e189. Dune: How to Control the Spice & Influence People

Dune may be the greatest science fiction epic ever written. The way you can tell is that if you go up to any Dune fan, they will tell you that… at length! And if you don’t care for it, almost certainly a fan will happily explain to you that you secretly love it and just need to try harder. This goes for the original novels, the 1984 movie, the 2000 TV miniseries, the comics, the video games, the table-top role-playing game, and even the 2013 documentary about NOT getting to make a version of Dune in the 1970s. And yet, as much as the core fans of Dune love it… no matter how hard they try, Dune never seems to “happen”. A couple weeks ago, Denis Villeneuve released the latest incarnation, the 2 hour, 36 min, Dune Part 1. And Dune fans (Duneheads? Spice Boys? ManiArraks?) world-wide rejoiced. And then… well, nothing. Because no matter how hard it tries, Dune just isn’t that big a fandom. In fact, it oddly enough turns out that none of the regular hosts of this show are all that into it. But some of our friends are! On today’s episode returning guests and friends of the show, dunehead Natalie Sheppard-Baudean, spice boy Michael Chemers, and maniarrrak Nicole Freim try to teach Mav and Monica the importance of Dune, its history, themes, adaptations, and the cultural world surrounding it. Deep in the human unconscious is a pervasive need for a logical universe that makes sense. But the real universe is always one step beyond logic. Mav and Monica would argue that so is this movie. Are they right or will our guests convince them that the spice extends life and expands consciousness. The mystery of life isn’t a problem to solve, but a reality to experience. Come experience it with us and let us know what you think in the comments. Citations and Links: * This episode’s Call for Comments* “One Moment in Time: Designer Willi Smith and Mary Jane’s Wedding Dress” by Monica Geraffo* Order The Monster in Theatre History by Michael Chemers* PCA/ACA website * Thank you to Maximilian’s thoughtForm Music for our theme* Check out Michael Chemers’ Center for Monster Studies* Find out everything about Natalie on her link tree* Follow Michael on Twitter: @NotoriousPhd* Follow Nicole on Twitter: @nfreim* Follow Mav on Twitter: @chrismaverick* Follow Monica on Instagram: @monicamarvelous* Follow us on Twitter: @voxpopcast* Follow us on Instagram: @voxpopcast* Follow us on Facebook: