Grifters, conmen, swindlers, and hustlers come in all shapes and sizes. One thing's for certain is the fact that they're all driven by greed and self-interest. Exploring how petty tricksters and fraudsters become wealthy businessmen and preachers in Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood.A Muckraker Media ProductionLinks:MindTheaterPod on Twitter and InstagramMusic: Blue Dot Sessions- Throughput- Bogo- Tillis County- Picnic March- StiltLicensed under Creative Commons

Mind Theater

Not All Grifters Are Oilmen

Exploring how a country becomes diseased by fascism from within in David Simon's alternate history drama, The Plot Against America.A Muckraker Media ProductionLinks:MindTheaterPod on Twitter and InstagramMusic: Blue Dot Sessions- Two Dollar Token- The Big Ten- As Dust Gathers- Curio- The Coil WindsLicensed under Creative Commons

The Spectre of Fascism

Analyzing the transactional nature of marriage and the cost of pursuing an education vs. marrying rich, in Elena Ferrante and Saverio Costanzo's coming-of-age drama, My Brilliant Friend.A Muckraker Media ProductionLinks:MindTheaterPod on Twitter and InstagramMusic: Blue Dot Sessions- Palladian- Elegant Weasel- Lonely StairwellLicensed under Creative Commons

The Price of Brilliance

Exploring the voyeuristic nature of photography and the ethics of people watching in Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window.A Muckraker Media ProductionLinks:MindTheaterPod on Twitter and InstagramMusic: Blue Dot Sessions- Spins and Never Falls- Trailrunner- Third in LineLicensed under Creative Commons

Within the Frame

On today's episode I explore the themes of uncertainty, searching for life's answers in religion, and the paradoxical relationship between comedy and tragedy in A Serious Man, by the Coen Brothers.A Muckraker Media ProductionLinks:MindTheaterPod on Twitter and InstagramMusic: Blue Dot Sessions- Sals Place- Jat Poure- Uncertain GroundLicensed under Creative Commons

Tragedy v. Comedy

On the Season Finale of Mind Theater I explore the character of Michael Ginsberg from Mad Men, revealing what makes him such a fascinating dynamic screen presence, but also diving into the machinations of his mind and the experiences that make him a paragon for the displaced generation.Links:MindTheaterPod on TwitterTheNegusAyo on Twitter and InstagramMusic: Blue Dot Sessions- Evidence Room- Triana- Vela Vela- At Our Best AloneSwing TimeLicensed under Creative Commons

Michael Ginsberg: Paragon of the Beat Generation

Today on the show I take a look at a monologue from the audio drama podcast "Wolf 359", exploring the nature of isolationism and how being alone is attached to our inherent fears as human beings.Links:MindTheaterPod on TwitterTheNegusAyo on Twitter and InstagramMusic: Blue Dot Sessions- Louver- Vdet- Gra LandsbyLicensed under Creative Commons

Why Are We Afraid of Being Alone?

Today on the show I take look at the Studio Ghibli film, "Princess Mononoke", analyzing the conflict between human industrialization, and nature's need to preserve itself.Links:MindTheaterPod on TwitterTheNegusAyo on Twitter and InstagramMusic: Blue Dot Sessions- The Crisper- Lupi- Topslides- TartarugaLicensed under Creative Commons

Nature's Need for Self-Preservation

Today on the show I take a look at the episode Nosedive from the the British science fiction anthology series Black Mirror, exploring the idea of the "authentic self" and the game-ification of social interactions. Links:MindTheaterPod on TwitterTheNegusAyo on Twitter and InstagramMusic: Blue Dot Sessions- Falaal- Flatlands 2nd- Matamoscas- Velvet Ladder- DonnaleeLicensed under Creative Commons

Nosedive: The Authentic Self Examined

Today on the show I analyze the character Rorschach from Alan Moore's 1986 comic Watchmen, exploring how the concept of morality is shaped by our experiences.Links:MindTheaterPod on TwitterTheNegusAyo on Twitter and InstagramMusic: Lennie MooreSoundcloud- Newstand1- DanWalksHome- DrMonMarsLicensed under Creative Commons

The Morally Ambiguous World

Today on the show I take a look at the 90s anime Cowboy Bebop and analyze the tropes it borrows from it's composite genres of westerns and science fiction, particularly the themes of masculinity and isolationism.Links:MindTheaterPod on TwitterTheNegusAyo on Twitter and InstagramMusic: Blue Dot Sessions- Pavement Hack- Tyrano Theme- Stakes and ThingsLicensed under Creative Commons

Machismo in the Space Western

Today on the show I take a look at the 1997 mystery thriller film "The Game", and explore how it addresses the trauma the main character endures.Links:MindTheaterPod on TwitterTheNegusAyo on Twitter and InstagramMusic: Blue Dot Sessions- The Caspian Sea- Tower of Mirrors- Great Is the Contessa- HaenaJefferson Airplane- White RabbitLicensed under Creative Commons

Consequences Beyond the Game

Mind Theater Season 2 Premieres January 27thIn Season 2 of Mind Theater, through 7 essays on various works of tv, film, and other mediums, I'll be exploring concepts like isolationism, social conformity, and what it means to be truly human.Links:MindTheaterPod on TwitterTheNegusAyo on Twitter and InstagramMusic: Blue Dot Sessions- FalaalLicensed under Creative Commons

Season 2 Trailer

On the season finale of Mind Theater I take a look at the book that shaped my childhood, "When You Reach Me" by Rebecca Stead, and analyze how she uses time travel in a compelling way that differs from most works of science fiction.Links:MindTheaterPod on TwitterMusic: Blue Dot Sessions- Sunday Lights- Sylvestor- In Passage- Spring Cleaning- Roundpine- Lemon and MelonLicensed under Creative Commons

When You Reach Me

In this episode I examine my favorite game of 2018, GRIS and it's world of compelling visuals and soundscapes, making the case for video games as a respected art-form.Links:MindTheaterPod on TwitterMusic: Blue Dot Sessions- A Certain Lightness- Heather- Gullwing Sailor- Town MarketGRIS Soundtrack- In Your HandsLicensed under Creative Commons

GRIS

Essays by Ayo Akingbade on film, television, and other mediums, revealing what makes them so compelling.

hubhopper

Mind Theater

hubhopper