Sometimes politics don't seem to make sense, like when people contradict themselves or vote against their own apparent interests.
But those thornier issues and seeming contradictions in the political arena somehow look different in the light of a TV or movie screen. On USA Unreeled, a culture critic and a historian use film and television to make sense of some of the most confounding political questions of today, without taking themselves too seriously.
In our second episode on The Hunger Games franchise we look at the less viewed and often under appreciated Mockingjay films. In the second half of the series we leave the contrived arena of the games for the real landscape of a nation torn apart by war. We see how the spark of a protest movement grows into a full fledged rebellion.
In wrapping up our Hunger Games analysis, we examine the surprisingly sophisticated depiction of revolutionary politics. We then view Katniss's role as The Mockingjay through a lens of authenticity and what it means to be a cultural icon. Join hosts Adrian Horton and Paul Adler as they examine these questions and more, and profusely thank Suzanne Collins for her masterpiece.
15 Mar 2022
The Hunger Games Turns 10
This month the first Hunger Games film celebrates the 10th anniversary of its release. Do you feel old? We certainly do. But we're also amazed by how relevant this film, and its siblings, still are. For our next series we watched all four films in the Hunger Games series. Not only did they hold up, but in some ways they seem even better suited to both this political moment and our current media landscape than ever.
In the first of two episodes examining the Hunger Games franchise, we examine why both the left and the right saw themselves in the first two films and how they reflect our current influencer and sponsor filled social media landscape. Join hosts Adrian Horton and Paul Adler as we explore these and more questions — and profess our love for Jennifer Lawrence.
15 Feb 2022
Gone With the Wind
For the past three episodes, we’ve talked about various models of conservative womanhood, and their complications for characters whose ideologies are difficult to parse. When we found a clip of Phyllis Schlafly, the main focus of the FX on Hulu series Mrs. America, discussing her love for the film Gone with the Wind, it made us wonder… why shouldn’t we look there, too?
In the fourth and final episode of our series on conservative women on screen, we return to this Ur text of conservative white womanhood in the US. The 1939 film adaptation of Margaret Mitchell’s novel remains the highest grossing film of all time, when adjusted for inflation, and a very rich text for different visions of ideal white womanhood. It clearly embodies a deep romanticization of the antebellum South, and undeniable racism. What else about this film has endeared it to generations of conservative thinking? How to make sense of Scarlett O’Hara? Why would Phyllis Schlafly find this film, and the character of Scarlett O’Hara, so appealing? What surprising or even subversive things could be found, if any, in examining this foundational film to whiteness in America? Join hosts Adrian Horton and Paul Adler as we explore these and more questions — and discuss some of our 2022 reactions to one of the most significant films of the 20th century.
18 Jan 2022
Mrs. America Part 2: Women Against Equal Rights
The nine part FX on Hulu mini series Mrs. America tells the story of the 1970s battle over the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) which, spoiler alert, did not pass. While the series itself gives equal attention to the feminist activists who fought hard for the ERA, we focus on the conservative coalition of right-wing women that ultimately defeated the amendment.
In this second of our two Mrs. America episodes, we focus on some of the women, real and fictional, who participated in the grassroots anti-ERA movement. Who were and are these women against equal rights? Why did they see the ERA as a threat to their identities as homemakers and “traditional women”? What roles did and can religion play in cementing white Christian women into right-wing politics - or in leading them to progressive values? Join hosts Adrian Horton and Paul Adler as they dig deep into these and more questions. Plus, we discuss our favorite music montages and scenes from the show!
14 Dec 2021
Mrs. America Part 1: Phyllis Schlafly
The nine part FX on Hulu mini series Mrs. America tells the story of the 1970s battle over the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) which, spoiler alert, did not pass. While the series itself gives equal attention to the feminist activists who fought hard for the ERA, we focus on the conservative coalition of right-wing women that ultimately defeated the amendment.
In this first ofr two Mrs. America episodes, we focus on the anti-ERA movement's leader: the writer and political organizer Phyllis Schlafly. Who was she? How did Schlafly's long history of right-wing activism affect her approach to feminism? What do we think of the show's portrayal of Schlafly - especially regarding how racism played into her politics? Join hosts Adrian Horton and Paul Adler as they dig deep into these and more questions.
16 Nov 2021
9 to 5 and Coal Miner's Daughter
9 to 5 and Coal Miner's Daughter were two of the ten highest grossing U.S. films in 1980, the same year that Ronald Reagan was elected. Both are rooted in true stories of working class women. Coal Miner's Daughter is biopic of real life country superstar and daughter of a coal miner Loretta Lynn. And 9 to 5 was created in collaboration with the real life organization 9to5, which to this day advocates for workplace rights and equal pay for women. It combines the true stories of many working women to build a story that is at once ridiculous and realistic.
So how can these two forty year old films help us make sense of White conservative women today? Dig in with hosts Adrian Horton and Paul Adler as they meet Loretta, Violet, Doralee, Judy, and even Mr. Franklin Hart.
27 Oct 2021
Welcome to USA Unreeled
Who are Adrian and Paul? Why are they making a podcast? And what do they each watch when no one is looking? Get to know our hosts and what they and this podcast are all about.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Host of USA Unreeled?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
