Westworld (by Michael Crichton)
We uncover the origins of the hit TV show on HBO, the beginning of computer effects in film, and the life of the author of Jurassic Park. Westworld is a show on HBO, and a movie (and novel) from 1973.
Extras:
Westworld (2020) trailer // 2 min: https://bit.ly/westworldhbotrail
Westworld (1973) trailer // 3 min: https://bit.ly/westworld1973trail
interview with Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy on the show // article:https://bit.ly/jnolanljoyinterview
the history of the original Westworld’s SFX // article: https://bit.ly/westworldsfx
clip of the 1973 Westworld’s first computer effect // 2 min: https://bit.ly/gunslingersfx
Arnold Schwarzenegger citing Westworld as his influence for the Terminator // articlehttps://bit.ly/arnoldwestworld
the life of Michael Crichton // article: https://bit.ly/mcrichtonlife
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
Emma (by Jane Austen)
Journey with us into Regency England, Beverly Hills in the ’90’s, and what Jane Austen invented that changed literature.
Extras:
Emma. (2020) trailer // 2 min: https://bit.ly/emma2020trailer
Clueless (1995) trailer // 2 min: https://bit.ly/cluelesstrailer
interview with the writer (Eleanor Catton) // article: https://bit.ly/emmawriterinterview
interview with the director of Clueless // 10 min: https://bit.ly/amyheckerlingint
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
Little Fires Everywhere (by Celeste Ng)
The odd (and real!) town of Shaker Heights, baby adoption in the 1990’s, and Evan and Taylor’s earnest attempt to understand motherhood. This week, we cover Little Fires Everywhere, the show on Hulu and the book by Celeste Ng.
ALERT: We also made another podcast as an April Fool’s joke!
- Judge a Book (our April Fool’s podcast!)
https://lists.pocketcasts.com/catpockets
Extras:
trailer, Little Fires Everywhere (Hulu) // 2 min: www.bit.ly/lfetrailer
interview with showrunner Liz Tigelaar // article: www.bit.ly/liztiginterview
interview with Reese Witherspoon // article: www.bit.ly/reeseinterview
Captioning Emily by Celeste Ng // article: www.bit.ly/captioningemily
essay by Celeste on fiction writing // article: www.bit.ly/needfiction
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
The Plot Against America (by Philip Roth)
We give you the imaginary presidency of Charles Lindbergh, the cycles of human history, and what the heck was really going on in 1940. This week, “The Plot Against America”, a limited series on HBO, and a novel by Philip Roth.
Extras:
The Plot Against America trailer // 3 min https://bit.ly/plotagainsttrailer
interview with author Philip Roth // 5 min https://bit.ly/prothinterview
interview with author Philip Roth // article https://bit.ly/nytrothinterview
the 1939 opinion poll on Jewish population // article https://bit.ly/1939poll
Charles Lindbergh’s anti-Semitic speech // audiohttps://bit.ly/lindberghspeech
the 1936 poll about FDR becoming a dictator // articlehttps://bit.ly/fdrdictator
the history of quotas on Jewish students at Ivy Leagues // articlehttps://bit.ly/ivyleaguedisc
the Howe-Strauss generational cycle theory // articlehttps://bit.ly/generationaltheory
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
Peter Pan (by JM Barrie)
The new, artistic film “Wendy” by Benh Zeitlin, the odd life of author JM Barrie, and the largest covert operation to fly children across the world. We’re giving you everything you need to know about Peter Pan.
Extras:
Wendy trailer // 2 min http://bit.ly/wendytrail
history of the name Wendy // article http://bit.ly/wendyname
the life of JM Barrie // article http://bit.ly/jmbarriebio
interview with director Benh Zeitlin // article http://bit.ly/wendydirector
Operation Pedro Pan documentary // 4 mins http://bit.ly/operationpedro
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
The Invisible Man (by HG Wells)
We tackle the father of science fiction, the odd 2000’s Kevin Bacon adaptation, predicting the future, and even the One Ring from Lord of the Rings. The Invisible Man (2020) is by Leigh Whannell, the original book by HG Wells.
Extras:
The Invisible Man (2020) trailer // 3 min http://bit.ly/inv2020trailer
interview with writer/director // article http://bit.ly/leighwhannellint
the silly poem the book is based on // poem http://bit.ly/ogpoemhgwells
modern tech’s invisibility cloak // 8 min http://bit.ly/inviscloakvid
Hollow Man (2000) trailer // 2 min http://bit.ly/hollowmantrail
The Invisible Man (1933) special effects // 2 min http://bit.ly/invis1933sfx
HG Wells’ futurist predictions // 5 min http://bit.ly/hgprophet
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
The Call of the Wild (by Jack London)
We explain the history behind the madman Jack London, his iconic work, the bizarre Disney adaptation, and a lesser known, live-action dog tale. The Call of the Wild is by Jack London, and also Togo with Willem Dafoe, out on Disney Plus.
Extras:
Jack London by Alex Kershaw / book http://bit.ly/jacklondonbook
What A Nightmare, Charlie Brown! / 5 min. http://bit.ly/charliebrownwild
interview with Togo director / article http://bit.ly/togoint
Chris Sanders storybook about what’s wrong with Disney / article http://bit.ly/disneybearbook
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
High Flying Bird (Revolt of the Black Athlete)
An under-the-radar film shot on iPhone, the 1968 Olympic protests, and The Revolt of the Black Athlete. The book is by Harry Edwards, and High Flying Bird is directed by Steven Soderbergh on Netflix.
Extras:
High Flying Bird trailer / 2 min. http://bit.ly/hfbtrailer
Unsane trailer / 2 min. http://bit.ly/unsanetrail
Tarell Alvin McCraney (writer) interview / article http://bit.ly/writerinhfb
High Flying Bird historical context / article http://bit.ly/historicalhfb
Harry Edwards story / article http://bit.ly/hedwards
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
Parasite
The South Korean film that swept the Oscars this year, and the meaning behind the big film and literature prizes.
Extras:
Parasite trailer / 2 min: http://bit.ly/parasitetrail
interview with Bong Joon Ho / article: http://bit.ly/bongint
interview about set design / article: http://bit.ly/architectureparasite
interview about editing / article: http://bit.ly/editorparasite
video about the french sisters / 10 min: http://bit.ly/papinsisters
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
Color Out of Space (by HP Lovecraft)
How the 24-year-missing director of this film is a Nazi-hunting Indiana Jones, the unfortunate life of H.P. Lovecraft, and what makes these spooky stories different from Stephen King. Color Out of Space by Richard Stanley is based on “The Colour Out of Space” by H.P. Lovecraft.
Extras:
- Color Out of Space trailer / 2 min: http://bit.ly/color2019trailer
- The Colour Out of Space short story / 1.5 hr: http://bit.ly/coloraudiobook
- Annihilation trailer / 2 min: http://bit.ly/annihilationtrail
- Voice of the Moon (Afghan War) doc / 30 min: http://bit.ly/voiceofthemoon
- Lost Soul (career-ending film) doc trailer / 2 min: http://bit.ly/lostsoultrailer
- The Secret Glory (Nazi-hunting) doc / 1.5 hr: http://bit.ly/secretglorydoc
- Lovecraft Country (HBO) teaser / 6 min: http://bit.ly/lovecraftcountry
- Richard Stanley interview / article: http://bit.ly/stanleylainterview
- Massive life of Richard Stanley interview / article: http://bit.ly/stanleyinterview2
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
Hansel & Gretel (by the Brothers Grimm)
An interview with the director, Oz Perkins of the new film, Gretel and Hansel. Plus, were the Grimm Brothers really so grim? And why are there so many stories about eating children?
Special thanks to Osgood Perkins for speaking with us this week! Go check out Gretel & Hansel.
Extras:
- Trailer for Gretel & Hansel (YouTube): http://bit.ly/hg2020trailer
- How the Nazis used Grimm fairy tales (Telegraph): http://bit.ly/nazifairytales
- An interview with Osgood Perkins (Daily Beast): http://bit.ly/ozinterview
- Grimm’s law of linguistics (YouTube): http://bit.ly/grimmslaw
- Tim Burton’s Hansel & Gretel (YouTube): http://bit.ly/timburtonhg
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
Animal Farm (by George Orwell)
Learn about how the CIA paid for the film version, the links to the Russian Revolution, and how the author (literally) lost his voice. This is a dive into a literary classic, Animal Farm by George Orwell.
Links:
- (WATCH): the full 1954 version on YouTube:
- (WATCH): the full 1999 version on YouTube:
http://bit.ly/animalfarm1999film
- (READ) the missing preface about censorship:
- (WATCH) China’s ban on Animal Farm in 2018:
- (READ) about the early Polish influence, Bunt:
- (READ) the one-to-one parallels to Soviet history:
http://bit.ly/sovietparallelsanimal
- (READ) Orwell’s book, “Down and Out in Paris and London”:
- (READ) the CIA’s balloon drop of Animal Farm into the Soviet Union:
http://bit.ly/ciaballonsanimalfarm
Giveaways & more:
- How to get a free sticker: Send us a message to @illiteratepod on instagram saying you want some!!!
- Want to help the show? Leave a review!
www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Get a copy of Animal Farm:
Contact:
reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Little Women (by Louisa May Alcott)
The story behind the progressive book from 150 years ago, and why it keeps being re-told. Little Women is based on the book by Louisa May Alcott.
Links:
- (WATCH) the trailer for the 2019 film:
http://bit.ly/littlewomen2019trail
- (WATCH) the trailer for the 1994 film:
http://bit.ly/littlewomen1994trail
- (WATCH) the reaction of Joey on Friends:
http://bit.ly/friendslittlewomen
- (WATCH) full episodes from the anime TV series:
http://bit.ly/animelittlewomen
- (WATCH) a comparison of the film adaptations:
- (READ) about A Long Fatal Love Chase:
Extras:
- How to get a free sticker:
Send us a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show?
Leave a review!
www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Get a copy of Little Women:
Contact:
reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Cats (featuring Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats)
Musicals from the 80’s, an almost-animation, the history, the hype, and why on earth there’s a movie now. Cats is based on TS Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats”.
Extras:
(LOOK) at the artwork for the un-made Spielberg animation:
(WATCH) the trailer for the film Cats:
(WATCH) a clip of “Memory” from the musical:
(WATCH) a 30 minute doc on the making of the 1998 film:
(READ) an original Variety review of the 1982 premiere on Broadway:
http://bit.ly/catsvarietyreview
(READ) the TS Eliot poem “Memory” is based on:
http://bit.ly/rhapsodyonawindynight
Get a copy of Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats:
Contact:
reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Star Wars (featuring Splinter of the Mind's Eye)
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, there was a book. The Star Wars saga is more intertwined in books than you’ve ever been told. Also, so is The Mandalorian. Featuring Splinter of the Mind’s Eye, by Alan Dean Foster.
Extras:
- (WATCH) the trailer for The Mandalorian
- (WATCH) the full Star Wars Holiday Special (1978):
http://bit.ly/swholidayspecial
- (WATCH) the trailer for George Lucas’ first film, THX1138:
- (WATCH) the trailer for the doc, The People vs. George Lucas:
- (WATCH) a video on Lone Wolf and Cub:
- (READ) Shakespeare’s Star Wars:
- (READ) about Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker:
http://bit.ly/swadventuresbook
- (LIST) of the best Star Wars books if you’ve seen the movies:
- (LOOK) at the Star Wars comics from 1977:
Get a copy of Splinter of the Mind’s Eye:
Contact:
reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Stephen King (featuring Doctor Sleep)
Everything you need to know about the master of horror. Also, the tale behind his latest adaptation, Doctor Sleep, the sequel to The Shining.
Watch/read/listen:
- WATCH: the trailer for Doctor Sleep
- WATCH: the trailer for Gerald’s Game
- WATCH: The Shining TV miniseries trailer
- WATCH: Oscar the therapy cat
- WATCH: the Misery trailer
- WATCH: George and Stephen chat
- READ: The Rolling Stone interview
- READ: an interview about Doctor Sleep
- READ: about Stephen King winning the National Book Award
- READ: his fav book, Lisey’s Story
- READ: his memoir, On Writing
Get a copy of Doctor Sleep:
Topics from today’s episode:
01:05 - what is Doctor Sleep?
04:10 - voting for King’s next book
05:50 - a real-life psychic cat
09:40 - father and son influences
12:25 - Stephen’s childhood
15:50 - the garbage, Carrie, and a million bucks
18:30 - the struggle of alcohol and drugs
21:05 - the now-famous author friend
24:30 - free from addiction
27:20 - the near death accident
28:30 - literary merit
29:25 - Stephen’s favorite book he wrote
32:45 - what Stephen is afraid of
Contact:
reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Motherless Brooklyn - Jonathan Lethem
Watch/read/listen:
- (WATCH): the trailer for Motherless Brooklyn
http://bit.ly/motherlesstrailer
- (WATCH): the trailer for the doc Twitch and Shout
- (WATCH): a doc about the NBA player with Tourettes
- (LISTEN): to the Radiohead version of the main song
- (LISTEN): to the Jazz version of the main song
- (LISTEN): to Prince’s extended version of Kiss
- (READ): the guest list for Radiohead’s concert
http://bit.ly/guestlistradiohead
- (READ): An Anthropologist on Mars neurology book
- (READ): The Power Broker about Robert Moses
- (READ): an article about the road through Washington Square Park
Get a copy of Motherless Brooklyn:
Topics from today’s episode:
01:05 - why you should listen to the audiobook
02:50 - the worldwide history of detectives
08:00 - who is Jonathan Lethem?
08:15 - what does Motherless Brooklyn mean?
10:00 - why the detective has Tourette’s
12:00 - Edward Norton finds the book
16:30 - the secret man who ran NYC
21:45 - Edward Norton almost gave up
23:05 - ‘90s music in a ’50’s world
25:10 - Prince and Tourette’s
28:00 - the NBA player with Tourette’s
29:20 - the beautiful last line
33:10 - let us know what you’re into
Contact:
reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Jojo Rabbit - Caging Skies by Christine Leunens
How the film Jojo Rabbit was birthed from a tragic book, the history of Hitler satire, and what all the dictators are writing about. Jojo Rabbit is out now, starring Taika Waititi, based on the book Caging Skies by Christine Leunens.
Watch/read/listen:
- (WATCH) the trailer for Jojo Rabbit:
- (WATCH) the Mercedes commercial the author of Caging Skies modeled in:
- (WATCH) an Interview with Christine Leunens about New Zealand:
- (WATCH) Taika Waititi falling asleep at the Oscars:
- (WATCH) Taika’s short film, Two Cars One Night:
- (WATCH) The Great Dictator - full film (1940):
http://bit.ly/greatdictatorchaplin
- (WATCH) the trailer for The Producers (1967):
http://bit.ly/producers1967trail
- (WATCH) the film Look Who’s Back on Netflix:
- (WATCH) the trailer for the Australian show Danger 5:
- (READ) about the store in India called Hitler:
- (READ) about “What Can We Learn from Dictator’s Literature?”:
- (READ) about “Hitler’s Forgotten Library”:
- (LISTEN): to a New Zealand radio interview with Christine Leunens about the film adaptation:
Get a copy of Caging Skies, the book Jojo’s based on:
Topics from today’s episode:
00:01 - a Nancy Drew collector hit us up
03:20 - Caging Skies is wildly different
07:20 - The supermodel who wrote Caging Skies
10:00 - this story happened to her friend
11:40 - how it’s Taika Waititi’s mom’s fault
18:50 - the history of Hitler parodies
27:20 - Saddam Hussein wrote romance fiction
29:40 - Hitler’s secret library
31:10 - the future of satirizing Hitler?
Contact:
reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Nancy Drew - Carolyn Keene
Learn about the bizarre changes to Nancy Drew over time, who wrote the stories, and why she’s inspired millions, even if we can’t remember what happened in her books.
Watch/read/listen:
- (VIDEO) Trailer for the new CW series:
- (VIDEO) Trailer for the 2019 film:
- (VIDEO) An episode of the 1970 TV series:
- (IMAGES): A chronological comparison of cover artwork:
http://bit.ly/covercomparisons
- (IMAGES): The international cover art differences:
- (ARTICLE): The 1930 newspaper article about the shark-shooting author:
- (ARTICLE): About the adaptability of Nancy Drew:
- Get a copy of an original Nancy Drew book:
Topics from today’s episode:
01:30 - Nancy Drew’s mom is dead?
04:00 - Stratemeyer, literary genius
05:50 - the real-life Nancy Drew
08:30 - scandal of the true authors
10:00 - author shoots shark from airplane
13:00 - Nancy’s artwork in other countries
15:15 - the anti-racist revisions in the 60’s
16:50 - the sexual revisions in the 80’s
19:30 - who is Nancy Drew for?
23:50 - Nancy overtakes the Hardy Boys
25:50 - strange and failed adaptations
29:10 - the CW’s take on Nancy
32:00 - why Nancy Drew is so great
34:30 - you could be Nancy Drew!
Contact:
reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Joker
Join us and learn about the history of the Joker, and the real world assassinations and scandals that created the Joker character over the years. Now a major film “Joker” with Joaquin Phoenix.
Watch/read/listen:
(IMAGE) The comparison photo between “The Man Who Laughs” and Joker:
(VIDEO) The trailer for “Joker”:
(VIDEO) Batman vs. Alien vs. Predator
(BOOK) The Joker: A Serious Study
(BOOK) An Assassin’s Diary (Arthur Bremer)
Get a copy of “The Killing Joke”:
Topics from today’s episode:
01:00 | Children’s socks with a murderer on them
01:40 | The Killing Joke book
08:10 | the 1928 silent film Joker comes from
11:45 | media controversy
15:20 | Joker’s changes thru the decades
19:30 | audience voted on who Joker should kill
20:40 | Joker becomes the ambassador to Iran
22:30 | how Harley Quinn got made
24:00 | real assassination attempts
28:10 | Joker becomes Batman
29:30 | Batman vs. Alien vs. Predator
30:50 | Joker in Shakespeare
31:30 | the iconic laugh
34:00 | let us know what you think
Contact:
reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod