Ep. 28: On Cuties, Polanski & the "Pope of Marxism"

In this episode of SPS, Sophia and Pamela discuss the moral panic surrounding Netflix's new film, Cuties (2020), and take up the responses by Spiked Online and Jacobin magazine. Platypus members Marco Torres and David Faes join us to reflect on Polanski's critically-acclaimed J'Accuse (2019)and how it speaks to the present. In the final segment, Sophia interviews Jack Conrad from the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB). They consider how the 'Left' uses and abuses Karl Kautsky's legacy in order to avoid Kautsky's Marxism and discuss what the CPGB is up to. If you want to learn more about Platypus, and get involved, read the Platypus review, visit us on Facebook under the Platypus Affiliated Society or visit www.platypus1917.org. You can follow us on Instagram: ShitPlatypusSays, and on Twitter: @PlatypusSays. If you like the podcast, share it, rate it, and write us a review. Mentioned:
 (0) Theodor W. Adorno, "Sexual Taboos and the Law Today" (1963) https://platypus1917.org/wp-content/uploads/readings/adorno_sexualtaboostoday.pdf (1) Brendan O'Neill, Cuties Review 
https://www.spiked-online.com/2020/09/15/in-defence-of-cuties/ (2) Eileen Jones, Cuties Review
 https://www.jacobinmag.com/2020/09/cuties-scandal-netflix-controversy-french-movie 
(3) The Spartacist League on Polanski, “Stop the Puritan Witchhunt Against Roman Polanski!” printed in the Workers Vanguard, No. 192, 10 February 1978 https://www.icl-fi.org/english/wv/944/polanski.html
 (4) Platypus' 'Kautsky in the 21st Century' Panel (2020)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aL2TWNd1ntc (5) Communist Party of Great Britain's website https://communistparty.co.uk (6) The CPGB's Weekly Worker website https://weeklyworker.co.uk (7) The CPGB's Communist University 2020 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOkaFWQNpCTrQfT65UszE4A Hosted by Pamela C., Sophia F., with editing assistance by Michael Woodson, Audrey Crescenti and music from Tamas Vilaghy.