Ranking the Movies & TV Shows
November 13, 2019
To kick things off, our first full episode involves me and guest Paul Hoppe, looking back at all of the Star Wars movies and TV shows to
Matthew Fox has been passionate about deep conversations about genre media since childhood, when watching the original Star Trek series with their mother often led to discussions about the ethical questions it raised.
Beyond podcasting, Matthew helps run a small nonprofit dedicated to breaking down barriers to computer science education for youth and also provides consulting services for nonprofits and small businesses.
Over time, their podcasting interests have expanded, launching a Star Wars-focused podcast in 2019 and frequently appearing as a guest or co-host on PandaVision and other shows. While ethical questions are not always the primary focus of their work, Matthew has a knack for finding them in nearly everything they watch.
They are the host and founder of both Star Wars Generations and Superhero Ethics on TruStory FM.
To kick things off, our first full episode involves me and guest Paul Hoppe, looking back at all of the Star Wars movies and TV shows to
How do we separate the art from the artist, and should we? Where do we draw the lines of what we can or cannot accept, and how do we decide where to spend our money and our attention? In this episode, Jacob and Matthew delve into this complex set of issues. Instead of providing definitive answers, they discuss their personal approaches to these questions and what it means to attempt to be an ethical consumer of media.
This week, we are joined by special guest Morgan Wentworth as we discuss the ins and outs of superhero dating. Should heroes only date other heroes? What are the problems with attempting to ‘protect’ your love by making decisions for them? And why do so many superheroes gaslight their love interests to protect their secret identity?
This episode, we’re talking about the ethics of professional wrestling—both the stories themselves and the meta questions about wrestling as entertainment. How far can or should a heel go before it becomes a problem? Can wrestling storylines be cathartic for the performers? What role do performers have in choosing their story, and so many more!
Jacob and Matthew talk Spider-Verse! What are the ethical considerations concerning multiple dimensions and the roles of destiny or fate?
Jacob and Matthew put on their house robes, pick up their quills, and talk Potter! They’re discussing Wizard-Muggle relations and more!
The game is at an end, but the debates are just beginning! What aspects did we love, and which ones left us perplexed? What are the implications when vanquishing the villain doesn’t alter the course of events? Did Tony Stark receive the narrative arc he deserved? What about Thor, or Natasha? And in the realm of time travel, who did it better—The Avengers or Marty McFly?
In Season 1, Punisher raised hard questions about vengeance, justice, and why audiences enjoy revenge fantasies. How did Season 2 measure up? Does Frank have any accountability for the people he puts in danger? And did the world need another plot akin to Harley Quinn, where a therapist becomes romantically involved with her dangerous patient, and the writers attempt to make it seem appealing?
What does co-dependence manifest as in a superhero’s life? Is it ethical for heroes to compromise their own principles for those they cherish?