logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2023
1h 3m

Avatar x Hypermediacy

Witch, Please Productions
About this episode

Did you love James Cameron's Avatar upon its release in 2009? Have you since watched it and thought, huh, now what were we thinking 14 years ago? Were you critical of it from the start? Baffled by the public's interest in colonialism and hot blue aliens? Then this episode is for you.


Tune in for a conversation about this beloved sci-fi blockbuster. Hannah leads Marcelle talk colonialism, sexism, marketing budgets and how the interests of white dude billionaires drives our reality. Together, they discuss Jay David Bolter and Richard Grusin’s iconic 2000 book Remediation: Understanding New Media to better understand hypermediacy's role in this film's success. Ultimately, Hannah comes to some BIG conclusions about this movie and it's lasting impact on not just the zeitgeist, but also our literal planet earth. That's right! There are some pretty devastating ecological impacts of CGI and VFX — and in case you were wondering, yes, this episode is also a lesson on irony!


If you like our show, please share it with family and friends! Word-of-mouth is the primary way we reach new listeners who are interested in feminist materialist critique, pop culture and laughing at and from within *the discourse.* Share the show today!


***


Material Girls is a new show that aims to make sense of the zeitgeist through materialist critique* and critical theory! Each episode looks at a unique object of study (something popular now or from back in the day) and over the course of three distinct segments, Hannah and Marcelle apply their academic expertise to the topic at hand.


We'll be back in two weeks for another episode, but until then, be sure to check out all the bonus content we have on our Patreon at Patreon.com/ohwitchplease. You can learn more about the show at ohwitchplease.ca and on our instagram at instagram.com/ohwitchplease! Want more from us? Check out our website ohwitchplease.ca.


*Materialist Critique is, at its simplest possible level, a form of cultural critique – that is, scholarly engagement with a cultural text of some kind – that is interested in modes of production, moments of reception, and the historical and ideological contexts for both. Materialist critique is really interested in the question of why a particular cultural work or practice emerged at a particular moment.


Music Credits:

“Shopping Mall”: by Jay Arner and Jessica Delisle ©2020

Used by permission. All rights reserved. As recorded by Auto Syndicate on the album “Bongo Dance”.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Yesterday
Proactive Kinship with Hannah McGregor | Gender Playground
As we continue our July break, we are dropping into your feed with an episode of Gender Playground! If you don't yet know, Gender Playground is a show about the joys of gender-affirming care for kids — and it's hosted by Marcelle. We love this show and we’re currently releasing n ... Show More
48m 32s
Jul 1
Should I Quit Drinking? with Marcelle Kosman | The Real Question
As we mentioned last month, Material Girls is taking a summer break for the month of July! We’ll be releasing drop-in episodes from other podcasts that we think you'll enjoy. Today, we're sharing The Real Question: Should I Quit? — a podcast from our friends at Not Sorry. Marcell ... Show More
26m 6s
Jun 24
Material Concerns: Marcelle and Coach Have One-on-One Time Pt. I | Ad-Free
No Hannah on this episode! But we still have fun! So much fun, we didn't record a part two... The burnout is real, but we're still so sorry! Part two is coming by the end of the week! Please enjoy this one-on-one chat between Marcelle and Coach until then! And be sure to scoop ti ... Show More
29m 3s
Recommended Episodes
May 2020
How is culture adapting to quarantine? Plus: our film critic on what to watch now
This week, we discuss the future of movies with FT film critic Danny Leigh. Will we see a wave of apocalypse dramas once this is over? Are mid-budget films under threat? And what little-known films should we be watching? In the second half of the show, Gris and Lilah take stock o ... Show More
48m 11s
Aug 2022
Film
Since the invention of film, we’ve seen an unimaginable shift in the nature of human perception — but what is film, really? In episode 59 of Overthink, Ellie and David dive into the nature of film. What distinguishes film from other art forms, like photography and theater? Do fil ... Show More
58m 49s
Apr 2021
Too old for Disney, too young for The CW | What to Watch
We’ve been hunkered down at home for more than a year and, for many families, that’s meant finding common ground in viewing habits. This week on What to Watch, Vox film critic Alissa Wilkinson and critic at large Emily VanDerWerff help Stasi, a California mom with two tweens (age ... Show More
16m 52s
Apr 2023
Will Hollywood Strike? And Are We Into Netflix’s Late 'Love' and AI Drake?
Josh Gondelman isn’t just a comedian and maybe the nicest person on the planet — he’s also an elected council member of the Writers Guild of America-East. Josh talks to Sam about the potential writers’ strike, and then gets his thoughts on AI-produced Drake songs, Kelly Ripa’s ne ... Show More
39m 40s
May 2024
We Must Defend These Problematic Rom-Com Makeover Scenes
Ah the makeover scene... you know, the classic we took her glasses off and she was beautiful all along, moment of the movie? We didn’t say they weren’t problematic… but they do represent something far deeper than typical beauty standards. On today's episode we simply must defend ... Show More
22m 40s
Jul 2021
Questlove made the music documentary of the summer | What to Watch
Summer of Soul revives the forgotten, groovy history of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, a pivotal moment in Black culture sometimes dubbed “Black Woodstock.” This massive concert series spanned multiple weekends and featured everyone from Sly and the Family Stone to Nina Simon ... Show More
9m 12s
Mar 2024
Ethics of media piracy, gender essentialism & “male feminists,” Big Swiss by Jen Beagin
Hello listeners! Here is a new episode where we talk about feminism at length… who’s surprised? But before we get into the feminism of it all, we discuss various facets and corners in the world of media piracy and consuming digital content in response to a listener email. We cont ... Show More
2h 23m
Mar 2021
Obsessions: Eliza Clark On The Enduring Joy Of Drag Race
This episode, we're so excited to be joined by the legend, Eliza Clark! The Boy Parts author will be telling us all about their love of Drag Race. Taking an adoring yet critical look at the TV franchise, Eliza will be chatting to us about why we should look beyond the US and UK v ... Show More
34m 21s
Apr 2021
From Bridgerton to Peaky Blinders: Historic Houses in Film & TV with World Monuments Fund Britain
This episode is made in partnership with international heritage charity World Monuments Fund Britain. Together we explore the fascinating world of on-screen historic homes with insightful conversations with industry experts who have brought these magnificent buildings to life on ... Show More
49m 56s
Sep 2021
Jean Negulesco's 'Humoresque' (1946)
In this episode, I talk about the 1945 film "Humoresque." Joan Crawford plays a socialite tormented by her love for a younger man--played by John Garfield--who is a passionate violinist trying to break into the music world. Her money and connections help him find success, but her ... Show More
1h 45m