Themes and Memes

This month, we take a change in direction from previous episodes in reviewing the 2010 documentary film 'Exit Through The Gift Shop', which chronicles the misadventures of UK street-artist 'Banksy'.  Both serious and satirical, the film follows eccentric cameraman Thierry Guetta as he haphazardly makes inroads into the underground street-art scene, eventually taking on the role of Banksy's Documen...

On this episode, we welcome special guest Jay Dyer from Jay's Analysis to discuss the 2016 crime-drama Imperium. After gaining intelligence on radical Neo-Nazi groups, FBI Agent 'Nate' is tasked with infiltrating the heart of the White Supremacist movement to investigate a suspected terror plot. Once embedded into the highest levels of the network though, he eventually learns that there are no cre...

On this episode, we welcome special guest Pearse Redmond from Porkins Policy Review to discuss the new Netflix Original series, Stranger Things . Comprising one season of eight episodes thus far, the show is one of many recent productions that are made exclusive to on-demand platforms, and has fast become a sentimental sensation among its thirty-something target audience; thanks to its pastiche of...

We return to the film 'The Wicker Man', looking at themes of manipulation, ritual drama, and staged provocation, before transposing these concepts onto the current metapolitical climate as we see it. We explore the idea of 'the willing fool' archetype being incited by 'crisis actors' to role-play in dramatic and provocative theatre, from 'terror attacks' to reactionary meme wars; looking at how th...

On this episode, we continue looking at themes of occult ritual and esoteric psychodrama via the 1973 mystery/horror film 'The Wicker Man'. Another 'conspiracy-classic', the film follows a Scottish Highlands Police Officer who travels to a remote island community after being tipped off about a missing schoolgirl. After encountering the Heathen rites and traditions of the townsfolk, he eventually d...

As promised, we return in our 33rd episode to look further at the deeper meanings of Stanley Kubrick's conspiratorial magnum opus 'Eyes Wide Shut'. We discuss the esoteric initiation of Dr Bill Harford into the world of hidden forces that shape his reality, and his ignorance of the occult principals that are guiding his journey. Delving deeper into the artful deception of the mystery tradition, we...

In our 32nd episode of Themes & Memes, we take a look at the conspiracy-cult-classic 'Eyes Wide Shut', by Stanley Kubrick. Neither the high praise or ongoing deconstruction of this film within conspiracy culture are unwarranted, as the film blends edgy social critique with a highly esoteric storyline; using sexual tension to reveal the existence of a powerful and arcane secret order. We start by o...

On this episode, we return to the theme of financial corruption and public indignation via the 2016 siege-drama; 'Money Monster'. Directed by Jodie Foster and starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts; the film follows a financial-affairs based TV crew on Wall Street as a disgruntled investor storms the set and holds them hostage on live TV. Angry and demanding answers over the disingenuous financ...

On this instalment of Themes & Memes, we return to the subject of converging technologies via the 2015 indie film 'Creative Control'. Directed by Benjamin Dickinson and distributed by Amazon Films, the film casts Dickinson himself as 'David', a hip, NYC based advertising executive tasked with marketing 'Augmenta' glasses; the latest in augmented reality technology. After being given a pair to test...

On this episode, we take a serious look at a ridiculous film in 'Talladega Nights - The Ballad of Ricky Bobby' from 2006. Being the second instalment in Will Ferrell's 'Mediocre American Male' film trilogy, we deconstruct the ways in which this sub-genre of comedy mocks conservative American culture, most especially the presidency of George W. Bush and the mainstream conservative value system. We...

On this episode, we are joined by our good friend Tom Secker of Spyculture.com to review the 2016 reboot of the 90's cult-classic; 'The X-Files'. After being reunited with Mulder and Scully, we are thrown headlong into a grand global conspiracy, involving everything from UFO's and lizard-men, to magic mushrooms and martial law. Given that this latest season is obviously designed to reflect modern...

On this episode; we look back at the life and legacy of Apple Co-Founder Steve Jobs, via the 2015 biopic of the same name. The film constitutes three major acts, each focusing on a major product release through 1984-1997. In addition to being given a backstage look at the personal computing revolution, we are also familiarised with the character himself. With his unique background and unrelenting ...

On this episode, we cover the 2015 Biographical Comedy/Drama 'The Big Short'. The film chronicles the lives and experiences of several key stock traders on Wall Street during the 2008 financial crash. Like numerous other films and documentaries on this particular subject; the film provides audiences with a humorous and hallowing insight into 'Wall St culture' and the events leading up to the crash...

The Doors film from 1991 is a very important film. Here, Adam and Aaron point out its significance as they give the movie another look decades after its release. topics include: biopics, Jim Morrison, Oliver Stone, 1960s, generations, culture creation, Dave McGowan, Laurel Canyon, military intelligence, self destructive behavior, biographies, occult, ceremony, stage, theater, Dionysus, Dionysian C...

Adam and Aaron do a quick review of the latest major film to be produced with the help of NASA. They also examine NASA's collaboration with Hollywood as a whole in an attempt to understand the motivations behind such a large scale PR campaign.  topics include: NASA, public relations, propaganda, military, entertainment liaison, media, film, Hollywood, Interstellar, Gravity, Armageddon, science, in...

On this episode, we look at 'Tomorrowland'; a Disney film based on the future-themed arena within Disneyland of the same name: "Whenever Casey Newton (Britt Robertson) touches a lapel pin with the letter T on it, she finds herself transported to Tomorrowland, a city filled with huge robots and sleek buildings. The gifted young woman recruits the help of scientist Frank Walker (George Clooney), a p...

Adam and Aaron meet in person for the first time ever. On his trip back to New Zealand from the UK, Adam stopped in Southern California in order to make this momentous event happen. Here, the two tell stories about the trip including their visit to the Pentagon's Hollywood Entertainment Liaison Office building.  Topics discussed include: California, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Laurel Canyon, military,...

Due to both technical problems and logistical delays in publishing our 21st episode; we gave up on trying to review a film, and simply recorded a spontaneous, off the cuff discussion on a variety of subjects. We kick things off by giving listeners the inside scoop on what's been going on behind the scenes, before moving into some general back on forth on social issues, cultural trends, and life in...

In our 20th instalment, we take a parting shot at the A.I, Robot, and Android orientated films that seem to have defined the first half of 2015. British Director Alex Garland's 'Ex-Machina' (latin - 'From The Machine') represents one of the more sophisticated and intellectually provocative films that that AI genre has offered up as of late - in making obvious references to reality, whilst simultan...

In this instalment of Themes & Memes; Aaron and Adam continue to focus on the wave of Robot, Android, and A.I themed films that have been flooding the Box Office for the past few months - in analyzing the film 2015 'Chappie', by Neill Blomkamp. Colourful, vibrant, and entertaining; the film juxtaposes humour, innocence, and virtue, with darkness, sadism, and depravity - where a Military-Industrial...

In this bonus installment of Themes & Memes, Aaron and Adam embark on a spontaneous, informal chat about Hollywood, the cult of celebrity, and the psychodynamics of celebrity worship.   Topics discussed include; Cult of Personality, Celebrity Neurosis and Breakdown, Suicide, The '27 Club', Life as a Stage, Theatrics, Public Relations, Identity Crisis, Public Obsession with the Character, Marketing...

In this episode of Themes & Memes; Aaron and Adam discuss the recently released Spanish film - 'Automata - just one of many recent films dealing with Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Future Dystopias - and most importantly of all; Human-Machine Bonding.  Topics discussed include: Artificial Intelligence, Technological Evolution, Downfall of Mankind, Debasement of Society, Future Dystopias, Use o...

Adam and Aaron review the new film by the Wachowskis, Jupiter Ascending. A very odd film that has been panned by audiences and critics alike, there are at least some interesting concepts to be found. Secret Societies and their views on royalty, mythology, and astrology feature prominent among these concepts. topics include: occult, Mystery School, astrology, mythology, genres, secret societies, Gn...

In this episode of Themes and Memes Adam and Aaron take a trip down memory lane as they talk about a number of films that they watched in their younger days. Many classics from the 80s and 90s are looked at in terms of predicitive programming and culture creation. topics include: Short Circuit, MIC, occult, lightning, alchemy, gold, Terminator, Terminator 2, James Cameron, machines, transhumanism,...