Feminist Frequency Radio

Latest Episodes:

FFR 170: Loki Jul 21, 2021

Show notes

We’re returning to the MCU for a look at the cosmic, time-hopping multiverse of Loki. The series boasts a stellar cast, aesthetic, and a whole lot of storytelling in a six-episode package. Can the God of Mischief change his stripes, and do we even want him to? Listen in to our discussion of this stand-out series and witness as we slowly morph into a Marvel-centric podcast.

Time Stamps:

8:01 - Main discussion on Loki

40:38 - What’s your Freq Out?

Anita on the novel The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey

Links Mentioned:

https://twitter.com/anitasarkeesian/status/1416421460516638722?s=20

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FFR 169: Black Widow Jul 14, 2021

Show notes

Today on the podcast we’re discussing the 24th (!!!!) entry to the MCU, Black Widow. The movie attempts to balance themes of chosen family, trauma and healing with its need to deliver lots of fight scenes and CGI spectacle. But does it succeed, and knowing Natasha’s ultimate ending, do we still care? Listen in to hear our conversation.

Time Stamps:

10:00 - Main discussion on Black Widow

45:13 - What’s your Freq Out?

Anita on the immersive theater experience The Nest - http://www.thenestshow.com
Guest Freq Out from listener Marion on the novel Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

Links Mentioned:

Film Freak Central review of Black Widow by Walter Chaw: https://www.filmfreakcentral.net/ffc/2021/06/black-widow-2021.html

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FFR 168: Point Break Jul 07, 2021

Show notes

100% PURE ADRENALINE. We’re back and we’re finally tackling a topic we’ve been wanting to talk about for a long time: Point Break, which is having its 30th anniversary this year. It’s peak 90s action cinema and with it, director Kathryn Bigelow not only created a uniquely soulful entry into the action canon, but she may have defined many of the decade’s best cinematic sensibilities as well. Is it ironic or sincere? Is Keanu great or terrible in it? How does Lori Petty’s Tyler both fulfill and subvert the standard role of the superfluous love interest in a film that’s really all about its male characters? Is Carolyn left-reading too much or does Reeves’ Johnny Utah actually discover that the FBI is a soul-crushing machine of which he wants no part? We discuss all this and much more, so gather round the bonfire, catch some waves and join us as we talk about Point Break.

Time Stamps:

08:15 Point Break
41:35 - What’s Your FREQ-Out: Ebony on Summer of Soul, Carolyn on the problems with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s recent viral essay.

Links Mentioned:

April Wolfe on Point Break for Rolling Stone: https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-features/stream-this-movie-point-break-717570/
Oluwatayo Adewole on the important context of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s recent viral essay: https://gal-dem.com/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie-viral-essay-shows-transphobia/

FFR 167: Robocop Jun 02, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of the Feminist Frequency Radio podcast, we’re watching RoboCop, one of the first American films by Paul Verhoeven, who would go on to direct Total Recall, Basic Instinct, and notably, Starship Troopers. After discovering Anita had never seen the 80s classic, Carolyn and Ebony are revisiting the film and bringing her along for the ride. What kind of movie is RoboCop? Mid-tier 80s action flick or brilliant work of Reagan-era satire? And how does it hold up both for Caro and Ebony who are coming back to it, as well as for a first time viewer in 2021 like Anita? Listen in to hear our discussion.

Time Stamps:

7:34 - Main discussion on RoboCop

44:50 - What’s your Freq Out?

Caro on the documentary miniseries on HBO Exterminate All the Brutes
Anita on the upcoming novel from author Claire North—Notes from the Burning Age—out July 6 - https://www.clairenorth.com

Links Mentioned:

Kendall’s rap from Succession: https://youtu.be/6dUDQTc-9kM

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FFR 166: Entertainment News May 26, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of FFR, Entertainment News returns with a crop of pop culture updates and events that are designed to make you bury your head in the nearest pillow and scream. From un-cancelable sexual offenders to the latest string of reboots, remakes, and retreads, we’re here to talk about the things that are keeping our group chats popping and our Twitter feeds unbearable.

Time Stamps:

2:27 - Talking about our recent live stream event

10:03 - Everything Old Is New Again:

Timothee Chalamet playing Willy Wonka: https://www.etonline.com/timothee-chalamet-to-play-young-willy-wonka-in-new-origin-film-wonka-166260
Henry Cavill as the Highlander: https://deadline.com/2021/05/henry-cavill-lionsgates-highlander-reboot-chad-stahelski-1234761916/
Emma Stone as Cruella deVil: https://nypost.com/2021/05/21/how-emma-stone-transformed-into-disney-villain-cruella/

29:33 - The World Is On Fire and We Can’t Talk About It

38:09 - You Can’t Cancel Me or Shut Me Up

Kevin Spacey cast in first role since sexual assault allegations: https://www.indiewire.com/2021/05/kevin-spacey-italian-film-vanessa-redgrave-1234639618/
Philip Roth biography lives to fight another day: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2021-05-17/blake-bailey-philip-roth-bio-picked-up-by-skyhorse-publishing#:~:text=“Philip%20Roth%3A%20The%20Biography%2C,the%20%20latter%20company%20announced%20Monday
Story in Slate detailing Blake Bailey’s inappropriate relationships with his eighth-grade students: https://slate.com/culture/2021/04/blake-bailey-lusher-journals-teacher.html
Joe Rogan thinks white men have trouble being heard: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/joe-rogan-criticized-mocked-after-saying-straight-white-men-are-n1267801

47:58 - What’s your Freq Out?

** Note: There was an error in episode 165 (Carrie) where we played the wrong guest freq out. We apologize for the error and this week are playing both guest freq outs, in context, in this episode of the podcast:

Guest Freq Out Caitlin Grant on her podcast about “monstrous menstruation” - Plug It Up Podcast (@plugituppod)
Guest Freq out from Katie O’Donnell in Los Angeles on the film Dog Day Afternoon (1975) directed by Sidney Lumet
Anita on the band The Linda Lindas

Additional Links Mentioned:

The tiktok Caro mentions about film and music are dominated by people from very privileged backgrounds: https://www.tiktok.com/@twotreehill/video/6956231215372324102

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FFR 165: Carrie May 19, 2021

Show notes

Today on the podcast we’re discussing the 1976 horror classic Carrie, directed by Brian de Palma and based on Stephen King’s first published novel. We asked our patrons to select from several films with Bad Mothers, and this is what they chose— a film with enduring cultural significance full of fascinating contradictions between de Palma’s characteristically problematic lens and other narrative aspects that seem to naturally invite a feminist reading. Listen in as we unpack the many layers of Carrie and how the film presents the feminine and femininity, including gender performance, internalized misogyny, and of course, motherhood.

*** Friendly reminder to mark your calendars for our birthday blow out! This Friday, May 21st starting at 1pm PT we've got 26 hours full of streamers and games all celebrating Feminist Frequency's 12th anniversary. Spread the word & follow us on http://twitch.tv/femfreq to get ready!

Time Stamps:

10:39 - Main discussion on Carrie

43:56 - What’s your Freq Out?

Ebony on accessibility of art and experience— AREA15 in Las Vegas and François-Henri Pinault’s art museum
Anita on the You Must Remember This Podcast series Polly Platt: The Invisible Woman
Special Guest Freq Out Caitlin Grant of Plug It Up Podcast (@plugituppod) on the film Dog Day Afternoon (1975) directed by Sidney Lumet

Links Mentioned:

Tamoor Hussain’s “Message to the Video Game Industry” - https://youtu.be/g9F4trpHzKo
https://www.vice.com/en/article/4avwpb/ign-staff-pissed-after-meeting-about-deleted-palestine-charity-post

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FFR 164: Fame and Fandom May 12, 2021

Show notes

On this topical episode of the podcast we’re tackling fame, celebrity culture, and fandom. While celebrity is nothing new, the modern landscape of social media creates both new avenues to fame, as well as new opportunities for fans to access their favorite stars and content creators. Today we’re talking: toxic celebrity, access and entitlement, and the false “democratization” of fame that offers a little bit of notoriety to anyone.

Time Stamps:

5:51 - Main discussion

43:56 - What’s your Freq Out?

Ebony on the novel The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis
Anita on the novels from the Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers— The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and A Closed and Common Orbit

Links Mentioned:

https://www.vice.com/en/article/dy8npv/ava-rose-tiktok-fame-social-media-influencer-harrassment-v28n1

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FFR 163: Made for Love May 05, 2021

Show notes

Arrogant tech bros cruelly disregarding privacy and the boundaries of decency in worship of their own genius (and as the world cheers on) has become a modern horror staple (e.g. the film Ex Machina or the series Devs), but today on the podcast we’re discussing the HBO series MADE FOR LOVE, where the tone for this premise takes a darkly comedic turn as we follow Hazel Green-Gogol (played by Cristin Milioti) and her bid for freedom from her controlling, narcissistic husband (played by Billy Magnussen) who has literally put a chip in her head without her consent. What did we think? Listen in to find out.

Time Stamps:

3:34 - Main discussion on Made for Love

44:01 - What’s your Freq Out?

Caro on the HBO series Mare of Easttown
Ebony on Without Remorse

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FFR 162: The Falcon and The Winter Soldier Apr 28, 2021

Show notes

Following the success of WandaVision, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is the MCU’s latest attempt to handle tough topics in a weekly action series, but does it manage to be more than propaganda? Listen in as Anita, Ebony, and Carolyn dive into a heated discussion of how a show framed as opening a new era for Captain America mostly reinforces the status quo.

Time Stamps:

6:11 - Main discussion on The Falcon and The Winter Soldier

45:28 - What’s your Freq Out?

Ebony on the series The Great Pottery Throw Down
Caro on the video game Devotion developed by Red Candle Games
Anita on the book Making Movies by Sidney Lumet

Links Mentioned:

https://twitter.com/pinballwitch/status/1386549231977078786?s=21

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FFR 161: Left-Reading Media: When you want it to be Progressive Apr 21, 2021

Show notes

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 2

17:13 - Breaking Bad

20:46 - Star Wars, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings

27:00 - Optimistic left-reading, opportunities for reclamation, and personal interpretation vs real-world impact

36:24 - Cop-aganda

40:00 - Fury Road and Ripley

44:00 - John Wick and The Fast and the Furious movies

48:51 - What’s Your Freq Out?

Anita on the 2018 film Shoplifters directed by Hirokazu Koreeda
Guest freq out from listener Halex Pereira from Brazil on the web comic (released recently as 2 part graphic novel) Check, Please! by Ngozi Ukazu

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