Red Westerns of the Socialist East
The Red Westerns made in the socialist countries of Eastern Europe appropriated the tropes of the Western to critique America’s mythologies while advancing their own.
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Superman’s Message of Moral Reciprocity
The resonance of the Golden Rule across time and societies is one way that the reciprocity norm, and its signifier, Superman, combine the secular with the sacred.
The Thunderbolts Put Up a Fight for Teamwork
What Thunderbolts communicates about teamwork taps into one of the greatest social science mysteries of contemporary history: the nature of individual-group relation.
Warrior’s Bloody Aftermath
The violent martial arts series Warrior is supposedly a remake of Kung Fu, which conveys a strong and peaceful masculinity we sorely need in these times.
Louie Anderson Was Crying Out Loud Funny
For Crying Out Loud: How Louie Anderson’s televised therapy sessions created the saddest, funniest cartoon of the 1990s.
‘Promise Mascot Agency’ Shows the Power within the Pinky
Promise Mascot Agency‘s hilarious and grim open-world game shows we hold power for positive change within; even in our little pinky fingers.
6 Deep Sea Monster Movies to Give You the Creeps
These six deep sea monster movies will give you creeps from the ocean depths and make you sob, snicker, scrutinize, and shudder.
Eco-Horror ‘Orca: The Killer Whale’ Takes the Whale’s POV
Michael Anderson’s ’70s-era ecological horror Orca: The Killer Whale takes the whale’s POV and we won’t like what it sees.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II’s Success Lies in Its Meme-Worthiness
Arguably 2025’s best RPG video game, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II‘s success stems largely from its humorous meme appeal.
MoMA’s Film Restoration Fest To Save and Project Eyes Bad Behavior
MoMA’s film restoration fest To Save and Project eyes bad behavior with a Casanova, Western gunmen, pre-Code showgirls and drug addiction.
The Best Film of 2024
Our Best Film of 2024 commemorates intriguing films, emerging voices and celebrated doyens searching for stranger narratives and new angles on existing legends.
The 24 Best Video Games of 2024
PopMatters’ 24 Best Video Games of 2024 highlight achievements in game design and the risks creators take to lure gamers into the magic circle.