We discuss the rapid and sweeping financialization, corporate raiding and deindustrialization that took place during the Long Seventies and what effect it had on society. 

We discuss the rapid and sweeping financialization, corporate raiding and deindustrialization that took place during the Long Seventies and what effect it had on society.

Financialization

Decade of Dystopia continues with two movies, The Crazies and Wizards. We discuss what these movies have in common, the dystopian visions they provide and what critique they make of the world of the Long Seventies. 

Decade of Dystopia continues with two movies, The Crazies and Wizards. We discuss what these movies have in common, the dystopian visions they provide and what critique they make of the world of the Long Seventies.

The Crazies (1973) & Wizards (1977): Techno-totalitarian Dystopian Horrors

We discuss why the Long Seventies gave birth to so many dystopian creative works, specifically in the context of crises of continuity and progress. 

We discuss why the Long Seventies gave birth to so many dystopian creative works, specifically in the context of crises of continuity and progress.

The Twin Crises of Continuity & Progress -- Decade of Dystopia

We discuss the 1976 dystopian sci-fi classic film Logan's Run, societal symbolic illiteracy, announce the Decade of Dystopia series and much more. 

We discuss the 1976 dystopian sci-fi classic film Logan's Run, societal symbolic illiteracy, announce the Decade of Dystopia series and much more.

Logan’s Run: There Is No Sanctuary

We discuss acclaimed author JG Ballard’s 1969 experimental piece of transgressive syncromystical literature. Love, death, loss, trauma, tragedy, eroticism, car accidents as immanent mystical experiences, JFK, Ralph Nader, Elizabeth Taylor, WWII, Vietnam, art etc. 

We discuss acclaimed author JG Ballard’s 1969 experimental piece of transgressive syncromystical literature. Love, death, loss, trauma, tragedy, eroticism, car accidents as immanent mystical experiences, JFK, Ralph Nader, Elizabeth Taylor, WWII, Vietnam, art etc.

The Atrocity Exhibition: J.G. Ballard’s Syncromystical Masterpiece 

We each choose ten pieces of audio and musical gear that we think were important to the audio/musical landscape of the Long Seventies. 

We each choose ten pieces of audio and musical gear that we think were important to the audio/musical landscape of the Long Seventies.

Top Ten: Audio and Musical Gear

We discuss the eerily prescient 1975 dystopian film Rollerball, starring James Caan. Skates, motorcycles, fire, blood, murder, drugs, multivision tv and more!

We discuss the eerily prescient 1975 dystopian film Rollerball, starring James Caan. Skates, motorcycles, fire, blood, murder, drugs, multivision tv and more!

Rollerball (1975): Skate or Die

We finish our discussion of John Egerton’s 1974 book The Americanization of the South, focusing on Politics, Industrialization, City growth and Culture. 

We finish our discussion of John Egerton’s 1974 book The Americanization of the South, focusing on Politics, Industrialization, City growth and Culture.

The Americanization of the South -- Part Two

We discuss some of the best bareknuckle boxing movies from The Long Seventies, in particular Charles Bronson's Hard Times and Clint Eastwood's Every Which Way But Loose. 

We discuss some of the best bareknuckle boxing movies from The Long Seventies, in particular Charles Bronson's Hard Times and Clint Eastwood's Every Which Way But Loose.

Bareknuckle Boxing Movies

We discuss the meaning of "Americanization" the first three chapters of John Egerton's fascinating 1974 book "The Americanization of Dixie." 

We discuss the meaning of "Americanization" the first three chapters of John Egerton's fascinating 1974 book "The Americanization of Dixie."

The Americanization of Dixie -- Part One

A biweekly history podcast focusing on America between 1968 and 1984.

This show provides entertaining, laid-back conversations that dig into the weird

Insightful

I love listening to these guys. I listened to their episode on serial killers while hiking in the pnw, and I was hooked. The zombies episode is another must listen too! Matt and Alex do a great job covering in depth topics of the 70s. Excited to see what&#39;s next.

Great topics!

The Long Seventies Podcast

Julian Jaynes

We explore Julian Jaynes' ideas about the origin of consciousness contained in his influential 1976 book The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind.

We explore Julian Jaynes' ideas about the origin of consciousness contained in his influential 1976 book The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind.

Julian Jaynes and Bicameral Mind Theory

Robert Anton Wilson

Robert Shea

We enter the humorous, twisted and paranoid world of Robert Anton Wilson &amp; Robert Shea’s The Illuminatus! Trilogy. It’s an 800 page tome filled with revolutionaries, conspiracies, counter-conspiracies, drugs, sex, rock n’ roll, yellow submarines, talking dolphins, Old Gods, eldritch five-sided sea monsters, Atlantis, John Dillinger, and more sex and drugs.

We enter the humorous, twisted and paranoid world of Robert Anton Wilson &amp; Robert Shea’s The Illuminatus! Trilogy. It’s an 800 page tome filled with revolutionaries, conspiracies, counter-conspiracies, drugs, sex, rock n’ roll, yellow submarines, talking dolphins, Old Gods, eldritch five-sided sea monsters, Atlantis, John Dillinger, and more sex and drugs.

The Illuminatus! Trilogy by Robert Anton Wilson & Robert Shea

Christopher Lasch

We talk Christopher Lasch’s 1979 book The Culture of Narcissism and assess how well it characterizes the period, what it means for today’s society, and how technology and advertising have effected personality.

We talk Christopher Lasch’s 1979 book The Culture of Narcissism and assess how well it characterizes the period, what it means for today’s society, and how technology and advertising have effected personality.

The Culture of Narcissism by Christopher Lasch

We each pick five albums we think are important from 1969 and five from 1983, compare lists and discuss the historical ramifications.

We each pick five albums we think are important from 1969 and five from 1983, compare lists and discuss the historical ramifications.

Important Albums of 1969 and 1983

This episode we start a three part mini-series covering radical revolutionary groups of the time period. We begin with the Weather Underground and the Black Liberation Army. 

This episode we start a three part mini-series covering radical revolutionary groups of the time period. We begin with the Weather Underground and the Black Liberation Army.

Revolutionary Undergrounds, Decade of Rage Part One

Summary: We talk movies that illustrate a shift in direction for Hollywood’s portrayal of Americans, precocious teenagers, working class stiffs, and a new optimistic image of a society where hustle, ambition and entrepreneurial spirit are the keys to success.

Summary: We talk movies that illustrate a shift in direction for Hollywood’s portrayal of Americans, precocious teenagers, working class stiffs, and a new optimistic image of a society where hustle, ambition and entrepreneurial spirit are the keys to success.

Cinema Series: 80s Hustle, Ambition & Entrepreneurial Spirit

In this episode we start a four part series on the book Changing Images of Man, which is a wild 70s brainstorming session on how to shape the future of humanity by shaping how humans see themselves. In this episode we delve into the earliest roots of the ideas at play and look at how a number of seemingly unrelated movements and trends intersect during the Long Seventies and are synthesized in this study, including futurism, economics, environmentalism, cybernetics, ecology, and general systems theory.

In this episode we start a four part series on the book Changing Images of Man, which is a wild 70s brainstorming session on how to shape the future of humanity by shaping how humans see themselves. In this episode we delve into the earliest roots of the ideas at play and look at how a number of seemingly unrelated movements and trends intersect during the Long Seventies and are synthesized in this study, including futurism, economics, environmentalism, cybernetics, ecology, and general systems theory.

Changing Images of Man, Part One: The Future of Futurism

Wade Davis

We start a two part story about famed explorer, anthropologist and ethnobotanist Wade Davis’ 1982 expedition to Haiti to figure out what was in the mythical zombi powder. As the story progresses we realize that the real treasure is Davis’ insight into Haitian culture and the Haitian Vodou worldview.

We start a two part story about famed explorer, anthropologist and ethnobotanist Wade Davis’ 1982 expedition to Haiti to figure out what was in the mythical zombi powder. As the story progresses we realize that the real treasure is Davis’ insight into Haitian culture and the Haitian Vodou worldview.

Wade Davis: The Hunt for Haitian Zombi Powder, Part One

The chaos at the 1968 Democratic National Convention spelled the end of the optimistic Sixties for many, causing massive social and political movements to splinter and break apart into smaller but much more varied movements we see grow during the Long Seventies.

The chaos at the 1968 Democratic National Convention spelled the end of the optimistic Sixties for many, causing massive social and political movements to splinter and break apart into smaller but much more varied movements we see grow during the Long Seventies.

The 1968 Democratic National Convention -- Part One

Summary: We close out our Decade of Rage mini-series with a discussion about the end of the Weather Underground and some of the late 70s revolutionary groups that had a proclivity for robbing banks and armored cars.

Summary: We close out our Decade of Rage mini-series with a discussion about the end of the Weather Underground and some of the late 70s revolutionary groups that had a proclivity for robbing banks and armored cars.

Bank Robbery Boogaloo, Decade of Rage Part Three

We examine tv shows like The Brady Bunch, All In the Family, Taxi, Sanford and Son, Good Times, Family Ties, The Cosby Show, Magnum PI, Dallas and more in this episode, and try to figure out what they tell us about American society during the Long Seventies.

We examine tv shows like The Brady Bunch, All In the Family, Taxi, Sanford and Son, Good Times, Family Ties, The Cosby Show, Magnum PI, Dallas and more in this episode, and try to figure out what they tell us about American society during the Long Seventies.

Television Families: From Yippies to Yuppies

Pax Ecologica

We continue our four part series on the book Changing Images of Man, which is a wild 70s brainstorming session on how to shape the future of humanity by shaping how humans see themselves. In this episode we carry on our investigation into the fascinating long term trends the study synthesizes into the Image of Man, and take a look at the authors of the study and what makes them uniquely accurate in their predictions if not prescient in their vision.

We continue our four part series on the book Changing Images of Man, which is a wild 70s brainstorming session on how to shape the future of humanity by shaping how humans see themselves. In this episode we carry on our investigation into the fascinating long term trends the study synthesizes into the Image of Man, and take a look at the authors of the study and what makes them uniquely accurate in their predictions if not prescient in their vision.

Changing Images of Man, Part Two: Pax Ecologica

Why was the Long Seventies seemingly such a fertile time for serial killers? We try to answer this question and speculate on what serial killers are up to today. We discuss how serial killers are classified, how they are potentially created or born, and how media attention drives the cultural awareness and fear of these rare individuals.

Why was the Long Seventies seemingly such a fertile time for serial killers? We try to answer this question and speculate on what serial killers are up to today. We discuss how serial killers are classified, how they are potentially created or born, and how media attention drives the cultural awareness and fear of these rare individuals.

The Golden Age of Serial Killers

For almost forty years the Motion Picture Production Code censored mainstream American films and limited their artistic vision. It's dissolution in the late 1960s due to changing economic and cultural pressures followed by the the institution of the voluntary Motion Picture Association of America Ratings System created a unique environment within which mainstream films were produced by artists that not only pushed boundaries but completely obliterated them. Unfortunately this proved to be a short lived phenomenon lasting only a brief seven to ten years before another economic and cultural sea change caused movies to move in an entirely different direction. This short seven year period has since become known as the Hollywood Renaissance.   In this episode we trace the history of this process and go over some of the unique artists and films of the time period, laying the groundwork for future episodes that will delve into specific genres and films.

For almost forty years the Motion Picture Production Code censored mainstream American films and limited their artistic vision. It's dissolution in the late 1960s due to changing economic and cultural pressures followed by the the institution of the voluntary Motion Picture Association of America Ratings System created a unique environment within which mainstream films were produced by artists that not only pushed boundaries but completely obliterated them. Unfortunately this proved to be a short lived phenomenon lasting only a brief seven to ten years before another economic and cultural sea change caused movies to move in an entirely different direction. This short seven year period has since become known as the Hollywood Renaissance. In this episode we trace the history of this process and go over some of the unique artists and films of the time period, laying the groundwork for future episodes that will delve into specific genres and films.

The MPAA Rating System & Hollywood Renaissance 

During this period talented songwriters and musicians were handed the reins to entire soundtracks and produced a number of very successful albums that not only contributed to the success of their partner films, but helped define the musical landscape of the Seventies.

During this period talented songwriters and musicians were handed the reins to entire soundtracks and produced a number of very successful albums that not only contributed to the success of their partner films, but helped define the musical landscape of the Seventies.

Super Soulful Soundtracks of the Seventies

We close out the story of the 1968 Democratic National Convention and talk about some of the event's long term effects.

We close out the story of the 1968 Democratic National Convention and talk about some of the event's long term effects.

The 1968 Democratic National Convention -- Part Two

We dig into chapters 1-4 (of 8) of Changing Images of Man, a unique study carried out in 1974 at Stanford Research Institute. These chapters look at what role images play in society, some historic images from different time periods and cultures, the current image “economic man,” and the impact science and empiricism have made on our images of man. 

We dig into chapters 1-4 (of 8) of Changing Images of Man, a unique study carried out in 1974 at Stanford Research Institute. These chapters look at what role images play in society, some historic images from different time periods and cultures, the current image “economic man,” and the impact science and empiricism have made on our images of man.

Changing Images of Man, Part 3: Myth, Man & Machine

We continue our series on revolutionary groups of the period with a look into the Symbionese Liberation Army. Murder. Kidnapping. Bank Robbery -- a violent shootout ending in fiery ruin. Join us and learn about one of the strangest, most dramatic groups of the time period and their weird, short-lived odyssey.

We continue our series on revolutionary groups of the period with a look into the Symbionese Liberation Army. Murder. Kidnapping. Bank Robbery -- a violent shootout ending in fiery ruin. Join us and learn about one of the strangest, most dramatic groups of the time period and their weird, short-lived odyssey.

Death to the Fascist Insect, Decade of Rage Part Two

We discuss the cultural significance of movies Death Wish (1974) and Hardcore (1979), starring Charles Bronson and George C. Scott, specifically how they illustrate (dramatically) mainstream America’s responses to the counter-culture’s effects on society.

We discuss the cultural significance of movies Death Wish (1974) and Hardcore (1979), starring Charles Bronson and George C. Scott, specifically how they illustrate (dramatically) mainstream America’s responses to the counter-culture’s effects on society.

Cinema Series: Death Wish & Hardcore

R. Crumb

This episode explores the outrageous explosion of intentionally offensive underground comics in the early 1970s, including an emphasis on one of the period's primary figures Robert Crumb.

This episode explores the outrageous explosion of intentionally offensive underground comics in the early 1970s, including an emphasis on one of the period's primary figures Robert Crumb.

Underground Comics and R. Crumb

The best podcast episodes on non-current politics. Covering topics such as universal basic income, democracy, poverty & justice and more. For anyone interested in learning more about politics that affect that world, not just now, but in the longer term. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Non-Current Politics Podcasts

What is this?
1 quote, 3 ideas & 1 question from a carefully curated podcast episode.
Every Monday & Wednesday.

Want a 3rd insight and episode every week? Email me at curation@owltail.com.