Sectarian Review
  • Episodes and Show Notes
  • The Sectarian Review Blog
  • About

Episode 139: Multiverse Ethics

12/12/2019

1 Comment

 
Picture
​Live from Charity Con 2019, Danny Anderson welcomes Chris Maverick and Wayne Wise of the Vox Popcast, as well as Chris Buckley and Andy Walsh to discuss how the multiverse contains multitudes of ethical dimensions. Just in time for the DC crossover event on CW.

1 Comment

Episode 136: V For Vendetta and Buddhism

11/13/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
The comic book writer Alan Moore is kind of a natural subject for this show, since his work engages pretty strongly with each of those categories. On a previous episode, we looked at his Miracle Man comic and today we’ll be looking at V For Vendetta.
Joining me once again today is Angelo Letizia, who you might remember from a previous episode about using Batman to train future Social Studies teachers. Today, he’s got an interesting religious reading of this book and I’m very excited to welcome him back

0 Comments

Episode 131: Titans/Theology

9/11/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Patronize Us!
​Danny Anderson is joined by Popular Culture and Theology's Matthew Brake to discuss season 1 of Titans just in time for Season 2. Is there an ethical issue with taking a teenager-based comic and making it VERY ADULT? How does the show engage with questions of theology and community? What makes Batman's work so morally draining for Robin? All this and much more. In addition, learn about an upcoming conference, TheoCon, about popular culture and theology. PLUS, head over and subscribe on Patreon for some bonus conversation about copyright and much more.
Links:
https://popularcultureandtheology.com/
http://www.theocon.live/
0 Comments

Episode 126: Horror and Superheroes

7/10/2019

0 Comments

 
Click to Become a Patron
Picture
Danny Anderson returns from hiatus with an episode about why superheroes and horror just don't mix very well. Joining the show today is Dr. Sam Cowling who will discuss some of the philosophical foundations of horror and why they seem to be incompatible with superhero comics. Up for discussion today is Batman, Swamp Thing, Blade, Underworld, and so very much more. Also, there is a bonus discussion about the current boom in horror that is taken seriously by mainstream critics.

​That discussion is available to Patreon subscribers, who help make so much happen here. Head over to https://www.patreon.com/sectarianreview for more info on how you can get more content from the show.

0 Comments

Episode 124: Civics, Art, and Batman

5/28/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
In this episode, Danny is joined by Dr. Angelo Letizia to discuss the usefulness of Batman's mythology for teaching civics in American classrooms. Letizia advocates for creative approaches to teaching civics and one of his assignments is having students adapt an image from Batman's oeuvre to a current political event or controversy. At stake in Letizia's approach is an ideological question of whether civic education should be a) about making responsible citizens, b) empowering citizens to participate, or c) created justice-oriented citizens. Comics, for Letizia, becomes a great medium to tap into this justice-centered goal, and Batman provides plenty of fertile soil for the political imagination.

Links: 
Angelo Letizia on Twitter (Academic Comics)
Unmaking the Public University: The Forty-Year Assault on the Middle Class, Christopher Newfield
"Cultural Acupuncture:" Fan Activism and the Harry Potter Alliance, Henry Jenkins

0 Comments

Episode 123: Apocalypse and Pop Culture w/Joshua Wise

5/22/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Popular Culture is obsessed with apocalypse. Avengers: Endgame is the most recent pop drama that explores variations on eschatology, but it is by no means unique in doing so. Joining the show today to discuss this theological concern in pop culture is Joshua Wise, scholar, writer, and podcaster who has two books coming out that explore this very subject: No Avatars Allowed, and Eschatology and Pop Culture. Danny and Josh discuss such topics as Mad Max, the Fallout video game, Zombie Films, Kingdom Come, and much more.
Links:
No Avatars Allowed pre-order page
No Avatars Allowed podcast
Theology and Pop Culture Series (Eschatology and Pop Culture forthcoming)
All Ports Open Network
Joshua Wise on Twitter



0 Comments

Episode 113: Comics and Theology

3/13/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Danny Anderson welcomes back Matthew Brake from Pop Culture and Theology for another discussion. This time, we explore the ways in which comics offer occasions to theologize, or think about God. The conversation breaks down into three basic parts. First, what are some ways in which religion has been represented in popular comics? Second, how do comics address religious concepts or motifs through metaphor (i.e. Superman as Christ-figure). Finally, what are some primary theological concepts that are explored through comics? Along the way, look for discussions about Frank Miller, Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Batman, the X-Men, eschatology and much much more.
Links:
Pop Culture and Theology
G. Willow Wilson
Frank Miller’s Holy Terror
Peter Enns’ Inspiration and Incarnation
X-Men God Loves Man Kills
A. David Lewis’s Graven Images: Religion in Comic Books and Graphic Novels
Alan Moore’s Saga of the Swamp Thing
Grant Morrison’s Animal Man
Neil Gaiman’s View from the Cheap Seats
Neil Gaiman’s Sandman
Batman Gothic
Batman RIP
Mark Waid’s Kingdom Come
Walter Wink
Carl Schmitt Four Chapters on the Concept of Sovereignty

​
0 Comments

Episode 98: Remembering Stan Lee

11/29/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Excelsior! In this mighty episode, Danny is joined by the Christian Humanist Podcast’s own Nathan Gilmour to talk about the cultural impact of the late Stan Lee. Lee, who died a few weeks ago, was a staggering figure in American culture, helping to create many of the icons that have captured the imaginations of the 20th and 21st Centuries. Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, the X-Men, Daredevil, and Dr. Strange all trace part of their roots back to Lee. In this episode, learn about: the social media response to Lee’s passing, Lee’s controversial history of collaborative artistry, Lee’s place in Jewish art, the political subtext of the Marvel universe, and much much more. Stan Lee helped provide a “superhero mythology in a religiously pluralistic world.”
Links:
“Stan Lee Built the World I Live In,” by Wayne Wise: http://www.legacy.com/news/celebrity-deaths/notable-deaths/article/stan-lee-built-the-world-i-live-in

“Marvel Icon Stan Lee Leaves a Legacy as Complicated As His Heroes,” by Spencer Ackerman: https://www.thedailybeast.com/rip-stan-lee-the-man-who-sold-the-world

0 Comments

Episode 95: Superman 'Red Son'

11/7/2018

2 Comments

 
Picture
Recorded live at the 2018 Mount Aloysius College Charity Comic Con! Join us for a very special episode in which Chris Maverick of the Vox Popcast rejoins the show to discuss a fascinating take on the Superman mythology. Mark Millar’s “Red Son” version of the Man of Steel posits the question: what if Superman landed in the Soviet Union rather than Kansas? From this premise, Millar’s comic revises major characters: Lex Luthor becomes the quasi-heroic President of the United States, Batman becomes a Russian dissident terrorist, and Green Lantern’s ring is an artifact of the Roswell UFO crash. Red Son also ponders philosophical and political questions; about the nature of Communism and Capitalism, Superman’s innate goodness, and freedom versus happiness. In addition, the book tackles difficult theological questions about the incarnation of God among humankind. All this and much more is covered in this extra-special episode of the Sectarian Review Podcast.

​
2 Comments

Episode 75: Alan Moore's Miracleman

6/20/2018

1 Comment

 
Subscribe on iTunes
Picture
Alan Moore’s Watchmen forever changed the way we view superheroes. Ultimately, the argument of that graphic novel is that the superhero is an inherently fascist figure. Thinking about this got Danny to wondering what on Earth a socialist superhero might even look like. Well, to answer that question, Danny called on Wayne Wise and Chris Maverick from the Vox Popcast. Wayne and Mav both recommended that Danny read Alan Moore’s earlier exploration of this subject, Miracleman. In this podcast, we explore the really complicated publishing history of the most important comic you’ve never read, and then we dive into the book to find out what it is about superheroes that makes socialism a seeming impossibility. Plus, a discussion about postmodernism and Moore’s aesthetic, and the profound religious implications of Miracleman. Plus a major dose of comic book recommendations!

Finally, if you haven’t yet subscribed to the show, please do so and also leave us a positive review. Subscription info is available at www.sectarianreviewpodcast.com

Links:
Vox Popcast

Recommendations:
Stormwatch/The Authority
Superman/Red Son
An article on Coates’s Black Panther
The October Faction
The Ultimates
The Vision: Little Worse Than a Man
Mockingbird by Chelsea Cain
East of West
The Wicked + The Divine
Giant Days

​
1 Comment

Episode 55: The Last Jedi and Toxic Fandom

1/3/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
This episode explores one of the most divisive movies in the Star Wars franchise. Upon its release, The Last Jedi has been superbly received by critics, yet reviled by certain members of the massive Star Wars fan base. What is behind these polarized opinions? Danny Anderson is joined by Nathan Magee, Director of Theater at Mount Aloysius College, and together these rebels seek answers from across the galaxy. What are the legitimate problems with this new take on the Star Wars formula? How do these reasonable complaints differ from the vitriolic reactions of “fans?” Plus, listener feedback, some astounding predictions for 2018 and our latest host-recommendations! Follow the show on Facebook, Twitter, and at sectarianreviewpodcast.com
Links:
“The Last Jedi Isn’t For the Fans” by Andrew Kahn
“Sense of the Faithful Says There’s Something Amiss About ‘The Last Jedi’” by Charlie Camosy

0 Comments

Episode 39: Jack Chick Lives!

6/14/2017

5 Comments

 
Picture
Click to Listen
Danny Anderson, Jordan Poss, and Jay Eldred discuss the complicated, sometimes appalling legacy of Jack Chick and his "Chick Tracts." What theological tradition do these comic books participate in? Where do they go off the rails? Is there anything laudable about Jack Chick's bleak theology? Special Treat: hang around for about the 1 hour 45 minute point to hear Danny's impromptu Alex Jones imitation! 
Main Links:
Chick Tract Evangelism on YouTube
"The Imp" Chick Tract Parody
LA Magazine Retrospective
Jack Chick 'Official' Biography from Chick.Com
"The Wiles of the Devil" by Charles Fuller
"Meet Jack Chick," by Jimmy Akin https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/meet-jack-chick
"The Death Cookie" http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0074/0074_01.asp
"Dark Dungeons" https://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0046/0046_01.asp
"Somebody Loves Me" https://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0006/0006_01.asp
MST3K style parody of  "DD"  https://www.fecundity.com/darkdung/darkdung.php?page=1

In addition, this episode introduces the first of an occasional new segment for the show: "Spider-Web Christianity" (provisional title). In these brief segments, we explore institutions that structure Christian Culture. What are the networks that drive Christian thought and conversation? To start us off, Danny talks about the publicity company Grace Hill Media.
Spider-Web Links:
Grace Hill Media website
"Disney Sells Faith Side of Mira Nair's 'Queen of Katwe' with Whispers, Not Shouts"
"Secular Hollywood Quietly Courts the Faithful"
"The Secret Christian Message in This Weekend's Highly-Anticipated Horror Film"
5 Comments

Episode 33: Behind the Bullet Holes - Teaching Violent Comics

3/22/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Click to Listen

A peek behind the curtain of academia. Danny and two of his colleagues, Dr. Jessica Jost-Costanzo and Christopher Burlingame, deliver conference papers at the 2017 Pennsylvania College English Association conference at Indiana University, Pa. The panel was about trigger warnings, safe spaces, and the teaching of violent comic books. Danny's paper applies Lionel Trilling's moral anxiety to his experience teaching Alan Moore's Jack the Ripper book, From Hell. Burlingame explores the possibilities for teaching critical thinking through Fight Club II. Jost-Costanzo, talks about Art Spiegelman's Maus and her own experiences encountering disturbing literature. Each brief paper (about 15 minutes each) engages with the ongoing controversies around political correctness and the college campus. 

We'd love to hear any responses or questions you might have. Feel free to comment either here or at the show's Facebook page - ​https://www.facebook.com/SectarianReview/

Incidentally, if you haven't done so yet, please be sure to like the Facebook page. Very soon, we will be having a contest giveaway and that will be the best place to find updates. Also, please consider clicking over to iTunes and leaving the show a nice review - Click here.

Link to the panel's accompanying slide show.
0 Comments

Episode 14: Seven Levels of Hell's Kitchen

7/1/2016

3 Comments

 

The Christian Humanist Podcast's Nathan Gilmour joins Danny Anderson for discussion about the Theological and Philosophical underpinnings of Marvel's Netflix series' Daredevil and Jessica Jones. Listen for the following and more:

Why are the villains so important to these heroes? Why is Daredevil a Catholic? How is Jessica Jones able to offer a rich and complex matrix of feminisms? Why are minor characters so important to the philosophical questions the shows ask? How do Daredevil's action sequences demonstrate the philosophical arguments the show makes? This was a fun talk and we hope you enjoy listening as much as we did talking.

This episode also has some important announcements, along with listener responses and this week's new Facebook Page followers!
iTunes
Stream on Stitcher
Picture
3 Comments

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016

    Categories

    All
    1980s
    Abuse
    Academia
    Akira Kurosawa
    Alan Moore
    Alex Jones
    Alfred Hitchcock
    Alternative Music
    Alt Right
    Amazing World Of Gumball
    America
    America And Other Fictions
    American Psycho
    Anabaptist
    Ancient Aliens
    Andrei Rublev
    Andrew Cuomo
    Antichrist
    Anti-Semitism
    Aphorisms
    Apocalypse
    Art
    Artificial Intelligence
    A Serious Man
    Authenticity
    Banned Books
    Batman
    BBC
    Bernie Sanders
    Bible
    Bigfoot
    Black Church
    Black Friday
    Black Lives Matter
    Black Panther
    Blade Runner
    Blockbuster
    Bluing
    Books
    Bookstores
    Bottled Water
    Bret Easton Ellis
    Bruderhof
    Buddhism
    Capitalism
    Capitalist Realism
    Capital Punishment
    Cartoons
    Catholicism
    Celebrity
    Censorship
    Chaim Potok
    Chick Tracts
    Children
    Christian Colleges
    Christianity
    Christian Nationalism
    Christmas
    Christopher Lee
    Church
    Cobra Kai
    Coen Brothers
    Collecting
    College
    Comedy
    Comic Books
    Comics
    Communism
    Community
    Conferences
    Conservatism
    Conspiracy Theory
    Consumerism
    Coronavirus
    Cossacks
    Country Music
    Creation-care
    Creationism
    Cryptozoology
    Cults
    Culture
    C.W. Buckley
    Dante
    Daredevil
    David Barton
    DC Comics
    Democratic Party
    Dickens
    Disability Studies
    Disney
    Dispensationalism
    Donald Trump
    Drinking
    Dungeons And Dragons
    Dystopian Fiction
    Earth Day
    Eastern Orthodoxy
    Economics
    Education
    Elon-musk
    Endgame
    Environmentalism
    Ethics
    Evangelicalism
    Existentialism
    Fan Culture
    Fantasy
    Fascism
    Faust
    Feminism
    Film
    Folger Library
    Free College
    Free Speech
    Freud
    Fritz Lang
    Fundamentalism
    Games
    Gerrymandering
    Get Out
    Ghosts
    God
    Grievance Studies
    Hallmark
    Halloween
    HGTV
    Higher Education
    Hillary Clinton
    Hip Hop
    Hipsters
    History
    Horror
    H.P. Lovecraft
    Identity Politics
    Ideology
    Infinity War
    Inside/Out
    Islam
    It
    Jack Chick
    Jeepers Creepers
    Jerry Jeff Walker
    Jessica Jones
    Jewishness
    Jim Bakker
    J. Kwest
    John Carpenter
    John Fea
    John Warner
    Jordan Peele
    Jordan Peterson
    Joshua Wise
    Justice League
    Keywords
    King Arthur
    Labor
    Laudato Si
    Law
    Lazarus At The Gate
    Leftist Politics
    Let God Die
    Liberal Arts
    Liberalism
    Liberation Theology
    Libraries
    Listener Feedback
    Literature
    Loneliness
    Love Actually
    Mark Fisher
    Mark Millar
    Marvel
    Marvel Comics
    Marx
    Marxism
    Mary Harron
    Materialism
    Matthew B. Crawford
    MeToo
    Metropolis
    Middlebrow
    Military
    Minimalism
    Ministry
    Miracleman
    Monsters
    Monuments
    Mothman
    Movies
    M.R. James
    Multiverse
    Museums
    Music
    Nazis
    Neoliberalism
    Netflix
    Nostalgia
    Office Space
    Oscar Romero
    Paganism
    Paranormal
    Passion
    Patriotism
    Pennsylvania
    Peter-daou
    Pet-sematary
    Philanthropy
    Philip Roth
    Philosophy
    Podcasting
    Poetry
    Political Correctness
    Politics
    Pop Culture
    Pope Francis
    Post Truth
    Post-Truth
    Prison
    Progressive Christianity
    Progressive Politics
    Prophecy
    Pure Flix
    Quatermass And The Pit
    Race
    Racism
    Rapture
    Rashomon
    Ready Player One
    R.E. Howard
    Religion
    REM
    Republican Party
    Rhetoric
    Rock Music
    Romantic Comedy
    Romanticism
    Russia
    Russiagate
    Satanic Panic
    Saudi Arabia
    Scholarship
    Science
    Science Fiction
    Scrooge
    Seven Mountain Dominionism
    Shakespeare
    Shop Class As Soulcraft
    Silicon Valley
    Skull And Bones
    Socialism
    Social Media
    Solaris
    Solitude
    Soviet Union
    Space
    Spider-Man
    Spirits
    Split
    Stalker
    Stan Lee
    Star Wars
    Stephen King
    Steven Spielberg
    Storytelling
    Stranger Things
    Superheroes
    Superman
    Tammy Faye Bakker
    Tarkovsky
    Taylor Swift
    Technology
    Television
    Thanksgiving
    The Chosen
    The Good Place
    The-helpers
    Theology
    Theololgy
    The-plot-against-america
    The-wicker-man
    The-wolf-man
    They-live
    Titans
    Tom-prigg
    Transhumanism
    Tremors
    Twilight-zone
    U2
    Universal Monsters
    Us
    Utilitarianism
    Verrit
    V For Vendetta
    Video Games
    Violence
    War
    Weezer
    Weird Christianity
    Weird Fiction
    Wild Goose Festival
    Wild Wild Country
    Work
    Wrestling
    Writing

    RSS Feed

About

Subscribe to the show (and leave a nice review) at iTunes or Stitcher
The Sectarian Review Podcast is a proud member of the Christian Humanist Radio Network. www.christianhumanist.org 
​
  • Episodes and Show Notes
  • The Sectarian Review Blog
  • About