The Culture We Deserve

2025 may be over, but its cultural production lives on in our hearts. Nico and Jessa debate the best and worst movies, TV shows, books, and museum exhibits of the year, talk shit about your faves, and hope for better art in the future. Shownotes and references: http://theculturewedeserve.substack.com

A very special Christmas treat for our listeners. Joseph and Jessa discuss George Eliot's Felix Holt: The Radical, which asks the very important question: is the socialist's primary task to yell at people and tell them they are wrong about everything? Set in the 1830s after political reform has granted voting rights to new -- but still very limited -- populations, a small English market town deals with the tumult that follows. A powerfully rich heir returns to stand for public office as "a radical," a young man decides to devote himself to the bettering of the working classes by telling them they are all ignorant drunks, and a young woman must decide which one of these weirdos to marry. But there is also a strange paternity case and a power struggle over an estate, a satirical storyline about the foolishness of patriarchal lineage, and a few good jokes about atheists. Join the discussion: http://theculturewedeserve.substack.com

For the last five years, museums around the world have been struggling to answer the question of, who owns cultural heritage? Certain objects, from the Elgin Marbles to the Benin Bronzes, have been fought over as multiple entities, institutions, and nations claim true ownership. Now that the Benin Bronzes have started to return to Nigeria, only to be shoved in storage unseen by anyone except the one man who claims they belong only to him, Jessa and Nico discuss whether anything has been learned from the Decolonize movement. Shownotes and references: http://theculturewedeserve.substack.com

Jessa and Nico return from their visit to Ireland. All along the way, the subject of whether or not Ireland should be united kept coming up. But beyond the slogans and the bad ideas, there are very real issues at work, tedious and boring but also tremendously consequential. Nico reflects on the influence the Northern Ireland peace agreement had on Colombian politics, Jessa discusses how social media creates a false sense of consensus, and they both worry about our decreased ability to manage complexity in political issues. Shownotes and references: http://theculturewedeserve.substack.com

The hosts dive deep into the absence of genuine darkness in contemporary pop culture. They explore the stark contrasts between Tom Cruise’s thrilling menace and Glen Powell’s overly polished persona. Discussions unfold around the pitfalls of modern filmmaking, the decline of mid-budget films, and the impact of streaming economics. They critique prestige horror for its lack of true fear and ponder where darkness can still be found today. Internet radicalization and sanitized true crime narratives also spark lively debate on the cultural landscape.

A young man's return home ignites chaos as his radical political ideas clash with familial traditions, leading to shouting matches and a duel. Turgenev’s exploration of nihilism in pre-revolutionary Russia reveals the tensions between youth and their elders. The hosts dissect Bazarov's emotional vacancy, contrasting him with Arkady's more humane outlook on love. They delve into the limits of nihilism, the power of literature, and the poignant moments of familial loss. Ultimately, Bazarov's choices lead to his tragic demise, highlighting the complexities of life and ideology.

Can women truly be blamed for ruining the workplace? Jessa and Nico dive into this controversial debate, tackling topics like the rise of wokeness and its ties to a religious impulse. They challenge the notion that women's presence leads to institutional dysfunction, instead pointing to structural issues like deregulation. The conversation shifts to viral TikToks versus serious workplace harassment cases, revealing how media distorts public focus. With humor and insight, the hosts argue for collaborative repair over simplistic scapegoating.

The podcast explores the resurgence of pro-military narratives, highlighting PBS's controversial scheduling of a documentary on troops in Fallujah. Jessa and Nico dive into the glorification of police and military in media, criticizing the rise of copaganda and the upcoming Call of Duty film. They also shed light on violent urban realities, including Brazil's policing and child sex trafficking in LA, while questioning the romanticization of force in culture. The discussion connects these themes to broader societal implications and political influences.

Exploring the complexities of the American Hero archetype, the hosts dive into its origins and cultural significance from WWII through Hollywood's story-telling. They debate if tearing down figures like Lincoln is more valuable than upholding these ideals. Discussion shifts to contemporary symbols and the idea of a 'Garden of American Heroes,' critiquing the arbitrariness of chosen figures and the implications of national narratives. Amidst a backdrop of literature and pop culture, they dissect the evolution of heroism and its role in shaping identity.

Julia Ioffe's new book explores Soviet state-sponsored feminism and its unintended consequences, highlighting the complex relationship between imposed rights and societal norms. The hosts dive into whether the MeToo movement echoed this trickle-down morality, arguing it often overlooked the struggles of working-class individuals. They also critique the film After the Hunt, discussing its ambiguous narrative as a reflection of MeToo's perceived limitations. The conversation spans cultural critiques, monetization of public figures, and the dangers of normalizing extremist views.