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Space the Nation — Arts
Space the Nation

On Space the Nation, we take our love of science fiction (and fantasy and horror) and smash it together with our professional passions: international relations (as brought to the table by Tufts University professor and Washington Post columnist Dan Drezner) and cultural criticism (as brought to the table by political columnist Ana Marie Cox). It’s a highly informed but hilarious conversation that starts with an examination of a particular text (everything from Ursula K. LeGuin to the MCU, Star Trek to Colson Whitehead) and veers into current events, mental health practices and imagined conversations between Ted Cruz and the Predator. For people who like white papers and graphic novels, Chapo Trap House and what Political Science Twitter used to be.

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Copyright: © Space the Nation

Latest Episodes:

S3E8: KINDRED (ENCORE) Feb 24, 2023

Show notes

We're doing an encore because let time get away from us -- but at least we were not unwillingly unwittingly transported to the antebellum south like Butler's heroine. Butler uses the bones of a science fiction story to explore the reverberations of slavery through our history and Black people's bodies. Dan says of all the books we've read for the podcast, this is the one he still thinks about the most. FX's adaptation debuted this year to good reviews but scant attention and was not renewed for a second season, but the book is worth revisiting again and again. Compare and contrast to last week's discussion of The Underground Railroad! There's IR and very much a critique of capitalism in this book.

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S3E7: THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD Feb 20, 2023

Show notes

Ana and Dan crawl into the old mica mine for this excursion into the darkest depths of American history. Very Cool Dude and MacAurthur grant winner Colson Whitehead expands on a childhood notion about the historical Underground Railroad and uses it to explore the contradictions and cruelties of slavery and white supremacy. For a such a sobering subject, there is a remarkable amount of swooning (mostly Ana). There is IR and oh boy yes a critique of capitalism.

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S3E6: GROUNDHOG DAY Feb 13, 2023

Show notes

Ana and Dan rise and shine and aren't forgetting their booties because it's the end of Cold Sci-Fi Winter! Or... is it? It's always Groundhog Day somewhere. To discuss: How much of the movie's success is Bill Murray and how much is Harold Ramis? Just how long is Phil in the time loop? That hotel scene, kind of date rape-y! Does Phil really wind up being a good person? Does it matter? There is IR and a critique of capitalism in this movie.

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S3E5: ALIEN V. PREDATOR Feb 06, 2023

Show notes

Ana and Dan protest that doing this episode is a bad idea, and they will walk out rather than do it, but then again, well, let's do this. The Predators are remarkably sympathetic; could it be because they're late-stage capitalists, just like us? There is a tight five of IR in this movie. (Apologies for the delay in posting; infrastructure issues!)

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S3E4: THE GONE WORLD Jan 30, 2023

Show notes

Ana and Dan bundle up for Cold Sci-Fi Winter and venture past the Yardogger tree only to find themselves staring at the sky, their mouths filled with silver. The Gone World's plot is twisty enough that it broke Dan, people, it broke Dan. (Here's a diagram.) Thus it is with a slightly different pod structure that we discuss this beautifully written if ultimately somewhat frustrating sci-fi noir set in the past, the present, and at least two different futures. IR: 🇺🇸 Capitalism: ꩜

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S3E3: THE THING Jan 23, 2023

Show notes

Ana and Dan pour their drinks on the special chess-playing computer that was supposed to keep them entertained all through COLD SCIFI WINTER and thus have to make do with John Carpenter's 1982 cult classic, The Thing. Too gory for its time, the movie is somehow both dated and timeless, like the patriarchy. It also features one of the great animal actor performances of all time. IR: 🇳🇴 Critique of capitalism: 🛸

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S3E2: THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE Jan 16, 2023

Show notes

COLD SCI-FI WINTER CONTINUES! Ana and Dan shrug into some old greatcoats and stomp into this children's literature classic where the beavers have thumbs and the lion dies for your sins. C.S. Lewis's cleverly-told yarn has spawned a whole genre of "kids-fall-into-another-world-and-turn-out-to-be-very-important" book series, from His Dark Materials to Harry Potter. Should we have done this for Canon Fodder? Maybe! International relations: 🧙🏻 Critique of capitalism? 🍬

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S3E1: SNOWPIERCER Jan 09, 2023

Show notes

Ana and Dan inspect the special arm-freezing-off portal and decide to wait for the next train. Capitan America gets filthy in this snappy, economical thriller from Bong Joon-ho. International relations? ✅ Critique of capitalism? 🪲

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ENCORE: DON'T WORRY DARLING Jan 02, 2023

Show notes

Lusting for more STN content? Tide yourself over by watching"Don't Worry Darling" now on HBOMax and then listen to this encore presentation of our talk about it, which gets way more into HOT HOLLYWOOD GOSS and the female orgasm than we usually do. Enjoy!

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ENCORE: ALIEN Dec 23, 2022

Show notes

Ana and Dan are taking some time off. Please enjoy this encore presentation of Alien, an almost perfect movie!

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