CULTURAL MARXISM: Anora (2024) w/ Indica Dominant of Dysphoria

Jamie is joined by Indica Dominant (@DominantIndica) a.k.a. Olive, adult performer/sex worker and co-host of the Dysphoria podcast, to discuss director Sean Baker’s anti-Cinderella story Anora (2024), which just won the Oscar for Best Picture. Is it possible to combine a screwball comedy, a hooker exploitation film, and a twee Sundance indie into one movie? What does Anora have to say, or not, about sex work, class, and capitalism? And what’s up with Zoomers and ketamine? Spoilers, obviously. Check out Olive’s podcast (with fellow friend of the show Maxelle Talena), Dysphoria at dysphoria.info and patreon.com/dysphoriathepodcast NOTE: Cultural Marxism is usually a premium series, but this week it’s free! Sign up as a supporter at patreon.com/partygirls or youtube.com/@partygirlspod to get the rest of the series, plus all other bonus content, access to our Discord community, and a shout out on the pod! 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:43 “Anora” recap starts 00:13:20 Surface level worship of wealth or critique of capitalism? 00:18:19 Dehumanization, creative characterization, or subversive anti-work queen? 00:22:51 Real world relationships to sex work 00:25:20 Scene analysis: Ani gets tied up by Igor 00:29:36 Chasing the American Dream 00:38:14 Scene analysis: finding Vanya at the strip club 00:43:47 Disagreement about the ending 00:58:32 Should we hold stories about SWs to higher standards? 01:03:04 Where’s that oligarch money from Vanya?? 01:08:01 You can’t escape the imprisonment of capitalism thru a Gilded Cage 01:13:51 Humanizing public perception of sex work 01:19:04 "Anora" and “The Florida Project,” strip club v. survival 01:23:21 Criminalization of trans sex workers 01:25:31 Defanged drug use in “Anora” 01:29:54 “It’s a Cinderella story” 01:34:32 Plugging Patreons! *** SIGN UP NOW at https://patreon.com/partygirls to get all of our bonus content, Discord access, and a shout out on the pod! Join our YouTube channel as a member to get access to bonus videos (the same one's you'd find on Patreon!): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0T-lzkTsMt1tBSvp958UGQ/join Follow us on ALL the Socials: Instagram: @party.girls.pod YouTube: @partygirlspod TikTok: @party.girls.pod Twitter: @partygirlspod BlueSky: @partygirls.bsky.social Leave us a nice review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you feel so inclined: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/party-girls/id1577239978 https://open.spotify.com/show/71ESqg33NRlEPmDxjbg4rO *** Executive Producer: Andrew Callaway Producers: Charlotte Albrecht, Jon B., Ryan M.