Does It Matter?: Recent Episodes
Alex Junaid and Ben Wake
Alex and Ben talk about books, movies, television, music, and video games. Each week we explore a theme and discuss different media which exemplify the topic.
In the finale of Does It Matter's first season, episode twenty brings us Alex and Ben discussing examples of the difficult-to-discuss matter of tone in media. Examples include the album "Music for Airports" by Brian Eno, the video game Dear Esther,the graphic novel series Fables, the book But What If We're Wrong, the television series Atlanta, and the film Vampire's Kiss.
In their nineteenth episode, Alex and Ben discuss examples of sequels which succeed or are particularly interesting. Examples include the books Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator and Closing Time, television series The Legend of Korra and Better Call Saul, and video games Dragon Age 2 and Payday 2.
In their eighteenth episode, Alex and Ben discuss works which reflect the idea of the circle in some fashion. Examples include the film Celine and Julie Go Boating, musical albums Antichrist Superstar by Marilyn Manson and The Violent Blue by Radical Face, experimental book Only Revolutions, and video games Mini Metro and Every Day the Same Dream.
In the seventeenth episode of Does It Matter, Alex and Ben discuss media which is somehow over-the-top. Examples include the musicians Ween and TJ Miller, books Naked Lunch and The Remarkable Millard Fillmore, the film Left Behind, and the video game Jazzpunk.
In their sixteenth episode, Alex and Ben discuss examples of interesting characters (occasionally challenging the notion of what makes a character). Examples include the Judge from the novel Blood Meridian, the novel The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, Darius Epps from the show Atlanta, the Dragonborn from Skyrim, Jenny Fields from The World According to Garp, and the album 36 Ghosts by Nine Inch Nails.
In their fifteenth episode, Alex and Ben discuss examples of media with especially creative world building. Examples include the film The Dark Crystal, television shows Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and The Leftovers, novel Nova, and video games Bastion and Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage.
In their fourteenth episode, Alex and Ben discuss the media which helped shaped them in some way. Examples in this unusually personal episode include the film Wonder Boys, the television show The Simpsons, the book Frindle, the video game Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath, the Belle and Sebastian album If You're Feeling Sinister, and the flash animation website Homestarrunner.com.
In their thirteenth episode, Alex and Ben discuss media which has been reinterpreted in some fashion. Examples include covers of the albums Dark Side of the Moon and The Who Sell Out, the remake of Final Fantasy VII, book-to-film adaptations of Misery and The Sweet Hereafter, and film-to-television series Fargo.
In episode 12 of the show, Alex and Ben decide to bring cheer into the world by discussing works which leave you in a pit of despair. Examples include films Melancholia and Lady Vengeance, the book The Little School, the graphic novel Hyperbole and a Half, the album The Holy Bible by Manic Street Preachers, and the works of musician Eels, particularly the album Electro-shock Blues. Have something uplifting prepared as a chaser.
In their eleventh episode, Alex and Ben discuss works which depart from the standard for an artist. Examples include films Schizopolis and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the novel Finnegan's Wake, the ninth season of the American adaptation of The Office, and albums Zaireeka by The Flaming Lips and In the Dark by the Whigs.
In episode ten, Alex and Ben discuss works which delivered something impressive over and over. Examples include director Wes Anderson, actor John Cazale, musicians Fiona Apple and Paul Simon, author Malcolm Gladwell, and television show Fargo.
In episode nine, Alex and Ben discuss works which are best enjoyed with patience. Examples include the film Jeanne Dielman, 23 Commerce Quay, 1080 Brussels, the tv show Deadwood, musical performers Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, John Cage's "As Slow As Possible," and the video games Banished and Dark Souls.
In the eighth episode, Alex and Ben discuss examples of anti-heroes. Choices include films Clerks and Nightcrawler, books Citizen Sherman and Pale Fire, video game Spec Ops: The Line, and musician G. G. Allin.
In the seventh episode, Alex and Ben discuss depictions of time travel. Examples include television shows Life on Mars and Futureman, films La Jeteé, About Time, and Primer, and video games SuperHot and Life is Strange.
In episode 6, Alex and Ben discuss surprises in the world of the arts. For evidence, they turn to the album Swordfishtrombones, the film The Way of the Gun, the films of director David Gordon Green, the novel The Eyes of the Dragon, the book Lies My Teacher Told Me, and the video game Oxenfree.
In episode 5, Alex and Ben discuss media which they were in some sense too late to enjoy with everyone else. Such examples include the band Chumbawamba, television show Spongebob Squarepants, films The Goonies and the Star Wars franchise, the book Self-Compassion, and the concept of medieval knights fighting giant snails.
In episode 4, Alex and Ben talk about works which are truly epic in scope, depth, or nature. Such works include the book Wheel of Time, television show The Wire, video games Final Fantasy VII and The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, musician Ayreon and the song "Marquee Moon" by band Television. Honorable mention: musician Radical Face's "Family Tree" album series.
In episode 3, Alex and Ben discuss works which operate on a truly visceral level, affecting them more than mentally. Such examples include the video games Silent Hill and the Telltale Games Walking Dead, the films Sleeping Giant and Un Chien Andalou, the novel Perfume, and the short story "Guts."
In episode 2, Alex and Ben are surprised by things they like by artists they don't and cringe at the opposite. Such deviations include music by Panic! At the Disco and "Weird Al" Yankovic, the television show Community, the film Event Horizon, a passage from author Patrick Rothfuss, and a game from The Legend of Zelda series.
In the podcast's inaugural episode, Alex and Ben discuss works of art they appreciate but wouldn't necessarily try to sell other people on, including films Stealing Harvard and Toys, novels Infinite Jest and House of Leaves, the musician Jandek, and the TV show Gilmore Girls.