Podcast Summary: Red Scare – "The Subredditstance TEASER" (October 22, 2024)

Red Scare, hosted by Anna Khachiyan and Dasha Nekrasova, delves into contemporary cultural phenomena with sharp wit and critical insight. In the episode titled "The Subredditstance TEASER," Anna and Dasha engage in a candid conversation about the state of modern filmmaking, exploring themes of exploitation, realism, and audience expectations. This summary encapsulates their key discussions, notable quotes, and the nuanced perspectives they offer on the evolving landscape of cinema.

1. Disillusionment with Hollywood and Feminist Narratives

Anna opens the discussion by expressing her fatigue with Hollywood's portrayal of fame as a metaphor for love. She critiques the prevailing feminist consensus that emphasizes the necessity of beauty and submissiveness for acceptance.

• Anna (00:00): "I'm jaded with like Hollywood as metaphor. Fame is metaphor for love. I'm tired of like. Yeah, this like feminist consensus that like people treat you bad if you're not hot and sexy and submissive."

Dasha nods in agreement, setting the tone for a critical examination of traditional narratives in film.

2. Desire for Authentic Storytelling

Anna articulates her yearning for films that depict real individuals rather than relying on clichéd metaphors for female experiences. She emphasizes her preference for authenticity over exaggerated realism.

• Anna (00:24): "...I don't need my films to all be like heart have hard realism in it. But I'm just at a point in my life where I guess I like, I want to see a movie about like a real person and not like. Yeah, same metaphors for like female experience."

Dasha responds by discussing the industry's tendency to cater to mass appeal, referencing classic films to illustrate this point.

• Dasha (00:49): "...that's like the way that you have to like appease the masses. And of course, like, ultimately when you think about it, like the R reference for this particular film was like a film that's already been made called Sunset Boulevard."

3. Exploration of Hagsploitation Genre

The conversation shifts to the concept of "hagsploitation," a genre characterized by older women in exploitative roles. Anna critiques the term while acknowledging its place within cinematic history.

• Anna (00:49): "People are calling it hagsploitation, you know, which is like a genre for sure."

Dasha draws parallels to other exploitation genres, such as "fat exploitation" seen in films like Precious.

• Dasha (01:05): "...like fat exploitation with like the whale and then fat and black exploitation with Precious."

Anna continues to dissect the hagsploitation genre, referencing iconic films and actresses to highlight its depth and limitations.

• Anna (01:17): "...haxploitation is Sunset Boulevard... Mommy dearest... Baby Jane... Betty Davis, Joan Crawford... it's a rich like genre to mine."

4. Critical Reception of Contemporary Films

The hosts discuss their personal reactions to recent movies, comparing their experiences to being in restrictive environments, underscoring a sense of dissatisfaction with current cinematic offerings.

• Dasha (02:32): "...every time I go see a movie these days, I basically feel like a Hamas prisoner in an IDF jail."

Anna reflects on her optimistic outlook despite recent disappointments, expressing a desire for films that resonate on a human level.

• Anna (03:11): "...I just want to see a movie that feels, like, real. That, like, affects me on some human level, which this basically failed to."

Dasha echoes these sentiments, critiquing the overreliance on sensationalism and poor sound editing in modern films.

• Dasha (04:08): "The sound editing was not my fave."

5. The Struggle Between Realism and Sensationalism

Both hosts delve into the tension between creating authentic, impactful narratives and the temptation to use shocking elements to elicit visceral reactions from audiences.

• Anna (04:10): "I get it... forcing me to have a visceral reaction. But, yeah, it's not like I'd rather, I don't know, see someone, like... a porno. That is disturbing."

Dasha compares the forced positivity in cinema to superficial interactions within a simulated environment, highlighting the lack of genuine emotional depth.

• Dasha (02:46): "...this is fine. I have to see like it could be worse. The silver lining. The bright side."

6. Concluding Thoughts on Modern Cinema

Anna and Dasha conclude by reiterating their longing for films that transcend exploitation tropes and offer meaningful, realistic portrayals of human experiences. They critique the industry's departure from storytelling that genuinely engages and affects viewers.

• Anna (03:44): "I'm always, you know, I'm optimistic. I'm like, I want to see a good movie."

• Dasha (03:51): "I really do. I want to see a movie that'll really knock my socks off."

Key Takeaways

• Critique of Exploitative Genres: Anna and Dasha dissect various exploitation genres, particularly focusing on "hagsploitation," and discuss their limitations in portraying authentic female experiences.

• Desire for Authenticity: Both hosts emphasize the need for films that present real, relatable characters rather than relying on clichéd metaphors or sensationalism.

• Industry Pressures: The conversation highlights the tension between artistic integrity and the industry's push for mass appeal, leading to a prevalence of formulaic and superficial storytelling.

• Impact of Sound and Editing: Attention is drawn to technical aspects like sound editing, which can significantly affect the audience's engagement and emotional response to a film.

• Optimism Amidst Criticism: Despite their critiques, Anna and Dasha maintain an optimistic outlook, hoping for a resurgence of quality filmmaking that truly resonates on a human level.

Notable Quotes:

• Anna (00:00): "...I'm tired of like this like feminist consensus that like people treat you bad if you're not hot and sexy and submissive."

• Dasha (00:49): "...that's like the way that you have to like appease the masses."

• Anna (01:17): "...it's a rich like genre to mine."

• Dasha (02:32): "...every time I go see a movie these days, I basically feel like a Hamas prisoner in an IDF jail."

• Anna (03:11): "...I just want to see a movie that feels, like, real."

• Dasha (04:08): "The sound editing was not my fave."

Conclusion

In "The Subredditstance TEASER," Red Scare hosts Anna Khachiyan and Dasha Nekrasova offer a thought-provoking critique of modern cinema. They challenge the status quo of Hollywood's reliance on exploitative genres and clichéd narratives, advocating for films that offer genuine, impactful storytelling. Their insightful dialogue invites listeners to reflect on the current state of filmmaking and consider the direction it should take to better represent authentic human experiences.

Support the hosts on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RedScare
Follow Anna Khachiyan: @annakhachiyan
Follow Dasha Nekrasova: @nobody_stop_me