Political Theater

Political Theater

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Critic Martin R. Schneider and storyteller Marta Rusek explore the connections between pop culture and real-world politics, with special guests, interviews, and in-depth analysis.

Martin Schneider


    • Oct 22, 2017 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 1m AVG DURATION
    • 8 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Political Theater

    Open Access in Order to Make a Midnight Movie (Live!)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2017 64:26


    This special episode was recorded LIVE at the University of Pennsylvania for Open Access Week 2017! Marty and Marta explore the legal quirks and loopholes that have helped create some of the best "so bad it's good" works of cult cinema in history. We'll talk about how transformative fair use allowed the Mystery Science Theater franchise to survive, how The Asylum made a cottage industry out of ripping off blockbuster movies, how Italian copyright laws let one cowboy movie spawn dozens of "sequels", and the bizarre IP battle over one of the worst films of all time - Manos, The Hands of Fate. Joining us is Penn Law alum Frank Taney of Taney Legal to help clear up some of the fine print and answer some legal questions! Special thanks to Taney Legal, Penn IP Group, Penn Law, and the Penn Libraries.   COPYRIGHT INFO:  Copyright © 2017 Martin Schneider & Marta Rusek. Some rights reserved.All of our podcasts are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA) 4.0 International license. For any other re-use, please contact politicaltheaterpodcast@gmail.com

    Political Theater Episode 6: Women of a Certain Age

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2017 63:05


    Martin and Marta look at the roles and representation for women over the age of 60(ish). Topics include sexuality, business, and responses to harassment - also why Keanu Reeves is better than Jack Nicholson. Plus Marty fumes at being forced to watch a Nancy Myers movie. Come see Political Theater talk about midnight movies LIVE in Philadelphia: http://libcal.library.upenn.edu/event/3611575 Media discussed: Something's Gotta Give (2003): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0337741/ Grace and Frankie (2015-2017): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3609352/?ref_=nv_sr_3 The Golden Girls (1985-1992):http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088526/?ref_=nv_sr_5 COPYRIGHT INFO: Copyright © 2017 Martin Schneider & Marta Rusek. Some rights reserved. All of our podcasts are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA) 4.0 International license. For any other re-use, please contact politicaltheaterpodcast@gmail.com

    Political Theater Episode 5: Workplace Intersectionality on Film

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2017 61:13


    As part of the ongoing series on Working Women, this episode explores the meetings of race and gender on-screen and in real life. Special guest Carla Baptiste from the Urban League of Philadelphia helps explain some of the distinct differences in workplace opportunities presented to people of color. Next, Martin and Marta explore some very recent film and TV dealing with these subjects in a direct way: Media discussed: Hidden Figures:http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4846340/ HBO's Insecure: http://www.hbo.com/insecure/ East Side Sushi: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2340650/ Learn more about the Urban League: http://www.urbanleaguephila.org/

    Episode 4: Working Women Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2017 41:36


    Marta and Marty return with a new format, ready to talk about movies and TV featuring women in the workplace. This intro episode debunks common debunkings of the wage gap, and talks about film portrayals of subtle and not-so-subtle workplace sexism. Plus, gender researcher Whitney Carroll stops in to talk about her new research projects and some of her surprising discoveries about perceptions of sexism. Media discussed: The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-1977):http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065314/ 9 to 5 (1980): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080319/?ref_=nv_sr_1 Contact (1977): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118884/?ref_=nv_sr_1 Sources for info: https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/9118a9ef-0771-4777-9c1f-8232fe70a45c/compendium---sans-appendix.pdf https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/five-myths-about-the-gender-pay-gap/2014/07/25/9e5cff34-fcd5-11e3-8176-f2c941cf35f1_story.html http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-20/the-real-cost-of-an-mba-is-different-for-men-and-women

    Political Theater Episode 3.5: Bonus Material

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2017 41:22


    In preparing for our last episode, "They Ryan Gosling Effect", Martin and Marta interviewed a number of educators and community outreach coordinators. Their answers were fun, enlightening, educational, and heartfelt - unfortunately they couldn't all make it in to the final cut. Here now, as bonus material, are the full interviews with special guests Jess Domokos, Christian Hayden, Kelsy

    Episode 3: The Ryan Gosling Effect

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2017 105:46


    Martin and Marta get into relationships and explore the popularity and romanticism of emotionally unhealthy pairings in the media. Plus, we talk about movies that get healthy dating right, and we reveal embarrassing stories from Marty's dating history! Films discussed include: The Notebook, 50 Shades of Gray, Twilight, Revenge of the Nerds, The "Before..." trilogy and many others. Special Guests: Jess Domokos, Human Sexuality Educator at Perdue University Sharon Rice & Christian Hayden, Community Educators

    Episode 2: Welcome to Rainbowland

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2017 58:17


    Political Theater explores the world of journalism and "fake news", including how they affect political campaigns. Films discussed include The Campaign (2015), The Ides of March (2011), Primary Colors (1996), Network (1976), and Good Night and Good Luck (2005). Special guest interview with former Philadelphia Weekly editor Stephen H. Segal.

    Episode 1: Patriotism, Race, and Football

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2016 53:51


    In the inagural episode, Martin and Marta discuss the National Anthem protests in the NFL, as well as the league's history with race and leadership. The team discusses the films Any Given Sunday and Remember the Titans, as well as two episodes from the show Friday Night Lights. We also hear from Coach Preston Brown, an inner-city football coach whose team has taken to kneeling during the anthem.

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