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FFR 161: Left-Reading Media: When you want it to be Progressive episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 21, 2021 · 55 MIN

FFR 161: Left-Reading Media: When you want it to be Progressive

from Feminist Frequency Radio · host Feminist Frequency

When all your faves are problematic, it may be tempting, or even natural, to tease out progressive politics or disruptive readings within media which on the surface seems to support the status quo. Is that ultra-macho action movie really about found family? Is your favorite root-for-the-bad-guy drama actually a scathing indictment of violence and toxic masculinity? Well, maybe not, but the tendency to seek a progressive meaning in the media we love is called “left-reading,” and today on the podcast Carolyn, Ebony, and Anita are taking a look at the phenomena and discussing why it happens and what harm might be done by excusing popular media in this way.Time Stamps:6:00 - Introduction to “Left-reading”9:34 - The Equalizer and The Equalizer 217:13 - Breaking Bad20:46 - Star Wars, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings27:00 - Optimistic left-reading, opportunities for reclamation, and personal interpretation vs real-world impact36:24 - Cop-aganda40:00 - Fury Road and Ripley44:00 - John Wick and The Fast and the Furious movies48:51 - What’s Your Freq Out?Anita on the 2018 film Shoplifters directed by Hirokazu KoreedaGuest freq out from listener Halex Pereira from Brazil on the web comic (released recently as 2 part graphic novel) Check, Please! by Ngozi UkazuFollow Us:Join our PatreonOur WebsiteSubscribe to FFR on Apple PodcastsSubscribe to our Star Trek PodcastTwitterInstagram

What this episode covers

When all your faves are problematic, it may be tempting, or even natural, to tease out progressive politics or disruptive readings within media which on the surface seems to support the status quo. Is that ultra-macho action movie really about found family? Is your favorite root-for-the-bad-guy drama actually a scathing indictment of violence and toxic masculinity? Well, maybe not, but the tendency to seek a progressive meaning in the media we love is called “left-reading,” and today on the podcast Carolyn, Ebony, and Anita are taking a look at the phenomena and discussing why it happens and what harm might be done by excusing popular media in this way.

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FFR 161: Left-Reading Media: When you want it to be Progressive

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How long is this episode of Feminist Frequency Radio?

This episode is 55 minutes long.

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This episode was published on April 21, 2021.

What is this episode about?

When all your faves are problematic, it may be tempting, or even natural, to tease out progressive politics or disruptive readings within media which on the surface seems to support the status quo. Is that ultra-macho action movie really about found...

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