In Decomposing Worm, Matias and Clarence take a higher level approach to analysis of Wildbow’s original wonderful web serial. After dividing Worm into six 300,000 word chunks, each week four-time Worm veteran Matias and literary extraordinaire Clarence cover one of Worm’s ‘books’, alternating between Close Reading and Essay episodes. Because a single hundred hour Worm analysis podcast wasn’t enough.
In this episode, Clarence and Matias finish their first podcast with some final flourishes fixing it all up for the finale of this fearfully fun text. This is the final Perspectives episode for Arcs 27 through End. In it, they looked at the The High Priest and The Faerie Queen, as well as the power of names and identity, and the violence inherent in language.
And that's it! This is The End! Decomposing Worm is over!
But!!! Matias and Clarence will return, one day, with Dissecting Twig.
Discuss the episode and leave any questions for them to answer in the thread here.
19 Sept 2020
Overview Of Arcs 30 Through End
In this episode, Matias and Clarence enter and exit the end of the end, the final explosion of this epic tale. Here, our embittered, unexpected hero uses the ensemble of esoteric capes and creatures and expends every unethical and perhaps evil course of action available to her to euthanize the estranged, errant entity, even as she loses her eloquence
This is it. The final Overview episode. In this they covered Arc 30 - Speck, and Arc End - Teneral. They also touched on Worm as whole, and checked in with a plethora of characters.
We've got one final Perspectives episode before Decomposing Worm is over, so please send in any questions you have for them at the reddit thread.
Also, Decomposing Worm is issuing you a challenge- write an essay about Worm, and post it in the thread. It doesn't have to be long, just a paragraph will do. But reflect on something, and write it.
11 Sept 2020
Overview of Arcs 27-29
In this episode, Matias and Clarence scan through the litany of sci fi scenery surrounding that slightly stupid space snake superman, Scion, slowly be seduced by the simmering safety of sublime sadness.
Rather than covering all five arcs in this final section, AND talking about the end of worm, this episode covers Arcs 27-29, although Clarence HAS FINISHED WORM!!! A big day. As this is an Overview episode, they summarized the actions and reactions of this section. The second overview episode for this section will come out next week, on Friday the 18th, covering Arc 30 Speck, Teneral, and looking at the entirety of Worm as a whole.
Check out the results of the Pale Reflections/Decomposing Worm fanart contest! (https://www.doofmedia.com/2020/09/03/fan-art-contest-9-results/)
Discuss the episode and leave your Themes and Theories for Arcs 27 through End and your Questions for Clarence for the final overview and perspectives episodes here-
21 Aug 2020
Perspectives on Arcs 23-26
In this episode, Clarence and Matias applaud the admirable aspects of this adventure of argumentative heroes and absolutely awful apocalypses. This is the Perspectives episode for Arcs 23-26. In this episode they focused on the boys, looking into Tecton, and Chevalier as leaders, then at how Brian, Defiant, Theodore, and Taylor deal with their emotions. They also try to apply some narratology to a variety of character arcs.
The Overview episode for Arcs 27 Extinction through Epilogue, Teneral will be out in two weeks, on September 4th. The End is nigh.
Discuss the episode and leave your Questions for Clarence and Themes and Theories for Arcs 26- Epilogue here!
7 Aug 2020
Overview of Arcs 23-26
In this episode, Matias escorts Clarence as he picks down the path of practiced parahumans precariously protecting panicking unpowered people from the posses of perilous puppet impostors that plague them.
In this they covered arcs 23-26 in the overview episode, summarizing the actions and reactions of this section. The Perspectives episode is in two weeks, coming out August 21st.
Check out the Pale Reflections/Decomposing Worm fanart contest going on for the next two weeks! The theme is 'monsters'. https://www.doofmedia.com/2020/07/25/pale-reflections-decomposing-worm-fan-art-contest-9-monsters/ (https://www.doofmedia.com/2020/07/25/pale-reflections-decomposing-worm-fan-art-contest-9-monsters/)
Discuss the episode and leave your Themes and Theories for Arcs 23-26 and your Questions for Clarence for the final 27-30.x arcs here!
24 Jul 2020
Perspectives on Arcs 18-22
In this episode, Matias leads Clarence in this tale of loyal lovable dog girls, campy clock boys, curious costumes, and melancholy memorials. This is the Perspectives episode for Arcs 18-22. In it they pondered through Rachel and Clockblocker's themes and growth, and contemplated the various ways that clothing and costume create identity, and places perform memory.
The Overview episode for Arcs 23 Drone through 26 Sting will be out in two weeks, on August 7th. We're nearing the end of the story folks.
Discuss the episode and leave your Questions for Clarence and Themes and Theories for Arcs 23-26 here!
17 Jul 2020
Ep 7.x Bonus Episode- Fight Scenes
Hey y'all. We announced on our twitter (@decomposingpod) that we are moving to a fortnightly schedule (one episode every two weeks) starting immediately.
We know y'all were looking forward to listening to Perspectives on arcs 18-22 today, and that is now set to come out next Friday the 24th. To tide y'all over we recorded a short bonus episode talking about Worm's action sequences.
We hope you enjoy it!
11 Jul 2020
Overview of Arcs 18-22
In this episode, Matias guides Clarence as our hero rationalizes recklessly ricocheting around ruined cities and raising raging riots. This is the Overview episode for Arcs 18-22, so they covered the most key points and paid attention to the most textual of themes.
Next week is the Perspective episode, where they’ll use critical theory to examine angles and characters from this part of the story.
Discuss the episode and leave your Questions for Clarence and Themes and Theories for Arcs 23-26 here!
27 Jun 2020
Perspectives on Arcs 15-17
In this episode, Matias leads Clarence on his first foray into this frightening fantasy full of fiendish factions and formidable foes.
This was a Perspectives episode so they explored arcs fifteen, sixteen, and seventeen using literary theories. Particularly, this episode focused on looking at Worm through the concept of the sublime, Formalist/New Critical framing of textual analysis, and an examination of Antonio Gramsci's understanding of Dominance and Hegemony. They also looked at Marquis and Taylor and Regent's relationship.
Next week is the Overview episode for Arcs 18-22, where they’ll cover the most key moments and themes from that section.
Discuss the episode and leave your Questions for Clarence and Themes and Theories for Arcs 18-22 here!
20 Jun 2020
Overview of Arcs 15-17
In this episode, Matias guides Clarence as the story tiptoes around the terrible tempers of two teams of torpulent teens. This is the Overview episode for Arcs 15-17, so they covered the most key points and paid attention to the most textual of themes.
Next week is the Perspective episode, where they’ll use critical theory to examine angles and characters from this part of the story.
Discuss the episode and leave your Questions for Clarence and Themes and Theories for Arcs 18-22 here!
12 Jun 2020
Perspectives on Arcs 9-14
In this episode, Matias guides Clarence as he wanders through Wildbow’s wonderful Web-Serial for the first time. This was a Perspectives episode so we explored these seven arcs, 9-14, using a few literary theories.
We focused on Allthusar's understanding of interpolation and hailing, basically the way ideologies make us subjects and enforce will on us by addressing us, and Derrida's conception of Deconstruction and the Structuralist and Post-Structuralist ideas that form the background of the concept. We also studied the characters of Labyrinth and Cherish, and did some other small bits.
Next week is the Overview episode for Arcs 15-17, where they’ll cover the most key moments and themes from that section.
Discuss the episode and leave your Questions for Clarence and Themes and Theories for Arcs 15-17 here!
Primary Citations
Althusser, Louis. "Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses (Notes towards an Investigation)" (https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/althusser/1970/ideology.htm). Lenin and Philosophy and Other Essays, 1971.
Eagleton, Terry. Literary Theory: an Introduction. University of Minnesota Press, 2008.
McCrae, J. C. “Worm.” Worm, Wildbow, 2011, parahumans.wordpress.com/ (http://parahumans.wordpress.com/).
8 Jun 2020
Overview of Arcs 9-14
In this episode, Matias guides Clarence as he saunters into a serious slew of savage scenes with the Slaughterhouse Nine. This is the Overview episode for Arcs 9-14, so they covered the most key points and paid attention to the most textual of themes.
Next week is the Perspective episode, where they'll use critical theory to examine angles and characters from this part of the story.
Discuss the episode and leave your Questions for Clarence and Themes and Theories for Arcs 15-17 here!
29 May 2020
Perspectives on Arcs 1-8
In this episode, Matias guides Clarence as he wanders throughWildbow's wonderful Web-Serial for the first time. This is the Perspectives episode for Arcs 1-8, so here they brought several literary theories to look at these arcs with, focusing mostly on Foucault and Marx.
Next week is the Overview episode for Arcs 9-14, where they'll cover the most key moments and themes from that section.
Discuss the episode and leave your Questions for Clarence and Themes and Theories for Arcs 9-14 here! https://www.reddit.com/r/Parahumans/comments/gsr7hs/decomposing_worm_episode_2_perspectives_on_arcs_18/? (https://www.reddit.com/r/Parahumans/comments/gsr7hs/decomposing_worm_episode_2_perspectives_on_arcs_18/?)
Primary Citations
Eagleton, Terry. Literary Theory: an Introduction. University of Minnesota Press, 2008.
Foucault, Michel. DISCIPLINE AND PUNISH: the Birth of the Prison. PENGUIN BOOKS, 2020.
Marx, Karl, and Frederick Engels. “Manifesto of the Communist Party.” Manifesto of the Communist Party, The Communist Party, 1848, www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/.
McCrae, J. C. “Worm.” Worm, Wildbow, 2011, parahumans.wordpress.com/.
22 May 2020
Overview of Arcs 1-8
In this episode, Matias guides Clarence as he wanders into Wildbow's wonderful Web-Serial for the first time. This is the Overview episode for Arcs 1-8, so they covered the most key points and paid attention to the most textual of themes.
Next week is the Perspective episode, where they'll use critical theory to examine angles and characters from this part of the story.
Discuss Discuss the episode and leave your Questions for Clarence and Themes and Theories for Arcs 9-14 here! https://www.reddit.com/r/Parahumans/comments/gohfzc/decomposing_worm_ep_1_overview_of_arcs_18/? (https://www.reddit.com/r/Parahumans/comments/gohfzc/decomposing_worm_ep_1_overview_of_arcs_18/?)
13 May 2020
Announcing Decomposing Worm
In this, we describe what the Decomposing Worm, a new Doof Media Worm analysis series, will be.
Matias and Clarence will take a higher level approach to analysis of Wildbow’s original wonderful web serial with a twist on the We've got Worm formula. After dividing Worm into six 300,000 word chunks, each week four-time Worm veteran Matias and literary extraordinaire Clarence cover one of Worm’s ‘books’, alternating between Overview and Perspectives episodes. Because a single hundred hour Worm analysis podcast wasn’t enough.
Next week we'll be covering Arcs One through Eight.
Post your questions for Clarence, or your themes and theories for the next book here. (https://www.reddit.com/r/Parahumans/comments/gis4zk/announcing_decomposing_worm_another_doof_media/?)
Reach and audience
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Apple Podcasts (US)
4.7 / 5
12 ratings
Spotify
4.9 / 5
12 ratings
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