miocenemama's review against another edition
4.0
This is a compilation of interesting essays about pop culture. I didn't agree with all of the author's opinions, but it was an enjoyable read with some thought-provoking ideas. I ended up wanting to rewatch a lot of movies while getting a new perspective about some of them
mpetruce's review against another edition
3.0
Nice, quick listen. I'm always up for some thoughtful ponderings on so-called geek culture that's not some chud's screed in the io9 comments section (in fairness, those comments aren't all chuds, but there are some there). Do I agree with all of it? No. Do I need to? No. Just some nice, fun food for thought to move my own thinking in different directions.
jhstack's review against another edition
4.0
Well thought-out essays on everything from portrayals of vampires in pop culture to literacy in the Star Wars franchise to sequelitis and franchises!
ageshow's review against another edition
4.0
Agreed with him on a lot of points but even if I hadn't, I found the structure, reasoning, and humor entertaining, too. I appreciated the open minded approach as well as his care in mentioning the flaws in the things he and many of us enjoy
mindsplinters's review against another edition
2.0
It was... Meh. The title and the chapter concepts were fun and intriguing and I was excited but, in the end, I was let down and put off by the author's voice. Maybe it's my own baggage but so much of how and what he wrote kept reminding me of walking into comic book shops and being treated like something to ogle or to quiz because I happen to have breasts. AKA he often comes across as a gate-keeping jerk. Ironically, I THINK he was trying to come across as funny and coy and in-on-the-joke and sometimes that worked but just as often it fell flat and he came across as mean and unloving.
swoodo's review against another edition
3.0
A fun and light read. I will admit that at times I feel it falls short of a deeper analysis of the points that Britt brings up and some of the essays feel like they ramble and never quite come together in the end.
That being said, there is more good than bad, and the conversational tone helps make this a good intro into media studies. The titular essay along with All You McFlys, Captain Kirk is Your Father, and Nobody Gets Mad about Hamlet Remakes are standouts, and I found the essays generally to be more compelling when Britt leaned into the analysis versus the life lessons.
Overall though, while light and fun, I never found any of these to be profound or offer a new perspective that I haven’t read, heard, or watched before and as such I expect not many of these to ever stick in my mind.
That being said, there is more good than bad, and the conversational tone helps make this a good intro into media studies. The titular essay along with All You McFlys, Captain Kirk is Your Father, and Nobody Gets Mad about Hamlet Remakes are standouts, and I found the essays generally to be more compelling when Britt leaned into the analysis versus the life lessons.
Overall though, while light and fun, I never found any of these to be profound or offer a new perspective that I haven’t read, heard, or watched before and as such I expect not many of these to ever stick in my mind.
innae's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed these essays quite a lot, even when I disagreed. Lots of good stuff to ponder on, especially Star Wars and Tolkien.