Zebras In America Zebras In America

Scott and John burrow deep into animation for the first time on Popcorn Eschaton! For their initial foray, they explore a pair of late 1990s anthropomorphized ant flicks, 'Antz' and 'A Bug's Life.' They discuss the organizing principles in both films, the power of the individual, and even the importance of restorative justice. Cartoons deserve equity too!

Logo designed by Jesse Arnold
(https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/)

Theme music is "Sun Blood" by Oxeneers
(https://oxeneers1.bandcamp.com/

Scott and John take a look at two films by 'Reservation Dogs' co-creator Sterlin Harjo: the 2020 documentary on Native American artists 'Love and Fury' and the 2015 drama of communal darkness and spiritual rejuvenation 'Mekko.' They also discuss the relative lack of Indigenous representation behind the camera and how America is determined to forget the original sin of genocide that is at the core of its founding.



Logo designed by Jesse Arnold

(https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/)


Theme music is "Sun Blood" by Oxeneers

(https://oxeneers1.bandcamp.com/



Clip at the end is taken from the song "Lost on the Trail of the Setting Sun" from Nechochwen's 2015 album 'Heart of Akamon,' available here:

https://nechochwen.bandcamp.com/track/lost-on-the-trail-of-the-setting-sun

On this Popcorn Eschaton, we revisit director Wim Wenders with his latest film 'Perfect Days,' a movie that resonates with harmony and a zen joy, communicated beautifully by its lead actor Yakusho Koji. Scott and John discuss how Wenders depicts Tokyo, how 'Perfect Days' bewitches its audience's attention, and the beauty of seeing quiet films in theaters.



Logo designed by Jesse Arnold

(https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/)



Theme music is "Sun Blood" by Oxeneers

(https://oxeneers1.bandcamp.com/

Scott and John take a trip to New York City with a pair of time capsule documentaries! They focus on the legendary 1990 film 'Paris is Burning,' how it captures an inimitable celebration of queer life and queer spaces, and the troubling outside-of-the-art aspects of the film. Then they shift to '80 Blocks from Tiffany's,' a chronicle of gang life in the South Bronx in the late 1970s. They discuss why two White Dudes are talking about these documents of very specific non-white spaces, as well as what makes a captivating documentary.



Logo designed by Jesse Arnold

(https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/)


Theme music is "Sun Blood" by Oxeneers

(https://oxeneers1.bandcamp.com/

It's another Zebras/Eschaton crossover as Scott and John are joined by the brilliant Marcus Pinn (@PINNLAND_EMPIRE) to discuss the 1973 transgressive spy satire 'The Spook Who Sat By the Door.' It's a conversation that covers race, why we enjoy media about nefarious institutions, and what director Ivan Dixon brought to the film itself. It was a privilege to have Marcus on to cover this underseen film and we encourage everyone to seek it out.

Logo designed by Jesse Arnold

(https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/)


Theme music is "Sun Blood" by Oxeneers

(https://oxeneers1.bandcamp.com/

Scott and John take their first Popcorn Eschaton step into the Final Frontier as they discuss 'Star Trek: The Motion Picture' and 'Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan'. They are both enormous Trek fans, so this was an extremely fun conversation, focusing on (as is the Popcorn Eschaton bailiwick) the sometimes overlooked spiritual themes in these masterful sci-fi adventures!


Logo designed by Jesse Arnold

(https://www.instagram.com/just.shelve.it/)



Theme music is "Sun Blood" by Oxeneers

(https://oxeneers1.bandcamp.com/