Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs
A podcast in association with BeingSociety.com, in which Clare Coombe and Masha Yakovleva explore the politics, ethics, and societal visions of dystopian tv, film, and literature.
A podcast in association with BeingSociety.com, in which Clare Coombe and Masha Yakovleva explore the politics, ethics, and societal visions of dystopian tv, film, and literature.
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In Episode 43 (and not 42 as Clare so confidently announces in the first minute!) of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, we're discussing 2025 Paul Thomas Anderson film, One Battle After Another. As well as examining the success of using dark comedy and satire to present themes of authoritarianism and revolution, particularly through the caricaturing of both the right and the left, we contextualize the politics of the film within the current rise of fascism in the United States. We consider the presentation of failed violent revolution and the suffering of the individual in the face of perpetuating institutions. We look at the way in which rebellion can be undermined both by the weaknesses of individuals and the indistinctness of messaging or abundant bureaucracy. We are particularly interested in the burden of a fight placed on the shoulders of the next generation. We critique the way in which the film was depicted either as a call to violence, by the right, or a celebration of left-wing protest, by the left. Rather, we conclude that, despite the film's sympathy for those who confront authoritarianism and champion liberty, it does so in the spirit of challenge, adopting the extreme representation of each end of the political spectrum by the other as a means both to provide comedy and provoke serious political thought. In this episode we specifically quote from the following interviews and articles: https://www.theringer.com/2025/09/29/movies/one-battle-after-another-movie-themes-explained-analysis https://ew.com/teyana-taylor-defends-one-battle-after-another-perfidia-scene-that-hit-hard-11905646 https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/teyana-taylor-golden-globes-breakout-year If you enjoy this episode, please check out our Instagram, Bluesky, or Substack. You can also donate or buy merch on our website.
In episode 42 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare and Masha go back to an animated classic, the 2008 Disney Pixar film Wall-E. As well as exploring how the central ecological message of the film has fared in light of 2026 consumerism, we talk about the roles of advertising, corporate power, and human apathy have contributed to the state of the world in the era of late-stage capitalism. We also discuss how an 18-year-old film foresaw the rise in screen-addiction, increased automation, the loss of expertise, and the reliance on vs the potential threat of AI. In the episode, we refer to ways to better inform ourselves with respect to waste production. Among other sources, we suggest checking out: https://www.earthday.org/how-our-trash-impacts-the-environment/. If you enjoyed this episode, please do rate and review us. You can get in touch via Instagram, Bluesky, or Substack.
It's 2026 and the world is as dystopian as ever, so we're back from our brief hibernation with a brand new episode looking at recent film from director Katherine Bigelow and writer Noah Oppenheim, A House of Dynamite. In this episode, Clare and Masha consider attitudes to nuclear arms in the post-Cold War era. We engage with the literature on the film's relationship to real life protocols in the face of a nuclear attack on the US. We consider in particular the personalities depicted in the film, and how each strategic leader and individual involved in the response to a missile heading for Chicago reacts and advocates for a different next step, while also dealing with their own particular concerns for family and friends. In particular, we compare these characters to those in power in real life in 2026, especially in light of recent international actions from the US under Donald Trump. We drew widely on recent literature from experts in atomic weaponry and US politics, and cite the following in particular: Kathryn Bigelow's House of Dynamite Is Wake-Up Call on Nuclear Weapons A House of Dynamite: The Netflix movie is terrifying. Is it realistic? A house of mistakes: what Kathryn Bigelow’s 'A House of Dynamite' gets radically right—and dangerously wrong—about nuclear war What we should be talking about after watching Bigelow's 'A House of Dynamite' nuclear thriller - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists The “House of Dynamite” sequel you didn’t know you needed - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Cover Story: Kathryn Bigelow And Her Cast On Why ‘A House Of Dynamite’ Should Disarm The World Trump executive orders 2025: Why creating a U.S. version of Iron Dome makes no damn sense. Here's what experts say 'A House of Dynamite' gets wrong (and right) about nuclear war If you have your own thoughts about A House of Dynamite or nuclear disarmament, we'd love to hear from you. You can find us on Instagram, Bluesky, or Substack, or via our website, where you can also find links to our KoFi account or support us by buying our merch.
In this milestone 40th episode, Clare and Masha are discussing the visually-stunning Oscar-winner of 2024, Flow. Despite this animation having no dialogue and minimal explicit narrative, we follow the travels of the Cat and their rag-tag bag of animal companions to see what they might tell us about survival, the climate crisis, found-family, and mutual support between very different characters. We consider the way in which collaboration and community benefit everyone. We situate the mythical circumstances of the film within a real-life crisis of rising sea-levels and extreme weather phenomena, from both our usual anthropocentric standpoint and the impact on flora and fauna. We follow the Cat's arc, as they become more resourceful and courageous, and learn the benefit of having others in their lives. We look at the Capybara as a symbol of generosity and the Lemur as representative of consumerism. We explore the Dog's journey away from the group-think of the Dog Pack, considering the true nature of friendship. And we pick at the strands of spiritual and religious narrative that seem to underpin the depiction of the Secretary Bird. Flow is far from being allegorical and even defies some metaphorical interpretation. If you have your own ideas as to how we might learn from this film, please let us know your thoughts via our website and social media, and don't forget to rate and review if you enjoy this episode!
In Episode 39 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare and Masha delve into the supposedly-fair society of Arcadia, the Dutch-Belgian series from Walter Presents. Our discussion looks at the flaws with the score-based system of citizenship in the show, and how it reflects ideas around meritocracy, with reference to Michael Sandel's The Tyranny of Merit. We also look at the way in which subconscious bias plays into opportunity, and talk about some of the ideas in Boys Don't Try by Matt Pinkett and Mark Roberts. We consider what happens when a society ties worth into a cost-benefit analysis for the state, with particular reference to the treatment of the disabled and those who rely on the safety net of a benefits system. We also discuss how societal systems and constraints may not always apply to those with privilege. We compare the current treatment of immigrants and asylum-seekers in the UK with the systems of exile in place in Arcadia. We also look at the depiction of neurodiversity and disability in the show, in comparison with the treatment of vulnerable people in British society. If you enjoy this episode, please don't forget to rate and review. You can find us on social media @dystopianfictioncurrentaffairs, including signing up to our newsletter on Substack. Please be aware that our book references may include affiliate links.
This episode we are exploring the world of The Pod Generation, a 2023 film about artificial wombs. CW: this episode includes discussion of death-in-pregnancy and suicide. Inspired by the discussion surrounding the ultimately-fake news reports that a Chinese company had developed a robot with a uterus, we look at the pros and cons of such a technology, the benefits that it might bring women and people with uteruses, as well as those who cannot conceive naturally, and the challenges that make the womb-pod science fiction for the time being. We also consider the societal impact of a two-tier maternity system and the dangers of handing power over pregnancies to corporations. We look at how the film suggests gestation in a pod might effect the involvement of both parents, particularly fathers, in the process of pregnancy, and how this might change attitudes to the provision of childcare. We explore some of the other elements of the world of The Pod Generation, not least the commodification of the natural world. We look at the benefits and dangers posed by replacing human therapists with AI, reflecting on recent issues in the news. And we discuss a future without state-regulated education. If you enjoy this episode, please do rate and review it. You can contact us with your own thoughts via our social media or on our website.
In episode 37 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare and Masha are delving into the 1953 novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. We start looking at censorship and book-banning, including the worrying spread of pressure-groups from the US to the UK. We consider Bradbury's presentation of books as symbols for free-thinking and intellectual rigour, and its link with the theme of happiness at the cost of liberty in 20th C dystopian novels, in particular Huxley's Brave New World. We explore the value of challenging media, and the nature of media consumption. Masha gives an overview of the latest research into the impact of screen-time and social media, and how it contributes to diminishing concentration, anxiety, and limitation to broad-mindedness. In particular, we look at the importance of third-spaces and human relationship, especially communities for free-thinking and debate, and the way in which conversation like those we have on the podcasts can create better thinking and work against apathy. If you enjoy this episode, please do rate and review. You can join in the conversation via Instagram, Bluesky, Substack, or through our website.
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Episode 36 takes us to the desert planet of Arrakis for our discussion of Dune, with particular reference to the 2021/2024 films as well as Frank Herbert's books. Our themes centre on the depiction of colonial power and imperialism, with particular reference to messiah figures, the 'white saviour', and religious messaging for political gain. We also look at Dune as early cli-fi, the environmental messaging of co-existing with the natural world, and the impact of capitalism on the environment. We reference a number of pieces of literary criticism in this episode, and we recommend reading the following to complement our thoughts: Durrani, Harris. Dune’s Not a White Savior Narrative. But It’s Complicated. | by Haris Durrani List, Julia. "Call Me a Protestant": Liberal Christianity, Individualism, and the Messiah in "Stranger in a Strange Land", "Dune", and "Lord of Light" on JSTOR Parkerson, Ronny. SEMANTICS, GENERAL SEMANTICS, AND ECOLOGY IN FRANK HERBERT'S DUNE on JSTOR Ramos, Dino-Ray. Let's Talk About 'Dune' And The Representation Of People Of Color In Sci-Fi And Genre Films - DIASPORA Senior, William A. “Frank Herbert’s Prescience: ‘Dune’ and the Modern World.” Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts 17, no. 4 (68) (2007): 317–20. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44809216.
If you enjoy this episode, please do rate and review. You can find out more about what we do on our website.
Episode 35 centres on the 2013 film Snowpiercer, another Bong Joon Ho film to follow Mickey 17, with some reference to the 2020 4-season show. We discuss the context of hubristic attempts to maintain global capitalism while preventing global heating, and compare the life-raft train with other post-apocalyptic sanctuaries. We look at the depiction of class and social mobility depicted in the film, with particular reference to Minister Mason's (Tilda Swinton) shoe-and-hat speech. We consider the metaphor of economic inequality in the film in the face of global inequality and resource apartheid, with reference to Mikaela Loach's It's Not That Radical. We allude to the data presented by The Equality Trust and in Michael Sandel's Justice. We probe the argument that the train is a closed ecosystem, and compare it to the world as ecosystem, and how resource abuse sits alongside global inequity. In particular, we look at Wilford's argument that he is simulating natural selection to control the train's population, with reference to historical attempts at population planning policy. We pay particular attention to the way in which revolution is depicted in the film, including the idea of revolution as beneficial to the authoritarian leader when that leader is able to manipulate the attempt. Masha shares the theory that links Snowpiercer to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and we provide our interpretations of the film's ending: hopeful for humanity, hopeful for the earth, or just hopeful for the polar bear! If you enjoy this episode, don't forget to rate and review. You can find out more about what we do on Substack, Bluesky, Instagram, and our website.
In episode 34 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare and Masha discuss the 2024 Bong Joon Ho film, Mickey 17. Building on our conversation about Pantheon in episode 33, we discuss the science and ethics of cloning, and the nature of personhood and consciousness. We look at the film's depiction of colonialism, late-stage capitalism, and mission-leader Marshall as a composite of populist leaders, evangelical preachers, and tech bros. We consider the nature of intelligence in the form of the so-called Creepers, anthropocentrism, and principles of first contact in science fiction. If you enjoy this episode, please do rate and review it wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow us on Instagram and Bluesky, or check out our website. We reference a couple of our recent Substack posts in this episode, too, and you can find them here and sign up to receive our fortnightly newsletter.
Welcome to our podcast's shadowy little corner of the internet! We're Masha and Clare, and we see dystopias everywhere, not least in the society that surrounds us. Join us as we discuss films, tv, and literature, and consider their depictions of humanity, society, and politics, while exploring what we might learn about justice and ethics.
This podcast is produced in association with Being Society, a web-based project in which students can become part of their own post-apocalyptic story, and challenge themselves to consider how we might build a better society, both hypothetically and in the here and now.
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