Pop Almanac
The Pop Almanac Podcast #8: False Dichotomies
Nov 9, 2011 | 10:48 am
Milky Way or Snickers? Vanilla or chocolate? These common questions spur a discussion of the arbitrary oppositions we find ourselves debating in the cultural world on this week's Pop Almanac.
Brendan enjoys starting near riots at parties by making people choose between two beloved 80s time-travel franchises—most people love both of them, but having to choose stirs deep feelings of attachment.
Duncan likes declaring a victor whenever two similar movies come out within the same year, like 2006's The Illusionist and The Prestige. After a tangent about the best Christopher Nolan movie (and editor Sam Pitchel working James Franco's ass into the conversation again), your hosts consider why there aren't as many of these supposed rivalries in the world of television.
But there are plenty of them in the larger world of nerd-dom: Brendan, an obscure Star Wars shirt afficianado, never understood the appeal of Star Trek, and both hosts have old opinions about whether the DC or the Marvel comic book universe is more appealing.
Finally, one of the biggest false dichotomies in music is addressed: the Beatles versus Rolling Stones. Along, of course, with a surprising amount of boy-band-related discussion.
Stream the episode below or right click here to download.
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