004: TDS - Terminal Dystopia Syndrome

The Future Is A Mixtape

On this episode, Jesse & Matt discuss the mucky-malarkey of Dave Eggers’ 2013 “satire” (?) of Silicon Valley: The Circle. While this podcast will focus on Eggers’ conscious intentions and unconscious outcomes of his novel, some discussion will also be meted out on The Circle’s even more miserable film-adaptation of the same name, featuring Tom Hanks, Emma Watson and John Boyega. Matthew will also explore the movie’s unsettling “Fear of a Black Cock,” and what that says about the film’s lack of awareness. Lastly, the co-hosts will illustrate why this science fictional novel is an easy signifier for contemporary art’s failure to imagine possible utopias.

Mentioned In This Episode:Dave Eggers’ The Circle

James Pondsoldt’s Film Adaptation of The Circle

Wired’s Review of Dave Eggers’ “The Circle: What the Internet Looks Like If You Don’t Understand It”Gawker’s Review: “Circle Jerks: Why Do Editors Love Dave Eggers?”

Reuters’ Review of The Circle: “How Dave Eggers Gets Silicon Valley Wrong”

Jessica Winter’s Slate Review of The Circle: “All That Happens Must Be Known”M.T. Anderson’s Young Adult SF Masterpiece: Feed

Gary Shteyngart’s Masterful (& Better Researched) SF Novel: Super Sad True Love Story

SF Author Neal Stephenson’s Landmark Essay in Wired: “Innovation Starvation”

Project Hieroglyph

Hieroglyph Anthology: Stories and Visions for a Better Future

Edward Bellamy’s Looking Backward: 2000-1887

Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Dispossessed

Michel Gondry’s Be Kind Rewind

Michael Moore’s Where to Invade Next