The Problematic Gaze

David Moor and Lee Arnott

Winner  -  ‘Best History Podcast’ - Independent Podcast Awards 2025   ‘Top 30 Podcasts To Listen To Right Now’ - The Radio Times 2025 Direct from PG Towers, join social historian Dr Lee Arnott and TV producer Dave Moor for a lighthearted look at the world of TV, Film and Popular Culture of yesteryear that has since been considered problematic.  Each week we focus on a different piece of pop culture, and put it into context by looking at the news events and cultural landscape of the year it was released.  Out and proud, Dr Lee and Our Dave present a humorous take on life as LGBTQ+ men of a glorious age, and present a digestible mix of academic social commentary, unflinching life lessons, media analysis,  and hot takes on feminism, race, politics and cancel culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 1D AGO

    Dirty Dancing (1987): When Feminism, Horniness, and Class Politics Collide

    Dirty Dancing (1987) is remembered as a feminist awakening, a sexual coming-of-age story, and one of the most beloved romances in pop culture history—but how does it hold up when we really look at it? In this episode of The Problematic Gaze, we revisit the summer of ’63 through an ’87 lens, unpacking age gaps, power dynamics, class politics, reproductive rights, and the film’s complicated ideas about masculinity and desire. Is Dirty Dancing quietly radical, deeply troubling, or somehow both at once? Nobody puts this rewatch in a corner. Click here to follow us on all our socials Don't forget to hit that FOLLOW button to get every episode of The Problematic Gaze downloaded and ready to listen! Please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze.    And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    52 min

  2. JAN 6

    FROM THE GAZER VAULT: 'Grease' Movie Musical from 1978. T-Birds, Pink Ladies, Sex and Slut Shaming

    Dr Lee and Dave are having the week off! Before our next week's episode on 'Dirty Dancing', here's an episode from last year for our Gazers new and old to enjoy! Greetings from PG Towers! Join social historian Dr Lee Arnott and TV Producer Dave Moor for a lighthearted look at the world of TV,  Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week we cast our Gaze over high school musical 'Grease' from 1978. The Travolta phenomenon steps up a gear and Olivia Newton John hops aboard. Many a teen girls and gays favourite. Euphoric, innocent fun? Or perhaps a darker representation of teens, cultural morals and gender roles. Also, Dr Lee bursts Dave's 'fake it till you make it bubble'. And just who is the Sandra Dee, and who is the Rizzo in this friendship. You can watch Grease on many media formats in the UK and across the globe! Click here to follow us on all our socials Please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze. And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you! Click here to follow us on all our socials Don't forget to hit that FOLLOW button to get every episode of The Problematic Gaze downloaded and ready to listen! Please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze.    And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 11m

  3. JAN 2 · BONUS

    THE PROBLEMATIC GAZETTE: Gazer Letters and 2025 retrospective!

    Welcome to The Problematic Gazette, a bonus addition to our main show. Our Dave and Dr Lee chew the fat, read out Gazer comments  and  discuss things we've seen, read and heard this week. To watch video versions of our full episodes check out The Problematic Gaze YouTube channel here! Click here to follow us on all our socials Please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze.   And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you! Click here to follow us on all our socials Don't forget to hit that FOLLOW button to get every episode of The Problematic Gaze downloaded and ready to listen! Please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze.    And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min

  4. 12/30/2025

    New Year’s Eve Aboard The Poseidon Adventure (1972) Ringing in Disaster

    In this episode of The Problematic Gaze, we revisit The Poseidon Adventure (1972), beginning with its iconic New Year’s Eve celebration that turns instantly catastrophic. Using the overturned ship as both spectacle and metaphor, we examine how the film reinforces—and occasionally challenges—traditional 1970s gender roles, particularly around masculinity, leadership, faith, and sacrifice. We also place The Poseidon Adventure alongside its sister disaster films of the era, exploring why these large-scale spectacles resonated so strongly with 1970s audiences. In a decade shaped by social upheaval and institutional mistrust, we ask what comfort, reassurance, or ideology these films offered when the world felt unstable. Click here to follow us on all our socials Please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze.   And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you! Click here to follow us on all our socials Don't forget to hit that FOLLOW button to get every episode of The Problematic Gaze downloaded and ready to listen! Please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze.    And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    54 min

  5. 12/23/2025

    Bah, Humbug… or Is It? Christmas with Blackadder (1988)

    This festive episode of The Problematic Gaze Podcast decks the halls with sarcasm as we revisit Blackadder’s Christmas Carol (1988). Swapping Dickensian gloom for yuletide jokes, unexpected kindness, and plenty of seasonal silliness, we explore why this one-off special has become a cult Christmas favourite. From time-travelling spirits to Rowan Atkinson at peak comic charm, this is a warm, witty celebration of Christmas television—proof that even Blackadder can discover the joy of goodwill (with a smirk). Grab a mince pie and join us for a merry stroll through one of the BBC’s most beloved Christmas treats. 🎄 Click here to follow us on all our socials Please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze.   And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you! Click here to follow us on all our socials Don't forget to hit that FOLLOW button to get every episode of The Problematic Gaze downloaded and ready to listen! Please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze.    And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    56 min

  6. 12/19/2025 · BONUS

    THE PROBLEMATIC GAZETTE: Our Dave shops 'till he drops and Dr Lee loses his spark!

    Welcome to The Problematic Gazette, a bonus addition to our main show. Our Dave and Dr Lee chew the fat, read out Gazer comments  and  discuss things we've seen, read and heard this week. To watch video versions of our full episodes check out The Problematic Gaze YouTube channel here! Click here to follow us on all our socials Please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze.   And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you! Click here to follow us on all our socials Don't forget to hit that FOLLOW button to get every episode of The Problematic Gaze downloaded and ready to listen! Please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze.    And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    21 min

  7. 12/16/2025

    'Morecambe & Wise' from 1971: The Christmas Show That United a Nation

    For decades, the Morecambe & Wise Christmas specials were more than just television — they were a seasonal institution. In this episode of The Problematic Gaze, we take a joyful deep-dive into the 1971 Morecambe & Wise Christmas Special, fondly remembered as one of their most beloved festive showcases. Broadcast on Christmas Day 1971, this classic brought together Eric Morecambe, Ernie Wise and an unforgettable lineup of guests — including showbiz legends like Shirley Bassey, André Previn and Glenda Jackson — for a rich variety of sketches, musical performances and moments that have become part of British Christmas tradition.  We’ll revisit Eric’s ridiculous piano concerto with Previn, Shirley Bassey’s set malfunction, and the duo’s effortless blend of slapstick and warmth that made millions tune in each holiday season. This episode celebrates how the 1971 special helped define festive TV entertainment — bringing laughter, music and a sense of shared joy to families across the UK and beyond. Click here to watch the 1971 Morecambe and Wise 1971 Christmas Special on IPlayer Click here to follow us on all our socials Please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze.   And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you! GAZER HOMEWORK: Next week we focus on Blackadder's Christmas Carol. Click here to watch on Amazon Prime in the UK Click here to follow us on all our socials Don't forget to hit that FOLLOW button to get every episode of The Problematic Gaze downloaded and ready to listen! Please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze.    And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    56 min

  8. 12/12/2025

    THE PROBLEMATIC GAZETTE: Palladium Pantomimes and Radio Times!

    THIS EPISODE CONTAINS SOME BACKGROUND INTERFERENCE! WE BLAME OUR DAVE'S HANGOVER. APOLOGIES, MUST TRY HARDER (OR DRINK LESS) Welcome to The Problematic Gazette, a bonus addition to our main show. Our Dave and Dr Lee chew the fat, read out Gazer comments  and  discuss things we've seen, read and heard this week. To watch video versions of our full episodes check out The Problematic Gaze YouTube channel here! Click here to follow us on all our socials Please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze.   And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you! Click here to follow us on all our socials Don't forget to hit that FOLLOW button to get every episode of The Problematic Gaze downloaded and ready to listen! Please leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze.    And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at theproblematicgaze@gmail.com. We love hearing from you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28 min
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Winner  -  ‘Best History Podcast’ - Independent Podcast Awards 2025   ‘Top 30 Podcasts To Listen To Right Now’ - The Radio Times 2025 Direct from PG Towers, join social historian Dr Lee Arnott and TV producer Dave Moor for a lighthearted look at the world of TV, Film and Popular Culture of yesteryear that has since been considered problematic.  Each week we focus on a different piece of pop culture, and put it into context by looking at the news events and cultural landscape of the year it was released.  Out and proud, Dr Lee and Our Dave present a humorous take on life as LGBTQ+ men of a glorious age, and present a digestible mix of academic social commentary, unflinching life lessons, media analysis,  and hot takes on feminism, race, politics and cancel culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    David Moor and Lee Arnott
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    99
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Problematic Gaze
  • Show Website
    The Problematic Gaze

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