#47: The Matrix

in , ,

Are you a virus? A disease? Then that means you're a human being, at least according to Agent (Weaving) Smith. 

Today, dear Snobfriend, join us for revelry and laughs as we Snob deep into the rabbit hole that is, The Matrix. Directed by the Wachowskis, The Matrix is much better than than bad movie, Inception. Perhaps the movie referenced the most on General Snobbery, The Matrix addresses deep questions of knowledge and being, including how the hell we know who the hell we are. And, there's Kung Fu. 

Sean and Matt are joined by guest and fellow Snob, Aidan, whose vast knowledge of The Matrix guides the conversation like Morpheus guiding Neo during that cool as fuck fighting sequence and that dope ass jumping test.

What can truly be said about The Matrix? What can be said about knowledge? What can be said about the world in which we live? Remarkably, less than we think. And that's a good thing. After all, Cypher thought he knew a lot and he got blown away by a ray gun. What a dick! 

Please, join Sean, Matt, Aidan, Neo, Trinity, Morpheus, Tank, and most of all, Mouse as we seek to battle the Agent Smiths that exist in the world and seek to keep our minds hardwired to those things which stifle our humanity. Snob on!

#46: Titanic and Beyond (with Amanda Pumpkins!)

"In Greek Mythology, the Titans were greater even than the gods."  The same can be said about Titanic and other films.  James Cameron's 1997 opus about a revolutionary road is full of, not only delight, but King Théoden as well. 

Out in the North Pacific, an iceberg waits to bring down the cultural elites of the English speaking world. Wow! James Cameron understands Marxism almost as well as he understands the depths of the sea. In other words, according to himself, he's an expert, not to mention the king of the world!

Sean and Matt are toward explosion as well as iceberg but they are "Not alone" - Gandalf. They are joined this ep by longtime fan of General Snobbery, Amanda Pumpkins! Amanda has, time and again, been the only listener and has proven herself a top notch #Snob with her brilliant wit, wonderful social media references, and overall Kierkegaardianisms. What a wonderful addition Amanda is, totally the opposite of that asshole Cal (Zane).

Hey! It's Cameron! King of the World!

Hey! It's Cameron! King of the World!

All aboard! Grab your peasant knapsack, steal Svën's ticket, and avoid all falling smokestacks, this ship is iceberg bound. 

As always, listener, we welcome you to our unique point of view and we ask you to consider, are you a #Snob as well? Amanda Pumpkin's journey to the recording studio is so similar to Jack Dawson's, of the Chippewa Falls Dawsons. So full of adventure and art. And if we are lucky, may we too borrow clothing from Molly (Bates) Brown.

Last call! The horn's a-honking. Press play Picasso, Cameron's got the wheel!

Episode Rundown:

1:30: Getting to know each other, getting Zane on the Brain
12:40: Official Introduction of Amanda Pumpkins
15:40: How Amanda discovered General Snobbery
28:30: Dive into Titanic
48: Barenaked Ladies and Titanic
51:30: What makes someone a "Living Meme"?
1:08: Why is Leo the “King of the World”? 
1:11: Tangent about Batman Forever and Batman and Robin
1:13: Sudden Entry into Tommy Wiseau and The Room
1:20: Titanic, the End of Modernism, Postmodernism, and Metamodernism
1:28: Beyond the Titanic: Into the Realm of Philosophy (Kierkegaard, Heidegger, Wittgenstein, Thoreau, Emerson, and Nietzsche) and beyond! (Even Alex Jones)
1:44: The Evil Iceberg

#45: Disney, Marvel, and the Seven Faces of John Boyega

in , ,

In the image you see, John Boyega (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) has seven faces. Each one is smaller than the one before. This is an image that Matt made, and ever since that moment, it has baffled both of us. It appears boundlessly significant, and yet, time and time again, we are left with the question: what does it mean? 

In today's snob, we delve deeply into these many Boyega faces, contemplating possible meanings ranging a diverse spectrum. We consider the suggestions provided by some of our beloved listeners, such as Amanda Pumpkins' connection to René Magritte's classic painting The Son of Man. What does it mean when the apple becomes a tiny Boyega face? 

In a shocking turn of events, Boyega's many faces ultimately leads us to a new chapter of this snobbing endeavor: the felt responsibility to watch every single film of the Marvel Universe, from beginning to end, and snob about them as we go. For we have grown suspicious of Empire Disney and Darth Marvel, and we must learn more of what mysterious signs they are providing. For perhaps only in so doing may we discover the truth behind the layers of Boyega and glimpse the appearance behind the apple. 

We intend to approach this mission with the concentration and patience of Tibetan monks creating sand mandalas, like those in the video below. We know that this endeavor will challenge us, and perhaps it will damage our psyches to an irreparable degree. But we must continue the search, and we must discover the truth of Boyega. He may be mankind's last hope.