into detective fiction! This time talking about the very weird and very interesting Paradise Killer! Join us as we discuss the complexities of building a world from scratch, of making a sociologically compelling story, and creating a decent and engaging medium to solve a mystery. All while
The Left Page - Episode 83 - Concept: Tropes and their handling of Art
Hello everyone!! We kick off September with a very interesting concept episode, as we talk about Tropes, and clichés and archetypes! A very good time as we consider not just the creation of art, especially literature, but also its very superficial and weak discourse that is mostly upheld by these building blocks of tropes. We also go over a general engagement with art and the willingness to con
Here Be Media - Episode 43 - Baldur's Gate 3: The Complexities of Creation and Desire w/ Holly
Hello everyone!! This is a big one! We are finally talking about Baldur's Gate 3! In our longest Left Page and Here Be Media episode to date we dive into many of the complexities involving Dungeons & Dragons, tabletop RPGs, the fantasy problems of "races" and this incredibly interesting and fun game of wish-fulfillment, adventure, and more! We still have many critiques though, and go into ways
The Left Page - Episode 82 - The Expanse 4-6: A Culmination of Tragedy
Hello everyone!! It has been one year since, but we return to the responsible dystopia of The Expanse! Following books 4 to 6, Cibola Burn, Nemesis Games & Babylon's Ashes! This time we dive further into the possible horrors mankind can accomplish all on its own, the difficult nature of resistance and rebellion, the looming unknowns orders of magnitude above humanity, and how this book series co
The Left Page - Episode 81 - Capitalism: A Horror Story
Comrades! Lend us your ears! As one of the best to ever pod it joins us to talk about his book! Are you tired of being alone in the dark clutches of Capital-C-Capitalism?! Then take our hand our downtrodden compatriot, and join us on a voyage of radical informational archeology, and imagination. "If you've been feeling isolated or afraid, take up this book and find that the only thing hiding in
Here Be Media - Episode 42 - X-Men '97: Liberalism's Flawed Dreams w/ André
Hello everyone!! As a special treat this July, we have another Here Be Media episode! It's an X-Men deep dive, even as we talk about the latest show, and we're joined by a good friend and academic, André Kanasiro! We talk about the many parallels that are usually established when one talks about the X-Men, the pervading liberalism of it all, and the terrible terrible notions of "evolution" at pl
Here Be Media - Episode 41 - Bad Game Hall of Fame: Give Bad Games a Chance
Hello everyone!! For our first episode of July we have a very special collab! We are joined by Cassidy and Charkie of the Bad Game Hall of Fame to talk about bad videogames! Havin been interested in the subject for a while, we bring in the experts to dive into and games, and their merits! What makes a videogame bad? Why are they still interesting? How can we talk about and make content on them?
Here Be Media - Episode 40 - Concept: Canon Pt. 1
Hello everyone!! For our Here Be Media episode of the month, we dive into some aspects of this horrible and conservative force we call: Canon! To start off this new Concept series we go into some media products and franchises, their issues as "IPs", fandom and their relationship to Canon, and finally, we talk about this terrible beast we see as the Literary Canon! Join us as we start laying the
The Left Page - Episode 80 - The City and the City: Breaching Borders in Solidarity
Hello everyone!! For this month's Left Page we turn back to China Miéville, in a weird and fascinating book about detective stories, borders, and violence, it is The City and the City! In this episode we dive into the place of these cities, both fictionally and the real-world cultures they interact with and are a part of; we consider the detective narrative and how it interacts with this story,
The Left Page - Episode 79 - Gogmagog: Hybridity, innit? W/ Eden
Hello everyone!! For this month's Left Page we talked about the very weird, very interesting, and very hybrid Gogmagog, by Jeff Noon and Steve Beard! And we are joined by friend and podcaster Eden, of Heavy Blog is Heavy, Death // Sentence and AnarchySF fame! It's a thorough conversation over the weirdness present in the book, the alegory with England and the broader aspect of Hybridity in the m
Here Be Media - Episode 39 - Scavenger's Reign (2023): How Space Exploration Leads Us Back to Ourselves w/ Nate
Hello everyone!! For our second HBM we'll dive into an animated sci-fi series that's weird, strange and very very interesting, we talk about Scavenger's Reign! And we won't do so alone, as we invited our great friend Nate along! Join us as we discuss the challenges of being marooned in an alien moon, the inherent horror of capitalism in space, and how we must be open to engage with the environme
Here Be Media - Episode 38 - Starship Troopers (1997): F*ck Fascism w/ HorrorVanguard
Hello everyone!! For our first May episode we have a mega collab with Horror Vanguard, on Starship Troopers (1997), directed by Paul Verhoeven! As we interweave Heinlein's book with the film we ultimately dive into how fascism works and should be fought at every turn, in every way. Enjoy! Do check out Jon's book on Bloch and Utopia: https://www.amazon.com/Primer-Utopian-Philosophy-Jonathan-Gr
The Left Page - Episode 78 - Ways of Seeing: How Art Confronts Colonialism and the Self w/ Nadjah
Hello everyone!! For our Left Page episode of the month we are talking about a very interesting book, and documentary series! It's John Berger's "Ways of Seeing", and to dive deep we are joined by our friend, podcaster and art historian, Nadjah of Imaginarium Podcast! We think about colonialism, the idea of "value" when atributed to art, the connection with the viewer of an art piece and how all
Here Be Media - Episode 37 - The Prince of Egypt: When Liberation and Faith Reflect into one another
Hello everyone!! As a special treat for Pesach, we dive into the incredible animated film The Prince of Egypt! Approaching Faith and Liberation, we consider not just the question of religious & historical narratives and their complex relations, but also of their representation in media. Further still, we talk about violence and how to comprehend "violence" in the name of Liberation. In a conver
Here Be Media - Episode 36 - Bethesda: Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Who's the Pulpiest of them All?
Hello everyone! Our first episode of April is a different one, if something we've been meaning to do for a while, more than talking about a game, it's a studio, so join us as we talk about Bethesda and their games! Jumping off from our mention of Bethesda games and their connection to mods last month, and Leon's previous writing on Skyrim, we decided to dive properly into their games and their "
The Left Page - Episode 77 - The Actual Star: The Pitfalls Towards Actual Utopia
Hello everyone! To round out this month's episodes, we dive back into sci-fi, and more utopian fiction! With a recommendation from listener, and patron, Nate: Monica Byrne's The Actual Star! It's a complex discusson on Utopian writing, its challenges, and how sometimes things don't quite work out as we'd like. So join us in this conversation on Utopia and Religion, historical and sociological ap
Here Be Media - Episode 35 - Mods: When Games Meet Post-"Mod"ernism
Hello everyone!! As we're rounding out March, we offer a different kind of conceptual HBM episode! We take a look at videogame mods, what they are, what they can be, and what's so damn interesting about them! Join us as we talk about the difficulties involved in modding, the relationship to game companies, and how mods, at their best, can express an immense passion and creativity, in an anarchic
Here Be Media - Episode 34 - Max Payne 3: How Hate can Erode Quality
Hello everyone!! As a logical continuation of Leon's writings on Rockstar and GTA, we both revisited a game (not a franchise, mind you), which enrages and frustrates us both Max Payne 3. In a game where you relentlessly shoot poor brown and black people and play the "American Hero" cop, we dive into what this game does with this setup and what it doesn't believe in. For as Leon put it before, th
Here Be Media - Episode 33 - Cyberpunk 2077 & Edgerunners: The Dangers of Purely Aestheticizing
Hello everyone!! For this final February episode, we, talk about when Cyberpunk... goes awry, to put it mildly, it's time to see the issues of Cyberpunk 2077 and Cyberpunk Edgerunners! We dive into what happens when one tries to recreate just the aesthetics of a genre, and the effects of cutting out the politics. And so we turn to this hollowness at the heart of a "cyberpunk" that has left out a
Here Be Media - Episode 32 - Disco Elysium: Rummaging through the Ruin of History w/ Labor Kyle
Hello everyone!! We continue well into February, as we bring in the incomparable Labor Kyle to talk about... one of the best games of all time. It's time to talk about Disco Elysium!! Join us as we dive into the real genesis and formation of revolutionary character that can happen in Harry DuBois, and then, with no less gravitas, about the intersection of this game with Walter Benjamin's "Thesis
The Left Page - Episode 76 - 5 Year Anniversary: The U and I in Utopia
Hello everyone!! Happy 5 year anniversary of the Left Page!! This is a huge achievement and one I still can't believe is here, and yet, it has been a wonderful journey so far, and we're not thinking about stopping anytime soon! To celebrate such a date, Leon and I spoke about a book foundational to my entire research, the 1516 book by Thomas More: Utopia. We delve into some of its history, the t
Here Be Media - Episode 31 - Hitman: Silliness as a Foil for Hypercompetence
Hello everyone!! For our last January episode we dive into an excellent recent trilogy of games, Hitman: World of Assassination, and think about how good these games are, as they embrace strong silliness. Alongside advancing Frank's ideas and arguments for the silly, we look into the protagonist of Agent 47 and how his hypercompetence is both related to, and changed, by the silly aspects of the
The Left Page - Episode 75 - The Knowing: Art as Triangle of the Personal, Historical, and Supernatural w/ Emma Hinds
Hello everyone!! Kicking off 2024 for the Left Page we have a very special episode with dramaturgist and debut novelist Emma Hinds, as we talk about her, as of this episode's release, published book The Knowing! Via this gothic, queer, historical, and violent story, Emma joins us as we dive into some of the ways both the book, and ourselves, try to engage with Art: how to create it, understand i
Here Be Media - Episode 30 - Looking at 2024
Hello everyone!! To kick off 2024 we consider some of our different plans for the pods, our big ideas and the things we have in store! And, of course, we chat a bit about upcoming media we're interested in, some which interests us and some which uhhh concerns/frustrates us. It's a new year with a whole lot more to read, watch, play, and talk about! Have fun, and hapy new year! Please support
Here Be Media - Episode 29 - 2023 Year-in-Review
Hello everyone!! To finally wrap up 2023, we stop for a moment and think back on both the things we saw/watched/played and even recorded this year, to review how it went. And overall, we're pretty happy with what we've done and are planning to do next year!! Thank you so much for a great year, especially, especially our Patrons, and here's to another fun and full of great conversations 2024! Th
The Left Page - Episode 74 - The Secret History: How dark is this academia? We found out! w/ Jay
Hello everyone! For our final 2023 Left Page episode, we are joined by Jay, of LibraryPunk and Tender Subject fame to talk about the "original dark academia text" Donna Tartt's The Secret History! It's a wonderful send off of 2023 as we dive into what "dark academia" is and can be, the bad writing of novels, the characterization of terrible characters, and how rich people are always terrible! E
Here Be Media - Episode 28 - Armored Core VI: Capitalist Realism? In my Mech-Economy?!
Hello everyone! As we round out the year, we have some very fun shows to share, and here we are with one of our favourite games this year: Armored Core VI! Nevermind the From Software bias, we do find plenty to talk about in regards to the destructive nature of the mech-economy, how characterization functions in this wonderfully fun game, and how inescapable the capitalist realist mech-economy m
Here Be Media - Episode 27 - Dragon Age II: The emptiness of non-committal liberalism
Hello everyone!! As we wrap up November we talk about a game we encourage you NOT to play! And yet, there's still plenty interesting, and plenty important, to talk about regardless. So join us as we talk about another game in Bioware's roster, it's Dragon Age II! A somewhat timely discussion, given the many layoffs in Bioware and just how the politics in this game can be so quintessentially lib
Here Be Media - Episode 26 - Analogue Horror: Where Horror and Nostalgia Meet w/ Leslie from Fangs for the Memories
Hello everyone!! Because the Horrors are neverending, we have Leslie from Fangs for the Memorieeeeeees! To chat with us about Analogue Horror! In this more conceptually focused episode we go into what is Analogue Horror, the relationship of horror with form, media and technology. And to top it off, we go into one of the best things about this genre, the meeting place of nostalgia and horror, as
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