by Mike Kaz
Science, politics, arts. more or less.
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🇺🇲
Publishing Since
3/12/2025
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April 17, 2025
<p>This week, I sit down with Professor <strong>Karen von Kunes</strong> from the University of Toronto for a fascinating deep dive into the Czech and Slovak New Wave. We explore the surreal, the satirical, and the socially charged films that emerged during one of the most creatively explosive—and politically turbulent—moments in cinema history. </p><p><br></p><p>From Closely Watched Trains to Daisies, from Forman’s under-the-table realism to Kundera’s polyphonic prose, this conversation uncovers the strange magic that still lingers in these films decades later. If you’ve ever wondered what makes Czech cinema so quietly radical, this episode is for you.</p><p><br></p><p>Five films to watch from the Czech and Slovak New Wave:</p><ol><li>The Audition / Competition (Miloš Forman, 1963) – mock talent‑show that launched the Wave </li><li>Loves of a Blonde (Forman, 1965) – bittersweet factory‑town romance </li><li>Daisies (Věra Chytilová, 1966) – psychedelic prank that still feels avant‑garde </li><li>Closely Watched Trains (Jiří Menzel, 1966) – Oscar‑winning coming‑of‑age at a sleepy wartime station </li><li>The Firemen’s Ball (Forman, 1967) – small‑town raffle becomes a parable of socialist dysfunction </li></ol><p><br></p><p>(Curious listeners can then graduate to The Joke (Jireš, 1969) and the 1996 Oscar‑winner Kolya.)</p><p><br></p><p><strong>📖 Video Chapters:</strong></p><p>0:00 - Welcome & Episode Overview </p><p>0:35 - 1960s Political Thaw in Czechoslovakia </p><p>2:00 - Prague Film Academy Sparks a Generation </p><p>4:40 - Slánský Trials & Cultural Opening </p><p>7:00 - Italian Neorealism Inspires Czech Filmmakers </p><p>12:00 - Defining the Czech New Wave Style </p><p>13:50 - “Daisies” vs “Closely Watched Trains” — One Movement? </p><p>14:36 - ‘Daisies’: Surrealist Rebellion Against 60s Consumerism</p><p>17:09 - Three Pillars of the Czech New Wave: Ordinary Lives, Humor & Sex</p><p>18:59 - Humor as a National Survival Strategy in Czech History</p><p>21:07 - Language, Subtitles & Why Jokes Get Lost in Translation</p><p>24:01 - Inside Closely Watched Trains: Sex, Satire & War’s Absurdity </p><p>29:05 - Underground Resistance in Closely Watched Trains</p><p>32:23 - What Defines a Czech New Wave Film?</p><p>33:55 - Miloš Forman’s Mock Audition (1963)</p><p>37:10 - Youth Culture, Motorcycles & Kinetic Camerawork</p><p>41:00 - Realism Rises After Socialist Fatigue</p><p>42:55 - Early Features: Black Peter and the Movement’s Peak </p><p>43:22 - Miloš Forman Goes Global: Black Peter & Early Awards</p><p>44:58 - Hallmarks of the Czech New Wave (Humor, Realism, Non‑Actors)</p><p>45:56 - The Firemen’s Ball — Subtle Satire & Political Easter Eggs</p><p>49:40 - “Everything Belongs to You”: Socialism, Theft & Daily Life</p><p>51:00 - Why Czech Audiences Flocked to These Films</p><p>55:56 - Beyond Realism: Films as a Wake‑Up Call for Social Change </p><p>57:44 - Cinema Sparks Youth Activism & the Road to Prague Spring</p><p>58:24 - A Midnight Encounter Inspires Loves of a Blonde</p><p>59:45 - Factory Girls, Small‑Town Dreams & Social Constraints</p><p>1:02:10 - Forman’s Signature POV: Under‑the‑Table Realism</p><p>1:04:55 - Heartbreak, Hope & Owning Your Future</p><p>1:06:08 - Milan Kundera’s Literary Imprint & The Joke </p><p>1:11:54 - Postcard Prank & Expulsion in Kundera’s The Joke</p><p>1:13:30 - Mining Flashbacks & the Last New Wave Picture</p><p>1:15:45 - Did the Movement Really Influence World Cinema?</p><p>1:17:30 - 1970s “Normalization”: Films Locked Away</p><p>1:20:25 - Forman’s Shadow and Today’s Czech Filmmakers</p><p>1:23:45 - Oscar‑Winning Kolya: Love Across Borders </p><p><br></p><p>Like and subscribe for more :)</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>
April 6, 2025
<p>Manjeet Sarkar is an internationally acclaimed comedian and filmmaker featured in The Guardian, Christian Science Monitor, The Print, and more. The first Indian comedian to perform at the United Nations, he was named the 'Next Big Thing' by Deadant Comedy Awards in 2024. Having completed six national tours in India, he is currently on a world tour.</p><p>Connect with Manjeet:</p><p>https://www.instagram.com/manjeet_not_sarkar</p><p>https://x.com/notsarkar</p><p><br></p><p>📖 Video Chapters</p><p><strong>0:00</strong> – Highlight Reel (Key Moments)<br><strong>0:41</strong> – Mike’s Introduction & Guest Overview<br><strong>1:05</strong> – Weather Talk & First Impressions of Canada<br><strong>2:01</strong> – Comparing Vancouver & Toronto<br><strong>3:02</strong> – Beginning the Caste System Discussion<br><strong>5:00</strong> – Historic Oppression of Dalits<br><strong>6:00</strong> – “Can’t You Just Move Away?”: Name & Identity Issues<br><strong>8:04</strong> – Power Structures & Media Representation<br><strong>9:16</strong> – Privilege & Upper-Caste Diaspora<br><strong>10:18</strong> – “Two Indias”: Rich vs. The Other 80%<br><strong>11:50</strong> – Social Media Stereotypes & Indian Street Scenes<br><strong>13:50</strong> – Extreme Contrast: Luxury Hotels Beside Slums<br><strong>15:00</strong> – Manjeet’s Invitation to Perform at the UN<br><strong>18:50</strong> – Earning Respect from Veteran Comedians<br><strong>20:45</strong> – The High Cost of Doing Comedy in India<br><strong>21:35</strong> – Overcoming Inferiority: Comedy as Empowerment</p><p><strong>23:52</strong> – Embracing Bold Confidence Over Feeling “Less Than”<br><strong>25:45</strong> – First Open Mic: 300km Road Trip & Bombing<br><strong>28:00</strong> – Advice for Aspiring Comics: Practice on Stage<br><strong>30:00</strong> – The 6-Year Journey to Finding Your “Voice”<br><strong>32:40</strong> – Drunken Revelation: Embracing True Stories Onstage<br><strong>34:30</strong> – Owning One’s Upbringing & Identity in Comedy<br><strong>36:00</strong> – Comedic Influences: Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr & Doug Stanhope<br><strong>39:01</strong> – Why Doug Stanhope Kept Manjeet in Comedy<br><strong>41:30</strong> – Toronto’s Diverse Yet Tricky Comedy Scene<br><strong>43:40</strong> – Pushing Through When Comedy Seems Unsustainable<br><strong>45:50</strong> – That Onstage “High” & Dopamine Rush<br><strong>47:00</strong> – Awkward Silences, Uncomfortable Truths<br><strong>48:10</strong> – Making Upper-Caste Audiences Squirm</p><p><strong>50:18</strong> – “Savarna Guilt” & Copying Western Wokeness<br><strong>53:30</strong> – Intersectionality vs. Real Activism<br><strong>55:00</strong> – Does Cancel Culture Exist in India?<br><strong>58:40</strong> – Twitter Fury Over a “Taboo” Joke<br><strong>1:02:00</strong> – Facing Attacks from Both Left & Right<br><strong>1:04:00</strong> – More Online Hate & “Pseudo-Feminism”<br><strong>1:08:00</strong> – Balancing Identity vs. Comedy Agenda<br><strong>1:10:00</strong> – Imagining a Post-Caste Future<br><strong>1:12:20</strong> – Favorite Indian Films (Satyajit Ray)<br><strong>1:14:00</strong> – Outro & Social Links</p>
March 30, 2025
<p>In this episode, I sit down with <strong>Dr. Ivan Kalmar</strong>, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Toronto, to explore the rise and spread of illiberal ideas in Europe and beyond. </p><p><br></p><p>Dr. Kalmar, whose work ranges from the study of Inuit language and computer mythology to the image of Muslims and Jews in Western culture, brings a wealth of insight from his latest book, White But Not Quite: Central Europe’s Illiberal Revolt. During the conversation, he discusses his personal experiences growing up in 1950s Czechoslovakia, the evolution of language and identity, and the ways in which capitalism, class alliances, and global trends in populism shape the political landscape today. The discussion also touches on topics such as the dynamics of post-communist Europe, the challenges of EU enlargement, and how cultural and economic factors intersect in debates about national identity and sovereignty.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>📖 Video Chapters:</p><p>0:00 - Intro</p><p>0:36 – Growing Up in 1950s Czechoslovakia</p><p>3:08 – Language, Identity & Bilingual Upbringing</p><p>7:21 – Book Overview: Eastern European Illiberalism</p><p>10:10 – Global Illiberalism: West–East Dynamics & America's Shift</p><p>11:56 – Eastern European "ism": Unpacking Unique Prejudices</p><p>17:41 – Post–Cold War Divides: Exclusion from the Western Club</p><p>18:26 – Capitalism & Illiberalism: The Struggle for Capital</p><p>19:36 – Colonial Capitalism: Extraction of Labor & Resources</p><p>20:01 – Post‑1989 Capitalist Reconfiguration in Eastern Europe</p><p>20:29 – Voluntary Embrace & the Colonial Analogy</p><p>21:59 – EU Enlargement: Integration or New Dependency?</p><p>23:03 – Western Economic Dominance in Eastern Economies</p><p>24:29 – Core vs. Periphery: Geography of Capital and Illiberalism</p><p>26:00 – Domestic Core‑Periphery Dynamics: Urban Centers vs. Rural Backlash</p><p>28:20 – Perceptions & Projections: Illiberalism and Racial Stereotypes</p><p>29:01 – Provoking Illiberalism: Consequences of Western Policies</p><p>29:16 – Global South Comparisons: Extending Illiberal Trends</p><p>30:14 - Illiberalism in the Global South (Philippines, India, Indonesia)</p><p>32:23 - The Future of Illiberal Movements</p><p>33:04 - Lack of New Ideas from the Left</p><p>34:13 - Bernie Sanders and the Left’s Challenges</p><p>35:50 - Blind Spots in Western Political Science</p><p>36:07 - Class Analysis of Illiberalism</p><p>37:20 - The Alliance of the Very Rich and the Not-So-Poor</p><p>38:20 - Why Voters Support Illiberalism</p><p>39:05 - Elon Musk’s Endorsement of AfD in Germany</p><p>40:02 - Culture Wars: US vs. Central/Eastern Europe</p><p>40:40 - Comparing Poland to Germany vs. Russia</p><p>40:47 - Culture Wars in Central Europe</p><p>41:19 - "Gender Ideology" and Illiberal Rhetoric</p><p>42:16 - Nationalism: "Make America Great Again" vs. "Hungary First"</p><p>43:33 - The Ukraine War and Its Impact on Europe</p><p>44:05 - Ukraine’s Aspiration to Be Central European</p><p>45:20 - Risks of Exploitative Capitalism in Post-War Ukraine</p><p>46:27 - Could Ukraine Turn Illiberal After the War?</p><p>47:36 - EU Defense Autonomy and Illiberalism</p><p>48:25 - Why Illiberal Movements Support Russia</p><p>49:20 - Life Advice for Young People</p>
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