Illiterate

Learn about the enormous world of Arsène Lupin, his connection to the British detective, Japanese anime, and what makes a gentleman thief. Lupin is on Netflix, based on the stories of Arsène Lupin, by Maurice Leblanc. Extras: trailer, Lupin (2021) // 2 min http://bit.ly/lupintrailer trailer, Lupin III (2020 animation) // 2 min http://bit.ly/lupin3trailer trailer, Miyazaki’s Lupin (1979) // 2 min http://bit.ly/miyazakilupin essay, comparison of Lupin and Sherlock // article http://bit.ly/lupinsherlock story, “The Arrest of Arsene Lupin” (1905) // article http://bit.ly/lupinstory1 photo, Marius Jacob the burglar http://bit.ly/mariusjacob essay, Marius Jacob’s “Why I Was a Burglar” (1905) // article http://bit.ly/mariusessay Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

How did a bisexual black woman become the founder of classic blues? And why don’t people know about her? Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is based on the play by August Wilson. Extras: trailer, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom // 3 min http://bit.ly/marainey2 song, Prove It On Me Blues // 3 min http://bit.ly/marainey1 poster, Prove It On Me Blues // photo http://bit.ly/marainey3 interview, Ruben Santiago-Hudson // 40 min http://bit.ly/marainey5 interview, August Wilson // article http://bit.ly/marainey6 the real Black Bottom dance moves // 2 min http://bit.ly/marainey7 Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

Evan and Taylor replay the top moments from the year, and their picks for the must-listen episodes! If the show has helped, educated, or inspired you this year, we’d love for you to share an episode with a friend. It’s the reason we come back every week, and would mean so much to us. Here’s to 2021, and thank you so much for learning along with us! Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

Was this always a Christmas film (and book?), and how did it redefine the “action hero”? Die Hard with Bruce Willis was originally “Nothing Lasts Forever”, a novel by Roderick Thorp. Extras: die hard parody trailer // 2 min http://bit.ly/die-hard1 the writer’s take on if it’s a christmas film // 4 min http://bit.ly/die-hard2 review of the predecessor film “the detective” // article http://bit.ly/die-hard3 the original posters without bruce willis on it // article http://bit.ly/die-hard4 the history of the writing process // article http://bit.ly/die-hard5 Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

Hallmark is not just cards. Learn about the twisty history the company has in TV, children’s toys, and even a famous invention! Extras: happiest season trailer // 3 min http://bit.ly/happiestseasontrail interview with hallmark programming vp // 39 min http://bit.ly/hallmarkvp history of hallmark // article http://bit.ly/hallmarkcable classic hallmark card commercial // 2 min http://bit.ly/hallmarkcommercial every hallmark movie ever parody // 4 min http://bit.ly/hallmarkparody Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

Catch up to the present with the twists and turns of the biggest director of the past 40 years. HBO documentary “Spielberg” trailer // 2 min https://bit.ly/spielberghbo Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

Learn the twists and turns of the biggest director of the past 40 years. HBO documentary “Spielberg” trailer // 2 min https://bit.ly/spielberghbo Indiana Jones brainstorm notes // article https://bit.ly/indianajones1 interview with Spielberg’s mom // article https://bit.ly/spielberg2 Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

What’s the book about, and why does the film miss it? And what the heck’s an elegy? Hillbilly Elegy is on Netflix, based on the book by JD Vance. Extras: trailer for Hillbilly Elegy // 3 min https://bit.ly/hillbilly1 Appalachian Reckoning // book https://bit.ly/hillbilly2 the NYT book review // article https://bit.ly/hillbilly3 NPR on “culture of poverty” theory // article https://bit.ly/hillbilly4 interview with JD Vance // 60 min https://bit.ly/hillbilly5 Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

What’s the purpose of the Royal Family, the Queen, and why are people so obsessed with them all? The Crown is on Netflix, based on the play The Audience by Peter Morgan. Extras: The Crown trailer (2020) // 3 min https://bit.ly/thecrown1 The Queen trailer (2006) // 3 min https://bit.ly/thecrown2 The Audience (play) trailer (2013) // 1 min https://bit.ly/thecrown3 what the Royal Family thinks of The Crown // article https://bit.ly/thecrown44 why people are obsessed with the Royals // article https://bit.ly/thecrown5 Celebrity Worship Syndrome // article https://bit.ly/thecrown6 the Royal Family from The Crown’s historian // article https://bit.ly/thecrown7 The Crown Dissected (historical accuracy) // book https://bit.ly/thecrown8 Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

Is the life of Beth Harmon, chess prodigy from the 1960s, based in fact? Why did this take so long to make? And how many more people are buying chess sets now? The Queen’s Gambit is on Netflix, based on the book by Walter Tevis. Extras: trailer, “The Queen’s Gambit” (2020) // 3 min https://bit.ly/queengambit1 trailer, “Searching for Bobby Fischer” (1993) // 3 min https://bit.ly/queengambit2 trailer, “Pawn Sacrifice” (2015) // 3 min https://bit.ly/queengambit3 Madwoman’s Book Club sign up // article https://bit.ly/queengambit4 trailer, “Queen of Katwe” (2016) // 3 min https://bit.ly/queengambit5 a chess expert’s take on the series // article https://bit.ly/queengambit6 Judit Polgar’s take on women in chess // article https://bit.ly/queengambit7 the life of Walter Tevis // article https://bit.ly/queengambit8 Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

A MISSING EPISODE! We recorded this episode about elections in books and films through history, but unfortunately lost the audio. Please enjoy a few re-recorded moments, and check out the rest of the show notes for all the other resources and media. Mentioned: Democracy, An American Novel (1880) // book http://bit.ly/illelection1 Primary Colors (1998) // trailer http://bit.ly/illelection2 State of the Union (1948) // film clip http://bit.ly/illelection3 The Candidate (1972) // trailer http://bit.ly/illelection4 Tanner ’88 (1988) // article http://bit.ly/illelection5 The Frontrunner (2018) // trailer http://bit.ly/illelection6 Chappaquiddick (2017) // trailer http://bit.ly/illelection7 Other Media (not mentioned): Betty Boop for President (1932)// short film http://bit.ly/illelection8 All the Kings Men (1946) // film clip http://bit.ly/illelection9 Election (1999) // trailer http://bit.ly/illelection10 Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiter

BOO! Learn the history of Halloween traditions, and origins of the monsters from literature and film. Check out our other spooky episodes! ep. 87 - Lovecraft Country ep. 86 - Haunting of Bly Manor ep. 85 - Books of Blood ep. 56 - The Invisible Man ep. 52 - Color Out of Space ep. 51 - Hansel and Gretel ep. 40 - Stephen King ep. 31 - It ep. 27 - Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Extras: the best Halloween movies streaming // article http://bit.ly/halloweenflixlist traditional Halloween “souling songs” // 8 min http://bit.ly/soulingsongs Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

How could the cosmic horror of HP Lovecraft meld with the Jim Crow laws of 1950’s America? Let’s find out! “Lovecraft Country” on HBO is by Misha Green, based on the book by Matt Ruff. Extras: Lovecraft Country trailer // 3 min http://bit.ly/lovecraftcountry1 historical moments from LC // article http://bit.ly/lovecraftcountry2 Matt Ruff’s research resources // list http://bit.ly/lovecraftcountry3 history of the “Green Book” // article http://bit.ly/lovecraftcountry4 Gordon Park’s Segregation photography // photos http://bit.ly/lovecraftcountry5 Pam Noles’ essay, “Shame” // essay http://bit.ly/pamnolesshame Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

Learn the history of gothic horror, ghosts, and the works of Henry James. The Haunting of Bly Manor (Netflix) is based on The Turn of the Screw and the works of Henry James. Extras: trailer, The Haunting of Bly Manor // 3 min http://bit.ly/blymanor1 Bly Manor listing on Zillow // article https://www.zillow.com/house/bly-manor/ other adaptations to watch & read // article http://bit.ly/blymanor2 comparison of Quint “ghost” in film // 4 min http://bit.ly/blymanor3 history of gothic fiction // article http://bit.ly/blymanor4 “The Haunted Castle” 1896 first horror film // 3 min http://bit.ly/blymanor5 Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

What’s the deal with these spooky stories? Why do people like them? And how is it more than just gruesome gore? Books of Blood is on Hulu, based on Clive Barker’s anthology series, The Books of Blood. Extras: trailer for Books of Blood (Hulu) // 3 min http://bit.ly/clivebarker1 recent clip of Clive’s writing advice // 3 min http://bit.ly/clivebarker2 Clive on writing fiction (from 1990) // 6 min http://bit.ly/clivebarker3 Clive on “Open to Question” show // 35 min http://bit.ly/clivebarker4 documentary on Clive Barker (from 1995) // 51 min http://bit.ly/clivebarker5 artwork from comic of “In the Hills, the Cities” // photo http://bit.ly/clivebarker6 Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

How did one of the highest grossing films of the 1980’s never get a sequel? What on earth was the book about? And why’s it so important to “bump the lamp?” Who Framed Roger Rabbit is based on the book, Who Censored Roger Rabbit? by Gary K. Wolf. Extras: the original trailer // 3 min http://bit.ly/rrabbittrailer the 1983 early pencil test footage // 8 min http://bit.ly/rrabbit1 the 1985 Zemeckis and Williams proof of concept test // 1 min http://bit.ly/rrabbit2 the 1998 sequel CGI test // 1 min http://bit.ly/rrabbit3 a making-of documentary // 35 min http://bit.ly/rrabbit4 Richard Williams’ Oscar animation, “Prologue” // 7 min http://bit.ly/prologueshort explanation of “bumping the lamp” // 8 min http://bit.ly/rrabbit5 Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

Dive into the mystery of Sherlock Holmes’ secret sister. Learn about - all the things people get wrong about Sherlock, obscure copyright laws, and what the heck a “pastiche” is. Enola Holmes is on Netflix, based on a book series by Nancy Springer. Extras: trailer for “Enola Holmes” // 3 min http://bit.ly/enolaholmestrail Conan Doyle’s book “The Coming of the Fairies” // book http://bit.ly/fairiesdoyle what isn’t actually in the books // article http://bit.ly/holmescanon the lawsuit against Enola Holmes // article http://bit.ly/enolalawsuit Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

This week, we discuss the journey to creating the intimate story of growing up as a black gay man in Liberty City. Moonlight is based on the unreleased play “In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue” by Tarell Alvin McCraney. Extras: trailer for “Moonlight” // 2 min http://bit.ly/moonlighttrail interview with Barry and Tarell // 17 min http://bit.ly/barrytarellint1 Borscht’s “Adventures of Christopher Bosh in the Multiverse!” // 11 min https://vimeo.com/64605295 Barry’s first film, “My Josephine” // 8 min https://vimeo.com/7456450 Barry’s PBS short, “Remigration” // 20 min http://bit.ly/remigration1 Barry’s Borscht short, “Chlorophyl” // 17 min https://vimeo.com/79167472 the story of the Borscht Corporation http://bit.ly/borschtcorp “Tongues Untied” doc by Marlon Riggs // 54 min http://bit.ly/tonguesuntieddoc Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

Dive headfirst into the novel, nonlinear take on what makes us human. Is it horror, thriller, or just an existential question? I’m Thinking of Ending Things is by Iain Reid, now a film on Netflix by Charlie Kaufman. Extras: trailer for i’m thinking of ending things (2020) // 2min vid http://bit.ly/itoettrailer the references to other work in the film // article http://bit.ly/itoetrefs interview with author Iain Reid // article http://bit.ly/iainreid1 interview with Reid and Kaufman // article http://bit.ly/reidkaufinterview youtube explainer of Synecdoche NY // 5hr vid http://bit.ly/synecdocheexplain explanations of the film by Kaufman // article http://bit.ly/ioetexplanation Kaufman’s script for A Scanner Darkly // script http://bit.ly/kaufmandarkly Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

Blade Runner. Minority Report. Total Recall. Just a few of the many stories by an almost-overlooked sci-fi legend - Philip K Dick left us a catalog of mind-warping works, but what did it take to create them? And what happened to the android version of his head after he died? Extras: on Philip K Dick’s Hollywood resurgence // article http://bit.ly/philipkdick1 on Philp’s paranoia // article http://bit.ly/philipkdick2 the lost android head of PKD // article http://bit.ly/philipkdick3 the appeal of PKD’s works // 6min video http://bit.ly/philipkdick4 the book on PKD’s life: The Shifting Realities // book https://amzn.to/2Z7JMdz speech of PKD from 1978 about reality // speech http://bit.ly/philipkdick5 BBC doc about PKD // 55min video http://bit.ly/philipkdick6 PKD’s speech on simulated “matrix” reality // 4min video http://bit.ly/philipkdick7 Blade Runner making-of documentary // 3hr video http://bit.ly/philipkdick8 Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.co