Zeitgeist by Pulp Culture
Jordan and Niv dive into the latest TV and movie releases, alongside the latest entertainment news and a roster of hand-curated music.
Episodes
Jordan and Niv, in their second conversation about video games, discuss how the medium allows for total immersion (1:10) before discussing 'Fallout.' (12:30) They touch on character (21:40) and tone (39:59) before moving onto Netflix's 'Arcane.' (1:02:23) They discuss the modern transition of video game adaptations to film and television, and debate on how 'Arcane' fares, similarly in terms of complexity (01:14:03), how magic integ...
First they talk about how X Men 97 makes an exemplary water cooler show (2:05) and its origins as a Saturday morning cartoon (04:50). They discuss what makes X Men eternal (11:07), and how was previously portrayed onscreen (12:55) in the early 2000s. Then, they delve into the cast list (16:21), the pacing (19:21), and they touch on intertextuality (25:47) within the show. After, they remark on the show’s best episode mid-season (27...
As the Emmy window closes, Jordan and Niv recall two historically-based dramas from this year on TV. They discuss 'Mary and George' on Starz, how homosexuality plays a role in the show (8:50) and overall how seriously the show takes its execution (19:01). They touch briefly on some spoilers for the final moments of the sensational program (22:17) before moving on to 'Shogun' on Hulu (35:56). Niv maps out the real-life locations in ...
For its second year, Zeitgeist checks in on the state of the animation industry. In the first half, Jordan and Niv talk about 'Blue Eyed Samurai'. They Tackle race and identity (06:30), break down the talents behind the series (11:29), animation style (17:48), and tone (26:40). Then, they touch base on 'Scavengers Reign' on Max (now also Netflix). They investigate the state of the industry (46:56), the show's animation style (51:31...
[Editorial Note: You’ll hear some pops and clicks near the front of the episode today from an unresolved recording issue.] Niv and Jordan discuss the 2024 Oscars in relation to a snub, Sofia Coppola’s ‘Priscilla.’ Then, they’re joined by Sam (9:00), who lays the foundation for the work at hand through providing context in our world today. They discuss how Priscilla inspired Lana Del Rey (11:45), Priscilla’s infantilization in relat...
Jordan and Niv discuss two forays into Asian-American led TV on Netflix, first in regard to the recently settled SAG/AFRA and WGA strikes. Then, they set the scene for the Emmy nominated 'Beef' (7:36), investigate whether the series could have been a film (11:48), and highlight a cast on the rise (13:12). They debate the class struggles inherent in 'Beef' (16:52), and examine the way the show uses Korean representation (21:20). The...
Niv and Jordan talk about the act of counterprogramming as it relates to Barbie and Oppenheimer (1:20) before they discuss how Barbie rose from the cloud of smoke Oppenheimer left behind (11:58), and the rocky path to get there. Jordan dissects the acting in Barbie (21:45), and Niv designates the different ways to develop a household item into a fully realized film (28:31). They talk about the negatives and positives (42:45) before...
Jordan and Niv discuss the two buzziest Emmy contenders: Succession and Ted Lasso. First, they dissect the full series of Succession beginning with the characters, moving towards their status and situation and ending with the implications the series finale leaves us with, and what the takeaways are for such a complicated piece of media. Then, they discuss Ted Lasso in the broader context of the Emmy’s, compare Lasso and Succession,...
Jordan and Niv discuss two streaming limited series that'll leave you with a story and a tune to hum. First, they discuss 'Up Here' on Hulu, a little-known musical series about two lost souls who find themselves in New York City. They discuss how the city plays a character in the show, how musical TV may differ from musicals onstage, and whether 'Up Here' is worth your time. In the second part (36:48), Jordan is joined by guest spe...
In the first section, Jordan and Niv over-analyze 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie.' They discuss the cast, the potential of a property of this scale and the ways in which the film meets and misses that potential. Then, in the second section they analyse 'The Last of Us.' They discuss the difference between the video game and the HBO series, the differences and similarties, how video game mechanics enhance the drama in the show, and ho...
In Part 2 of their Oscar coverage episode, Jordan and Niv detail their Oscar predictions before diving in-deep on an analysis of 'Tar.’
In the first Oscar conversation leading up to the 2023 Academy Awards, Jordan and Niv critique the authoritative genre of the season: the meta-film. First, they discuss how each actor performed in the Steven Spielberg autofiction blockbuster, ‘The Fabelmens,’ before moving onto why these films may fail to make their mark (06:43). From there, they continue with a spoiler-ific dissection of Damen Chazelle’s ‘Babylon.’ (33:50)
Jordan and Niv make their forray into anime. First, they discuss their history with the genre, and the impact of Shonen Jump (13:00). Then, they talk about the foundation of 'Demon Slayer' in popular culture, as well as about the 2020 hit, 'Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train (15:21).' They talk about the new Entertainment District arc, and how the characters drive the show (41:49). Finally, they dive into the brand new 'Chainsaw M...
Jordan and Niv cover two children's movies from Netflix, both about how children can accomplish impossible odds in order to protect themselves, and the people they love. First, we dive into the world of Guillermo del Toro's 'Pinocchio', before talking about the death of the mid-budget feature, and then dissecting the magical realism of 'Matilda: The Musical.'
Jordan and Niv talk about their top five films, and then TV shows, of this year.
Jordan and Niv talk about what lives at the core of the blockbuster, particularly those released this year. First, they dive into what makes ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ relevant after nearly forty years, before dissecting what each actor contributes to its new iteration. Then, they dive into ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,’ and how it stacks up to the original ‘Black Panther,’ as well as every other Marvel movie to date.
Jordan and Niv review the two less-than-hit feature rolls for Ana de Armas in 2022: Hulu's 'Deep Water,' and Netflix's 'Blonde.' They discuss how 'Blonde' is more than a biopic, but less than seminal (and less than optimal), and then discuss whether or not 'Deep Water' can overcome its shortcomings.
Jordan and Niv compare the HBO show 'House of the Dragon' with Amazon's 'The Rings of Power.' They first talk about the source material for 'Dragon,' the new game of Thrones spinoff, then detail the events of the show, casting, and their opinions on pacing throughout. Then, with 'Rings of Power,' they discuss the beginnings of the show, how Amazon went about creating a new era of Lord of the Rings entertainment, and how that ambiti...
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