Let's Prattle #2 - Fantasies of Power
The Left Page
We continue our travails this time with disecting the discourses around power fantasies and an interesting track through one of videogames largest franchises. Itinerary: 00:00:00 - 00:15:52 Intro (What are we up to) 00:15:52 - 01:03:28 Power Fantasies 01:03:28 - 01:40:00 AI in Music 01:40:00 - 02:16:50 AC 02:16:50 - END Book Club aGoT Jon II - Eddard V Essay mentioned:
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"Concerning" Men: The Patriarchy & Weaponized Media Illiteracy
The Left Page
We're talking about men this time. Using different media like Star Wars, American Psycho, and Blade Runner 2049, we develop some theory on this idea of "media illiteracy", on masculinity and its toxicity. Fundamentally considering what we mean when we talk about Patriarchy, how it exists and is historically defined, and what does it mean to consider and confront it today. Enjoy! If you can and are interested in early episodes and our bonus content, soon to be plenty more, check out our Patreon! Also! If you're not there already, feel free to join our Discord! Outro Music: Don't Leave!...
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Let's Prattle #1 - AI in Video Games
The Left Page
A new kind of episode! Lighter and more current, as we talk about what we've been playing, some things we've been thinking about, and the new Left Page Book Club! Time stamps 00:00:00 - 00:40:40 Intro + What are we watching, reading, playing 00:40:40 - 01:27:45 AI In Video Games 01:27:45 - 02: 23:45 Left Page Book Club The article we talked about: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/new-research-shows-over-90-of-gamers-find-playing-with-ai-powered-npcs-to-be-enjoyable-and-rewarding
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What Escapism Has Sown
The Left Page
We deploy Critical Harvest Theory in this episode, when we ask: What happens when we don't look critically at escapist fantasies? We then try to answer this question by looking at two video games: Stardew Valley (2015) and Citizen Sleeper (2022 & 2025) Going into the ways of how these games create their realities and end up surviving in or attempting to sideline capitalism, which will surely go well, right? Right? That, and more, in this episode about capital, land, time and space! Enjoy! If you can and are interested in early episodes and our bonus content, soon to be plenty more,...
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Wolfenstein: How to Kill Fascism? W/ TheLitCritGuy
The Left Page
Wolfenstein is a fascinating series of games, so let’s talk about the recent Machine Games’ iterations. Asking the fundamental question of how to properly kill fascism and how this game is presenting it, or not. Enjoy! Check out Jon’s stuff: & Morris Rosenfeld’s poem from 1914 Intro song: Machine, Machine. Nits. 2019, Werf & V2 Records Outro song: Nazi raus. Marti Fischer. 2024, ContentView GmbH
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The Left Page - Oddysscourse. The Tragedy of MAGA-memnom
The Left Page
Hello everyone!! Today we're starting off with our new kinds of episodes, as we discuss a more broad element... the discourse on the new Oddyssey film! We've often talked about historical representation, mythology, and what "historical accuracy" can mean, but not as directly as of yet. So this time we went full into some of the terrible ways those are all used, distanced from any interesting or useful cultural critique, and only a terrible weapon to brandish. So come along as we seek to prepare ourselves and others to not fall into those same pitfalls and traps that are misrepresenting and...
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The Left Page 7 Year Anniversary!
The Left Page
Good lord! It's sure been a while, huh?
Celebrating 7 years of running this podcast, Frank and Leon go over some of the changes, some of the achievements, how they see the pod, how they think of it moving forwards, and a couple of interesting things to come!
Thank you all so so much for being here, for listening, and especially supporting the show, for as little or as long as you have! It means the world!
Here's to the great things coming!
Check out all
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The Left Page - Episode 100 - Don Quixote: Jousting with Fiction
The Left Page
To celebrate the centennial Left Page we go to the start, the originator of the modern novel: Don Quixote de la Mancha!
We go over the fantasies of Don Quixote, the way the two books deal with reality, fantasy, and primarily books and reading! All the while not forgetting the deep materiality involved in the depictions, and how there is still more than we think to it.
Come celebrate our 100th episode with one of the greatest of all time!
Enjoy!
Check out
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The Left Page - Episode 99 - The First Law Standalones Pt. 2: The Heroes Journey
The Left Page
Hello everyone!!
We continue with the First Law Standalone novels, now going into Heroes and Red Country!
We talk about how these characters continue to be engagin, how the materiality of war and conflict continues, and how change, propelled by capital, can be such a dangerous thing the world over, fantasy world it might be.
Enjoy!
If you can and are interested in early episodes and our bonus content, soon to be plenty more, check out o
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The Left Page - Episode 99 - The First Law Standalones Pt. 1: Back With a Revengeance
The Left Page
Hello everyone!!
We continue with Joe Abercrombie's First Law series, now talking about the 3 standalone novels: Best Served Cold, Heroes, and Red Country!
Because these books are great and there is a lot to talk about, we split these episodes in 2 parts, both already available for Patrons! First we talk about Abercrombie and the setup to these books, then Best Served Cold and how to write a phenomenal revenge story indeed.
Enjoy!
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A new kind of episode!
Lighter and more current, as we talk about what we've been playing, some things we've been thinking about, and the new Left Page Book Club!
Time stamps
00:00:00 - 00:40:40 Intro + What are we watching, reading, playing
00:40:40 - 01:27:45 AI In Video Games
01:27:45 - 02: 23:45 Left Page Book Club
The article we talked about:
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/new-research-shows-over-90-of-gamers-find-playing-with-ai-powered-npcs-to-be-enjoyable-and-rewarding