Representation Matters

Well, this is it friends. The end of the road. The last hurrah. We here at the PCFM Podcast are hanging up our podcasting shoes. We're putting our gear in a trunk and putting it in the closet until a mission comes up that only we can do.This is our final podcast episode. We're taking an indefinite hiatus from the show to pursue other projects. We may do an occassional podcast here and there, but this is pretty much it. It's been a fun ride. We've loved all the support we've received from day one and thank each and every one of our listeners for following us, listening, and sending in episode ideas and questions. Until next time. Cue music.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/pop-culture-field-manual--5956105/support.

Another one of our Patreon Exclusive episodes from last summer to tide you over until we're back with more new content for you. Making art is hard. Whether that’s the time and effort that does into your favorite video game, the hours spent writing and rewriting (and then rewriting again) an amazing book, or the countless people that go into making a movie. But sometimes, the toll of the art creation takes a very dark, and real, turn and can lead to an actual death. Today Izzy and Cam wanted to cover some of the very real deaths that have happened in this crazy pop culture landscape.Izzy takes his shot in a game called "As Good As Dead." How well can he remember 8 out of 8 of his favorite movies and games?!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/pop-culture-field-manual--5956105/support.

A special episode for al our listeners! THis was the Exclusive Patreon episode we released last July. Enjoy!In case anyone doesn’t know, there was recently an attempted coup in Russia by the Wagner mercenary group, no matter what Putin or anyone else says, they were marching to Moscow and shooting down helicopters and it was not going to be pretty. BUT, did you know there have been 3 other coup attempts this year? In Moldova, Sudan and Kyrgyzstan. There were 8 coup attempts last year globally. So these aren’t rare occurrences.And for those not in the know, here is the definition of a coup: a sudden, violent, and unlawful seizure of power from a government. That can be via the military, which is often the case, or just anyone trying to get all violent and overthrow the government. Taster's choice, or rather, coup-er’s choice. They’re brutal, usually bloody and usually not good for the regular folks. But they also make for dramatic and fascinating pop culture. Izzy and Cam are going to run down the list of our favorite coup attempts in the land of fiction.The episode caps off with a rousing game of "Coup or No Coup."Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/pop-culture-field-manual--5956105/support.

Every now and again you hear a story so OUTRAGEOUS that you think there's no way in hell it isn't made up. Well, that counts double in the military where strange things are abound. Cam and Izzy focus their eagle-eyed attention during this week's episoe on all those stories that sound to incredible to possibly be true (but most of them are!). They wrap out the episode with new-fangled game of “No Way That Happened!” Izzy tries his best at this video game focused game. Will he emerge victorious? Only time will tell.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/pop-culture-field-manual--5956105/support.

We’ve all experienced a movie, tv show, video game or book that when we reach the end we sit back and think….IS THAT ALL?! ARE YOU FRIGGIN’ KIDDING ME?!?!?! Unsatisfying endings or endings with cliffhangers that never get resolved can stay with us for, well… long enough for one to feel the need to make a podcast episode about. So Izzy and Cam are here to lament over some of their not so favorite endings in pop culture.A near immaculate game of "All the Closure You Can Handle" caps off this sometimes bitter episode. It's deservedly bitter! Don't give us that look!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/pop-culture-field-manual--5956105/support.

Since its creation, storytelling has been a popular outlet for communicating feelings about certain climates in time. Movies, TV, books, art; they have all been used to portray emotions in a linear trajectory, but we are here to talk specifically about military movies. In our propaganda episode, Cam and Izzy talked about how Hollywood was a powerful tool used to sway public opinion. More recently, we have seen a shift in the message military movies communicate. This episode, Cam and Izzy are going to take a look at just how much military movies have changed over time.Cam is challenged by a completely unrelated game of "Animals in Combat" to cap off this week's episode.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/pop-culture-field-manual--5956105/support.

Out of all the stories and representations of war in Pop Culture throughout the decades which ones are the BEST? That’s the question behind this episode today and Izzy and Cam are here to tell you which movie, television show, video game or book they think best represents a certain conflict. But what are the guideline the guide their decisions? Should it be the best encapsulation of the conflict overall? A personal account that communicates a message about the conflict? Should more weight be given to the artistic, the historically accurate? Listen up, because that's what they're here to discuss.A classic game of "Two Truths and a Lie" wraps up this fun, extra-long episode. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/pop-culture-field-manual--5956105/support.

Bad guys. You love to hate them. You hate to love them. A good bad guy can make the good guy a better guy. A bad bad guy can make the good guys bad good guys. And the greatest bad guys make great good guys better than the best guy’s best friend’s guys. So today Izzy and Cam are rolling out their top 10 list of their picks for the greatest villains in pop culture. This is gonna be great… and by that we mean bad…which in this case…is good.A dastardly game of "What Makes the Man?" puts the kibosh on this fun episode where things are ranked and everything is seemingly settled.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/pop-culture-field-manual--5956105/support.

Who doesn’t like a good monster? We’ll tell you who: monster hunters. That’s why they hunt them. Because they hate them and they want them dead. Whether it’s a werewolf, a Frankenstein-type of deal or a child predator, monster hunters are out there doing the lords work, and Izzy and Cam are here to talk about them.A thrilling round of “On the Right Day, We’re All Monsters” ends this week's episode.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/pop-culture-field-manual--5956105/support.

What is it about a great plot twist that draws us in? Is it the surprise? Is it the twisting of the narrative at a moments notice? Is it the chewy red candy? No, those are Twizzlers. It's probably one of those first two, but whatever it is, Izzy and Cam are going to discuss it today and figure it out. Or at the very least, they're going to discuss it.A twisty-turny round of “A Completely Normal Ga-PLOT TWIST” sends off our hosts this week.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/pop-culture-field-manual--5956105/support.