The Short Fuse Podcast

The Arts Fuse welcomes a new character to their extended universe. Deanna Marie Costa, Arts Fuse critic and editor, joins Matt and Lucas to discuss a range of topics related to art, politics, and propaganda. First, Deanna introduces herself and talks about what she covers for The Fuse. Then the panelists dive into Blake Maddux's review of Jennifer Ratner-Rosenhagen’s The Ideas That Made America. A...

If you thought the work of a critic was glamorous, Matt and Lucas prove you wrong. On this episode the boys tackle some of the behind the scenes stuff of writing reviews, particularly book reviews. They use as their source material the cover essay from this April's Harper's by Christian Lorentzen called "Like this or die: the fate of the book review in the age of the algorithm." If you'r...

Lucas is all alone at the start of this one. He messed up the audio for out latest episode and put this together so you wouldn't have to go without that sweet, sweet content. He highlights a few pieces in the magazine including Tim Jackson's review of the new Jordan Peele film Us , and Steve Provizer's review of Vic Hobson's book Creating the Jazz Solo: Louis Armstrong and Barbershop Harmony . The...

We are overwhelmed with gratitude that we were able to spend this episode with Pulitzer prize winning critic, poet, and teacher Lloyd Schwartz. We talk about his life, his poetry, his teaching, and the many incredible writers, poets, and people he's met. Lloyd is a professor at UMass Boston and the poet laureate of Somerville, MA. We also cover a couple of pieces in the magazine about a blackface...

On this episode Lucas and Matt once again bang their heads against the walls of some of art's big questions. First, Lucas schools Matt on Paul Verhoeven and why he's still important. Then the boys remember Mary Oliver and read the first of what, we hope, will be many more Madonna tweets. Matt talks about what he likes about William Giraldi's book of literary criticism American Audacity . Then, Luc...

After nearly twenty years on the fringe, Boston’s Zeitgeist Stage Company is shutting its doors with its production of Jacques Lamarre’s Trigger Warning at the Boston Center for the Arts, April 12 through May 4. Arts Fuse editor Bill Marx, along with Lucas Spiro and Matt Hanson, spend the hour talking with David Miller, the founding artistic director of the company. We discuss the challenging thea...

A sickly Lucas Spiro is joined once more by Matt Hanson to give you a review of the year that was. And what a dumb year it's been. Not for The Fuse, though! You'll have to forgive Lucas for, in addition to everything else, his severe head cold. And both of us for briefly discussing Kevin Spacey's unbearable, cringe-worthy monologue rejecting the premise of the horrendous accusations against him in...

Matt and Lucas talk with Arts Fuse critic Steve Provizer about one of our favorite subjects: just what is a critic for? We base our discussion on the new Coen brothers film The Ballad of Buster Scruggs and discuss violence, politics, and the virtues of the noble ferret.

Give thanks, the Fuse is back with another podcast! In this episode, Lucas and Matt review some of the recent pieces that have gone up on the Arts Fuse about theater, music, and more. A review of the new Jane Fonda documentary leads into a discussion about celebrity culture and politics. Recently, Matt interviewed writer and New Yorker book Critic James Wood about his novel Upstate and the challen...

Lucas and Matt discuss the demise of FilmStruck, a "business decision" made in the aftermath of the ATt&T and Time Warner merger. The fat cats continue to swallow up all that sweet, premium content, limiting our imaginative and cultural possibilities. Then, we take a look at Monica Hileman's review of Michael Lewis's book The Fifth Risk, and talk about the importance and shortcomings...

We get political AF on this one, folks. This is the AF podcast, after all. Bill Marx rejoins the crew for an in depth discussion of the Eleanor Burgess play "The Niceties" that just finished up its run at the Calderwood Pavilion in Boston's South End. Lucas looses his mind. Matt tries to be diplomatic. And Bill remains the wise dispassionate critic who sets everyone else straight about t...

Hear the extended conversation with Bill Marx from episode 1. Matt and I grill the Fuse's editor in chief about the state of arts criticism and why reading The Arts Fuse is a sure fire way of guaranteeing how young and hip you are. Then we do an in depth comparison of Spike Lee's film BlacKkKlansman and Boots Riley's film Sorry to Bother You.

We've made it to episode 2! And boy do we have a good one. We are eternally grateful to Matt Christman (@cushbomb) from Chapo Trap House who humbled himself to talk with us about the new book The Chapo Guide to Revolution: A Manifesto Against Logic, Facts and Reason. The book was co-written with other Chapo members Felix, Will, Virgil, and Brendan and has art from Eli Valley and John White. Chapo...

Welcome to the first episode of the Arts Fuse Podcast. The Arts Fuse is Boston's premier arts and culture magazine. In this episode, your hosts Lucas and Matt learn how to talk, take a deep dive into Boots Riley's revolutionary film Sorry to Bother you, and sit down with Arts Fuse editor in chief Bill Marx. Check out the magazine: http://artsfuse.org/ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com...