We reach Upper Middlebrow education expert Justin Reich on the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, at the edge of mobile phone reception. He gives us a dispatch, mid journey, from a rather literary setting. Justin is finishing his sabbatical with nothing but a canoe, a backpack, a couple of paddles, and aluminum pole (for poling up… Continue reading Digression, From the North Woods with Justin Reich
Author: nowherecentral
Episode 87: “A Dude who Made a Dude,” or Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Part I
Mary Shelley was 18 when she started writing Frankenstein, which many consider the first science fiction novel. Over the next twenty years, she revised the book several times, and the version she left behind remains a remarkable work of imagination. Shelley is amazingly inventive and talented, but the lads find th novel to be hard going, and a slow starter. They wonder at the use of framed narratives, and how long the book takes to give Frankenstein’s creation a voice.
Ep 85, “Science vs. Evil” or Bram Stoker’s “Dracula”, Part II
Bram Stoker arrays his crew of brave companions against what they’ve finally realized is an ancient un-dead evil. And the author seems to be elling us something about the nature of the human capacity for scientific inquiry, and love.
The lads detect a bit of the old “chessboard problem”, the name we’ve given to an author’s struggle to create a compelling third act while artfully tieing up all the character arcs and loose ends established in the first acts. But Bram Stoker’s inventiveness and lyrical prose keeps the novel highly readable until the thrilling ending, which manages to be poetic, moving, and suspenseful.
Save the Date: The Talented Mr. Ripley, Live Taping, with Jeph Wilkinson.
Join us Thursday, May 19th at 4pm PDT / 7 PM EDT for a live viewing and taping of Anthony Minghella’s 1999 masterpiece, The Talented Mr. Ripley. Dukes and Bagg think of this as the BEST of the many excellent Tom Ripley films. It stars Matt Damon Tom Ripley, and the amazing cast includes Gwyneth… Continue reading Save the Date: The Talented Mr. Ripley, Live Taping, with Jeph Wilkinson.
Episode 83: “I Made a Friend, and Now He’s Dead” or Liliana Calvani’s Ripley’s Game
Chris and Jesse watched this movie together nearly 20 years ago, and it made an impression, due to John Malkovich’s memorable, creepy, and charming take on Tom Ripley. Director Calvani seems to enjoy making this Ripley seductive, so that the viewer realizes with horror that we kind of like him, and just like poor Jonathan… Continue reading Episode 83: “I Made a Friend, and Now He’s Dead” or Liliana Calvani’s Ripley’s Game
Episode 81: “LA Light, LA Darkness,” or Robert Altman’s The Long Goodbye w/Professor Peter Lunenfeld
UCLA professor Peter Lunenfeld joins us to talk about Robert Altman’s neo-noir based on Raymond Chandler’s novel. Some reviewers call the film “satirical” but we argue, it’s more a riff than a satire. It treats the source material lovingly, even as it updates it to match the 70’s zeitgeist. Our guest Peter argues that the elusive Courry Brand cat food is a metaphor for the film, something that is labelled one way, but containing the unexpected.
Episode 80: “Frames, Trains, and Burning Automobiles” or Wim Wenders The American Friend
The American Friend is loosely based on Patricia Highsmith’s third Tom Ripley novel Ripley’s Game. But Wim Wenders plays fast and loose with the source material, borrowing elements of another novel Ripley Underground and referencing Easy Rider, Rebel Without a Cause, and other cinematic forebears. The visuals are beautiful, and even if the plot is a bit puzzling, the lads find the mood of the film compelling.
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Episode 76: Philip Marlow in Space or James S.A. Corey’s Leviathan Wakes Part 1
Leviathan Wakes is cracking good solar system space opera, combined with very strong elements of noir. The lads think that at moments, the prose is reminiscent of Raymond Chandler’s lyrical voice, but wonder if there’s a little too much action for the noir themes to land. Show Notes We have a Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/upper_middle_brow And a… Continue reading Episode 76: Philip Marlow in Space or James S.A. Corey’s Leviathan Wakes Part 1
Episode 74: “Our Robot Friends (and Enemies),” with Leah Jones
We invite podcast buddy Leah Jones from Finding Favorites to follow up on a recommendation she made to Dukes last year: to watch the film M3gan. We thought it would be fun to talk about films and books with robot friends (and enemies) more broadly, and we each make a recommendation. Since we don’t yet have actual robot friends (although according to Silicon Valley, they’ll be here soon) what are we really talking about when we tell stories about robots? Loyal servants? Monsters? Children? We discuss examples of each, and contemplate what makes a good story with robots.
Episode 73: “Crosshatched,” or China Mieville’s The City and the City Part I
The City and the City has a wholly original premise, and the pleasure of the book comes from the dawning realization of exactly what is going on between the two adjacent cities, Besźel and Ul Quma. China Mieville dribbles out occasional hints and clues, raising the question of whether the book is a murder mystery, or whether, like the characters in the book, it operates in two places at the same time.
Episode # 71 The Night of a Thousand Crimes, or Raymond Chandler’s “The Long Goodbye” Part II.
Dukes and Bagg were both a little disappointed with how LONG the second half of The Long Goodbye is, with a rather Byzantine and confusing series of plot machinations that only slightly support the ending. But, as Bagg says, “the craft creeps in” as Chandler continues to write lyrical and insightful passages. Dukes enjoyed the ending, which feels coherent and profound. And even though Marlowe refers to “A Thousand Crimes”, (and describes many of them), we struggle to articulate THE crime that drives this particular story.
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Episode 67: Revenge of the Jock-Nerds (Season 3 DRAFT)
With a small but loyal Zoom audience, Dukes and Bagg propose TWELVE new series, and pick five, including a LISTENER’S CHOICE series. Throughout, they kibbitz, lobby, and respond to chatted questions from the audience. (For people who don’t like drama, you can find the list of future works here.)
Also, be sure to check out the lads’ guest appearance on Big Campaign Stories.
New Pulp!
Fresh Results From the Live Draft Thanks to everybody who joined us for the live draft tonight. We taped the proceedings so if you missed, you’ll hear it in the podcast, soon. In the meantime, here are the NEXT FIVE SERIES for season three. The Listeners selected “OG Cinematic Universe” so it will be third… Continue reading New Pulp!
Live Draft Tonight at 5pmPDT 8pm EDT
HERE IS THE Zoom information: Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 862 2159 2846Passcode: 242235 The waiting room will be in effect and guests will be muted and invisible by default. You are WELCOME to chat at us, though.
Episode 64: “A Cloud on a String,” or Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya
Anton Chekhov’s 1897 play is in many ways even more minimalistic and sad than The Cherry Orchard. Dukes once again struggles to imagine the three dimensions of the story, while recognizing the almost documentary realism of the drama. Bagg finds the pathos of characters struggling for transcendence in the wrong direction heartbreakingly real.