654: Pop Culture Taxes
Digest
The podcast delves into the concept of "pop culture taxes," which are the downsides and inconveniences associated with enjoying popular culture. Hosts and listeners share personal examples, including the tax of loving Dramani fanfiction, the perceived disparity in Mindy Kaling and BJ Novak's appearances, and the burden of supporting artists who later become problematic. They also discuss the reality TV tax, the "gun owner face tax," and the "intellectual promiscuity tax." Tangents include conspiracy theories, the unique experience of listening to this specific podcast, and critiques of Rachel McAdams' filmography. Debates arise over the definitive Mr. Darcy, the merits of Lit RPGs like "Dungeon Crawler Carl," and the perceived lack of new content in Christian fiction. The discussion touches on celebrity romance novels, the extended song tax of the Dave Matthews Band, and Justin Timberlake's "cringey" moments. Finally, they explore the Artemis II mission's mix of excitement and anxiety, the unifying power of March Madness, the historical concept of "bread and circuses," and observations from a San Francisco trip, including Waymo cars and a memorable bike tour. The episode concludes with praise for "Company Retreat" and a discussion of a high-caffeine drink.
Outlines
Introduction to Pop Culture Taxes and Personal Examples
The hosts introduce the concept of "pop culture taxes," the downsides of enjoying pop culture, and share personal examples like the "Dramani" fanfiction tax and the perceived appearance disparity of Mindy Kaling and BJ Novak.
The Burdens of Fandom: Reality TV, Early Adopters, and Political Vibes
This section covers the "reality TV tax" of fleeting interest, the "early adopter tax" of supporting artists who may become problematic, and the humorous "gun owner face tax" related to political discussions.
Navigating Diverse Ideas and Defending Niche Interests
The discussion explores the "intellectual promiscuity tax" of engaging with many ideas, listener-shared taxes like defending "Dungeon Crawler Carl," and the challenges of defending niche interests like Dramani fanfiction.
Listener Taxes and Career Critiques: Podcasts, Rachel McAdams, and Mr. Darcy
Listeners share their "podcast listener tax," and the hosts analyze Rachel McAdams' filmography, debating her career choices, and delve into the "Pride and Prejudice" debate between Colin Firth and Matthew Macfadyen's Mr. Darcy.
Literary and Musical Tastes: Christian Fiction, Romance Novels, and Band Lengths
The hosts discuss the lack of new bestsellers in Christian fiction, the excitement for Roxane Gay and Channing Tatum's romance novel, and the "Dave Matthews Band tax" of enduring long songs and concerts.
Celebrity Cringes and Space Mission Anxieties
The episode examines Justin Timberlake's "cringey moments tax" and the mixed emotions surrounding the Artemis II space mission, balancing historic achievements with anxieties.
Collective Excitement and Historical Distractions
The speakers discuss how major events like March Madness can create collective excitement even among non-fans and introduce the historical concept of "bread and circuses" as a means of public distraction.
Humorous Takes on Modern Life: TSA, Flight, and San Francisco
This segment features humorous commentary on potential TSA agent reductions, the physics of flight, and observations from a San Francisco trip, including Waymo cars and a memorable bike tour.
Food, Reality TV, and Superior Sequels
The discussion includes a positive review of Sweetgreen, a critique of a "Survivor" triple elimination, and high praise for the second season of "Jury Duty," titled "Company Retreat."
Keywords
Pop Culture Taxes
The concept of "pop culture taxes" refers to the inherent downsides, inconveniences, or negative aspects associated with enjoying certain forms of popular culture. This can include facing criticism for one's tastes, dealing with problematic creators, or enduring extended content.
Dramani Fanfiction
Dramani fanfiction centers on the romantic pairing of Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series. It explores alternative storylines and relationships not present in the original books, often focusing on character development and romantic tension.
Early Adopter Tax
The "early adopter tax" is the burden faced by individuals who support artists or creators early in their careers. This tax can manifest as having to defend the artist if they later become controversial or problematic, despite initial support.
Intellectual Promiscuity
Intellectual promiscuity describes the act of engaging with a wide range of ideas and beliefs, often without deep commitment to any single one. While it can broaden perspectives, it may also lead to internal conflict or difficulty reconciling diverse viewpoints.
Lit RPG
Lit RPG (Literature Role-Playing Game) is a genre of fiction that incorporates elements of role-playing games, such as character progression, stats, and game mechanics, within a narrative structure. These stories often feature protagonists who gain abilities and level up.
Mr. Darcy Debate
The Mr. Darcy debate centers on the interpretation and portrayal of the character Fitzwilliam Darcy in Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." It often involves comparing different actors' performances, particularly Colin Firth and Matthew Macfadyen, and their faithfulness to the novel.
Justin Timberlake's Career
Justin Timberlake's career spans from his beginnings in NSYNC to a successful solo music and acting career. His journey has been marked by both critical acclaim and public scrutiny over various controversies and artistic choices.
Artemis II Mission
The Artemis II mission is a crewed spaceflight mission by NASA, intended to be the first crewed flight of the Orion spacecraft and a Space Launch System rocket. It aims to send astronauts around the Moon, marking a significant step in lunar exploration.
March Madness
An annual men's college basketball tournament in the United States, known for its unpredictable upsets and widespread popularity, drawing in even casual fans.
Bread and Circuses
A metaphor for a superficial means of appeasing the populace by offering entertainment and distractions rather than addressing substantive issues.
Waymo
An autonomous driving technology company spun off from Google, developing self-driving car technology and operating ride-hailing services in select cities.
Survivor
A long-running reality competition television franchise where contestants are isolated in a remote location and must provide their own shelter, food, and challenges.
Jury Duty
A reality TV show where a group of contestants are unaware that they are part of a mock jury trial, with all other participants being actors, except for one unsuspecting individual.
Company Retreat
The second season of the reality show "Jury Duty," featuring a new unsuspecting participant in a staged corporate retreat environment.
Q&A
What are "pop culture taxes"?
"Pop culture taxes" are the negative aspects or inconveniences that come with enjoying certain pop culture phenomena. This can include facing criticism for your tastes, having to defend problematic creators, or enduring extended versions of content.
What is the "Dramani" fanfiction phenomenon?
Dramani fanfiction focuses on the romantic pairing of Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger from Harry Potter. Fans create stories exploring their relationship, often facing criticism for the pairing and for supporting J.K. Rowling.
What is the "early adopter tax" in pop culture?
The "early adopter tax" refers to the burden of supporting an artist or creator early on, only to potentially have to defend them later if they become controversial or problematic. It's the consequence of being an initial fan.
What is "intellectual promiscuity" in the context of the podcast?
Intellectual promiscuity means exploring a wide range of ideas and beliefs. The "tax" associated with it is that this broad engagement can sometimes make it difficult to navigate specific social or religious contexts where certain viewpoints are expected.
Why is Rachel McAdams' filmography discussed as a "tax"?
Rachel McAdams' filmography is discussed as a "tax" because while she has iconic roles, she also has a period with less successful films like "Aloha" and "Morning Glory." This leads to discussions about her career choices and perceived "bad runs."
What is the debate surrounding Mr. Darcy's portrayal?
The debate centers on whether Colin Firth's portrayal in the 1995 miniseries or Matthew Macfadyen's in the 2005 film is the definitive Mr. Darcy. This often divides fans based on generational preferences and interpretations of the character.
What are some of Justin Timberlake's "cringey" moments discussed?
Justin Timberlake's "cringey" moments include not informing NSYNC bandmates about his solo album, his role in the Janet Jackson Super Bowl incident, and the poorly received "Man of the Woods" album, all contributing to a perceived lack of accountability.
What are the joys and anxieties surrounding the Artemis II mission?
The Artemis II mission brings joy through historic milestones like the first woman and Black man going to the moon. However, it also evokes anxiety due to the launch date, the "hot DILF astronaut," and resurfaced PTSD from past space tragedies like the Challenger explosion.
What is the "Dungeon Crawler Carl" tax?
The "Dungeon Crawler Carl" tax involves defending one's enjoyment of this R-rated Lit RPG novel, often to people who may not understand the genre or perceive it as "nerdy," leading to a need to justify personal taste.
What is the "Dave Matthews Band tax"?
The "Dave Matthews Band tax" for fans involves enduring extremely long songs (often 7+ minutes) and extended concert setlists, leading to concerts that can last nearly three hours with only 18 songs.
How does the concept of "bread and circuses" relate to modern society?
The "bread and circuses" concept, historically used by dictators, suggests that providing entertainment and distractions can keep the populace content and less likely to question authority or address underlying societal problems.
What makes "Company Retreat" a standout show?
"Company Retreat" is praised for its relatable characters, sharp writing, and the protagonist's genuine engagement, making it a compelling workplace comedy that surpasses its predecessor, "Jury Duty."
Show Notes
In this episode, we’re unpacking one of Knox’s core philosophies: there’s always a tax to pay. From loving Rachel McAdams but enduring some questionable movie choices to working in Christian publishing and strategically downplaying the actual books you’re reading, we’re breaking down the costs of our pop culture loyalties.
Relevant links:
- Our full show notes are at knoxandjamie.com/654
- Sign up for our newsletter, Note for the Audio at knoxandjamie.com/nfta, and don’t forget to check out the archives!
- Procrastinate on Filing your Taxes: Read the comments | Check out the Definitive Dramione Hyperfixation Spreadsheet | Menace in New Orleans | Conspiracy Theories Episode (see also: Dr. Rubin)
- G.E.T Mentions: The Popcast SMK | Green Lights | Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice | Virgin River | Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
- Fact Check: Name that Scream | Name it and claim it in space?
- Thank you to our contributors: @karacbob, @joeyohern, @hannahmhines, @colorsandconstellations, @annagchambers, @brieyum
- Red Light Mentions: Artemis II dredging up space trauma | TSA Cuts | Not a Sponsor: Waymos & Sweetgreen | Survivor Triple Elimination
Green Lights:
- Jamie: show - Company Retreat
- Knox: book - The Irish Goodbye: Micro-Memoirs by Beth Ann Fennelly
Bonus segment:
Join us on Patreon to listen ad-free and get exclusive weekly and monthly content.
Square | Shopify | Bombas | Boll & Branch (code: POPCAST) | Hers | Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Table of contents
United States
