Zebras In America

It's time to rail against the patriarchy and celebrate the power of conjuring on Popcorn Eschaton! Scott and John take a look at the 2015 Robert Eggers horror film 'The Witch,' how it ushered in a new wave of anxiety-filled horror films, and whether or not it ends "happily" for its young protagonist. Then they discuss the landmark silent film 'Häxan,' Benjamin Christensen's extraordinarily stylish...

On this Popcorn Eschaton, Scott and John take a hard look at two very hard-to-watch films. First, they discuss Isao Takahata's animated classic of war, suffering, and the love between siblings, 'Grave of the Fireflies.' Then they shift focus to Jonathan Glazer's Academy Award-winning 2023 film 'Zone of Interest,' and why it doesn't have the emotional impact Takahata's film does. Logo designed by J...

It's America's pastime on another Popcorn in America crossover! The great Marcus Pinn returns, this time to discuss a movie from his childhood, 'The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings!' He, Scott, and John get into how baseball can embody the most optimistic view of the American Dream, as well as being emblematic of its history of racism and discrimination. 'Bingo Long' is a movie that e...

It's another Popcorn/Zebras crossover as Scott and John are joined by the great Marcus Pinn to discuss Alex Garland's new film 'Civil War'! Is there substance to its violent imagery? Does Garland, as an Englishman, have any special insight into American culture? How many stars does the mere presence of one De La Soul song add to a film's rating? All these questions will be answered, which is more...

Scott and John continue to explore the world of animation, this time journeying to the Japanese countryside to celebrate a pair of Studio Ghibli films. First, they discuss the 1991 Isao Takahata-directed classic film of nostalgia and self-discovery, 'Only Yesterday.' Then they explore perhaps the most signature Ghibli film (and character), the Hayoo Miyazaki classic 'My Neighbor Totoro.' Logo desi...

Scott and John burrow deep into animation for the first time on Popcorn Eschaton! For their initial foray, they explore a pair of late 1990s anthropomorphized ant flicks, 'Antz' and 'A Bug's Life.' They discuss the organizing principles in both films, the power of the individual, and even the importance of restorative justice. Cartoons deserve equity too! Logo designed by Jesse Arnold (https://www...

Scott and John take a look at two films by 'Reservation Dogs' co-creator Sterlin Harjo: the 2020 documentary on Native American artists 'Love and Fury' and the 2015 drama of communal darkness and spiritual rejuvenation 'Mekko.' They also discuss the relative lack of Indigenous representation behind the camera and how America is determined to forget the original sin of genocide that is at the core...

On this Popcorn Eschaton, we revisit director Wim Wenders with his latest film 'Perfect Days,' a movie that resonates with harmony and a zen joy, communicated beautifully by its lead actor Yakusho Koji. Scott and John discuss how Wenders depicts Tokyo, how 'Perfect Days' bewitches its audience's attention, and the beauty of seeing quiet films in theaters. Logo designed by Jesse Arnold (https://www...

Scott and John take a trip to New York City with a pair of time capsule documentaries! They focus on the legendary 1990 film 'Paris is Burning,' how it captures an inimitable celebration of queer life and queer spaces, and the troubling outside-of-the-art aspects of the film. Then they shift to '80 Blocks from Tiffany's,' a chronicle of gang life in the South Bronx in the late 1970s. They discuss...

It's another Zebras/Eschaton crossover as Scott and John are joined by the brilliant Marcus Pinn (@PINNLAND_EMPIRE) to discuss the 1973 transgressive spy satire 'The Spook Who Sat By the Door.' It's a conversation that covers race, why we enjoy media about nefarious institutions, and what director Ivan Dixon brought to the film itself. It was a privilege to have Marcus on to cover this underseen f...

Scott and John take their first Popcorn Eschaton step into the Final Frontier as they discuss 'Star Trek: The Motion Picture' and 'Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan'. They are both enormous Trek fans, so this was an extremely fun conversation, focusing on (as is the Popcorn Eschaton bailiwick) the sometimes overlooked spiritual themes in these masterful sci-fi adventures! Logo designed by Jesse Arnold (...

It's an episode on community engagement through art with Popcorn Eschaton! Scott and John discuss the 2013 Icelandic film 'Metalhead,' a drama of grief, music, and healing. Then they brighten things up with the charm of Michel Gondry's 2008 surreal comedic love letter the VHS video rental culture, 'Be Kind Rewind.' Logo designed by Jesse Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/) Theme mus...

It's a cinematic journey to enlightenment on Popcorn Eschaton! Scott and John explore the Zen masterpiece of poetry and place, Jim Jarmusch's 'Paterson.' Then they discuss the hilarious profundity to be found in the 1993 comedy classic, 'Groundhog Day!' Logo designed by Jesse Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/) Theme music is "Sun Blood" by Oxeneers (https://oxeneers1.bandcamp.com/

Scott and John become song and dance men on this Popcorn Eschaton! First, they take a look at 2012's disasterpiece of revolution and redemption, 'Les Misérables.' Then they unleash their inner hippie as they examine the 1973 film version of 'Jesus Christ Superstar'! Logo designed by Jesse Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/) Theme music is "Sun Blood" by Oxeneers (https://oxeneers1.b...

On this episode of Popcorn Eschaton, Scott and John explore spirituality in protest and in the desert, and the roles women so often take in the service of others. First they discuss 'Gas Food Lodging,' the 1992 film by Allison Anders about a family of women trapped by the limits of their circumstances and how others see them, but who find freedom in themselves and each other. Then they dive into '...

Scott and John journey to virtual reality (and 1999) on this Popcorn Eschaton! They discuss the groundbreaking, mind-blowing film by Lana and Lilly Wachowski, 'The Matrix,' as well as just some of the Christ and philosophical allegories contained therein. Then they dig into David Cronenberg's foray into video game design and examination of how an artist might interact directly with their work, 'eX...

Popcorn Eschaton takes its first (of many?!) forays into the work of Andrei Tarkovsky as they discuss the gorgeous, meditative, and incindiay examination of The Artist in society, 1966's Andrei Rublev. Censorship, faith, and the reason for creativity itself are all brilliantly and thoughtfully examined in Tarkovsky's film, and Scott and John are thrilled to talk about them! Logo designed by Jesse...

Professor Stephen McFarland joins Scott and John to discuss Charlie Chaplin's 'Modern Times,' John Carpenter's 'They Live,' and the representation of the working poor on film. What does the staying power of Chaplin's "The Tramp" say about how we view the oppressed? What does the vision of society in 'They Live' tell us about how the media itself views those same oppressed people? All this, and all...

Scott and John explore the power of cops on film, both politically and artistically, and criminal justice reform. They focus on the 1953 André De Toth thriller of cops and ex-cons 'Crime Wave,' as well as the 1970 political satire/thriller 'Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion.' They discuss the power the criminal justice system (and individual cops) has on society, as well as the inherent d...

Popcorn Eschaton 17 - Frantz Fanon And 'Luce' Feat Marcus Pinn by Zebras In America

Scott and John embrace the zeitgeist and explore Barbenheimer! They discuss both the films 'Oppenheimer' and 'Barbie,' as well as their accompanying cultural phenomenon. What does it mean when the use of nuclear weapons becomes a meme? And is our best hope for satirizing capitalism a hilarious musical about a doll? Logo designed by Jesse Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/) Theme mus...

On this Popcorn Eschaton, John Arminio gets to crack open his Guillermo del Toro enthusiasm (obsession?), as well as angels contemplating the meaning of existence! He and the wonderful Scott Thorough tackle del Toro's vampiric debut 'Cronos,' then shift to discuss Wim Wenders's poetic masterpiece 'Wings of Desire.' Gather 'round listeners as we contemplate "The new moon of decision"! Logo designed...

It's union organizing from the mountains of West Virginia to the streets Oakland! On this Popcorn Eschaton, Scott and John discuss 'Matewan,' John Sayles's 1987 masterpiece of war in Coal Country. Then they focus on 'Sorry to Bother You,' the biting 2018 dystopian satire from musician, activist, and filmmaker Boots Riley. Logo designed by Jesse Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/) Th...

John Lurie talks to the zebras

On this Popcorn Eschaton, Scott and John explore missionary work, as well as psychological and spiritual disintegration. First, they discuss the 2016 Martin Scorsese epic 'Silence,' its historical basis, and the conflict between our outer selves and our inner spiritual life. Then they focus on the 1947 Powell and Pressburger classic 'Black Narcissus,' the consequences of suppressing one's inner de...