CULTURAL MARXISM: Anora (2024) w/ Indica Dominant of Dysphoria

Jamie is joined by Indica Dominant (@DominantIndica) a.k.a. Olive, adult performer/sex worker and co-host of the Dysphoria podcast, to discuss director Sean Baker’s anti-Cinderella story Anora (2024), which just won the Oscar for Best Picture. Is it possible to combine a screwball comedy, a hooker exploitation film, and a twee Sundance indie into one movie? What does Anora have to say, or not, about sex work, class, and capitalism? And what’s up with Zoomers and ketamine? Spoilers, obviously.

Check out Olive’s podcast (with fellow friend of the show Maxelle Talena), Dysphoria at dysphoria.info and patreon.com/dysphoriathepodcast

NOTE: Cultural Marxism is usually a premium series, but this week it’s free! Sign up as a supporter at patreon.com/partygirls or youtube.com/@partygirlspod to get the rest of the series, plus all other bonus content, access to our Discord community, and a shout out on the pod!

00:00:00 Intro

00:02:43 “Anora” recap starts

00:13:20 Surface level worship of wealth or critique of capitalism?

00:18:19 Dehumanization, creative characterization, or subversive anti-work queen?

00:22:51 Real world relationships to sex work

00:25:20 Scene analysis: Ani gets tied up by Igor

00:29:36 Chasing the American Dream

00:38:14 Scene analysis: finding Vanya at the strip club

00:43:47 Disagreement about the ending

00:58:32 Should we hold stories about SWs to higher standards?

01:03:04 Where’s that oligarch money from Vanya??

01:08:01 You can’t escape the imprisonment of capitalism thru a Gilded Cage

01:13:51 Humanizing public perception of sex work

01:19:04 "Anora" and “The Florida Project,” strip club v. survival

01:23:21 Criminalization of trans sex workers

01:25:31 Defanged drug use in “Anora”

01:29:54 “It’s a Cinderella story”

01:34:32 Plugging Patreons!

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Executive Producer: Andrew Callaway

Producers: Charlotte Albrecht, Jon B., Ryan M.