Entering the 3 Body Problem world & China’s Cultural Revolution
Mar 21, 2024
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Hosts delve into Netflix's 3 Body Problem, adapting the complex book to series. Guest historian shares insights on China's Cultural Revolution. Spoiler alert for first 2 episodes. Produced by Netflix and Sony Music Entertainment.
China's Cultural Revolution led to mass suffering, denunciations, and environmental devastation.
Adapting 'The Three-Body Problem' book into a series required tackling complex sci-fi concepts.
Deep dives
The Impact of the Cultural Revolution
The Cultural Revolution, initiated by Mao to purge the Communist Party, caused widespread suffering with mass starvation. People were forced into denunciation meetings, like those seen in the episode, where violence was common. Young individuals were manipulated into joining the Red Guard, driven by Mao's encouragement and peer pressure.
Role of Symbolism and Color Red
In the episode, the significance of symbolisms like bouncing signals off the sun align with Mao's focus on symbolic concepts. Mao's likening to the sun and the color red were deeply entrenched. Even minor offenses, like scribbling on newspapers, were punished for symbolically attacking Mao.
Impact on the Environment
The environmental impact of the Cultural Revolution was devastating. Deforestation was rampant, with forests being decimated for resources. Mountains once covered in trees were left barren, highlighting the widespread environmental damage caused by political movements.
Current Views on the Cultural Revolution
For those who lived through it, the Cultural Revolution is synonymous with hell, characterized by sanctioned torture and abuse. Despite acknowledging it as a mistake in the '80s, the trauma and waste inflicted during that period are still deeply felt by those affected, ensuring a vehement rejection of returning to such a brutal regime.
Hosts Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock and Jason Concepcion dive headfirst into Netflix’s 3 Body Problem, as they share their reactions to the opening episodes and welcome their first guests.
Jason sits down with 3 Body Problem’s award-winning showrunners Alexander Woo (True Blood), David Benioff, and D.B. Weiss (Game of Thrones) to talk about what it was like to adapt the wonderfully complex, hard-sci book “The Three-Body Problem” by Cixin Liu, and what we can expect from the series.
Also in this episode, Maggie and Jason are joined by best-selling author and historian, Jung Chang CBE (Wild Swans, Mao: The Unknown Story), as she offers first-hand insights into life during China’s Cultural Revolution, and explains just how close to reality the opening scenes are.
SPOILER ALERT: We will be covering the first 2 episodes of 3 Body Problem, so if you haven’t watched that far yet, be sure to catch up on Netflix now.
The 3 Body Podcast is produced by Netflix and Sony Music Entertainment.
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