Get teased re. Mark and Wes's post-finale, spoiler-filled continuation of the discussion of the show. How does its conclusion affect its overall political message? Does it make sense to be performing feminist critiques on a show based on the premise of people murdering each other for power? To hear the full discussion, become a PEL Citizen or $5 Patreon supporter. For more Continue Reading …
Episode 216: Game of Thrones’ Fantasy Politics
Discussing the TV show (2011–2019) based on the books by George R.R. Martin. What's the role of a mass-consumed fantasy series in today's society? Is it our "fantasy" to have all these horrible things happen to us? Is this an edifying prompt to engage in public moral thinking, or a spectacular distraction of the kind that those Marxist theorists keep warning us Continue Reading …
George R.R. Martin on Private Experience
You may not know that Game of Thrones scribe George R.R. Martin wrote short stories back into the early 70s, and one of them, "A Song for Lya," won the Hugo award for Best Novella in 1975. I see it online here or get a Kindle version for a couple of bucks. The story has to do with our essential, existential isolation as referred to in the Wittgenstein episode. It's about a Continue Reading …