Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs

Bugonia

In episode 44 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare and Masha are delving into the recent Yorgos Lanthimos film, Bugonia. [https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/bugonia] In this more than usually complex and surprising dystopian narrative, we consider the depiction of vulnerable young white male characters both as victims and villains, and the role played by conspiracy theory and internet rabbit-holes. In particular, we challenge our views of the academy and mainstream research when faced with a story in which the conspiracy theorist is proved right. We look at corporate responsibility and the power of pharmaceutical companies, including medical testing, opioid addiction, and the role of consent in trials and treatments. We compare the ethics of actions by the rich and powerful with those of the disenfranchised individual, and ask who is the real villain of this story. Clare gives a short speech on bees, and we discuss bugonia and CCD [https://www.britannica.com/science/colony-collapse-disorder] as allegories for humanity and/or the planet. We also look at the bar set for humanity's redemption and whether the species' annihilation can be justified, along with whether a higher intelligence and/or colonial power has the right to decide Earth's future. We make a number of specific references to other material in this episode, as follows. * Louis Theroux's Inside the [https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81920687]Manosphere [https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81920687] documentary * Drama series Adolescence [https://www.netflix.com/title/81756069] * Barbara Kingsolver's novel Demon Copperhead [https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16279/9780571376483]* * Donna Zuckerberg's book Not All Dead White Men [https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16279/9780674241411]* *affiliate link If you enjoy this episode, please do remember to rate or review us. You can contact us with your thoughts via our website [https://dystopianfictionhasbeenmovedtocurrentaffairs.com/], where you can also find links to all our social media.

One Battle After Another

In Episode 43 (and not 42 as Clare so confidently announces in the first minute!) of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, we're discussing 2025 Paul Thomas Anderson film, One Battle After Another [https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/B0FR53KLP5/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r]. [https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/B0FR53KLP5/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r] As well as examining the success of using dark comedy and satire to present themes of authoritarianism and revolution, particularly through the caricaturing of both the right and the left, we contextualize the politics of the film within the current rise of fascism in the United States. We consider the presentation of failed violent revolution and the suffering of the individual in the face of perpetuating institutions. We look at the way in which rebellion can be undermined both by the weaknesses of individuals and the indistinctness of messaging or abundant bureaucracy. We are particularly interested in the burden of a fight placed on the shoulders of the next generation. We critique the way in which the film was depicted either as a call to violence, by the right, or a celebration of left-wing protest, by the left. Rather, we conclude that, despite the film's sympathy for those who confront authoritarianism and champion liberty, it does so in the spirit of challenge, adopting the extreme representation of each end of the political spectrum by the other as a means both to provide comedy and provoke serious political thought.  In this episode we specifically quote from the following interviews and articles: https://www.theringer.com/2025/09/29/movies/one-battle-after-another-movie-themes-explained-analysis [https://www.theringer.com/2025/09/29/movies/one-battle-after-another-movie-themes-explained-analysis]  https://ew.com/teyana-taylor-defends-one-battle-after-another-perfidia-scene-that-hit-hard-11905646 [https://ew.com/teyana-taylor-defends-one-battle-after-another-perfidia-scene-that-hit-hard-11905646] https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/teyana-taylor-golden-globes-breakout-year [https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/teyana-taylor-golden-globes-breakout-year] If you enjoy this episode, please check out our Instagram [https://instagram.com/dystopianfictioncurrentaffairs], Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/dystopianfictionhasbeenmovedtocurrentaffairs.com], or Substack [https://substack.com/@dystopianfictioncurrentaffairs]. You can also donate or buy merch on our website [https://dystopianfictionhasbeenmovedtocurrentaffairs.com/].

Wall-E

In episode 42 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare and Masha go back to an animated classic, the 2008 Disney Pixar film Wall-E. As well as exploring how the central ecological message of the film has fared in light of 2026 consumerism, we talk about the roles of advertising, corporate power, and human apathy have contributed to the state of the world in the era of late-stage capitalism. We also discuss how an 18-year-old film foresaw the rise in screen-addiction, increased automation, the loss of expertise, and the reliance on vs the potential threat of AI. In the episode, we refer to ways to better inform ourselves with respect to waste production. Among other sources, we suggest checking out: https://www.earthday.org/how-our-trash-impacts-the-environment/ [https://www.earthday.org/how-our-trash-impacts-the-environment/].  If you enjoyed this episode, please do rate and review us. You can get in touch via Instagram, Bluesky, or Substack.

A House of Dynamite

It's 2026 and the world is as dystopian as ever, so we're back from our brief hibernation with a brand new episode looking at recent film from director Katherine Bigelow and writer Noah Oppenheim, A House of Dynamite [https://www.netflix.com/title/81744537]. In this episode, Clare and Masha consider attitudes to nuclear arms in the post-Cold War era. We engage with the literature on the film's relationship to real life protocols in the face of a nuclear attack on the US. We consider in particular the personalities depicted in the film, and how each strategic leader and individual involved in the response to a missile heading for Chicago reacts and advocates for a different next step, while also dealing with their own particular concerns for family and friends. In particular, we compare these characters to those in power in real life in 2026, especially in light of recent international actions from the US under Donald Trump. We drew widely on recent literature from experts in atomic weaponry and US politics, and cite the following in particular: Kathryn Bigelow's House of Dynamite Is Wake-Up Call on Nuclear Weapons [https://variety.com/2025/film/news/kathryn-bigelow-house-of-dynamite-nuclear-weapons-1236559978/] A House of Dynamite: The Netflix movie is terrifying. Is it realistic? [https://slate.com/culture/2025/10/a-house-of-dynamite-movie-netflix-ending-explained.html] A house of mistakes: what Kathryn Bigelow’s 'A House of Dynamite' gets radically right—and dangerously wrong—about nuclear war [https://thebulletin.org/2025/12/a-house-of-mistakes-what-kathryn-bigelows-a-house-of-dynamite-gets-radically-right-and-dangerously-wrong-about-nuclear-war/] What we should be talking about after watching Bigelow's 'A House of Dynamite' nuclear thriller - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists [https://thebulletin.org/2025/10/what-we-should-be-talking-about-after-watching-bigelows-a-house-of-dynamite-nuclear-thriller/#post-heading] The “House of Dynamite” sequel you didn’t know you needed - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists [https://thebulletin.org/2025/10/the-house-of-dynamite-sequel-you-didnt-know-you-needed/] Cover Story: Kathryn Bigelow And Her Cast On Why ‘A House Of Dynamite’ Should Disarm The World [https://deadline.com/2025/10/a-house-of-dynamite-kathryn-bigelow-idris-elba-interview-1236574511/] Trump executive orders 2025: Why creating a U.S. version of Iron Dome makes no damn sense. [https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/01/trump-executive-orders-2025-iron-dome.html] Here's what experts say 'A House of Dynamite' gets wrong (and right) about nuclear war [https://www.npr.org/2025/10/24/nx-s1-5580534/house-of-dynamite-experts-review] If you have your own thoughts about A House of Dynamite or nuclear disarmament, we'd love to hear from you. You can find us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/dystopianfictioncurrentaffairs], Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/dystopianfictionhasbeenmovedtocurrentaffairs.com], or Substack [https://substack.com/@dystopianfictioncurrentaffairs], or via our website [https://dystopianfictionhasbeenmovedtocurrentaffairs.com/], where you can also find links to our KoFi [https://ko-fi.com/beingsociety] account or support us by buying our merch.

Flow (Our 40th Episode!)

In this milestone 40th episode, Clare and Masha are discussing the visually-stunning Oscar-winner of 2024, Flow [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flow-Gints-Zilbalodis/dp/B0F2RC6N8X]. Despite this animation having no dialogue and minimal explicit narrative, we follow the travels of the Cat and their rag-tag bag of animal companions to see what they might tell us about survival, the climate crisis, found-family, and mutual support between very different characters. We consider the way in which collaboration and community benefit everyone. We situate the mythical circumstances of the film within a real-life crisis of rising sea-levels and extreme weather phenomena, from both our usual anthropocentric standpoint and the impact on flora and fauna. We follow the Cat's arc, as they become more resourceful and courageous, and learn the benefit of having others in their lives. We look at the Capybara as a symbol of generosity and the Lemur as representative of consumerism. We explore the Dog's journey away from the group-think of the Dog Pack, considering the true nature of friendship. And we pick at the strands of spiritual and religious narrative that seem to underpin the depiction of the Secretary Bird.  Flow is far from being allegorical and even defies some metaphorical interpretation. If you have your own ideas as to how we might learn from this film, please let us know your thoughts via our website and social media, and don't forget to rate and review if you enjoy this episode!