Commentary essays on arts, philosophy and psychology, written and published on an bimonthy basis (the longer type). Opinions may be subject to change in the future. Thoughts and critiques are all welcome.
This started with a question, why do we love revenge movies, the “one man against the world” kind? What came out of it was a crazed search through cultures of honor, institutional distrust, and moral licensing research to understand the mass appeal and disdain I noticed towards the most compelling revenge stories I have encountered over the past decade. In truth, this took much longer than expected, thus the reason for the hiatus, but it feels good to be back.
This episode contains mature themes and graphic depictions of violence, viewer discretion is advised.
Full bibliography here.
Referenced articles:
Bailey & Pico (2023)
Brosig-Koch et al. (2017)
Cohen et al. (1996)
Conway & Peetz (2012)
Højberg et al. (2017)
Katyal (2022)
Khalil (2017)
Kirk & Schill (2024)
Kowal (2023)
Martin-Llaguno et al. (2022)
Monin & Miller (2001)
Park et al. (2020)
Peleg et al. (2021)
Uskul & Cross (2020)
Uskul et al. (2023)
Referenced media:
God of War (2005)
God of War 2 (2007)
John Wick (2014)
John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)
Monkey Man (2024)
Nobody (2021)
Oldboy (2004)
Pierre Berton Show (1971)
Prisoners (2013)
Sifu (2022)
The Batman (2022)
The Last of Us Part 2 (2020)
Images:
By Mbzt - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16931676
By Istanbul Archaeology Museums - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34550484
Bungie. (2024, June 11). Halo: Reach [Digital image]. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo:_Reach
Haloprov. (n.d.). B312 [Digital image]. Halo Alpha. https://halo.fandom.com/wiki/SPARTAN-B312?file=B312.png
Music:
Hussain, Z. & Patel, D. (2024). Training [Song]. On Monkey Man (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). Back Lot Music.
James, S. (2012). Through the Valley [Song]. On Shadows. Shawn James Music Inc.
Background music sourced from Epidemic Sound:
“Sahara Eye” by Nylonia
“Corpus” by Johannes Bornlof
“Tranquility” by Drift Far Away
“Juliana” by Nylonia
“Ghost Hunt” by Sixteen Wheelers
Also available on YouTube
Chapters
00:00 Content Warning and Disclaimers
00:37 Introduction
02:48 The Batman
06:59 What does violence do for us? (The Wolverine Effect)
12:55 Prisoners
17:20 Cultures of Honor research
24:01 Institutional distrust research
27:17 Do moral reputation and victimhood justify our actions? (The Last of Us)
32:09 Moral licensing research
38:50 Proposed directions/The big reach
41:30 Outro
13 Feb 2024
Listen
Discussing the ill-advised use of superpowers to describe mental health, and the one exception to the rule – calling attention to the cases of DID and anxiety – while building a TKD Cycle 7.
Written, recorded and edited by Syafiq.
Referenced media:
Glass (2019)
Moon Knight (2022)
Doctor Who (2012 & 2014)
Build specs:
TKD Cycle 7 Fog with Gunmetal PVD Mirror Polish backweight
SP-Star Meteor Whites
XVXX Concrete keycaps
Equalz V3 Stabilisers
Aluminum Plate
Gasket bean-mounted
No foam
Also on YouTube
30 Jan 2024
The Only Man Who's Ever Broken My Heart (Dec 13, 2023)
Discussing Ted Chiang’s catalogue, David Hilbert and Arthur Schopenhauer while lubing 80 SP-Star Meteor White switches with Krytox GPL 205g0 and 105, and filming with Kelowna 0.33mm switch films.
Voiceover for “Story of Your Life” sourced with the permission of the talented Magnetar.
Inspired by Dan Olson’s (Folding Ideas) “I Can't Stop Watching Contagion.”
Video footage taken by Abdul Hafiz
Referenced works:
The Story of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang
Exhalation by Ted Chiang
“Arrival” dir. Denis VIllenueve
“Wayfaring Stranger” by Ashley Johnson and Troy Baker
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction, Ted Chiang
00:58 Story of Your Life
07:59 Tower of Babylon
09:03 The Great Silence
10:32 Exhalation
14:00 What’s Expected of Us
15:38 Division By Zero
25:39 We have no choice
Also on YouTube
30 Jan 2024
The Tides, His Wife, and Our Decision to Leave (October 11, 2023)
Death often dances along the coastline, giving her best performances in Park Chan Wook's Decision to Leave and Viking literature. In this essay, I compare Norse eschatology to the sexual differentiation of the human gonad, detail my disdain for humid climates, and list the three most frequent questions that psychology majors are asked.
Viewer discretion is advised.
This production is for personal commentary and discussion of the mentioned subjects. I do not own the rights to the clips used; they belong to their respective holders, and I will not be monetising this work.
Works featured (Visual):
The Golden Girls
“The Rickchurian Mortydate” Rick and Morty (S3 E10)
Decision to Leave dir. Park Chan Wook
Before We Go dir. Chris Evans
Thor Ragnarok dir. Taika Waititi
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice dev. Ninja Theory
“The Body” Buffy the Vampire Slayer (S5 E16)
“New Morning Routine Just Dropped” TMG Podcast Episode 290 (42:58 - 43:11)
Works featured (Audio):
“Storm at Sea” comp(s). Robin Carolan and Sebastian Gainsborough (From The Northman OST)
“Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” by Looking Glass
“Savior” by Kendrick Lamar
“Sloom” by Of Monsters and Men
Background music sourced from Epidemic Sound:
“Face Your Fears” by Vendla
“Notes to Self” by Gavin Luke
“A Hard Truth” by Wanderer's Trove
30 Jan 2024
Sisyphus Part 1 (August 14, 2023)
Camus' absurdism as it relates to my favourite films and the process of REBT. Viewer discretion is advised.
This production is for personal commentary and critique of the subjects in discussion. I do not own the rights to the clips used, they belong to their respective holders, and will not be monetising this work.
Spoilers for Dune, Tenet, Collateral Beauty, Rick and Morty and Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Additional voiceovers done by Mazeen Muneez.
https://www.homestudio.com.sg/english-male-voice-talents
30 Jan 2024
Posterity (REUPLOAD)
Syafiq and Hussein talk role models and the transition between subculture pockets and the "real world". Music sourced from Epidemic Sound. Warning: Brief mentions of suicide.
30 Jan 2024
Integrity (REUPLOAD)
Featuring a new guest, Hussein Malek, this episode we delve into integrity; that within journalism, and our development as individuals under parental guidance. Music provided by Epidemic Sound. Viewer discretion is advised. Contains spoilers for Tenet.
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