Podcast Episodes

NEM#172: Mark Stewart (The Pop Group): Mad Processing w/ Haikus

Mark led the Pop Group through two albums in the late 70s two later reunion album and has released nine solo albums of trippy, experimental dance music.

We discuss "Rage of Angels" (feat. Front 242)…

Published on 3 years, 7 months ago

PEL Presents (SUB)TEXT: Work as Madness in “The Bridge on the River Kwai” (1957)

In the beginning, Colonel Nicholson seems to be a stickler for principle, willing to die rather than have his officers do menial labor in a Japanese prison camp. In the end, his principles seem to be…

Published on 3 years, 7 months ago

PREMIUM-Ep. 292: Langer on Symbolic Music (Part Two)

Concluding on Susanne Langer's Philosophy in a New Key (ch. 8-10). We continue discussing whether and how music is symbolic. Sing along with us!

If you're not hearing the full version of this part o…

Published on 3 years, 7 months ago

Pretty Much Pop #122: Maus as Tragic Comics

We discuss Art Spiegelman's Maus (1980-91) and other war-related graphic novels like Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis (2000) and George Takei’s They Called Us Enemy (2019).

Mark is joined by comics scho…

Published on 3 years, 7 months ago

PEL Presents NEM#171: Ben Vaughn's Primitive Fever Dreams

Ben has released over 20 albums of retro rock since the early '80s, written for TV soundtracks, produced bands like Ween, and hosts a radio show.

We discuss "Wayne Fontana Was Wrong" from The World …

Published on 3 years, 7 months ago

Ep. 292: Langer on Symbolic Music (Part One)

On Susanne Langer's Philosophy in a New Key (1942), ch. 8-10. Is music (the supposedly non-representational artform) a language? If it's "expressive," what exactly does it express?

Part two of this e…

Published on 3 years, 7 months ago

Pretty Much Pop #121: Protesting Protest Songs

Are protest songs effective, either as protest or songs? Four songwriters including your host Mark Linsenmayer, Lilli Lewis, Rod Picott, and PMP's audio engineer Tyler Hislop discuss how protest work…

Published on 3 years, 7 months ago

PREMIUM-Ep. 291: Cassirer and Langer on Myth and Ritual (Part Two)

Continuing our discussion on the symbolic value of religion and its antecedents, primary at this point discussing Susanne Langer's Philosophy in a New Key, ch. 7.

If you're not hearing the full vers…

Published on 3 years, 8 months ago

Ep. 291: Cassirer and Langer on Myth and Ritual (Part One)

On Ernst Cassirer's An Essay on Man (1944), ch. 6-7, and Susanne Langer's Philosophy in a New Key (1942), ch. 6-7. Why do people produce ritual, mythology, and religion? According to our authors, the…

Published on 3 years, 8 months ago

NEM#170: Bob Mould From Hüsker Dü to Sugar to Now

Bob has released 20+ albums since the early '80s. We discuss  "Forecast of Rain" from Blue Hearts (2020), "I Don’t Know You Anymore" from Beauty & Ruin (2014), "JC Auto" by Sugar from Beaster (1993),…

Published on 3 years, 8 months ago