Dune (Parts 1&2)

Episode 36 of the Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs podcast, hosted by Clare Coombe, titled "Dune (Parts 1&2)" was published on August 24, 2025 and runs 65 minutes.

August 24, 2025 ·65m · Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs

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Summary

Episode 36 takes us to the desert planet of Arrakis for our discussion of Dune, with particular reference to the 2021/2024 films as well as Frank Herbert's books. 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. If you enjoy this episode, please do rate and review. You can find out more about what we do on our website.

Episode Description

Episode 36 takes us to the desert planet of Arrakis for our discussion of Dune, with particular reference to the 2021/2024 films as well as Frank Herbert's books.

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.

If you enjoy this episode, please do rate and review. You can find out more about what we do on our website.