The Ancient, Medieval, and Modern world collide as we start with the Holy Grail, what it was, why it mattered, and end up talking about Indian Jones. We explore how the west fetishized relics and the political implications of museums. We also dive into the concept of a MacGuffin— objects in a story that seem to matter but only serve to get the characters from one phase of a story to another.
Midnight Myth Time Machine | Episode 11: Don't Disconnect Me, Brah
I am a computer circuit that thinks, therefore, I am? Listen to Derek and Laurel discuss the long science fiction tradition of artificial intelligence, and the history of the fictional robot. Baked into these narratives is the question of human consciousness. Intuitively, we all know we are conscious, right? But how do we define it, and can we create it in our technology? All these questions and more will be (kinda) answered in this week’s podcast, “Don’t Disconnect Me Brah!” Stories explored will include 2001: A Space Odyssey, R.U.R., Asimov’s I, Robot, and others…
Midnight Myth Time Machine | Episode 3: Detected | Sherlock Holmes & Detective Stories
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It’s the Midnight Myth Time Machine! We’re publishing our back catalog week by week, and this is Episode 3: Detected. It originally aired in February of 2017 and explored our fascination with detective stories. With a special emphasis on the best-loved detective in fiction—Sherlock Holmes—we’ll interpret the clues and uncover the truth about why detective stories continue to be told. Join the investigation by hopping in the time machine with us.
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Check out our new merch store for Midnight Myth, Boomerangerang, and Wheel of Ka tees and totes! Save 15% on march through 7/6 with the code ‘SOLSTICE’
Learn more, view sources and inspiration, and sign up for e-mail updates at www.midnightmyth.com
If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen!
Episode 111: Creature Feature
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We’re just days from the premiere of Stranger Things 3 on Netflix, so we’re going back through the first two seasons to demystify the many monsters of the Upside Down. Drawing on the mythological inspiration for the Demogorgon, the role of Dungeons & Dragons in shaping the imagination, and the long history of monsters in the movies, this episode seeks to understand why we create monstrous beasts to contend with. Most importantly, we’ll explore how Stranger Things gives us a model of monster that realizes the intangible depths of childhood trauma—and gives us a model for how to fight back. Brief cameos from Godzilla, Frankenstein, King Kong, and more as we read listener responses to our “favorite classic monster” Twitter poll!
Support us at www.patreon.com/midnightmyth
Check out our new merch store for Midnight Myth, Boomerangerang, and Wheel of Ka tees and totes! Save 15% on march through 7/6 with the code ‘SOLSTICE’
Learn more, view sources and inspiration, and sign up for e-mail updates at www.midnightmyth.com
If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen!
Sources
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Episode 52: In Love and War
Listen on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2jHVLcc
Here’s looking at you, podcast. Listen as Derek and Laurel examine the politics, tragedy and love, of cinema’s greatest love story, Casablanca. Inspired by Valentine’s day, and the notion that society’s greatest virtue is love, Casablanca asks if the problems of little people amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Maybe as Rick says, they don’t. Or Maybe its the only thing that does matter. Maybe beauty will save us. Maybe we are doomed. One thing that is certain, this is a podcast you don’t want to miss!
Episode 51: Champs
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As Philadelphia-based podcasters, we’re understandably pretty high on the Eagles’ Super Bowl Victory. But the game that brings a country together one Sunday each year is more than a game when viewed through the lens of sporting history and the idea of cultural identity. This week, Derek and Laurel look to one of the great sport stories, which also has roots in scrappy Philadelphia: Rocky. As a character, as a symbol of America, as a perseverant fighter, Rocky Balboa has inspired a generation of sports fans and cinema junkies alike. Join us as we explore the underlying moral philosophy and artistic heritage of America’s favorite underdog.
****CORRECTION: Derek is acutely aware that dentology is not a word. Painfully aware. However, when Derek recorded the above episode, he fucked up and misspoke deontology (a word whose roots go back to Ancient Greece), which is the moral system he was referring to. Feel free to tweet at him #dentologyshame for the rest of his life.****
Episode 26: The Greatest Story Never Told
When at the brink, we often look for a unifying philosophy that sums up the experience of our confusion and pain, while pointing us towards a better moral life— a life that bring conscience, direction, and purpose. We at the Midnight Myth may have found those words:
“Life’s a piece of shit when ya look at it.”
Join us as we jump into the obscure and silly world of Monty Python and The Life of Brian. Nothing is scared as we peel apart what makes this movie so damn smart, funny, loony, and insightful.
We haven’t done comedy before, so don’t laugh at us (nudge nudge, wink wink)!
Episode 18: Woman Inherits The Earth
Sloths are cute. I mean, they are really really cute. Do yourself a favor, and google cute sloth videos. This brings us to this weeks episode where the 90s classic “Jurassic Park” is discussed. We are re-imagining the blockbuster classic as an intellectual treatise on the role humanity has on biological systems, as we grapple with manmade climate change. Derek & Laurel trace the evolution of the age-old conflict between man and nature, exploring Jurassic Park’s modern man vs. nature narrative (and its parallels to Mary Shelley’s classic story, Frankenstein). The debate is palpable, and reminds us of the many false actors in today’s turbulent climate change discourse. But don’t let it bum you out, cause there will always be sloths on the internet. At least, I hope.
