It's interlude time and Sydney has brought us three excellent songs to discuss! Join us in analyzing the satirical elements of "National Anthem" by Lana Del Rey, "Liquid Smooth" by Mitski, and "The Good Times are Killing Me" by Modest Mouse. All three are great, so give them a listen before jumping in to hear us answer the important questions! What are these songs saying? Do they qualify as satire? Does the name Modest Mouse imply the existence of Sultry Rat? Tune in to find out all this and more!

Other works discussed this episode:

Empty Bottles Full of Stories by R. H. Sin and Robert M. Drake

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

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And here we are one last time. This episode is the conclusion of our series on Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and boy do we have a lot to say! This book has a lot of themes related to consumption and technology and individuality, but are they any good? Does Aldous stick the landing, or is he just rambling? Does Samuel get on another soapbox about hating this book? The only way to find out is by listening!

Other works discussed this episode:

True Grit by Charles Portis

The L Word

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It's time for Part 2 and Sydney has emerged from the depths of her research to teach us all about Aldous Huxley! In this episode we learn all about his past, what led to him writing Brave New World, and what parts of his history help us to interpret this classic work of satire! Tune in to hear about big babies, encyclopedias, Samson from the Bible, and (somehow) the Lakers. Then be sure to come back next week as we analyze this classic and tell you if it is worth your time!

Other works discussed this episode:

Dr. No by Percival Everett

1984 by George Orwell

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Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

Here is Part 1 on our Brave New World series! Finally we get to listen to Sydney yap while Samuel listens as politely as he is capable of! In this part Sydney takes us through the plot of Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, highlighting all the elements that are important to understanding the themes and ideas of the book. Haven't read Brave New World before or don't remember it very well? This episode will get you caught up for the rest of the series! Be sure to join us next week as we continue the series with Sydney breaking down all the historical context behind the book and the author!

Other works discussed this episode:

Erasure by Percival Everett

Brat by Charli xcx (Brat summer forever)

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Welcome to our first interlude episode! This week Samuel is talking about How To Get Ahead In Advertising, a 1989 film following an advertising executive who is slowly losing his mind. It satirizes the advertising industry, government propaganda, and good old capitalism. Plus it has a lot of connections with 1984 by George Orwell! Did Sydney like the movie? Does Samuel do a Richard Grant impression? Listen to find out!

Other works discussed this episode:

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Anora (2024)

The House That Screamed (1969)

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On this episode of The Satire Fire, Sydney and Samuel conclude our 1984 series by digging into the themes and messages Orwell is using. Samuel talks a lot about NewSpeak! Sydney can't get enough of individual expression! It's bananas! Haven't read 1984? Maybe go back and listen to Part 1 to get caught up! Want to know what the history is that led us to our conclusions? Give Part 2 a try!

Other books discussed in this episode:

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

The House of my Mother by Shari Franke

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

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On this episode of The Satire Fire, Sydney and Samuel continue their series on 1984 with a history of the author George Orwell! Samuel takes us through Orwell's life from his birth in British India up to the writing of 1984 and everything in between that helps us understand the context of 1984. Haven't read 1984? Maybe go back and listen to Part 1 to get caught up! This is our last background episode for 1984, so be sure to come back next week for the conclusion of the series.

Other books discussed in this episode: The Secret History by Donna Tartt and Hijab Butch Blues; A Memoir by Lamya H

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On this episode of The Satire Fire, Sydney and Samuel start their series on 1984 by George Orwell! Part 1 will be a plot breakdown, with Samuel covering all the basic elements you will need to follow along with later discussions. Haven't read 1984? Or maybe read it too long ago to remember it fully? Then this will get you up to speed!

Other books discussed in this episode: Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe and Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

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