Clitical Thought

Get ready to put on your red caps and make Clitical Thought Great Again™! That's right - it is our US Election edition! Joined by a friend of the pod and our US political correspondent (crossing to us live from Brunswick) Cassius Hynam! So grab some root beer and sit back as we ask why does no one care about the VP? What does the US postal system have to do with Facism, and is Biden in danger of being overshadowed by Kamala Harris? (As god forbid we let a rich white man be overshadowed by a successful and qualified African/Indian woman - I mean what is the world coming to?) Guest: Cassius Hynam Cassius is an international relations & economics graduate and academic tutor at a subsidiary of the University of Melbourne, soon to commence an Honours thesis analysing Australia's foreign policy on a rising China. A man of many talents: Cass is a beer pourer, tik tok trailblazer, twitter tyrant and soon to be host of his own political podcast, so watch this space! Twitter-https://twitter.com/cassiusjoseph Is Kamala Harris the best VP pick? •Kamala Harris' story: https://time.com/5881343/kamala-harris-global-history/ Is Harris' politics too influenced by powers within the criminal justice system and now the Democratic party? I.e. Do these shifts of values represent a morally uncertain individual or someone adaptive to a time and place? •Great instagram post - Summary of Harris: https://www.instagram.com/p/CDzsjoUAj4o/ Do we give Harris a break on some of her views as they were from a different cultural time? Disclaimer: We do not support her prosecution record that targeted marginalised communities. Regardless of cultural time period. •Kamala Harris' history on trans and sexwork issues: •https://www.them.us/story/kamala-harriss-record-on-trans-and-sex-work-issues Is Harris more important to Biden than he himself was to Obama? Could this be to his detriment? •https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/08/inside-trumpworlds-anti-kamala-harris-attack-plan: •"This is not Mike Pence to Donald Trump or Joe Biden to Obama. Kamala is going to be the candidate. She'll be constantly overshadowing him. In three to four weeks, Biden is going to realize he made a dumb move." • Democratic National Convention •Biden's Speech •https://edition.cnn.com/2020/08/20/politics/biden-dnc-speech-transcript/index.html • Does the disparity of education amongst voters lend the country to right-wing populism? Furthermore, does Trump's attack on the US postal system indicate a potential shift toward facism? •Thomas Frank: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/aug/22/the-people-no-review-thomas-frank-anti-populism-trump-fdr •Trump's political history with the US postal system: •https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-p...

Greetings all! We hope this episode finds you well and socially d i s t a n c e d! Join us as Anna forces Bella to consume 75 minutes of heterosexual commercial television.... Aka. The Bachelor! Using this case study and springboard, we dive into a critical discussion of instinctual attraction (what shapes our desires and are we able to interfere with society's conditioning), what our entrance would be if we were contestants and how we both have stereotyped ideas of what we find attractive in potential romantic partners. Before hitting the big scandal of the night, Zoe-Clare's white supremacist rant - we ask - is it ok to joke about her racist and unhinged breakdown? This leads us to discuss the concept of 'punching up' and 'punching down' - is it fair to laugh at a woman's expense? Is it ok to laugh at a man's expense? Is it ok to laugh at Jordan Peterson's expense? We ask the big questions... Why isn't 'sitting in the same bathwater' not a more used expression, it's a perfect analogy for a lack of political engagement with opposing viewpoints, am i rite? The Age Covid Tracker: https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/victoria-coronavirus-map-view-active-covid-19-case-numbers-in-your-postcode-and-see-if-there-are-any-large-outbreaks-in-your-area-20200813-p55leo.html The Bachelor •Abbie Chatfield Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/its-a-lot-with-abbie-chatfield/id1500849438 •Watch on Ten Play: https://10play.com.au/the-bachelor/episodes/season-8/episode-1/tpv200811gbudf •Bella's Bachelor entrance dress inspiration (just FYI): •https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/a30631992/ariana-grande-grammys-red-carpet-dress-pictures/?fbclid=IwAR2xD93rmEsRmeO3PbYW_0N1K9UVln8xOX8m6u0WuqgWTVbikseCdvBwtFI •Instagram - Racism and the Bachelor: •https://www.instagram.com/soalihaofficial/ •White tears, Brown Scars (2019) - Ruby Hamad Punching up vs. Punching down History of: http://www.maskmagazine.com/the-joy-issue/life/stand-up-punch-down •Can we laugh at white men's inadequacy? (Punching up?) •Can we laugh about Zoe-Clare's bachelor meltdown? (Is this punching down or up?) •Can you laugh at your own socio-economic-racial group? (Punching along the same line) •Jordan Peterson: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/08/why-the-left-is-so-afraid-of-jordan-peterson/567110/?fbclid=IwAR0vohqQEbd-QrpCL7R3dr2faQ78-EXbeSWJjCUAdhSISYsHT9Lg89tOeqc •Slavov Zizek vs. Jordan Peterson debate - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsHJ3LvUWTs •Ben Shapiro: •

Welcome back Clitical Thinkers - we hope this episode finds you well (especially Victorians - hang in there)! Join us as we dive into an analysis of how music/film/tv/books both defy and comply with gender - we first pay respects to Amy Winehouse (on the 9 year anniversary of her death), we look at the correlation between female pop music and individualisation in contrast to neoliberalism *take a drink*, before finally, discussing Taylor Swift and how covid19 has had us all adapting to a somewhat cottage core aesthetic that serves as a direct counter to the neoliberal dream *take a drink*. We end with the question - is sourdough/banana bread/home life perhaps our only hope in the war against neoliberalism? *take a drink* Things mentioned: Amy Winehouse (14 September 1983- 23 July 2011) •Film/documentary: Amy (2015) Emmy nominations •https://www.vulture.com/2020/07/emmy-nominations-2020.html •https://www.instagram.com/p/CDMxSr7nUXD/ Taylor Swift: •Folklore (2020) •Miss Americana (2020) •Scandal:https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a29811842/taylor-swift-scooter-braun-drama-timeline/ •Look What You Made Me Do - Killing Eve: •https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-26/what-taylor-swift-killing-eve-cover-means-for-scooter-braun-feud/12286020 •Cottagecore: •https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2020/8/3/21349640/cottagecore-taylor-swift-folklore-lesbian-clothes-animal-crossing • Disclosure (2020) - Netflix Conversations with Friends (2017) - Sally Rooney Clits of the Week: •Exciting Times (2020) - Naoise Dolan •Girl, Woman, Other (2019) - Bernardine Evaristo •Such a Fun Age (2020) - Kiley Reid •A Lonely Girl is a Dangerous Thing (2020) - Jessie Tu •Sopranos (1999 - 2007) - Binge •I May Destroy You (2020) - HBO/BBC •Dark (2017-2020) - Netflix Literary Friction (podcast) episodes mentioned: •https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/literary-friction-conversations-with-sally-rooney/id1000387053?i=1000386531579 •https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/literary-friction-rest-relaxation-with-ottessa-moshfegh/id1000387053?i=1000419148781 •https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/literary-friction-social-media-with-kiley-reid/id1000387053?i=1000468653402 •https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/literary-friction-in-therapy-with-ben-lerner/id1000387053?i=1000460056397

Put your party hats on and join us in singing happy birthday to Bella! That's right, we were fortunate enough to record this episode on Bella's day of birth, but also unfortunate enough that we had to record this episode through Squadcast (our nemesis). But do not fear clits, whilst the hard border between Vic and NSW may be keeping us apart, our h8 of all things neoliberal keeps us closer than ever. Join us as we have some fun birthday musings, discuss representation over structural change, and cheer as we realise Kanye's political party is called The Birthday Party™ and works perfectly for this episode's title. Feeling #blessed! Things mentioned: •My Year of Rest and Relaxation (2018) by Ottessa Moshfegh White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo (2018): •Why Diversity Training Isn't Enough - •(Article from New Republic): https://newrepublic.com/article/156032/diversity-training-isnt-enough-pamela-newkirk-robin-diangelo-books-reviews •Chapo Trap House Episode (podcast): •https://open.spotify.com/episode/4bf70zr9FoUanNkfvwoqFs?si=_lwpX6xuRPulZVDw5C2KsQ •Sister Works Cloth Masks: •https://sisterworks.org.au/product-category/reusable-face-masks/ •Amber Lee Frost: I'm Not Wearing a Mask - (Article from Damage Mag): https://damagemag.com/2020/05/14/im-not-wearing-a-mask/ •Jeff Bezos Wants Amazon Employees to "Reflect" on Junteenth. Warehouse Workers are Organizing Instead. (Article from the Jacobin): •https://jacobinmag.com/2020/06/juneteenth-amazon-warehouse-jeff-bezos •Flemington/North Melbourne Housing Estates •AMSAA Donation information: https://www.facebook.com/AMSSAnorthmelbourne/photos/a.1015757248601142/1635832299926964/?type=3&theater Book Club! •Such A Fun Age by Kiley ReidMelbourne Peeps, support Australian independent/small bookshops, perhaps: •Hill of Content •Brunswick Bound •Happy Valley Clits/Books of the week: •Rodham by Curtis Sittenfield •The Flat Share by Beth O'Leary •The Romanovs by Simon Sebag Montefiore •Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (if you can be bothered lol) •The Great (2020) - Stan

Clitical Thought would like to acknowledge the Wurundjeri people who are the Traditional Custodians of this Land. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past, present and emerging of the Kulin Nation and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who are listening. Clitical Thought would also like to acknowledge the Black Lives Matter movement in Australia and across the globe. We stand in solidarity with every individual/community that has been oppressed by systematic racism and subject to any form of racial discrimination. Your voices are so important: we are listening. Hello Clits! Welcome to a very important and special episode. Today we are joined by our dear friend of the pod - Ethan Savage! We are honoured to be able to sit down and have this conversation. Ethan is an Kaantju, Girrumay, and Badu Islander who has completed Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Anthropology and Politics. You can find Ethan on instagram at @ethansavage_ ! (#promo) Questions: Performative allyship: •In her book, 'White Fragility,' Robin Diangelo writes that 'one of the greatest fears of a white person is being told that we have said or done something racially problematic.' Do you think that some white 'allies' in the Black Lives Matter movement prioritise protecting themselves against this fear and absolving themselves of white guilt instead of productive and material allyship? What issues with white allyship have come up during the past few weeks? Focus on the US racial movement over our national issue: •Australia, like the US, has a brutal and genocidal history of white colonisation that continues to manifest today in police brutality and mass incarceration. Why do you think Australians are inclined to prioritise US systemic racism over what happens in our own backyard? •In a similar vein, what do you make of Scott Morrison's comments that Australians shouldn't 'import' the BLM movement into Australia? Police Brutality: •As a white woman, I was socialised throughout my childhood to understand the police as a force that would protect me instead of the force of brutality and violence that it actually is. What is your understanding of the police and what factors and experiences have shaped this understanding? Crime and colonisation: •Angela Davis: "Imprisonment has become the first, not last, resort for many social problems that blight the lives of those in poverty; problems that become 'conveniently grouped together under the category "crime" and by the automatic attribution of criminal behaviour to people of colour'. Racial Duality: •Black voice vs. White voice? •Where did the last name Savage come from? Resources/Things mentioned: •The End of Policing (2019) - Alex Vitale •In My Blood it Runs (2019): https://inmyblooditruns.com •https://pathtoequality.com.au/?fbclid=IwAR1p6jRXPBUo536NTnDmM39F70Wj3To8dU4-mtBPEeQ3YauhRUUJrml96a8 •https://linktr.ee/BlakBusiness?fbclid=IwAR3oab7tXKAl8VEGZ-R-N3N0abLg8Y6ktnJh71trZw0i5tB6f1yFUE68tAU