Illiterate

Evan and Taylor are off this week! Please reach out with a message if there’s a movie or book connection you want us to cover next time. Thank you all so much for listening and learning with us every week. Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

How did the hit Nickelodeon show come to be? What made it so revolutionary? And why is it all up in the news again? Avatar: The Last Airbender was created by Bryan Konietzko and Mike DiMartino, based on the folklore and cultures of Chinese, East Asian, South Asian, Indian, Mesoamerican, and Inuit peoples. Extras: original trailer for Avatar: The Last Airbender // 1 min http://bit.ly/avatartrailer1 documentary on Bryan and Mike about the show’s creation // 32 mins http://bit.ly/avatardoc1 podcast interview with Bryan & Michael (series creators) // 40 mins http://bit.ly/avatardoc2 original test pilot episode for Avatar // 11 mins http://bit.ly/avatarpilot Joseph Campbell on The Power of Myth // 56 mins http://bit.ly/powerofmyth1 cultural influences in the world of Avatar // 12 mins http://bit.ly/avatardoc3
 master list of influences on the Avatar series // article http://bit.ly/avatarinfluences Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

Frances Hodgson Burnett was the bestselling American female novelist of her lifetime. How did her legacy end up becoming an often-forgotten children’s book? The film is now on HBO Max, based on the book The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Extras: trailer for The Secret Garden (2020) // video https://bit.ly/secretgarden2020 trailer for The Secret Garden (1993) // video https://bit.ly/secretgarden1993 the differences from the novel // article https://bit.ly/secretgardendiff the history of the Fauntleroy suit // article https://bit.ly/fauntleroysuit Frances’ essay, My Robin // article https://bit.ly/francesmyrobin the Unexpected Life of the Author of the Secret Garden // book https://bit.ly/fhbbiography The Secret Garden full book text // book https://bit.ly/secretgardenfull Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

Why did a man build a war machine and wreak havoc on a small town in Colorado? What films and movies might have inspired this? And is this the first time this has happened? Tread is a documentary, based on the book Killdozer by Patrick Brower. Extras: trailer for Tread documentary // video https://bit.ly/treaddoc interview with author Patrick Brower // article https://bit.ly/pbrowerint the Killdozer route and locations on Google Maps // video https://bit.ly/killdozer1 San Diego tank rampage of 1995 // video https://bit.ly/killdozer2 Marvin Heemeyer’s manifesto tapes // audio https://bit.ly/killdozer3 bulldozer attack of 1998 // article https://bit.ly/killdozer4 full film of cult sci-fi Killdozer(1974) // video https://bit.ly/killdozer1974 Boogaloo attack in June 2020 // article https://bit.ly/boogalooarticle Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

Shakespeare wrote fan-fiction? There’s sexy Gulliver’s Travels fanart? This is our most salacious episode yet, as we dive into the world of self-publishing on Wattpad, fan lit, and the most watched film on Netflix. The Kissing Booth is based on the book by Beth Reekles. Extras: the trailer for The Kissing Booth 2 // video https://bit.ly/kissingboothtrailer how The Kissing Booth film became popular // article https://bit.ly/kissbooth1 the self-publishing website Wattpad // website https://www.wattpad.com Jacob Elordi (Noah) on the show // article https://bit.ly/kissbooth2 the story behind “After” // article https://bit.ly/afterbook1 Gulliver’s travels fanfiction art // article https://bit.ly/gulliverfanfic Henry Fielding’s 1740’s fanfiction // article https://bit.ly/fanfiction1 a history of fanfiction // article https://bit.ly/fanfiction2 trailer for The Edge of Seventeen // video https://bit.ly/edgeof17trailer Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/il

Join us as we learn Harriet Tubman’s incredible life, as an abolitionist, spy, and Civil War hero. And why are the only things about her life from children’s books? Harriet is a film by Kasi Lemmons, and Bound for the Promised Land is a book by Kate Clifford Larson. Extras: the new photo of Harriet Tubman found in 2017 // article https://bit.ly/harrietphoto trailer for Harriet // video https://bit.ly/harriettrail on Harriet Tubman’s visions // article https://bit.ly/harrietvisions on Harriet Tubman’s Civil War raid // article https://bit.ly/harrietraid Harriet film vs real life facts // article https://bit.ly/harrietfacts interview with author Kate Clifford Larson // video https://bit.ly/harrietauthor Bound for the Promised Land biography // book https://bit.ly/harrietbio Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

Learn about the work that brought gay teen love stories to the mainstream. Love, Victor is on Hulu and based on the film Love, Simon, adapted from the book Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda written by Becky Albertalli. Extras: trailer for Love, Victor on Hulu // video https://bit.ly/lovevictortralier interview with writer Becky Albertalli on start // article https://bit.ly/beckyainterview interview with writer Becky Albertalli on process // video https://bit.ly/beckyint2 Becky recommends Jaclyn Moriarty // article https://bit.ly/beckyjaclyn database for LGBTQ books https://lgbtqreads.com Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

The ten-dollar Founding Father without a father, and how his story came to be. Hamilton is a musical on Disney Plus, based on the book Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow. Extras: trailer for Hamilton on Disney+ // 2m https://bit.ly/hamtrailer Hamilton’s America PBS documentary // 1hr 30m https://bit.ly/hamiltonpbsdoc interview with Ron Chernow // 1hr https://bit.ly/ronchernowint interview with Chernow, Kail, and Miranda // 42m https://bit.ly/hamilinterview Hamilton History channel documentary // 1hr 30m https://bit.ly/historychint Hamilton word count // article https://bit.ly/hamilwordcount Lin Manuel Miranda at the White House (2009) // 5m https://bit.ly/lmrwhitehouse Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

A civilian investigator becomes the foremost authority on a decades long manhunt. I’ll Be Gone in the Dark is a miniseries on HBO, and a book, written by Michelle McNamara. Extras: trailer, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark (HBO) // trailer https://bit.ly/McNamaratrailer the book, “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark” // book https://bit.ly/mcnamara5 Billy Jensen’s book “Chase Darkness with Me” // book https://bit.ly/bjensenbook Michelle’s blog, “True Crime Diary” // site http://www.truecrimediary.com about Michelle’s childhood // article https://bit.ly/mcnamara1 the SXSW panel, “Solving Murders w/ Social Media // article https://bit.ly/slvsocial Michelle’s solving of the missing children case // article https://bit.ly/mcnamara3 Michelle’s original 2013 article in La Mag // article https://bit.ly/mcnamara4 the Golden State Killer pleads guilty // article https://bit.ly/gskguilty Patton Oswalt interview about Michelle’s book // video https://bit.ly/pattonos1 interview with Michelle on The Dork Forest podca

We tackle the race massacre of 1921, the lead-up of the Red Summer of 1919, and the hidden history uncovered in modern times. Watchmen is created by Damon Lindelof, based on the book by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. The Burning is written by Tim Madigan. Extras: Watchmen (HBO) trailer // 2 min https://bit.ly/watchmenhbotrail interview with Damon Lindelof on writing // 10 min https://bit.ly/damonlinterview Tim Madigan’s book, The Burning // book https://bit.ly/theburningbook WEB DuBois essay, “Returning Soldiers” // essay https://bit.ly/returnsoldiers the history of the Tulsa Race Massacre // article https://bit.ly/tulsarm the history of the Rosewood Massacre // article https://bit.ly/rosewdmassacre press during 1919 massacres // article https://bit.ly/1919press 1921 Tulsa article after the massacre // article https://bit.ly/tulsajune2 Donald Byrd’s dance “Greenwood” // 38 min https://bit.ly/greenwooddance Teaching for Black Lives materials // resource https://www.teachingforblacklives.org

Let’s talk about our history. We learn about the black veterans of the Vietnam War, and hear the stories of military service of African Americans in the United States. Da 5 Bloods is co-written and directed by Spike Lee (now on Netflix), based on the book Bloods by Wallace Terry. Extras: Da 5 Bloods trailer // 3 min https://bit.ly/da5bloodstrailer Bloods In ‘Nam PBS Frontline doc // 45 min https://bit.ly/bloodsinnam audio from the front lines recording // 45 min https://bit.ly/cominghomevietnam Bloods: Black Veterans of the Vietnam War: An Oral History // book https://bit.ly/bloodsbook Missing Pages: Black Journalists of Modern America: An Oral History // book https://bit.ly/missingpgs on the ending of Do The Right Thing // 15 min https://bit.ly/dtrtending Wallace Terry greeting the segregationist governor // photo https://bit.ly/wallaceterryphoto on racism during the Vietnam War // article https://bit.ly/vietwarracism military history of African Americans // article https://bit.ly/uswarhis

How so many parts of our world have been touched by the magic. Extras: how Harry Potter changed books // article https://bit.ly/hpbooklegacy the problem with translating HP // video https://bit.ly/translatinghp Harry Potter Voldemort name translations // article https://bit.ly/voldemortname a Harry and the Potters song // video https://bit.ly/handthep My Immortal, the worst fanfiction // article https://bit.ly/myimmortalff the Quidditch World Cup // video https://bit.ly/quidditchvid book lengths over time // article https://bit.ly/yabooklength the misquoted Onion Satanism piece // article https://bit.ly/hponion Hogwarts beats a real school in rankings // article https://bit.ly/loretto1 the demand for pet owls // article https://bit.ly/owlpotter1 JK Rowling’s essay on gender issues // article https://bit.ly/jkessay1 the infamous Harry Potter Puppet Pals // video https://bit.ly/hppuppet Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

Eight minutes, forty-six seconds. That is how long a police officer kept his knee on George Floyd’s neck. A murder committed on an unarmed black man, in broad daylight, by law enforcement. Today, we are silent for 8 minutes, 46 seconds - to honor and remember George Floyd, and the many others who have died, as the United States confronts the injustices of police brutality, systematic racism, and white supremacy. The United States wrote in its founding document that “all men are created equal”, and it has not lived up to that promise. America can no longer hide from its past. But the promise is not in vain, because the promise does not come from the past. The promise of America comes from the striving of its people. It has always been the people. Our history is the history of people who wouldn’t accept things as they were. We are a nation unwilling to let things be. We are a nation of protesters. We are a nation who does not give up on our people. There is a saying on the Great Seal, a saying even older th

The magical cinematic journey from book to screen. Extras: the first screen test with Harry, Hermione, and Ron // 12 min https://bit.ly/hpscreentest Diagon Alley on Google Maps street view // link https://bit.ly/diagonmaps JK Rowling’s new free book, The Ickabog // link https://bit.ly/ickabogbook the terrible NY Times review // article https://bit.ly/hpnytreview a conversation between Rowling and Radcliffe // 53 min https://bit.ly/rowlingradcliffe a conversation between Rowling and Kloves // 47 min https://bit.ly/rowlingkloves why Harry’s eyes aren’t green // article https://bit.ly/hpgreeneyes Robin Williams as Hagrid // article https://bit.ly/robinwilliamshagrid Eight-part Entertainment Weekly reporting // article https://bit.ly/ewharrypotter How Daniel became Harry Potter // article https://bit.ly/danielpotter Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

How does 11 million dollars go missing from the best school system in the nation? And what does Charles Dickens have to do with it? Bad Education is a film on HBO starring Hugh Jackman, written by Mark Makowsky and directed by Cory Finley. The story is based on the New York Magazine article on Frank Tassone, written by Robert Kolker. Extras: Bad Education trailer // 2 min https://bit.ly/badedtrailer the original New York Magazine piece // article https://bit.ly/badsup interview with director Cory Finley // article https://bit.ly/cfinley interview with writer Mike Makowsky // article https://bit.ly/mmakowsky podcast interview with Frank Tassone // 33 min https://bit.ly/ftassone interview with actor Hugh Jackman // article https://bit.ly/hjackmanbadsup aftermath of the embezzlement // article https://bit.ly/pgluckin on the film’s creation // article https://bit.ly/badedfilm history of Charles Dickens’ book, Martin Chuzzlewit // article https://bit.ly/dickenschuzzlewit clipping regarding Dic

How it all began, with the woman who made the best-selling book series of all time. Extras: JK Rowling on her extensive notes // 5 min https://bit.ly/harrypnotes interview with the publisher on accepting JK Rowling // 4 min https://bit.ly/hppublisher documentary spotlight on JK Rowling // 24 min https://bit.ly/JKspotlight Oprah interview with JK Rowling // 40 min https://bit.ly/jkoprah radio interview with JK Rowling, 1999 // article https://bit.ly/1999jkint Harry Potter in Ancient Greek // article https://bit.ly/hpgreek New Yorker piece on JK Rowling // article https://bit.ly/mugglemarch book on the origins of Harry Potter // book https://bit.ly/hporiginsbook Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

We tackle the history of legal thrillers, the journey of a lawyer-turned-author, and if violence is hereditary. Defending Jacob is a miniseries on Apple TV, based on the book by William Landay. Extras: interview with show creator Mark Bomback // article https://bit.ly/bombackinterview talk at Google with author William Landay // 45 min https://bit.ly/landayint1 interview with author William Landay // 7 min https://bit.ly/landayint2 Abraham Lincoln’s true crime writing // article https://bit.ly/attorneyabe LA Times reporting on the “murder gene” // article https://bit.ly/murdergene1 1997 Esquire article about the “murder gene” // article https://bit.ly/murdergene2 Italian court case with reduced sentence due to gene // article https://bit.ly/courtcasegene the science behind MAOA gene // article https://bit.ly/MAOAgene Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

The comedic sci-fi series you wish you understood, and now, you can! Learn about Douglas Adams, the number 42, and why you shouldn’t panic. It’s the 15th anniversary of the film, and the 42nd anniversary of the original work. Extras: the trailer // 2 min https://bit.ly/hhgttgtrailer Elon Musk’s love of HG2G // article https://bit.ly/elonmuskhitch Douglas Adams on Letterman // 7 min https://bit.ly/daletterman original radio play (episode 1) // 24 min https://bit.ly/hg2gradio Douglas Adams TED talk // 1hr 30 min https://bit.ly/datedtalk Douglas Adams rhino costume dance // 4 min https://bit.ly/darhinocostume Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod

Learn about one of the most influential women of the 20th century, how amendments work, and a college sophomore who uncovered a 202-year-old loophole in the constitution. We dive into Mrs. America, a miniseries on Hulu, and the books The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan, and A Choice Not an Echo, by Phyllis Schlafly. Extras: Mrs. America trailer // 3 min https://bit.ly/mrsamericatrailer the debate on Good Morning America // 24 min https://bit.ly/gmadebate writer Dahvi Waller on creation // 13 min https://bit.ly/dahviwaller the historical accuracy of the show // article https://bit.ly/mrsamericafactvfiction the 27th amendment that was found by a 19-year-old // article https://bit.ly/27amendment Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/

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 // article https://bit.ly/arnoldwestworld the life of Michael Crichton // article: https://bit.ly/mcrichtonlife Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/