Arts Union Science

“Because what right do I have to not be happy. I have everything.” Another episode of the Arts Union Science podcast rolls into the station; and it’s right on time, too . . . shocking. Join your corresponding author (Tyler D. R. Vance) and this week’s first author (Aidan Paskinov) as they explore the twisty-turny psychological thriller: Nocturnal Animals. Along the way, they’ll marvel at the magni...

“You’re going to need a bigger boat.” In the midst of another heat wave, the Arts Union Science podcast returns with an episode on one of the greatest summer films of all time: Steven Spielberg’s Jaws. Join your corresponding author (Tyler D. R. Vance) and this week’s first author (Jennie S. Orton) as they dive deep into the history and greatness of this 1975 PSA on staying clear of the water for...

“We wait for something. We hope, we lose hope, we move closer to death.” With that cheery note, the Arts Union Science Podcast returns with an episode on Andrei Tarkovsky’s final film: The Sacrifice (1986). Join your corresponding author (Tyler D. R. Vance) and returning first author extraordinaire (Keegan Turner-Wood) as they unpack the existential dread associated with nuclear holocaust circa in...

“Are you a ladies’ man, Bob?” After a long unplanned hiatus, the Arts Union Science podcast returns with a look into the 2003 “historical” epic: The Last Samurai. Join your corresponding author (Tyler D. R. Vance) and our returning first author (Sean W. Phippen) as they tackle the complexities of a well-crafted film built upon a shaky, problematic foundation. Along the way, they’ll pour on the pra...

“You British don’t have a monopoly on snobbery, you know.” The Arts Union Science podcast returns for Volume 6, thrown backwards through time and space into your pod-catcher of choice. Join your corresponding author (Tyler D. R. Vance) and this week’s first author (David W. Brown) as they tackle the densest Nolan picture to grace the silver screen: Tenet. Along the way, they’ll re-kindle the on-go...

“How do you define ‘unwarranted’?” In science, graduate students perform research in order to gather enough data to publish research articles. However, in the background they are also trying to – you know – graduate so they can someday get a job that pays rent and such. That means writing a thesis: a multi-hundred paged tome that chronicles the student’s human journey from neophyte to specialist i...

After much ado about things that vary between nothing and something, we are now at the end of our Grant Panel that seeks to award the Oscar Best Picture Nominees in the same way that some would award quality science. Join our co-hosts Aditi Ramesh and Tyler D. R. Vance as they reveal the winners of the three grants available. Along the way, they'll also recap the . . . eventful Oscar's ceremony, o...

Aaaaand we're back to finish off our first annual Grant Panel. This week, co-chairs Tyler D. R. Vance and Aditi Ramesh discuss the five best picture nominees that they didn't get around to last time, which includes Licorice Pizza, Nightmare Alley, Belfast, CODA, and Drive My Car(e). Along the way, they'll contend with age gaps between romantic leads, Tyler's indefensible hang ups with del Toro, th...

Welcome one and all to the first annual Arts Union Science Grant Panel! This week, co-hosts Tyler D. R. Vance and Aditi Ramesh review five of the best picture nominees to decide if they are ELIGIBLE to receive both an Oscar and - more importantly - one of our prestigious AUS Grants. The movies reviewed this week include Don't Look Up, Dune, West Side Story, King Richard, and The Power of the Dog.&...

Welcome to the first annual Arts Union Science Grant Panel, where we attempt to doll out grants to our selections from the 10 best-picture nominees.  A grant panel in an actual scientific setting is made up of trained and trusted scientists who are required to judge the applications of their peers for funds. They are allowed to award a certain number of grants, and therefore must be stringent...

“Do not mock the Godsh!” The Arts Union Science podcast returns for the third episode of our Grant Renewal Volume. Join your corresponding author (Tyler D. R. Vance) and this week’s returning very-qualified personnel (Emily L. Vance) as they sail across the sea with 1000 hot takes on “Troy” – the 2004 epic by Wolfgang Petersen – in tow. Along the way, they’ll exorcise some Trojan horse-like quotes...

“I have apologized so many times.” “Not quite enough times. Very close though. I’ll let you know.” The “second” episode of the “fifth” volume of the Arts Union Science “podcast” has descended from on high to do battle with deviant opinions on a controversial MCU entry. Join your corresponding author (Tyler D. R. Vance) and this week’s returning very-qualified personnel (Sean W. Phippen) as they ta...

“Master Chief, would you mind telling me what you’re doing on that ship?” And we’re back, with the second part of our first episode of our fifth volume of our film podcast *deep breath* Arts Union Science. Join your Corresponding Author (Tyler D. R. Vance) and the triumphantly returning First Author (Brett L. Kinrade) as the two continue their discussion of Halo Reach, a prequel for the beloved vi...

“This comm has more shrapnel than transceivers.” Welcome to Volume 5 of the Arts Union Science podcast. In episode 1 of our new volume, we get interactive with our second video game review in the podcast’s history. Join your corresponding author (Tyler D. R. Vance) and a returning highly qualified personnel (Brett L. Kinrade) as they tackle the existential ennui of Halo Reach: a first-person shoot...

As an official finale to both the year and to Volume 4, we have a Special Issue episode for you. Special Issue episodes don’t follow our traditional format, instead taking a step into more chaotic waters to compare an aspect of the science world with an aspect of the film world. In this episode, authors Keegan Turner-Wood, Phil Linden, and Tyler D. R. Vance follow the suggestion of an absent autho...

"I love your eyes. I love the rest of your face, too. I haven't even looked further down and I'm sure it's all fantastic." This week on the Arts Union Science podcast, we finish up Volume 4 (our Discovery-based research volume) with the delightful rom-com "About Time". Join your corresponding author (Tyler D. R. Vance) and this week's first author (Ilinca Georgescu) as they try to relive their fav...

“I am an F-B-I agent!” The Arts Union Science trundles on with another episode, our penultimate in Volume 4: The Discovery-Based Research Volume. Join our corresponding author (Tyler D. R. Vance) and this week’s first author (Corey A. Stevens) as they take on the X-treme challenge of discussing the dynamic duo of Point Break (1991) and its “special” younger sibling Point Break (2015). Along the wa...

“Why are you in my breakfast?” The Arts Union Science podcast returns for its 4th episode in Volume 4: The Discovery Based Research Volume. Join your corresponding author (Tyler D. R. Vance) and returning first author (Phil Linden) as they tackle the horror / western / . . . rom com(?) indie darling: Bone Tomahawk. Along the way, they’ll try to define the Western genre, ruminate on gore as a legit...

“What a wonderful day for an exorcism.” The Arts Union Science podcast returns for its third episode in Volume 4: The Discovery Based Research Volume. Join our corresponding author (Tyler D. R. Vance) and this week’s first author (Jonathan Cote) as they take a look at one of the latter’s favourite films: The Exorcist. Along the way, they’ll marvel/cringe at the realistic medical procedures on disp...

“Now about that WINE!” The Arts Union Science podcast returns for its second episode in Volume 4: The Discovery Based Research Volume. This week, the film to be discovered is one “The Last Unicorn”, an animated fantasy film from the 1980’s by the prolific and divisive Rankin and Bass productions. Join our corresponding author (Tyler D. R. Vance) and this week’s co-first authors (Gary F. A. Johnsto...

"Music Intensifies!!!" A new volume awaits! This season, our corresponding author (Tyler D. R. Vance) gets treated to movies he’s never seen before. In science, this process is called Discovery-Based Research. At the Arts Union Science, it’s called Volume 4. This week, Kathleen Xu returns as first author to show off a beloved classic from Chinese director Zhang Yimou: “Red Sorghum”. Join your intr...

"ARTAAAAAAX!" We're back for the "last" episode of the Iterative Refinement Special Issue, where we look at movies that we have watched over and over again since childhood. This week, your corresponding author (Tyler D. R. Vance) and returning first-author/first-cousin extraordinaire (Alistair Blinn) take on a blast from the past that both delighted and scared them as youths: The NeverEnding Story...

"Imagine a King that fights his own battles. Wouldn't that be a sight." So, this is awkward. This isn't a review of Troy. This is a quick blurb that's serving as a place holder for once we eventually get around to reviewing Troy. In the mean time, the next episode should be dropping very soon. We hope to get back onto a more regular schedule now that the summer is done. See ya soon!

*saunters up* "That is one big pile of shit." Kicking off our newest Special Issue, a fan-favourite returns to discuss one of her favourite movies of all time: Jurassic Park. Join your corresponding author (Tyler D. R. Vance) and this week's first author (Emily L. Vance) as they peruse the paddocks of the ill-fated dinosaur-containing theme park. Along the way, they'll pay ample homage to one of t...

A new special issue, cometh!  It's time to combine the wonders of iterative refinement with the nostalgia of repeat viewings. Join our authors as they revisit movies from their childhood, trying to figure out if these things are getting better with age or . . . not. If you'd like to leave a review of our findings, feel free to email us at artsunionscience@gmail.com.